Education and Early Childhood Development
May 22, 2015

Supporting Inclusive Schools and Communities

Smallwood Academy Wins 2015 Inclusive Education Award

Smallwood Academy in Gambo is this year�s winner of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living�s (NLACL) Inclusive Education Award. Each year the NLACL honours a provincial school for their outstanding efforts to develop and design their classrooms, programs and activities so that all students can participate in all aspects of school life. The Honourable Sandy Collins, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services and MHA for Terra Nova, took part in the award ceremony.

�On behalf of the Provincial Government, I would like to congratulate Smallwood Academy on receiving this year�s Inclusive Education Award. It is the collective effort of students and teachers that help us further implement our inclusive education initiative. We are committed to this initiative because all students, regardless of the nature of their diversity, should be educated in safe, caring and inclusive environments with their peers.�
- The Honourable Derek Dalley, Acting Minister of Education

Smallwood Academy was recognized because of the philosophy throughout the school that each student is accepted unconditionally during classroom time and after school programming. The efforts of this school community to ensure that students with physical limitations are able to participate in sports and that all students are included and engaged with the graduation experience made this school a provincial leader in inclusive education.

�Smallwood Academy has successfully demonstrated how an entire school, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, can come together to make inclusive education a part of their everyday lives and school culture. I commend the teachers and students for their leadership in making inclusive education a priority and I congratulate them on this outstanding achievement.�
- The Honourable Sandy Collins, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services and MHA for Terra Nova

The inclusive education initiative was introduced in 2009 with 30 schools. There are now 205 out of the 261 schools in the province directly involved in the initiative, with training for the remaining schools ongoing.

�Inclusive Education is about how we develop and design our schools, classrooms, programs and activities so that all students can learn and participate together. Each year the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living applauds a school or individual by presenting them with an inclusive education award. Smallwood Academy in Gambo is the winner of the 2015 Provincial Inclusive Education Award. It was evident by the glowing nomination received for this recognition award that the staff, students and families of Smallwood Academy collectively contribute to the inclusive atmosphere at this school. We applaud them for an outstanding job at advancing inclusive education in Newfoundland and Labrador.�
- Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Executive Director, NLACL

Over $100 million is invested annually for inclusive education initiatives. To further support inclusive education, Budget 2015 allocates an additional $500,000 to the student assistants� budget. This will add an additional 100 hours per day to support students with exceptionalities.

For more on the Provincial Government�s inclusive education initiative visit: www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/inclusion.html.

QUICK FACTS

• Smallwood Academy in Gambo is this year�s winner of the Inclusive Education Award which is presented by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Community Living.
• Smallwood Academy was recognized because of their efforts to ensure that students with physical limitations are able to participate in sports and that all students are included and engaged with the graduation experience.
• There are now 205 out of the 261 schools in the province directly involved in the inclusive education initiative, with training for the remaining schools ongoing.
• Over $100 million is invested annually for inclusive education initiatives.
• Budget 2015 allocates an additional $500,000 to the student assistants� budget. This will add an additional 100 hours per day to support students with exceptionalities.

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Media contacts:

Blair Medd Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 631-8465 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca	Ang Chatman Constituency Assistant to the Honourable Sandy Collins MHA for Terra Nova 709-467-1018 angchatman@gov.nl.ca
Sherry Gambin-Walsh Executive Director Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living 709-722-0790, 709-728-7536 sherrygw@nlacl.ca

2015 05 22                              2:00 p.m.