The Community Living Classes at Bell High School

Academic Profile:

  • Reading, Writing and Math Skills:
    • Student reading levels range from Primary to Grade 5
    • Students' mathematical skills are at the Primary Math level; activities include: basic adding, subtracting. Students are also encouraged to learn coin identification, money use and telling time.
    • Student writing levels can range from the student being able to freely write their name, to a student needing assistance from either another person or a stencil.
  • Functional Academics, Functional Communication and Daily Living Skills:
    • Functional Academics teach things such as: putting the correct amount of money in a vending machine, reading road signs and identifying the correct route number on OC Transpo busses.
    • Functional Communication teaches conversing with peers, responding to questions (either through speech, signing or pictures), and making needs and wants known.
    • Daily Living Skills refer to such things as food preparation, personal hygiene, and social skills.
  • Teaching Support:
    • There are a maximum of 10 students per classroom.
    • 1 teacher 1 Educational Assistant.
    • 1:1 assistance may be required.

Social Profile:

  • Communication:
    • Vocal speech can range from being completely nonverbal to having age appropriate conversational skills.
    • Responses can vary from one word answers to complex structures
  • Social interaction:
    • Students demonstrate a range of interactions with adults and/or peers in special needs classes or in the mainstream

Work Experience:

  • Developing work skills such as communication, work ethic, appropriate dress and social skills.
  • Students learn about WHMIS, health and safety, and practice the different tasks involved with positions in retail, warehouses, cafeterias, retirement homes, etc...
  • Students learn about street safety and work towards independent travel using OC Transpo busses.

Long-Term Goals:

  • Transition plans with service co- ordination
  • Independent or Semi-Independent living
  • Employment (Paid or Volunteer)
  • Day Programs (Educational, Recreational and/or Social)


The Community Living classes provide services in the areas of:
collating, labeling, and selling spring flower baskets. For more information, please contact our team at 613-828-9101, ext 329.