Psychological Services is dedicated to serving students, families and educators. We strive to promote an understanding of individuals’ intellectual, social, emotional and academic development that helps students reach their full potential.
The Psychological Services Department consists of a Manager and Psycho-educational Consultants (who have advanced degrees in Psychology) and clerical support staff.
Psycho-educational Consultants offer Schools:
- Conduct psycho-educational assessments of students with learning, cognitive, behavioral and social-emotional difficulties to gain a greater understanding of students’ strengths and weaknesses
- Provide comprehensive feedback to school teams and parents on assessment findings that assist with classroom programming
- Recommend community support for students as appropriate
- Share evidence-based strategies with school teams
- Screen students for psycho-educational assessments
- Review and interpret external psychological assessment reports on students
- Provide input (as requested) into the development of a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP)
- Consult on students at schools’ System Resource Meetings
- Share student information from a psychological assessment with Identification, Placement and Review Committees (IPRCs)
- Consult with teachers and school personnel concerning students’ needs
- Share knowledge on childhood/adolescent functioning, clinical disorders and current research with teachers
- Provide reports on grade 4 students who receive individual testing as part of the Board-wide Gifted Identification process
- Offer informal, school-based in-services (as requested) on a variety of topics (e.g., understanding psycho-educational assessments, learning disabilities, nonverbal learning disability, slow learning students, memory functions, executive functioning, etc.)
- Collaborate and problem solve with schools concerning students’ mental health and behavioral challenges
- Liaise with various community service providers as required or as requested
Psychological Services offers the System:
- Training for classroom teachers and Learning Resource Teachers (LRTs) across the system on assessment strategies and techniques
- In-services for classroom teachers on various topics
- Co-ordination of Board-wide Screening and Gifted Identification process.
- Participation in student intervention and prevention programs to students
- Participates in various Ministry of Education initiatives
- Conducting internal research
- Providing expertise to various Board committees and initiatives
Psychological Services Department
Dr. Christine Gudas-Murphy
Manager of Psychological Services
Karen Accardo
Assistant to the Manager of Psychological Services
905-527-5092 ext. 2525
