Access to Students Living in Shelter due to Domestic Violence – APC011

Reviewed/Revised: January 2026

PURPOSE

Some of our students live in situations where the relations between the parents or other adults in the home become physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, or sexually abusive. There are many forms of domestic violence all of which include attempts to maintain power and control over the thoughts beliefs and behaviour of a person by creating fear and/or dependency. All forms of abuse result in the person feeling powerless, unequal and unsafe.

In these situations, a parent will sometimes choose to move along with the child(ren), from the home and relocate temporarily to a shelter/agency. The school-aged children should continue to attend school, either at the school in the neighbourhood of the shelter, or at the school in the neighbourhood of the family home. However, during this emergency period, the safety of the students is linked to an increased degree of confidentiality, as outlined and directed below.