Students were removed from class to engage in a different kind of learning Wednesday.
The Success Certification Program allowed middle school students to receive training and certification in food handling, first aid, babysitting, and bicycle safety.
“Instead of just sitting in desks and reading textbooks and learning that way, our students are getting out in the community and learning first hand,” said Westmount principal J.P. Keane.
Students from Westmount, Five Mile, and Kingsway Park spent the whole day at Confederation College learning from instructors and earning a certification by the end of the day.
“The whole point of [these] projects is experiential learning,” Keane said. “This gives kids an opportunity to participate in something that might give them some information moving forward in terms of career paths.”
“When we get our bike certificate, it might help us get a job in the future,” said Kalin Gunnell, age 12 from Five Mile school.
That’s exactly what’s intended according to Jeremy Noel, the pathways coordinator for the public schools.
“The majority of these students are at an age now where they’re starting to think about part-time or summer employment,” Noel said. “What we’re hoping is that they match these certifications to their future employment prospects.”
Connor Neil, who enrolled in the babysitting section, said he’s looking to get a head start.
“When you’re a teenager like me you want to have money to spend on anything you’d like,” the 13-year old said. “But it could help you in life if you have any siblings to take care of, or anything like that.”
Melissa Ratte, a parent of a Kingsway student, said she thinks it’s beneficial for students to be exposed to their interests as early as they can comprehend them.
“I think we tend to underestimate what they can do,” Ratte said. “I’ve seen with hands-on programs like these, when they’re challenged they will often rise to it. It shows a lot of maturity.”
