THUNDER BAY – Joanne Nordin is looking to get a leg up on her fellow incoming classmates.
Set next week to start Grade 9, the 14-year-old has closed out her summer in the classroom at Hammarskjold High School, taking part in the Reaching Ahead program designed to help students integrates themselves into the high school environment.
The program focuses on literacy, numeracy and science, adding in an Indigenous cultural component throughout the course of study.
Joanne says it was worth giving up a bit of her vacation.
“I thought coming here would teach me more about the stuff I will be learning about in Grade 9,” the youngster said on Wednesday, she and her classmates learning how certain compounds react to flame and then about how ice cream is made.
“I wanted to come here also to be with my friends before I actually go to school.”
Joanne says high school is an unknown entity for many students, so seeing what it’s all about before the first bell officially rings might make things easier next week.
“Sometimes it can be pretty stressful. Most of the time it’s pretty easy, because I get people to help me out,” she said.
That’s the idea behind Reaching Ahead, which began last week at Lakehead University and moved to Hammarskjold for Week 2.
Jane Lower, a student success leader with Lakehead Public Schools, said it’s a great chance for incoming high school students to enjoy a week of learning and earn a Grade 9 credit at the same time.
“This particular week, with our secondary teachers, we really focus in on skills they’ll need to succeed in secondary school,” Lower said.
“The transition from elementary to secondary can be very stressful for many kids. This is a way for students to meet each other and build some self-confidence and self-esteem. And they’re getting to know what the high school is like.”
Those coming to Hammarskjold get to meet teachers and school administration, while being reminded of math and literacy skills they may have put on the back burner over the summer.
“They’re more confident going into classes and they’re ready for their classes,” Lower said.
