More learning opportunities are being made available for Lakeland Catholic School District (LCSD) students.
With financial support from Imperial Oil and Alberta Education, LCSD is offering three new courses through their dual-credit programming.
According to dual-credit coordinator for LCSD Amanda Wildman, Alberta Education’s $50,000 grant, and Imperial Oil’s $30,000 contribution, mean they can start to offer pre-employment heavy technician, electrician, and robotics courses this year.
“It’s wonderful. We’re so excited to be able to provide these opportunities to our students and to give them a chance to get a bit of exposure to college and university courses, as well as a bit of a head start,” she stated.
While dual-credit programming allows for students to get a first-hand look at career options, it also gives them a chance to determine if that’s the direction they want to take.
“It gives our students a chance to experience a career and the pathway to post-secondary education. It’s really a great opportunity for our students,” detailed LCSD superintendent Joe Arruda.
LCSD board chair Mary Anne Penner added, “I think the more we’re able to prepare them for the workforce, the better our society is going to be. I think the more that we can prepare our students now for joining the workforce, the easier it will be for them to actually enter the workforce in the future.”
Students were surveyed about the courses they would like to see at their school.
Wildman said these three were their top choices.
The district had applied for a grant through Alberta Education last year.
LCSD’s pitch was in partnership with Portage College, who will be assisting with offering programming.
“We put an application into Imperial to see if they would offer some funding to help enhance that even further, and they provided our district with $30,000 to go towards that initiative,” Wildman added.
The electrical pathway will have students visit the college program throughout a semester.
“They get immersed in it for a day and learn about circuits and circuit fundamentals,” detailed Wildman, adding this is only the start.
Their goal is to eventually offer a pre-employment electrical program, similar to the new heavy equipment technician course.
“The pre-employment heavy technician program will be offered in this school year beginning in February. The theory portion runs from February to June, and then our students will do a practical piece at the shop at Portage College in Lac La Biche during the month of July,” explained Wildman.
At the end of it all, if the student was successful in completing the course, they can challenge the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Exam - Period One.
Wildman said it’s an exciting opportunity for their students.
The third and final course they can now offer is in the robotics field.
At this stage, it’s only developed, and they’re working on the content of the program now.
“The plan is to have that available to students to take as one of the tuition-free university transfer courses through Portage College,” added Wildman.
While LCSD students will be given the first choice when it comes to these programs, they will also be open to other school districts.
Portage College dean Robin Tizzard said in a release, “It’s Portage College’s goal to increase access to university-level courses in our region, These free university courses provide an excellent pathway for our youth.”
