About Academic Programming
Principal’s Message
St. Nicholas Adult High School is pleased to continue to build an active and strong partnership with Youville Centre. Our teacher leaders provide instruction and support in a wide range of high school courses while assisting students to earn their diploma. Following graduation from high school, Youville graduates will be able to access a wide range of opportunities in College, University, and the world of work.
Our partnership with Youville Centre allows us to fulfill our vocation while increasing the level of education for all learners. On behalf of the students, faculty, staff, and administration at St. Nicholas Adult High School, thank you for your continued collaboration and commitment.
Making a positive impact in the lives of our students and their families is a great priority. Thank you again for your commitment and dedication to the community.
Philip Capobianco, Principal
St. Nicholas Adult High School
St. Nicholas Adult High School Program
In September 2016, St. Nicholas Adult High School established a partnership with the Youville Centre to offer a secondary school education for the clients who age out of the M.F. McHugh program by their 21st birthday. Students in the St. Nicholas program are between the ages of 21 and 25.
St. Nicholas Adult High School provides flexible e-learning high school credit courses for adults (18+) living in Ontario. The learning model at St. Nicholas is student-directed and teacher-supported. All courses are online and students access course content and assignments through a Learning Management System called Brightspace (by Desire to Learn). In addition to e-learning technology, St. Nicholas students are also encouraged to learn and master Google Apps for Education.
St. Nicholas students entering Youville Centre meet with their teacher and, in consultation with an Intake and Assessment Officer, they select their first course; this selection process repeats as the student begins each subsequent course. Students confer with an Intake and Assessment Officer to plan their specific pathway to obtain their high school diploma. Students who are eligible to complete Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) or Mature Student Evaluations are referred to the PLAR Assessor. Where applicable, the St. Nicholas teacher refers to the student’s IEP to identify any accommodations, program modifications, and/or alternative programs as well as specific instructional and assessment strategies that have been recommended in the past. St. Nicholas students have the option to participate in the Lifestyle Courses offered by Youville Centre and M.F. McHugh in addition to their e-Learning course.
With the support of the St. Nicholas Student Services Department and the teacher, the Youville Centre moms aged 21 to 25 are supported in working toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and in their transition to post-secondary studies or future employment opportunities.
Summer School
Once again this year, through a partnership with the Ottawa Catholic School Board’s Continuing Education Department, Youville Centre was provided with three teachers who delivered summer school programs during the month of July.
This year students were able to select one academic course from a variety of choices that best met their needs. While many young moms chose the self-expressive visual art course, others worked at the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course, Hair and Aesthetics, and Physical Education.
Each of these courses allow our students to earn another credit toward their high school diploma (OSSD). Art courses tend to be popular as they are found to be quite cathartic and therapeutic for our young moms, who display phenomenal creative talent year after year.
In addition to our academic programming, we took short 30 minute mental health breaks each day in the form of a walk to a nearby park. We were also fortunate enough to take a trip to the Museum of Nature for a day! It was a wonderful day which allowed the moms to experience many interactive exhibits including the newest exhibit explaining how our brains work!
On the last day of school we had a showcase featuring all the work students created over the summer. There was great diversity and talent displayed through the various courses, including an art display, a slideshow of work, and photographs of hair, esthetics, and physical education activities. Our student showcase was followed with a celebratory end of summer school barbecue with lots of games, activities, and delicious food!