HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-10-037 - Partnership with St Mary's High SchoolREPORT
REPORT TO:
Community Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
June 7, 2010
SUBMITTED BY:
Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and
Services (ext 2687)
PREPARED BY:
Kelly Steiss, District Facilitator (interim) (ext 2918)
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
Ward 5 - South Ward
DATE OF REPORT: May 10, 2010
REPORT NO.: CSD-10-037
SUBJECT:
Partnership with St. Mary's High School
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
REPORT:
During the 2009/2010 school year, St. Mary’s High School, working with City of Kitchener staff,
developed a partnership to pilot an alternative education program out of the Country Hills
Community Centre. Negotiations for this partnership considered room booking and facility usage
requirements, as well as mutual expectations regarding the operation of this program at the
Centre. It also included consultation with the Country Hills Recreation Association (CHRA), to
coordinate room availability and to discuss how to engage students, participating in this pilot, in
the programs and services offered by the Association.
The Alternative Education program was offered three days per week out of the Country Hills
Community Center and two days out of the Activa Sportsplex. The participating students
focused on the recovery of grade 9 and 10 credits in English, Math, History, Geography, Civics
and Careers. They also completed elective credits in the areas of Art, Phys Ed, Learning
Strategies and Leadership, and in Experiential Learning. These credits provided hands on
learning opportunities that are expected to relate directly to the student’s future planning and
personal lives.
The experience of having the program and students at the Centre was positive. The students
were able to connect with the Centre, the community and the staff. Success highlights include
the positive contributions that students made to the community and the Neighbourhood
Association through their volunteer work. This included assisting with the delivery of the CHRA
newsletter as well as the collection of food during the annual fall food drive.
While operating the Alternative Education program out of the Country Hills Community Centre
has been seen as a big success by all partners, moving forward the School Board will be
coordinating these resources and running the program out of a downtown Kitchener location.
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Rental revenue in the amount of $4000 (for September-June) was generated through this
agreement.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
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