HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-01-14, Page 28•
Page A28 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, January 14, 2009
ntertamm. ent
Deadlines: Friday @ 4 p.m.
Holiday Weekends Friday @ 10 a.m.
Specialist High Skills Major program implemented at GDCI
Laurel Drennan
special to the signal -star
Concern for the environment has
always been a big issue, especially lately,
and so students and staff at Goderich
District Collegiate Institute (GDCI) are
taking matters into their own hands.
With "green" groups going strong at
GDCI, . such as the Global Village Club
and the . Environmental Club, there is
certainly not a problem of bypassing this
important issue.
To add to these "green" groups at
GDCI, there has been a completely new
opportunity proposed to students in the
fall of 2008, allowing students to get
involved even more in the environmental
movement at the school.
The Specialist High Skills Major
(SHSM) program started this past Fall
with more than 40 students getting
involved. Dave Kovats, a co-operative
education teacher
at GDCI, is leading
the way in imple-
menting the SHSM,
with the focus of
the environment,
into the curricu-
lum. It is not a
program that sim-
ply stands alone,
but one that fits
.well with the exist-
ing programming
offered at GDCI.
What the addi-
tion means is that
if students com-
.: F:: S.j•SeY':
.v:
MACKAY CENTRE
LUNCH &
CARDS
Wednesday, January 14th.
Lunch 12:30 p.m.
Euchre &.500 at 1 p.m.
Admission $5.00.
AFFOROABL&:PROIUIONAL HAIRCARE. iUARAlt1 ID.
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9-9 Sat. 9-6
HWY#8, HURON ROAD 524-1673
plete the required components of the
course,' they will graduate with a red
SHSM seal of specialization on their
Ontario Secondary School Diploma
(OSSD) as well as a record that docu-
ments their achievements in the required
components. This includes any training
courses completed or sector -related cer-
tifications that were earned, such as First
Aid or CPR.
What are some benefits of the SHSM
program?
The SHSM allows students to experi-
ence a range of customized learning
opportunities in an area that interests
them and it also gives them the chance to
explore career goals and make informed
decisions about post -secondary educa-
tion or training. Another positive thing
the SHSM program does is help the stu-
dents gain confidence in their ability to
succeed and see the connections between
their studies, the world beyond high
school, and their future careers. Students
who have earned a SHSM can provide
evidence of their achievement of the
required components to future exployers
and post -secondary educational or train-
ayyy P.etirement
glen (The Mailman) MacCusyey
December 31, 2008
Saturday, Feb /7 8pm - lam.
Cgderlch Community Cee
X10 per person
�1;:, rF,• ! Y//..
Windt provided. Free thud)
To Bir for linoPltch or for D Tick
:` illTrevor Satinet 5244394
Ticke6 mer le from Ed or Jenne 5244614
or Pirates fraXt home game January 18th
Wishing you many sunny clays!
Lave: Janice, Tanya 8e David Teri,
Lance 8z' ?vlacKCenna, Tamily 8e Friends
Did You Know?
Every penny that is
given to our member
agencies is put to
work right hem in .
Huron County.
YOU CAN HEM..
please give generousk
ing institutions.
There are nine credits to complete
between Grade 11 and 12. Although this
may sound like it eliminates many of the
elective courses that senior students have
the liberty of choosing, the effect on
their schedules is minimal.
There are three major subject areas
related to the environment: Geography,
Science, and Technological Studies.
Students will pick four classes out of
those three major subject areas. This
means that three of the credits can be
obtained through regular required classes
that the students are already enrolled in,
and the other two credits are obtained
through a co-op placement related to one
of the four `major' subject area credits,
such as co-oping at the Parks Department
or Benmiller Reserve.
The three classes that the students will
already be taking, which consist of one
math and two English credits, just need
slight curriculum adjustments so that
students in the SHSM program can use
the courses towards their required com-
ponents. For example, perhaps in an
English class Al Gore's environmental
documentary An Inconvenient Truth
would be shown, as well as maybe the
book be read by the students, and then
have them do a movie to book compari-
son. In this case they would still be get-
ting the English writing practice, but
with environmental knowledge and
material mixed in with it so that they are
getting a touch of both course require-
ments.
Students also spend many hours on
class trips or in workplaces observing
potential career options, with the "reach
ahead" and "experimential learning"
opportunities, in order to . gain some
hands-on experience.
The completion of this program could
potentially mean obtaining a college
credit, through Lambton College, straight
out of high school. Kovats is still doing
further research on this possibility.
This SHSM program being offered at
GDCI is a great opportunity for high
school students and it is hoped that they
like the ,idea and take full advantage of
it.
Please join us for a
Casual Open House to celebrate
4744" (#9000 agoraeu
RETIREMENT *�
from Hoffmeyer Plumbing
at the Maitland Country Club
on Saturday, January 24, 2009
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Let your presence be your