The Lambton Kent District Faculty Board (LKDSB) is “re-envisioning the house” at Sarnia’s Alexander Mackenzie Secondary Faculty (AMSS) and making it a Technological Training Hub for college kids in grades 10 by way of 12 this September.
Superintendent of Secondary Packages and Scholar Success Mary Mancini mentioned specialised, hands-on studying alternatives might be provided in a wide range of high-demand sectors.
“AMSS has some wonderful technological training amenities, significantly within the space of culinary arts, horticulture and landscaping, aesthetics and hairstyling, in addition to a few others,” mentioned Mancini. “So, we wished to reap the benefits of these areas to fulfill a necessity inside our district.”
There may also be alternatives to study abilities in development, well being and wellness, hospitality and transportation.
As of September 2024, a grade 9 or 10 Technological Training credit score have to be earned to obtain an Ontario Secondary Faculty Diploma (OSSD).
The Ontario authorities mentioned the curriculum will open doorways to jobs in STEM (science, expertise, engineering and arithmetic) and the expert trades.
“We’ve got present in the previous few years that — in a few of our different faculties — we’ve got not been in a position to meet the necessity for technological training programs. So, there are extra course requests than we’ve got house accessible in a few of our different amenities,” Mancini mentioned.
“We’re additionally going to offer obligatory programs in grades 10, 11, and 12. So, that might be math, English, science, historical past, civics and careers. We’d additionally offer them elective programs so they’re able to meet the entire necessities of an OSSD.”
College students attending AMSS previously have required particular person training plans, as many required specialised programming for studying, mental and developmental disabilities.
These college students at the moment are being redirected to mainstream excessive faculties after the province eradicated utilized programs and moved to de-streaming lessons. Domestically developed programs had been additionally included at every college, if required, to help college students unable to fulfill the provincial curriculum necessities.
Mancini instructed Sarnia Information At present, AMSS has 300 college students enrolled this college yr and solely 30 college students are in Grade 9.
“We’re not launching this program to handle enrolment on the college. We’re launching this system as a result of there’s a want for technological training programs and areas and AMSS has some actually good amenities that we wish to have the ability to capitalize on to supply college students with the programs that they should enter the expert trades,” she mentioned.
When requested if launching the hub was half of a bigger plan to maintain AMSS from closing, Mancini had this to say.
“I do not know that that is the driving pressure behind the choice. All of it comes again to… we have got an area that has amenities that can be utilized. Quite a lot of our choices round enrolment are primarily based on what college students need when it comes to programs,” she mentioned.
The registration and course choice course of for the 2025-2026 college yr begins in February.
“By specializing in technological training at AMSS, and utilizing these amenities, we’re hoping to fulfill a few of that pent up demand. It is a win-win. We’re assembly the wants of our college students and we’re conserving the college open on the similar time,” Mancini added.
LKDSB households are invited to tour the hub and study concerning the programming choices throughout an open home on February 20 beginning at 6 p.m.
