St. Mary's Community School Essential Skills for the Workplace Program, North Battleford has been awarded one of six Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit for its encouragement of lifelong and life wide learning.
The award recognizes a program that not only encourages employment and literacy, it creates good role models for the students of St. Mary School.
"They see their parents as valuing education," says principal Michelle Sarenco,
That encourages attendance and inspires students, she says. They are seeing their parents as role models because they have been going to the same school as their children.
The program is a partnership between North West Regional College and St. Mary School in which parents of St. Mary's students can gain the knowledge and skills needed for entry-level or semi-skilled employment and/or to pursue GED certification.
The program includes opportunities for students to learn document use, critical thinking, communication, numeracy, working with others, computer use and continuous learning competences.
It began with parents coming to Sarenco looking for help to reach the levels they would need to obtain GED. She turned to the North West Regional College, and with the help of Melanie Roberts, director of programs, a version of the Essential Skills for the Workplace Program was established at the school to accommodate those parents who had expressed interest in further education. From the beginning, the idea was to have the parents in the school setting, attending their course while their children were in class. An available classroom was set up for adult use and has been evolving as an effective and welcoming classroom ever since. That was last year.
Ten parents completed the course last year, says Sarenco, and many found jobs as a result.
"We are very excited about what our parents are accomplishing," said Sarenco.
With the success of the first year, they decided to offer it again this year and funding for further courses has been applied for as well. Adding another step to the learning means some parents from the previous year can come back and continue their progress.
The teacher, Trudy Bullerwell, has made some great relationships with her students, says Sarenco. An added bonus is the students taking the course at St. Mary are considered NWRC students and they are already in a position to get on the waiting list for further college education.
About 18 have been involved this year, with three parents from last year's course. It includes 70 hours of work experience and the opportunity to qualify for a number of certificates such as WHMIS, safe food handling, first aid and CPR. The program winds up June 6.
St. Mary School received its award at the 22nd Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit May 6, in Regina, at Government House, hosted by Lt. Gov. Vaughn Solomon Schofield. The Saskatchewan Literacy Awards of Merit acknowledge the outstanding contributions by Saskatchewan citizens, organizations, and businesses for the advancement and development of literacy and essential skills in the province.
