WHO ARE INVITED TO BECOME RAVENS?

The Ravens Program is an alternative education program that will provide First Nations, Metis and Inuit (FNMI) students at Espanola High School with opportunities for personal growth, achievement and academic success.

WHO ARE INVITED TO BECOME RAVENS?

Ravens are FNMI students at EHS who, for whatever reason, have not earned the credits or seen the success they need to stayon track to graduate but who the school would like to see earn their high school diploma.

The program combines aboriginal culture and issues studies and art alongside more traditional curriculum such as English, media arts, communications technology and credit recovery.

Unlike other high school classes, Ravens students attend all of their classes TOGETHER in the SAME ROOM:

3 with Mr. Stewart and 1 with Mrs. Walker. This will help to foster a level of comfortand sense of “team” not often experienced in regular classrooms.

As a Raven, you will be working towards your own academic goals.

For example, you might be working on a 1P English credit while the Raven next to you is working on grade 11 Comm Tech credit.

With Mr. Stewart, you will earn an English credit, a Communications Technology credit and an Expressing Aboriginal Cultures credit.

With Mrs. Walker, you will work towards earning back credits you’ve lost through credit recovery.

In the past we’ve had students go into their summer holidays having earned 6 credits in one semester!

And, because we are together all day, we are able to jump from topic to topic, invite special guests, go on field trips and, at the spur of a moment, change topics and pursue other things YOU want to learn!

Unlike most classrooms, YOU have a say in what we learn.

Yesterday’s mistakes will ONLY follow you here if you BRING THEM!

RAVENS IS A FRESH START, A DO-OVER, A SECOND CHANCE, A GAME RESPAWN, A CTL Z…a chance to start again.

We seldom get these chances in life…make the most of the few you get!

WHAT MAKES A GOOD RAVEN?

Someone who realizes this is a great chance to get caught up; an incredible opportunity for an early second-chance at graduating high school AND celebrating your cultural heritage.


Someone who thinks we need to celebrate First Nations culture in our school and community.


Someone who will show up, do the work and be a part of a team.


Someone willing to try new things, to be open minded and to communicate their hopes, concerns, loves, hates, interests and dreams.


Someone who can work WITH Mr. Stewart, Mrs. Walker, Chop, Christine, Guidance, Mrs. Cameron, Mr. Punkari and Ms James to get you back on track.

PERIOD 1 with Mr. Stewart

Enjoy some breakfast, a book, check your email, do homework, chat with your classmates and then transition into our English course.

GOAL: Earn a Grade 9, 10 or 11 ENGLISH Credit, depending on what you need.

PERIOD 2 with Mrs. Walker

After the break, you’ll work with Mrs. Walker to determine which courses you were CLOSE to passing and then do the work to get you that credit.

GOAL: Earn BACK at least one credit youALMOST earned. There’s a really good chance that you can earn back MANY lost credits here!


After lunch, we’ll transition into our media/comm tech course where we will work on animation, graphic design, filmmaking, audio production and photography.

GOAL: Earn a Media Arts (ART) OR Communication Technology credit (TECH) credit.


At the end of the day, we will work on either an Expressing Aboriginal Culture credit OR an Aboriginal Issues credit.

GOAL: Earn a Grade 9 or 10 Visual Art credit OR an Aboriginal Issues/Aboriginal Culture (social studies) credit, depending on what you need.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM in 2014!

Students will get to explore the kitchen at EHS and learn how to cook! Though we will be exploring many cultural dishes, we will also be learning basic food preparation skills.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM!

The 2014 crew will get out on the land and spend time marking, cutting and exploring hiking trails at Teasdale Community Park between Massey and Sagamok.


This year we might be working with Gloria McGregor, an elder from Birch Island, to learn about and visit Dreamer’s Rock and to get out on the ice and net fish.


The 2014 brood of Ravens will continue the work of the past two year’s crew and finish off the cafeteria mural and the hallway mural in B corridor.


The 2014 group will also be working with the U-Turn Program to learn anger management techniques; to learn specific elder teachings such as the eagle teaching, the fire teaching, etc.; and to make medicine shields, drums, belts and pouches.


G10 is our home base, the Raven’s Nest, and we can paint it, decorate it and make it our home!•Three computers•Smartboard and Data Camera•TV . Got a video game system? Bring it in!•Access to all of Spartan Youth Radios filmmaking, animation and sound equipment•A stocked fridge, microwave, coffee maker and toaster.

The Ravens Program isn’t right for every student.

If you are•interested in exploring more about First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture•are wanting to try a different way of learning•want to get caught up and earn missed credits•are interested in working on the skills and interests you already have

…consider accepting our invitation to join 2014 The Ravens Program.

QUESTIONS?

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WHO ARE INVITED TO BECOME RAVENS?