This morning I had a chance to see my son’s new school for the first time. He’s moving on from St. Cecilia Junior High to St. Joseph Composite High School in the Edmonton Catholic School District.
It’s a personalized self-directed learning (PSDL) format school, so I was instantly suspicious that it’d be a way for him to further coast through school.
Today’s discussion and past discussions leading up to our allowing him to attend St. Joseph have helped to more than allay our fears that this would be the case. If anything, there’s actually far more structure in this PSDL program than a regular school program.
We met his teacher advisor this morning and after learning more about St. Joseph, I wished I had gone to this school when I was in high school. It’s a neat place and I’m really impressed by the hands-on approach the teachers take at the school.
Courtyard at St. Joseph High School in Edmonton
While they are hands-on and in regular daily contact with students (many times throughout the day), they really rely on student initiative to succeed. Students have to step up to the bar and take responsibility for their studies and everything surrounding school.
I think that this expectation will work well for my son, who is a smart kid, but really sporadically motivated. I’m not going to go into a rant about the public school system because there’s no point. I think it serves most students well and St. Joseph, part of the public but Catholic school system, will serve my son the best.
This is just one more reason we’re happy we moved to Edmonton. In smaller cities and towns this just would not have been an option. I know my son’s happy to go, but happy for summer holidays too. We can’t wait for September! I know my son is interested in the drama program at St. Joseph too. Should be an interesting year!
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2 comments
Francis Kaiserman says:
Feb 1, 2011
Hi, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam comments? If so how do you protect against it, any plugin or anything you can recommend? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any help is very much appreciated.
As a matter of fact, I do get a lot of spam comments. Fortunately, they’re filtered, just like your comment was. Occasionally I’ll let the comment through, just for fun, but I’ll strip out the link, just for fun.
Mik says:
Jul 21, 2011
Great Blog! Not too many relating to Edmonton that are worthwhile to come to like yours!
I am an ex St Joes student that is on a small mission to try to find some information regarding the cancelled GRAPHIC ARTS course they used to teach. It was a great course that taught me alot & my nephew wanted to take the course but it is now not offered. I heard that it was removed from the curriculum in the early 2000′s which is too bad.
I am also trying to locate any other people that took the course so I can touch bases so if anyone out there used to attend the St Joes Graphic Arts course I’d luv to hear from you!
NO GLORY WITHOUT EFFORT