26 More Schools Add Options and Opportunities Program

School was not always fun for Amy McKay.

Two years ago the 17-year-old Grade 11 student found school both stressful and frustrating. The classes were large and the course load heavy. She found it difficult to pay attention in class.

But that was last year. This year she has gone from frustrated student to a high-achiever who now loves school, boasts a perfect attendance record, and has used her success in a new school program to land a summer job.

"This year everything has improved. School is a lot less stressful," said Ms. McKay, who is now wrapping up her first year in Options and Opportunities, a new program that better connects high school to post-secondary programs and work.

She is one of 31 students completing the pilot year of the Options and Opportunities (O2) program at Auburn Drive High School in Cole Harbour, which matches students with qualified employers. O2 combines the regular school curriculum with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences both in the classroom and the workplace.

It will be expanded to 26 more schools, beginning in September. The names of the schools offering Options and Opportunities were announced today, June 26, by Education Minister Jamie Muir.

"It's sometimes hard for high school students to understand how the skills they learn in school connect to a career path or a post-secondary program," said the minister. "O2 recognizes that not all students learn in the same manner. We're very excited about expanding the Options and Opportunities Program to 27 schools across the province this year."

Judy Dickson, the co-ordinator of O2 at Auburn Drive High School, said the program is having a positive impact on students. She said the smaller class sizes and increased support inside and outside the school make school meaningful. The result has been improved attendance, higher marks, a dramatic reduction in discipline problems and increased self-esteem.

"The regular semestered system is sometimes too much, too fast for some students. O2 delivers the same outcomes as the regular program, just in a different way," she said.

Ms. McKay, who turned her three-week work placement as hostess at the Park Place Ramada Inn in Dartmouth into a summer job, said the program has kept her engaged in her school work. Her marks rose by 20 per cent over last year.

02 has also got Cale Norrad excited about school. The Grade 9 Cavalier Drive School student has enrolled in Sackville High's program next September.

"I really think it's going to make me a better student," he said. "I think it will allow me to meet new people and just make school more fun."

The expansion of Options and Opportunities is just one of many programs introduced or enhanced this past school year by the Department of Education.

The region's first pre-primary program was piloted at 19 schools across the province, allowing 720 four-year-olds a head start on their formal education.

Nova Scotia also began the process of expanding the International Baccalaureate (IB) program to 10 more high schools, which will bring to 12 the number of schools offering one of the world's most respected and academically rigorous pre-university diploma programs. The IB program is a universally recognized, advanced liberal arts diploma designed for high-achieving students in grades 11 and 12.

The IB expansion is the largest undertaken by any province or state. A second wave of six schools will begin the application process later this year.

Forty-nine schools launched a new school improvement and accreditation process aimed at promoting student achievement and overall school performance. Sixty more schools will come on board beginning in September.

The department also added more resource teachers, speech language pathologists and school psychologists, allowing the province to reach or come very close to meeting its student to core professional target ratios.

"Every year public education in the province improves said Mr. Muir. "I congratulate all students, all our teachers and our school and department staff on another job well done."

For more information, see the Options and Opportunities website at www.ednet.ns.ca .