Grade 8s can earn high school credit, explore strengths in new online course

A new, remotely delivered Algoma District School Board course — Sparking Secondary Success — will soon be fully implemented and allow participating Grade 8 students to not only prepare for high school but also earn one credit toward their secondary school graduation diplomas.

Sparking Secondary Success was launched in the 2022-23 school year as a pilot project and delivered by ADSB teachers Noah Rushon and Sammy Campbell.

Approximately 70 students enrolled in last year’s pilot project and 61 students achieved a high school credit in the Healthy Living and Individual/Small Group Activities course, Rushon told administrators and trustees at Tuesday evening’s ADSB regular monthly board meeting. 

“It’s really kind of a confidence booster when a Grade 8 student goes into high school with a credit ahead,” Rushon told the board.

“It’s not your traditional reach ahead course where you’re going to a secondary school. It was all online after school,” Rushon said of last year’s pilot program.

Grade 8 students were responsible for planning events such as dodgeball games for Grade 3 students during lunch break, took part in experiential learning days, developed skills for success in high school and explored their strengths and interests through self-reflection.

Feedback from Grade 8s in the program was positive, Rushon said, sharing students’ written comments with the board.

“This course was honestly the best thing as far as my mental health that’s happened in a long time,” wrote one student.

“This course has taught me what it means to have improving well-being, be a leader, and how to understand my mind and my body,” wrote another.

“This was an amazing opportunity! The work was well planned out, interesting and full of new information for me to learn,” was another response.

The current school year’s Sparking Secondary Success course will begin Jan. 8 and continue until June 21.

It is recommended that registered students spend 12 to 15 hours per month on the course, which can be done on evenings and weekends. 

Apart from being delivered remotely, the course will include in-person, group activities on three PD Days scheduled for Feb. 2, April 19 and June 7.

One of the PD Days will tentatively be held at The Delta, the others at ADSB high schools.   

It is also hoped that an in-person team building exercise will be held at Thomson Farms.

“I think Sammy and I both can say it was a lot of fun,” Rushon said of last year’s course.

“It was definitely challenging to build a course from the ground up but it’s also exciting to be part of a pilot, and I think a successful pilot, and we’re hopeful it continues to grow. We’re excited to see what happens.”

“I think this course could be a course that everyone wants to take. That's our wish,” Rushon said.

Last year’s course was delivered remotely to students in Algoma District communities such as Elliot Lake, Blind River, Wawa, Chapleau and Hornepayne.

This year’s course will be available to students in Sault Ste. Marie and the rest of the ADSB area.

Parents can register their Grade 8 children for the course through Edsby on the ADSB website beginning Wednesday evening.

Registration closes Dec. 15.

ADSB administrators are hoping for high enrolment in the course.

“We currently have approximately 770 Grade 8 students and we’d love to have 40 to 50 per cent of them in the course, so we’re hoping for 300 to 400 students,” said Marcy Bell, ADSB superintendent of education, early learning and K-12 curriculum and programs, speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s board meeting.

“They learn about the four domains of well being, including social, emotional, cognitive and physical well being. By learning about those, they know who they are and they can recognize how that will help them with study skills and help them manage their classes and manage credits. There are also transitional activities and leadership opportunities which will help them develop their skills that will be required for high school,” Bell said.