Student Achievement Archives - Page 2 of 2 - St. Albert Learning Centre

A group of students stand in line by the election booth.

14 schools within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have registered with the Student Vote Canada program running parallel with the Federal Election. Based on the percentage of schools registered, the Board is in the top 10% of all School Boards within Canada. Student Vote Canada is a program open to all elementary and secondary schools nationwide. Schools may offer Student Vote to a single class or to the entirety of the student body. Students engage in activities surrounding government and the electoral process and are provided necessary tools to stage a mock election in their school during the Federal Election process.

Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased with the enthusiasm that the schools have shown toward promoting student voice.

“Student voice is a top priority within our Board,” she explained. “Student Vote Canada is an excellent opportunity for our students to not only understand the electoral process, but to also practice research and analytical skills and participate in a formal election scenario. We are proud to partner with Student Vote Canada and offer these tools for our students.”
“St Charles College has been involved in Student Vote for many years. We have participated at the federal level as well as the provincial and municipal levels,” explained Rick Emond, teacher at S. Charles College. “The program has had a positive impact on students both academically and in their personal lives. I often receive many messages from former students telling me that because of the program they have voted.”

Family and friends gathered in the gym at St Albert Adult Learning Centre on February 25th, 2011 to celebrate with the students of the school’s inaugural Personal Support Worker graduating class. Nineteen students made up the graduating class and, as well as a Personal Support Worker Diploma, several students also received their Secondary School Diploma. Cassandra MacGregor, Principal of the school addressed the students and spoke about how proud the staff and community is of the group. “By the year 2020, statistics say that one in every five Greater Sudbury residence will be over the age of sixty-five, and the need for this service is growing rapidly,” MacGregor said. “ Through their perseverance and determination, this class has demonstrated great skill and knowledge, and I know that my family and friends will be in good hands if and when these students’ skills are ever required.”
Deputy Mayor Jocelyn Landry-Altmann and Sudbury Catholic Board Chair Barry MacDonald echoed MacGregor’s sentiments and also congratulated the class for their courage and will to succeed in the program.
Numerous community partners and agencies were also on hand to support the students as many did on the job placements with the different organizations. Several of the students have already been offered jobs beginning immediately after the graduation. Valedictorian of the class, Brenda Legrow, spoke to the group about their success and voiced her elation at finally reaching this stage. “It is through the strength of our minds, our bodies and our hearts, that we have made it here today,” Legrow said. “And we need to thank ourselves for overcoming all of our own trials and tribulations and making it this far in our journey.”

The next group of students has already begun their classes this past January and the staff of St. Albert expects the interest in this program to steadily increase over the next year as with the growing aging population, the need for this type of job is rapidly expanding.

For more information on the Personal Support Worker program at St. Albert Adult Learning Centre, contact the school at (705) 673-3031.

Category: Student Achievement

Sudbury Catholic Students Cast their Vote!

Inaugural Personal Support Worker Class Graduates from St. Albert