Is it a different curriculum at the ELC?

No, all Grade 10 students are required to take the same 6 courses plus two electives.  The required courses are English 10, Math 10, Science 10, Social Studies 10, Physical Education 10 and Career Life Education 10. The curriculum for these Grade 10 classes is mandated and exactly the same regardless of school.  At the ELC, students also take Media Design 10, which earns them four credits, helping them meet the graduation requirement for a Fine Art or Applied Skill, and thus enabling them to have more course choices in Grade 11.

The ELC also has a class called Project-Based Learning. The goals of PBL are to teach curricular content, develop a deeper understanding and build 21st-century success skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration and creativity. Students have PBL time scheduled each week in order to work on their school-wide PBL projects. As PBL is cross-curricular, students will have a PBL mark in English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Career Life Education and Media Design.

Courses at the ELC are linear (year-long, not semester-based) except for electives, which follow the semester system. The benefits of a linear system are that there is more time for digesting and understanding material, as well as longer time frames to create meaningful projects. Students also have more time to study the material and access support if they are having difficulties.

My child is in French Immersion, can they take that at the ELC?

No.  French Immersion is only offered at the NPSS Main Campus. We have had a number of French Immersion students who have chosen to attend the ELC, but this means they must either drop French Immersion or re-enroll in it in Grade 11. If they choose to pick it up again, they will need to complete a few required courses they missed.

I’ve heard the ELC is only for athletes…

Not true. However, we are incredibly fortunate to attend school in an amazing facility, the Pomeroy Sports Center, which features two ice rinks, a walking track, a one-of-a-kind speed skating oval in North America, a workout gym, a dance studio, and basketball hoops.  Additionally, we have access to the Soccer Pitch/Fieldhouse for activities, and we offer an excellent competitive hockey program, so it’s easy to understand why some people think that.

We also start off our day with DPA (Daily Physical Activity). This is how students receive their PHE 10 grade, as all students are required to have PHE 10 to graduate. Students pick their DPA activity each week.  These activities range from walking on the track, skating, working out, playing basketball, badminton, volleyball, and minor games (such as dodgeball, soccer, and capture the flag), to swimming, figure skating, and more!

DPA is wonderful, and students say they love it! It’s a great way to start the day, but it also works because students choose their activity depending on what level of fitness they are comfortable with or what they want to try. This works well for both athletic and non-athletic students, but those who consider themselves ‘not athletic’ find it is a great and valuable way to receive their PHE 10 mark.

I’ve heard the ELC is only for high academic learners / I’ve heard the ELC is only for struggling learners

The ELC has been proven to work extremely well with ALL types of learners. Those who are academic learners push themselves even harder and reach for more excellence. They develop a deeper love for lifelong learning and go on to excel in their chosen academic path and career. We have noticed that when our students transition to the NPSS Main Campus for Grades 11-12, they continue to be leaders and achieve high standards. We also have students who are struggling learners and need a bit more support; they do well with the linear system, as it gives them a bit more time to meet learning standards.

Does the ELC have any student support?

You bet!  At the ELC, we have an outstanding Student Support Team that consists of Educational Assistants (EAs), Learning Assistant Teacher (LAT), a Counsellor/Behaviour Support/Indigenous Transition Coach, ELL support, and an Indigenous Support Worker. We notice that because our school is a little smaller, students usually readily accept help. We have quiet spaces available for those who need them, and because we get to know our students so well, we can quickly identify if a student is struggling and provide assistance. Because of our community-based classrooms, teachers are able to establish strong relationships with students and understand their individual needs. The student’s community teacher is also the liaison between home and school, so if the parent has any questions or concerns, they are a great person to ask.

My chlild likes to participate in school sports. Can they play on sports teams at the ELC?

Absolutely!  We are the second campus of NPSS, which means our students and those from the NPSS Main Campus share the same opportunities to participate in sports teams.  After school, a bus is available to transport students from the ELC to the NPSS Main Campus, where they can utilize it for team practice. Sports teams include: Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Rugby, Track and Field, and Badminton.

My child is interested in the trades, can they do that at the ELC?

Yes, absolutely. Louis Vacarro, Sharon Hoechel, Jeff Mayer and Brian Campbell look after Trades and Careers for both campuses. We have many students who start their work experience, trades and YETS applications at the ELC. Although we do not offer shop classes as electives at the ELC, students will have ample opportunities to take these electives in Grades 11-12.