The Ravens Program is an alternative education program that will provide indigenous (First Nations, Metis or Inuit) students at Espanola High School with opportunities for personal growth, achievement and academic success.

WHO ARE INVITED TO BECOME RAVENS? Ravens are indigenous students at EHS who, for whatever reason, have not earned the credits or seen the success they need to stay on track to graduate but who the school would like to see earn their high school diploma.

The program combines aboriginal culture and issues studies alongside more traditional classes.

Unlike other high school classes, Ravens students attend all of their classes TOGETHER in the SAME ROOM: 3 with Mr. Stewart,1 with Mrs. Debassige while also working on credits for Mrs. Walker. This helps foster a level of comfort and sense of “team” not often experienced in regular classrooms.

As a Raven, you will be working towards your own academic goals at your own pace. For example, you might be working on a 1P English credit while the Raven next to you is working on grade 11 Media Arts credit.

With Mr. Stewart, you will earn: -an English credit at the grade and level you need; -a Media Arts/Comm Tech credit (counts as an art or tech credit) -an Expressing Aboriginal Cultures credit (counts as an art or history credit).

With Mrs. Walker, you will work towards earning back credits you’ve lost through credit recovery. You will have time in Mr. Stewart’s classes to do your credit recovery work. With Mrs. Debassige, you will be taking NAC2, Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. This is a history credit.

And, because we are together all day, we are able to jump from topic to topic, invite special guests, go on field trips and, at the spur of a moment, change topics and pursue other things YOU want to learn! Unlike most classrooms, YOU have a say in what we learn.

Yesterday’s mistakes will ONLY follow you here if you BRING THEM! RAVENS IS A FRESH START, A DO-OVER, A SECOND CHANCE, A GAME RESPAWN, A CTL Z…a chance to start again. We seldom get these chances in life… make the most of the few you get!

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL RAVEN? Someone who realizes this is a great chance to get caught up; an incredible opportunity for an early second-chance at graduating high school AND A way to celebrate your heritage.

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL RAVEN? Someone who thinks we need to celebrate First Nations culture in our school and community.

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL RAVEN? Someone who will show up, do the work and be a part of a team.

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL RAVEN? Someone willing to try new things, to be open minded and to communicate their hopes, concerns, loves, hates, interests and dreams.

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL RAVEN? Someone who can work WITH Mr. Stewart, Mrs. Debassige, Christine Toulouse, Emily Fleming, the folks in Guidance, Mrs. Rajotte, Mr. Punkari and Mrs. Kett to get you back on track.

PERIOD 1 with Mr. Stewart Enjoy some breakfast, a book, check your , do homework, chat with your classmates, play a game and then transition into our English course. GOAL: Earn a Grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 ENGLISH Credit, depending on what you need.

PERIOD 2 with Mrs. Debassige After the break, you’ll work with Mrs. Debassige on learning about Canada’s Indigenous Peoples.

PERIOD 3 with Mr. Stewart After lunch, we’ll transition into our media/comm tech course where we will work on animation, graphic design, video game design, filmmaking, audio production and photography. GOAL: Earn a Media Arts (ART) OR Communication Technology credit (TECH) credit.

PERIOD 4 with Mr. Stewart At the end of the day, we will work on either an Expressing Aboriginal Culture credit OR a Visual Arts credit. GOAL: Earn a Grade 9 or 10 Visual Art credit OR an Aboriginal Culture (social studies) credit, depending on what you need.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY, when you are done your work for Mr. Stewart and Mrs. Debassige, you will work with Mrs. Walker to determine which courses you were CLOSE to passing in previous semesters and then do the work to get you that credit. GOAL: Earn BACK at least one credit you ALMOST earned. There’s a really good chance that you can earn back MANY lost credits here!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM in the past few years… Students got to explore the kitchen at EHS and learn how to cook! Though we were exploring many cultural dishes, also were learning basic food preparation skills.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM! Ravens students have gone hiking, snowshoeing and ice fishing in the past. We will try to get out on the land for some of our learning.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM! Ravens have gone to Sudbury for plays and comedy shows. I will be looking for opportunties to get you out of Espanola, on the land and in unique places. I am also trying to get you onto a movie set!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM! The 2014 brood of Ravens will continue the work of the past two year’s crew and finish off the cafeteria mural and the hallway mural in B corridor.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM! Every year, Ravens works with the U-Turn Program to learn anger management techniques; to learn specific elder teachings such as the eagle teaching, the fire teaching, etc.; and to make medicine shields, drums, belts and pouches.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM! Two years ago, Ravens spent every Wednesday morning for five weeks visiting the elders and seniors of Sagamok. We ended up painting a 4”x8” mural about what we learned and had a great picnic lunch.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM! G10 is our home base, the Raven’s Nest, and we can paint it, decorate it and make it our home! Three computers and 10 iPads Smartboard and Data Camera Filmmaking, animation and sound equipment A stocked fridge, microwave, and Keurig machine,

The Ravens Program isn’t right for every student. If you are interested in exploring more about First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture are wanting to try a different way of learning want to get caught up and earn missed credits are interested in working on the skills and interests you already have …consider accepting our invitation to join 2016 The Ravens Program.

QUESTIONS?