1. Scheduling for Change Doreen Stevens & Karen Cox Unama’ki Training & Education Centre Eskasoni First Nation, NS

2. Unama’ki Training & Education Center (or “T.E.C.”) houses an alternative high school program for grades 9-12 The student population consists of students who have been struggling with success in a regular school system for various reasons School Demographics

3. Class of 2013

4. Students are referred to TEC. Students typically come to us with: underdeveloped work ethics learning gaps chronic absenteeism weak social skills negative school experiences undervalued view of education TEC is the community resource for those students who have fallen through the cracks. School Demographics

5. C YCLE OF S CHOOL F AILURE Chronic Absenteeism Excessive Failures High Drop-out Rate Learning Gaps Underdeveloped Work Ethic Why Change?

6. Students seem to be motivated to return to school in September & October We wanted to build on this type of “early term motivation” The result was a drastic change to course scheduling to condense courses into a shorter time periods Driving Force for Change

7. Comparing Schedules Sept. 2012 Course Schedule Sept. 2013 Course Schedule

8. Students concentrate on course content for only two courses rather than four Easier for students who struggle Topics are introduced and reinforced daily Homework time can be scheduled in class Pros (Student Perspective)

9. More courses are available to be taught over the year If a student drops out, only two credits are lost Readmission time is only about 2½ months Enhanced student interest Pros (Student Perspective)

10. School Activities

11. Non-instruction days are the equivalent to two days missed last year Lunch time is shortened for activities Some students have the same teacher/same classroom all day Cons (Student Perspective)

12. Only have to prepare for two courses Material can be presented & reinforced in the same day More time available for project-based learning Course schedule is well-suited for student assessment Pros (Teacher Perspective)

13. Lack of preparation time during the day Each course requires 135 minutes a day of material Hard to change student behaviour More of a challenge in supporting high needs students Some curriculum is difficult to cover at the accelerated pace Cons (Teacher Perspective)

14. Too short of a time period to prepare a quantitative measurement We must rely on qualitative observations from teachers and students Is it Working?

16. Attendance Inclement weather The bus does not travel on the side roads, so many students choose not to ride the bus. Problems We Still Face

17. Success doesn’t happen overnight One step is trying to make a change Takes time to change chronic behaviours that impede learning Our unique Pre-10 Program is a start… Considerations

18. School Activities

19. Student Life: ✓ Increased sports opportunities ✓ School activities Personal Development: ✓ CLM skills (life and resume skills) ✓ Building independence ✓ Mi’kmaw Citizenship Certificate Future Goals

20. Curriculum Development: ✓ Aboriginal Fine Arts course ✓ Aboriginal Phys. Ed. Course ✓ Skilled Trades 10 Future Goals

21. Visual Arts 10 (Mi’kmaq Visual & Applied Arts) Objective is to transfer and sustain cultural knowledge of Mi’kmaq arts from community elders to students. Future Goals Partners

22. Questions? Unama’ki Training & Education Centre www.unamakitec.ca