A Grade six student had School District 43 trustees in tears Tuesday as he recounted how a new alternative program changed his mind about school in two weeks.
"Before I'd never say 'I love school' until I went to the Suwa'lkh program", said Jamie Russell, speaking about a multi-grade, learn-at-your own pace program that went into operation at Minnekhada middle school in September.
It's the brain-child of Laurie Ebenal, principal of aboriginal programs, who sought an approach that would lure and keep non-attending students in school. Suwa'lkh means New Beginnings and is from the Kwikwetlem band's language, according to Ebenal.
On Tuesday, Ebenal, teachers and youth workers talked about the success of various new initiatives targeted at the district's 1,200 students of First Nations ancestry, including the Suwa'lkh program..
Board chair Melissa Hyndes and Port Coquitlam trustee Judy Shirra started wiping their eyes when Russell said he used to fool around in school, or tune out. But he took to the collaborative approach to learning led by teacher Natasha Pellatt.
The alternative program geared to kids in Grades 4 to 12 has about 30 students and is located at Minnekhada middle. Students learn at their own pace, working in groups or alone, and can participate in a Friday morning cultural program led by First Nations elder Dawn Brown.
Russell, who took The News on a tour of the classroom Wednesday, says he likes the crafts portion and the fact that people are helpful and willing to work together.
In addition to being located next to an art room, the classroom has a small kitchen where students can make their own snacks and a large sitting area where they can read alone. There are also seven computers the students can use, musical instruments and a chess board where an ongoing tournament is in high gear.
Teacher Pellatt said students are doing much better in the program than they would at their home school because they get their work done. "It's neat to see someone who doesn't come at all (at their regular school) and gets into trouble at school and how they come to Suwa'lkh," Pellatt said.
The aboriginal education program at SD43 is also developing leadership skills among aboriginal students. On Tuesday, Grade 12 student Dakota Liboiron talked about the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Com
