Reimagining education at Nelson Mac

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This article was published 01/07/2020 (2180 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a number of ways, it’s the end of an era at Nelson McIntyre Collegiate this summer.

When the Norwood-based school started to reimagine the high school experience during the 2016-17 academic year, many people were excited about the new adventure that lay ahead.

“That was the first year of our new model,” Charlene Smallwood, the school’s principal, told The Lance recently. That year, the Grade 9 students were the first to adopt that model, and each year another grade has joined in. This year marks the graduation of the first students in the new model, which nurtures a growth mindset, creativity, exploration, and empowerment.

In light of different factors, such as dwindling enrolment at the school, a design team was put together from across the school division — which included Smallwood, who was then vice-principal, and Ralph Wagner, who was then principal — and a project-based learning model was created at the school, which includes an ongoing working partnership with The Forks.

“We always want the kids to do work for an authentic purpose, and an authentic audience,” Smallwood said. “The kids buy into it, and one of the biggest pieces for us is the pride the kids have in their work. The Forks has been a wonderful partner, and this was one of the first pieces of the new model. This kids feel valued, which gives them a tremendous amount of confidence. It’s been a wonderful journey.”

Another big piece of the puzzle has been Lori Miller, a student services teacher at the school. Miller, who is retiring after 29 years in the education system, has worked closely with all of this year’s graduates in the last four years. She said working in the new model in the last four years has been one of the most rewarding things she’s been involved with personally and professionally.

“Working with these folks here has been amazing. It’s a collaborative relationship, and it’s great to be in an environment that can change and adapt. Because it’s a small school, you get to know these kids very well,” Miller said.

After almost three decades, Miller — who has also worked at Minnetonka School, Lavallee School, and Dakota Collegiate — said her retirement will be a bittersweet experience, but she’s honoured to be ending her journey at Nelson McIntyre.

“This is the way to go out. I’ve worked with some great colleagues and administrators through the years, and these experiences will all stay with me forever. This week, I’ve shed more than a few tears already and sure there will be a few more. I’m very ready to retire, but I’m going to miss this and miss that.”

Grade 12 student Hayley Turner said the sense of community that has been cultivated at the school has played a significant role in her development.

“I am so honoured to be among such an amazing group of students that act more like a team and community than anything else,” Turner said.

“Throughout the four years, we always looked out for each other, and helped one another find a way to success. A major focus at Nelson McIntyre Collegiate is students learning not only from their teachers but, more importantly, from other students. And in doing so, we have all helped each other grow in more ways than we might have first imagined. We are now leaving high school as collaborators, as a community, and creative, critical thinkers.”

Turner said her perspective has “completely changed” since starting at the school, and that she’s grown so much in the way she has learned.

“In ninth grade, I was so focused on finding the right answer, but I have come to realize that learning isn’t about finding the right answer, but rather about discovering your passions and diving beyond whatever is in the textbook. I have been able to learn to focus on the process rather than the outcome. Learning is about stepping outside your comfort zone and being able to get a deeper understanding of what you’re interested in,” she said.

Grade 12 student Jake Bell said he appreciates that the new model is flexible to the individual needs of the student.

“As humans we are meant to be lifelong learners, even after our schooling,” Bell said.

“What I have been most impressed with the project-based learning model is that it recognizes that not everyone is going to go down the same path in life. Not everyone will be attending university lectures and that is OK. Although I do believe memorizing facts is important in some scenarios, what today’s young people need is skills that can be transferred into a variety of contexts.”

“Another thing is the ability to answer the question of “who am I?” When I was learning in the traditional schooling model, I found there was little room for true self discovery. I am very interested in becoming a teacher. So, instead of doing a standardized test on Indigenous history, I was able to teach a junior high class in a local school about the affects systematic racism in Canada. I know now that I am very interested in incorporating Indigenous perspective in education. Nelson Mac’s programming acknowledges this. I truly believe, both as a student and a future teacher, that transferable skills is what educational curriculum needs to be based upon. One size does not fit all,” he added.

Grade 12 student Ridhima Singla said her time at the school also greatly enhanced her development.

“I have been a part of the ‘reimagining high school’ group for the last three years and it has truly helped me grow as a person. I feel that this individualized and personalized approach to learning has helped me accept my mistakes better and look at them as an opportunity to learn. Now, I define success as something that is achieved after failure and that’s where the lesson lives,” she said.

And while graduation has been a different experience for Singla and her Grade 12 classmates this year, the teen said everyone at the school stepped up to make it a memorable experience.

“Graduation this year might not look like a traditional celebration, but it definitely shows the school community’s ability to adapt to change and step up as creative and critical thinkers. I am truly grateful for every effort that the Nelson Mac staff has made to make this special for us, from an amazing car parade to a virtual ceremony to recognize students.”

Singla said she will miss the feeling of community at the school, and hopes she can find something similar at the University of British Columbia, where she will embark on the next chapter of her educational adventure.