Program For High School Students

Program Overview

The LaunchPad Program is a comprehensive, year-long program that enhances students' academic, social, leadership, and community skills. It provides 440 hours of programming without compromising the Ontario Curriculum, offering extra credits in Learning Strategies and Leadership. The program emphasizes self-discovery, community involvement, exploration, and practical life skills, such as financial literacy and environmental awareness.

Program Outline

Outline:

The LaunchPad Program is a full-year, daily program designed to explore and develop students’ academic, social, leadership, and community skills. Highlights include:

• 440 hours of programming with NO compromise to a full, traditional Ontario Curriculum.
This program is in addition to the core course curriculum.
• Students earn an extra credit in each grade:
• Grade 9: Learning Strategies (GLS1O)
• Grade 10: Leadership (GPP3O)
• Teaching what schools typically don’t teach: how to learn, how to take notes, life skills, financial literacy, social skills, adventuring and more.
• The program teacher remains consistent all year; they are each student’s home base and every parent’s go-to.
• With a careful blend of routine and spontaneity, students find academic and personal success.
Pillars of the Program & Activity Examples
• FUN: The LaunchPad Program is not a standard high school course.
It is varied, energetic, and sparks passion!
• Art, Cooking, Games & competitions, Storytelling.
• SELF-DISCOVERY: Students complete personality inventories and become action researchers on their own learning.
They look at their current and alternative ways of responding to emotions, to others, and to their environments.
• Mindfulness meditation, Personal goal setting, Research projects on mental illnesses/labels/physical illness.
• COMMUNITY & CONNECTIONS: We find connections and causes near and far to broaden our awareness.
Mentors, elders, service learning and volunteerism all play a role.
• Intergenerational connections (ex.
Visiting retirement homes), Food banks, Fundraising campaigns.
• EXPLORATION: Within our school and city, and well beyond in nature, students will venture and wonder collaboratively.
• Learn life skills (flat tire, oil change, laundry), Outdoor cleanup (e.g.
ravine, park, etc), Neighbourhood exploration.
• ACADEMIC COACHING: Support and Learning Strategies, Organization skills, and a full Ontario credit for both years of the LaunchPad Program.
We are teaching exactly what schools often miss!
• Homework help sessions, Research organization, Note taking, Time management strategies, Exam/test prep, Academic skills inventory, Basic keyboarding, Email etiquette, Weekly planning & prioritizing.
• Budgeting & life-skills (e.g.
groceries/cooking), Credit vs Debit, Mortgages vs Rent, Canadian & global economy, and Investments. Sample LaunchPad Class Schedule Monday: Academic Support & Financial Literacy Tuesday: Self-Discovery & Guidance Course Work Wednesday: Exercise & Wellness Thursday: Genius Hour & Exploring New Topics Friday: Community Outreach