Wednesday January 15, 2020 ~ SOOKE
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
Full registration of 26 students is expected to be easily achieved for a new Eco Academy program that is being developed for launch in September 2020 at Edward Milne Community School (EMCS) in Sooke.
That’s because issues of the environment and sustainability — and how that works within the economy and community — are trending.
Pending approval by the Sooke School District 62 (SD62) Board, the semester-long program will result in four credits toward graduation. Students in Grades 9 and 10 are the target age group.
Rather than four distinct blocks of classes, all blocks will be blended together for an interdisciplinary approach to exploring scientific and social issues through ecology, entrepreneurship, community service, and experiential place-based learning. Learning will be rooted in curricular outcomes, with high standards for extending inquiry, collaboration, and self direction.
Course developers Patrick Gale (who teaches Foods and Nutrition/Science/Sustainability at EMCS) and EMCS Principal Laura Fulton presented the Eco Academy details to the SD62 Education Policy Committee meeting on Tuesday evening, January 7. Also attending was Academies Principal Wayne Kelly.
It will be up to EMCS to determine the successful applicants based on overall aptitude.
Environment, sustainability, community and entrepreneurial aspects all blended into one program — full-time for the full semester, producing 4 credits. There will be high standards for extending inquiry, collaboration and self direction.
The registration fee of $500 — largely for bus transportation to various outdoor learning locations, and also some guest workshop leaders — will be supported as required; no financial barriers to learning. Registration opens February 3.
==== This first version of this article was first published on page 1 in the January 10 to 12, 2020 weekend edition of West Shore Voice News.
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