St. Patrick High School is experimenting with a new learning opportunity for students this fall.

Administration is implementing flex sessions for students SA国际影视传媒� a 45-minute period during the day where students can study SA国际影视传媒減assionSA国际影视传媒� subjects not offered as part of the regular curriculum.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese are all student-chosen,SA国际影视传媒� said Simone Gessler, assistant superintendent of learning with Yellowknife Catholic Schools, of the six-week sessions. SA国际影视传媒淪ome of the courses are credit-based, but not all.SA国际影视传媒�

The first set of flex sessions runs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Sept. 5 to Oct. 16.

During that time, students can learn about everything from photography to welding, outdoor survival, yoga, and more.

There will also be opportunities to participate in coding, a Harry Potter session focused around literature, and Makerspace activities, according to Alicia Larade, the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 vice-principal.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith high school, everything is so conscripted in terms of what you have to take to graduate,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪tudents donSA国际影视传媒檛 often have that opportunity to fit in what theySA国际影视传媒檙e interested in taking outside your math, your science, those kinds of things.SA国际影视传媒�

Larade has been involved in implementing the program from the ground up, making sure teachers know what theySA国际影视传媒檒l be teaching and getting things organized.

Credit-recovery options will be offered for students who took a course at the school but werenSA国际影视传媒檛 able to complete it. If they finish that course during the flex sessions, Gessler said, the student can then receive the credit for it.

In the initial planning stages for the program the school surveyed students on whether they would be interested in taking courses around their passions and what those sessions would be.

SA国际影视传媒淲e also sent a similar survey to the teachers, asking them what theySA国际影视传媒檇 be interested in instructing and teaching the students based on their passion areas,SA国际影视传媒� said Larade.

The flex sessions are part of a shift towards what the school district calls 21st century learning. Gessler described it as more innovative, out-of-the-box thinking that will prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.

Larade said students will be assigned to a teacher who mentors them through the flex sessions, as well as tutorials in every academic department so students can get extra help if they need it.

The students will meet with that mentor every Friday in small groups of approximately 14 students, so teachers can spend one-on-one time with each individual.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat person will help kind of guide their choices through the flex program throughout the year, just kind of help them get through their academics,SA国际影视传媒� said Larade.

Although students are required to participate in the flex time, Gessler said it will not take away from their credit accumulation towards graduation. Students are often busy with after-school jobs, sports or family obligations and canSA国际影视传媒檛 always make time for after-school academic help, she explained, while other students need extra help with English-as-a-second-language-skills.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e able now with this flex time to offer those academic supports,SA国际影视传媒� Larade said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really a way to support all of our diverse needs within our school and we can do it within our day.SA国际影视传媒�