Melanie Foulkes
Crestwood is a true composite school offering a wide variety of programs for all students. There is a breadth of programing available that is designed to meet the needs of the students from enrichment to SHSM’s. Crestwood is also known for its continued athletic excellence, wonderful theatre productions, Arts Nights and Coffee Houses.
Crestwood Principal Melanie Foulkes. Photo: Supplied.
One of the best examples of how high schools are adapting and making their curriculum relevant and interesting is the SHSM and dual credit programs. The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a ministry approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic and career sector while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary Diploma. These programs allow students to earn a high school diploma and focus on a career path that matches individual skills and interests. Students complete a defined set of courses as well as acquiring some sector-specific additional training and qualifications, experiential learning, and co-op work placement. At Crestwood we currently offer five SHSM’s; Construction, Film, Broadcast and Journalism, Computer Networking, Environmental Studies and Health and Wellness.
One of the goals of the SHSM is to break down the walls between the schools and the outside world. Consequently, SHSM programs regularly invite real-world professionals into the class where they act as guest speakers and certification providers, connecting students with the most up-to-date trends in their career sectors. In our Media SHSM, for example, professional actors, stunt men, journalists and filmmakers speak to the class and provide some certifications such as “stage combat” training. Some of the speakers are even graduates of the program which lends a credibility and circularity to the student experience…
