BRANTFORD – In September Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP) will launch the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Academy for students entering high school.
The innovative Grade 9 to Grade 14 model of education allows students to pursue an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and a two-year Ontario College Technician Diploma in the STEAM field, tuition free.
The idea behind the high school model is to close the gap between young learners’ desires to go to college and obtain the skills they need for careers in high-growth industries. While earning a high school diploma, and an Ontario college diploma, students will gain real world experience through mentorship programs with industry professionals.
“SNP-STEAM Academy is a technology rich school, where students create their own pathways to high-skilled jobs,” said Brian Quistberg, Principal of SNP-STEAM. “With the SNP-STEAM Academy we’re offering an innovative model of education that provides an integrated high school and college curriculum focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. STEAM skills are vastly transferrable to a wide range of career options, both directly technological and otherwise. These are vital skills that teach the student to adapt to new situations, and to use process based thinking to solve problems and innovate.”
What makes SNP STEAM Academy unique is the mindset that it creates for students. By knowing that they are on the path towards a career from the very beginning, students will have high expectations and view themselves as “college students” early on.
Students who enroll in the STEAM Academy will have the opportunity to take college classes as early as Grade 10 and, depending on how quickly they advance, may even be able to complete the program in as little as four years. Learners will gain knowledge and skills for STEAM related careers while being supported in a values based, student centred, and culturally inclusive environment.
Students will also receive mentoring from an industry professional, including opportunities to communicate in writing or online and face-to-face.
The school is open to students of all backgrounds and abilities. The point of entry for this school year is the ninth grade, and the school will admit a maximum of 50 students in its initial Grade 9 class, with plans to grow by a maximum of 75 students per year. The full capacity is 450 students, which is hoped to be achieved by Year 6.
To register, call Aaron or Brian at 226-493-1234, or email aaron.hobbs@snpolytechnic.com or brian.quistberg@snpolytechnic.com. The program will be run out of SNP’s Brantford Campus at 411 Elgin Street.
