Alternative Education

Alternative Education provides students who require an alternate setting, program and teaching strategies opportunities to:

• prepare for transitions to and from secondary and post-secondary educational sites; and

• create a sense of community, belonging, and "reconnecting" through a faith-based Catholic Restorative Practice model.

Our Alternative Education sites provide students with:

• small pupil/teacher ratio;
• technology support (e.g., laptops, e-learning);
• outreach opportunities;

• non-academic supports; and
• a flexible schedule.

Programs

We offer four programs to best meet students' needs.

Catholic Return Ticket

The program is available to Grade 7 to 12 students who are on a long-term suspension or expulsion the ability to access academic and non-academic programs or courses. For more information, call 905-428-7161.

Re-engagement

Re-engagement is outreach programming for students between 18 and 20 years of age who were unable to benefit from traditional and other alternative educational programs. This program focuses on small group instruction, independent and cooperative learning formats. Students can access online learning and cooperative education, while planning post-secondary pathways and supports.

Our Re-engagement program is offered at the following Continuing and Adult Education sites:

Ajax Campus
458 Fairall Road, Unit 7, Ajax
Tel: 905-683-7713
Fax: 905-683-9436

Oshawa Campus
850 King Street West, Unit 26, Oshawa
Tel: 905-438-0570
Fax: 905-438-0571

Reconnect - Learning to 18

Our Reconnect program is available to students between 16 to 18 years of age who are at risk of graduating. Students are referred to this program from his/her home school. The program offers:

• teacher-led classes, outreach, credit recovery, online courses and experiential learning;
• access to support services such as: Social Worker, Child and Youth Counselor,
• Special Education and Guidance Teacher, and Psychological Services; and
• transitional support to post-secondary pathways.

Our Reconnect program is located at our Father Donald A. McLellan Catholic Secondary School, 1500 Hopkins Street, Whitby, ON. For more information, call 905-666-1146.

Centre for Success

Our Centre for Success program provides students the opportunity to complete their secondary school graduation requirements in a supportive adult learning environment. Located at Durham College, the program offers students the opportunity to complete courses needed for graduation, while enrolled in a Dual Credit program.

A Dual Credit program allows students to earn a college credit and a high school credit. Courses available as a Dual credit include:

• Introduction to Business;
• History of Music;
• Promotions and Publicity;
• Introduction to Psychology;
• Success Matters;
• H-VAC (Sheet Metal Fabrication).

Students are referred to the Centre of Success by their current home school. Students must be 17 years of age or older, have earned a minimum of 24 credits and are at risk of not graduating with his/her peers. Students must demonstrate self-regulation and academic skills to study at a college level and should be considering post-secondary options for college and/or apprenticeship.

The Centre for Success is located at Durham College's Oshawa Campus and Whitby Skills Training Centre.