As bird populations are on a continuous decline, Charles Ramcharan, an Associate Professor in Science, Engineering, Architecture and Environment at Laurentian University, sought to find ways to increase local populations and raise awareness about the plight of the species in general. A partnership with SHSM students helped to bring his idea to fruition.
“When the Specialist High Skills Major program was launched, we searched for community partnerships to enhance experiential learning for students,” says Leo Leclair, SHSM Program Coordinator with Rainbow District School Board. “Now, community partners see great value in the programs and are contacting us to help them.”
He adds: “Students enjoyed taking part in a practical, community-based approach to addressing an environmental challenge.”
Students constructed 50 birdhouses to attract various types of bird species. The birdhouses are free of paint or stains that can release harmful chemicals and fumes, allowing the structures to blend effortlessly into nature over time. A removable front panel will enable easy access so future students can study the nests and possibly identify the different species of birds who have used the birdhouses.
This endeavor was funded by Project Impact, an initiative of the Coalition of a Liveable Sudbury, and is a partnership between Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Laurentian University.
The Specialist High Skills Major is a specialized, Ministry of Education approved program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). SHSMs assist students in their transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace.
Rainbow District School Board offers Specialist High Skills Major programs in ten sectors: Arts and Culture, Business, Construction, Energy, Environment, Health and Wellness, Information Communication Technology, Manufacturing, Mining and Sports. Each Specialist High Skills Major is a bundle of 8 to 10 courses in a selected field. Students learn on the job and can earn valuable industry certifications.
These programs enable students to gain sector specific skills and knowledge in engaging, career-related learning environments, and prepare in a focused way for graduation and postsecondary education, training or employment.
The site for the Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
The Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op was formed to create independent media in the North, to speak to our issues and outlooks on our communities as well as the world around us. Independent media provides an avenue for people who are wishing to gain critical perspective on the issues that matter most to us, and to give a voice to those people and stories that you won't find in the mainstream media.
The Sudbury working-group site is no longer being updated and has been archived.