Alternative Met School expanding to Maples Collegiate in Winnipeg

After seven years of combining project-based high school education with internships at the Met School, Seven Oaks School Divisionhas decided to open a second Met School atMaples CollegiatethisSeptember.

The alternative school on Jefferson Avenue offers three days of project-based class learning and two days devoted to internships each week.

"It's a great experience to get them prepared for the real world," said NancyJanelle, principal of the Met School, which partners with nearbyGarden City Collegiate, where students take phys. ed., musiccourses and advanced science, as well as participate inextra-curricular activities.

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The idea for the alternative school came from a model in the United States, where the firstMet School opened in Providence, R.I.,in 1995. Met Schoolsuse what's called "big picture learning,"which allowsstudent-driven, personalizededucationin the classroom and internships in the community under the guidance of mentors.

The Seven Oaks Met School works with more than 500 businesses to match students with internships in a field that interests them, said Janelle. Internship vary in lengthfrom a month to multiple years. About101 students are enrolled in the school within a school.

Unlike technical schools, the Met School isn't solely focused on the trades. They offerinternships in the arts and sciences as well, Janelle said.

"I wanted to do something with art," said Grade 10 student Rex Gutierrez."Last year I worked at a graphic design firm called Kick Start. I got on to working on logos."

Students interested in veterinary sciences have interned atthe Winnipeg Humane Society, whileothers interested in film have interned at production houses, said Janelle.

"We have tons of connections," she said.

By the time students graduate from Met School, students not only have a diploma they have a resume, too.

"They're coming out 10 steps ahead of a regular high school student," said Janelle.

Grade 12 student Carlo Capobianco said the student-centred, project-driven nature of Met School gave him the opportunity to express himself in a way he didn't feel he couldin other schools. He said he felt more comfortable speaking up in class.

"I wanted a more freeing experience, and it's been amazing. It's changed my life," said Capobianco.

The SevenOaksMet School was not only the first of its kind in Winnipeg; it was a first for Canada.

Along with the new Met School at Maples, two other Met Schools are opening in Canada this fall, Janelle saidone in Calgary and another in the Maritimes.