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St. Charles News Archive
(Older Stories)
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January
24, 2010
Life Changes for St. Charles
PSW
Grads
After graduating, the
St. Charles PSW students will soon be starting a new chapter in
their lives. After months of schooling and challenging work
placements, most of the grads have already been hired on to
full-time positions. They'll bring dedication, knowledge, and
caring to their new posts.
Before embarking on
their life-changing careers, a wonderful graduation ceremony was
held on
January 24, 2010. Tears, laughter, and music filled the St. Charles
East 5th gym. The grad were all beaming with pride as they received
their hard-won certificates and diplomas.
"This PSW
class showed great determination and a true commitment to
learning", said PSW Instructor
Joanne DeRubeis, "I wish them all continued success."
The
PSW graduating class. Click
picture to enlarge.
Links
December
15, 2009
Deputy Immigration
Minister Visits St. Charles
Deputy Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration, Chisanga Puta-Chekwe, spent psome time
on December 15th visiting ESL
classrooms at the St. Charles Adult Education Centres.
"I wanted to see an
ESL classroom in action," he told
the students. "Ontario has redesigned the ESL
program. I wanted to make sure that it's student-focused."
The Deputy Minister saw
St. Charles' student focus first hand when he stopped by Mona Baig's
ESL Level 4/5 classroom. Puta-Chekwe
engaged the students in a lively discussion regarding their
backgrounds and former professions.
Baig's class of 17 adult
learners included a doctor from Haiti, a dentist from Brazil, a
journalist/chef, a teacher/geophysicist from Iraq, a metallurgist
from Russia, a professional artist, an accountant from Bogota,
Columbia, and a firefighter – none of whom are currently working
in their chosen field.
"In my country, I
worked as an office secretary but here, I am at school to learn
English," said Salma Barry. The others were also full-time
students, with most planning to head to Mohawk College for further
certification following their stint at St. Charles.
When asked about his own
background, Puta-Chekwe responded, "I'm not as interesting as
you."
Wishing the students
success, he said, "It's up to each and every one of you to have
faith in yourselves."
"Most of our adult
learners come to us with degrees and credentials from their own
countries," said Nancy DiGregorio, Superintendent of Education
for the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.
"They are highly skilled and educated. Our task is to help them
overcome barriers such as language so that they can find work in
their field and begin to contribute to Ontario's economy."
"What you are doing
is changing people's lives," Puta-Chekwe told the St. Charles
staff at the end of his visit.
"They're changing
ours as well," replied Vice-Principal, Sandi Mlekuz.
Left
to right: Regional Advisor Elizabeth Duval; Superintendent of
Education Nancy DiGregorio; Student Jin Fang Xu; Principal of
Continuing Education Bob Goodwin; Deputy Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration Chisanga Puta-Chekwe; St. Charles Site Supervisor Neelam
Tandon; ESL Supervisor Susan Friscolanti; and Vice-Principal of
Continuing Education Sandi Mlekuz.
Deputy
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chisanga Puta-Chekwe visits
the ESL class of Mona Baig
Links
December 8, 2009
St.
Charles ESL Extravaganza Gets Front Page Treatment
On December 8, 2009, St.
Charles held its popular annual ESL Extravaganza at the East
5th (mountain) location. This incredible event
showcases the many amazing talents of ESL and LINC students from all
the St. Charles Centres.
Students, staff, media,
and dignitaries were treated to singing, dancing and fashions
from around the world. The packed house went wild for every
performer. Students from different ethnic backgrounds showed
solidarity with each other despite language, political, and
religious differences. Canada's wonderful multi-cultural splendour
was definitely on display.
Even the instructors got
into the act when they sang We Are the World to cap off this incredible
celebration.
Even the Hamilton
Spectator took notice. In their December 9th edition, they included a
story and a picture of the event on the front page.
There was also a beautiful picture on the third page and a photo
slideshow was placed online.
Links
December
2009
St.
Charles Barlake Help the Needy at Christmas
The St Charles Adult
Education Centre at 60 Barlake Avenue
is getting into the Christmas spirit in a big way. Two students in ESL
instructor Breanne Mamone's class approached her to participate in Operation
Christmas Child. Breanne mentioned it to the other
instructors and the idea grew to the point where a total of 88
gift-filled shoe size boxes were collected. These boxes will be sent
to orphanages around the world. With each gift filled box, an extra
$7.00 was needed to be added for postage.
Most of the adult
students at St Charles are new Canadians and are themselves
struggling to settle down in a new country, but that was not going
to stop them. The students came up with the idea of selling coffee
and baked goods on their breaks and they eventually collected
$700.00 dollars for the postage. The love and energy that went into
filling these boxes is heart warming.
Many thanks to the St.
Charles students and staff for making 88 children happy this
Christmas. Operation
Christmas Child is a hands-on charity that anyone can
participate in. Each gift-filled shoe box is used to bless the life
of a child living in a desperate situation. On Christmas Day each
box will be flown to third world countries and hand delivered to
needy children living in orphanages around the world.
Operation
Christmas Child began on October 10, 1990, when Dave and
Jill Cooke of Wrexham, Wales watched a television broadcast about
Romanian orphanages. The Cookes wanted to do something to help the
children living in the orphanages and realized what they could offer
was the gift of love. A convoy of nine trucks was filled with
medical supplies, food, clothing, and Christmas gifts. The trucks
were driven into Romania marking the small beginnings of what is now
the world's largest children's Christmas program.
Staff
and students of St. Charles Barlake with the boxes they'll be
sending. Click picture to enlarge
October 22, 2009
St. Charles Graduates
Explore Endless Possibilities
St. Charles Adult
Education held its 26th graduating class ceremony on Thursday,
October 22, 2009. This year's theme of "Endless
Possibilities" highlighted the 170 graduates' struggles and
achievements in a very heartfelt and moving ceremony.
Principal Bob Goodwin
publicly acknowledged the collective personal growth and
achievements of the graduates which was echoed by Trustee Lou Agro,
Superintendent Nancy DiGregorio and Vice-Principal Sandi Mlekuz.
Kurtis Hartog, this
year's valedictorian, spoke about overcoming adversity and keeping
focused on the endless possibilities that exist for all graduates.
He added that, while life is full of struggles, the focus needs to
be on moving forward and never giving up on oneself.
"Remember the hard
work it took to get here and all the times you fell, you got back up
and brushed yourself off", he said, "Things will always be
worse if you stop trying and give up."
Each year, St. Charles
continues its partnership with community sponsors and the students
who embark on their educational journey toward the attainment of
their Ontario Secondary School Graduation diplomas.
The revamped St Charles
Adult High School was launched at the mountain site this past
September, expanding on the tradition of offering a wide array of
secondary school credit courses in an adult friendly environment
which maximizes the skills and needs of today's adult student.
Valedictorian
Kurtis Hartog, speaks to the St. Charles graduates
Links
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