Community Newsletter 2015 About Self Design and Seven Summits: Seven Summits Centre for Learning is a community-run campus of SelfDesign, offering a learner-centered, inquiry-based learning approach, including the entire B.C. grade 8-12 high school graduation program. We offer core academic and elective studies, as well as participate in many community-based programs and initiatives including yoga, mountain biking, avalanche and backcountry training, website development, theatre, woodworking, foods and more. SelfDesign Learning Community, an independent distributed learning school, is an internationally recognized and awardwinning leader in the field of education including the “Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Education Innovation.” All courses are certified by the B.C. Ministry of Education and all SelfDesign mentors are certified teachers with the Ministry of Education. All learners are enrolled In SelfDesign as the school. Red Mountain Academy athletes also attend Seven Summits, and work with flexible hours so they can focus on their training and racing. The majority of our students are local, but we also have international and out-ofprovince students who homestay, providing a great cultural experience for our learners and the families they live with. The learner/mentor ratio is low and mentors are available to collaborate with parents on individual learner needs. Learners will be challenged to think for themselves, to be accountable for their studies and deadlines, and to organize their thoughts in order to communicate clearly and well. In short, learners will be given good foundations to help them meet the challenges of the future.and succeed no matter their individual goals.
Celebrating our second year!
I
t’s hard to believe that it was only two years ago that we the parents and children of Rossland found out that RSS would no longer offer grades 10 to 12. In that short time, a dogged group of volunteers established a thriving, high-quality educational alternative —Seven Summits Centre for Learning. With our education partner, SelDesign Learning Community, we offer Rossland learners the full range of courses, electives and community-based “extras” here in town. And now we’re well into our second year and planning for our third.
Our mentors and learning consultants (B.C. certified teachers) Jonny Coleshill, Mélanie Boothe, D’Arcy Ziprick and Sue McBride are inspiring 45 full and part-time learners to work hard at their core academic and elective studies. We encourage interested youth and families to come and check out the Centre. Why not book a tour or shadow a learner to see what we’re all about? Send us an email or call the Centre and we will arrange an on-site experience for you.
sevensummitslearning.com | selfdesignhigh.org | k-9.selfdesign.org | redmountainacademy.com
Meet our staff! JONNY COLESHILL is the Humanities/English mentor. Jonny has been a certified teacher for eight years, and has worked in Outdoor Education and with Youth Programs for over 15 years. His experiences as a participant in Canada World Youth, plus further International opportunities during his 20’s, have all guided him in his teaching practice and education focus. MÉLANIE BOOTHE has experience teaching sciences,
French and textiles in English, French Immersion and French high schools in Manitoba and B.C. She believes that we learn best through discovering and doing. As such, she strives to provide learners with hands on opportunities to experiment and uncover their strengths and interests.
GREAT THINGS OUR KIDS ARE DOING!
SUE MCBRIDE is the Administrator and Special
Education Mentor. She holds a B.S. and Masters in Education and Special Education, and has worked in many schools in California, Nevada, and Sweden over the past 25 years. “I have worked with children my entire life, and teaching provided me with an opportunity to do what I love and to travel anywhere in the world.”
Hannah Klemmensen and Rachel Aiken made it to the debate provincials. A video on the Rossland range cabins is being created for the Friends of the Rossland Range by Caelum Scott and Noah DeMelo. The grade 11 and 12 learners went backcountry hiking and camping in the Valhallas in October. In December, the theatre group produced and presented “A Suessified Christmas Carol” to the community as a dinner theatre. 7S learners and board member Jimmy Guy organized kids’ activities at Lion’s campground for Winter Carnival, including a maze, snow painting, s’mores, and tobogganning. Learners have been taking workshops on textiles, foods, woods, art and website development. For Phys Ed, they’ve been doing tennis, mountain biking, golf, curling, cross country skiing, biathlon, downhill skiing, yoga, gym workouts, rock climbing, ultimate frisbee, and frolfing (frisbee golf ) The grade 10-12 learners can take a course in preparation for becoming a CSIA Level 1 ski instructor. Grade 10-12 learners took the Avalanche Skills Training Level one course to get their AST1 level certificate.
ANN QUARTERMAN is the Operations Manager at Seven Summits. Education and learning has been her work and personal focus for the past 25 years. “Providing children and youth with the skills to engage in the world around them and watching them get inspired is a never-ending goal and joy for me.”
Learner volunteering
T
he Centre would not be in existence without the help, dedication and countless hours of numerous community, board, and staff volunteers. To show our ongoing appreciation and to instill a community-minded ethic, learners are expected to give back to the community by way of volunteer hours. Learners work with their mentors and administration to set up volunteer opportunities that address their passions, interests and needs. Some of the volunteering they do is: Special Olympics • Classroom helpers at Ecole des Sept-Sommets • Downhill ski instructing shadowing • Made buttons for the election campaign • Participated in CBT youth summit • Youth Scratch magazine editing • Library volunteers • Ski hill summer grooming • Bottle drives/ recycling • Behind the scenes at variety shows • Helpers for City Council community thoughtexchange survey to help non-computer literate people • Snowplowing/shovelling for neighbours/events • Film set-up at the Miner’s Hall • Event help for a dinner and slide show on Nepal • Golden City Day children’s activities • Winter Carnival children’s activities • SPCA volunteering • Horse care and equine assisted learning • Marshalling at cross country run • Helping out at community events • Skating coaching
STAFF PHOTOS: LARRY DOELL
Hannah Klemmensen and Rachel Aiken with their debate medals.
D’ARCY ZIPRICK is the senior math and science mentor at Seven Summits Centre for Learning. He is a certified teacher, power engineer, and professional mechanics engineer. “I chose Seven Summits because it’s small, and I can have a one-on-one with the students to make sure they’re learning what they need to learn.”
Community-based programs and initiatives SEVEN SUMMITS LEARNERS have had the opportunity to partic-
ipate in many exciting programs outside of their regular academic courses, involving volunteers and others from our community. They are invaluable and we thank them from the bottoms of our hearts!
VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP MENTORS
Aerin & Jimmy Guy – Web development mentors Sean Stewart – Foods course mentor Christophe Deck – Foods course mentor Mel Black – Foods course mentor Demitri Lesniewicz – Architectural design mentor Louis McBride – Carpentry mentor Tyler McBride – Carpentry mentor Al Eagleton – Fine woodworking mentor Marge Cherry – Yoga instructor Paul DeVilliers – Tennis instructor Keith Robine – Avalanche Skills Training & climbing instructor Mike Heximer – Biathlon instructor Rob Darrah – Curling instructor Ann Quarterman – Cross country ski instructor Kylie Stewart – Academic support Dave Morel – Academic support Val Rollins – Textiles support Teri Mack – Textiles support Les Carter – Guitar support
SPEAKERS
Sean Larsen spoke to learners about social media and gave an evening session for parents. All Candidates Forum – Candidates for mayor and councillors came to the centre to talk to learners and respond to questions. Lyle Crispin spoke about Remembrance Day. Genevieve Fortin spoke about special needs learners.
PAID COMMUNITY MENTORS
Loretta Bulfone – golf Sharmila Miller – theatre Mike Kent – recreational consultant
PLUS 21 other community members who work individually with grade 8 and 9 learners on their ROPES (Right of Passage Experience) projects!
2015/16 FACILITIES FEE STRUCTURE
W
hile the salaries of our mentors are funded by the Ministry of Education, we have to charge a facilities fee to cover the costs of running the centre, i.e. rent, utilities, administrator salaries, additional programming, etc. This year, we are not raising the rates from 2014/15. We will continue to offer assistance to those in financial need, and a payment plan is available. Our fee structure for the 2015/16 year will be as follows: • $2100 if paid by December 1, 2015 • $2000 if paid by September 1, 2015 Second sibling rates are: • $1850 if paid by December 1, 2015 • $1750 if paid by September 1, 2015 Applications will be accepted starting March 15th for the coming school year, with priority being given to returning students, siblings and grades 10 to 12 youth. The facility fees leave us more affordable than comparable independent schools in the Kootenays and much less costly than such schools in the rest of the province. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
QUOTES FROM LEARNERS & PARENTS “I am able to navigate inside the course structure to focus on my interests. The law course I designed is an example of a course I couldn’t take elsewhere in the area.” — Rachel, grade 11 “ I can change my courses to be different and more suitable for me. I like having the ability to go skiing and mountain biking for PE.” — Jordy, grade 9 “ We like the care and individual attention given to the learners.” — Leah, grade 9 parent “I like the one-on-one attention and the communication from the staff. There is lots of personal connections with the staff and community.” — Melanie, grade 12 parent Allowing [our son] to have the flexibility and the responsibility to take control of his education has been empowering for the whole family. The mentors are amazing and always available to help him and encourage him to reach his goals! 10 out of 10 for Seven Summits! — Monique, grade 10 parent
PHOTO: LESLEY CHISHOLM
Cirkeline Bigom takes 5th place in slalom.
RED MOUNTAIN ACADEMY UPDATE
R
ed Mountain Academy student / athletes continue to benefit from the flexible education program from SelfDesign at Seven Summits. This year, with new electives being offered, students had more choice in their course selection. An “Academy” course was created so that students can document and use their training hours towards school credit, freeing more time to work on their other school courses. Courses that include workshops, like woods, have been scheduled around the Academy athletic schedule. Our local and visiting Academy students are realizing great success both in the classroom and on the snow. Some successes so far this year include a 1st place finish in sprint classic for Chiaki Yamamoto at the Vernon Noram and 1st place in classic at the B.C. Provincials, a 10th place for Jacob Tooke at the Red Mountain Canadian Freeski Open, a 4th place for Jane Andison in GS at the Red Mountain Race, and a 5th place for Cirkeline Bigom in Slalom at the Red Mountain Race. Cirkeline was also selected to represent Denmark in the European Youth Olympic Festival. Red Mountain Academy is proud of its student / athletes, and continues to work with the Seven Summits Centre for Learning to ensure that we are providing the best possible program for them.
Do Seven Summits students spend all their time doing online courses? Why not just homeschool if that’s the case? Seven Summits students use an effective combination of online interactive learning and face-toface learning. Currently we have one full-time and two part-time mentors, as well as special education and ESL support.
Do all the students have to be in the Red Mountain Academy? No, not at all. Currently 11 of 45 Seven Summits students are in the Academy.
What about competitive sports? Are there basketball and soccer teams? Due to our small size, aside from the academy programs, we do not currently offer sports teams. However, we do offer such sports as golf, cross-country skiing and tennis.
Are there regular hours or can kids come and go as they please? Students are expected to be at the centre during scheduled school hours, unless given parental permission to work elsewhere. Academy students stay later so that they can spend part of their days training.
Is there arts and music instruction? This year, art workshops have been offered both semesters as an ongoing elective. Many types of music instruction are offered based on individual student interest and community support.
Can students take some courses at RSS or Crowe, and some at Seven Summits? Preference will be given to full-time students, but if there is space, grade 10 to 12 students can cross-enrol.
Are teachers or other supervisors at the centre all the time that students are there? Yes, always.
What courses are available for grades 10-12?
What about holidays and pro-d days? Seven Summits follows the same holiday and pro-d schedule as SD20.
Self Design offers the core academic requirements of Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics and the Sciences as well as a full range of electives at the high school level. See www.selfdesignhigh.org/ descriptions.html
How do I get more information on registering my child at Seven Summits? Email info@sevensummitslearning. com, call 250-362-7772 or go to our website at www.sevensummits learning.com
OUR MISSION: Seven Summits Centre for Learning is a not-for-profit educational centre that provides a highly supportive environment, which strives to support diversity in learning style and cultural background. We guide and nurture learners to discover their passions as academically minded, self-expressive and socially conscious individuals who are inspired to be active for life. OUR VISION is to be an innovative, self-sustaining, accessible and internationally recognized educational provider with strong family, local and global partnerships. Our learners will advance with the knowledge, values and skills that they will need to meet their own goals and to be a positive force in the world. We develop our learner’s skills through participation and exploration in a supportive, nurturing environment, leading them to embrace life-long learning. SEVEN SUMMITS CENTRE FOR LEARNING, Box 2216, Rossland, B.C. V0G 1Y0 Ph: 250-362-7772 email: info@sevensummitslearning.com web: www. sevensummitslearning.com