12/02/2010

LPP Career Fair

The Continuing Education Service of the New Frontiers School Board attended a career fair hosted by our friends of la Polyvalente Louis-Philippe-Paréin Chateauguay (part of the Grandes-Seigneuries School Board).  This event was made to give parents more information on choices available (Voc Ed, CEGEPS, University).  Although a modest crowd attended, people there were attentive to our offer, especially since parents were attending with their siblings for the most part.  The main focus was to show how Vocational Education is available in Chateauguay... in English!.  A document was offered explaining our offer (which assumes functional English as a prerequisite).  We are looking forward in attending next year!

Again, our mobile Welding Booth was a great attraction!

Welding Project in Kanawake

During the summer, a Kahnawake community representative asked a NOVA welding teacher if there was a possibility that his class could design and fabricate a new fence around the epitaph in Kahnawake. The old one was falling apart from rust and had been hit by cars and the snow plow. The welding teacher went with three students to take measurements and come up with a design. A first semester NOVA drafting student, also worked on the project in preparing the drawings. After 3 weeks of working in the NOVA welding shop,  the sections were completed and ready for onsite installation. Prior to their arrival on site, the pipes were installed for each section by a private contractor hired by the Kahnawake council according to the predetermined dimensions. It  required 2 days of onsite work to install the 19 sections, 2 gates,and cap posts.

NOVA Booming in FG Programme

The FG (Adult General Education) programme at Nova C.E.C. has seen a dramatic increase in enrolment for the Fall and Winter 2009-2010 semesters, to almost double the usual number of students registered as either full or part-time.

As usual, Nova tries to accommodate all student enquiries regarding enrolment, therefore we have a practice of variable entry which means that students were accepted into various courses at variable times throughout September, October and November. As a result, the class lists have been ever-changing, week-to-week, with the biggest change occurring on November 2nd when a second large group of 40 students, mostly aged 17-20 and at the cycle I level, started their FG learning programme with three new FG teachers: Katie Cashion, Ali Ghassemi, and Judy Murphy. This group embarked on a timetable focused on the core subjects of English language arts, French second language, and Math.

The enrolment process will begin anew for all students, even those returning, who want to continue their learning programme in the Winter 2010 semester.  What a year!

Artwork at NOVA

The new artwork on the Phase III of NOVA has been installed!  This artwork is the brainchild of Mr. Pierre Blanchette. 



Mr. Blanchette named his work "GO!", an indication on the mandate of the building, but also the ongoing message that the NOVA staff are relaying to the students.  The concept is obviously related to the RV program (...on the road again...), and represents actual and official road signs, but with a different colored view...  It can be easily seen from the soccer fields of HSB.