Quick Facts Model School

July 2012

The Model School at UWinnipeg's Collegiate

Background Information

The Model School at the University of Winnipeg Collegiate provides students with the opportunity and the support needed to attend the University of Winnipeg Collegiate. The students enrolled in the program are from backgrounds that have traditionally been under represented in both high school and post-secondary graduation rates. The school’s unique placement within The University of Winnipeg community allows the students full access to a University campus with all the resources and reference material, facilities and activities typically available only to university students.

• The Model School opened in September 2008 and since then 22 Model School students have graduated and are either pursuing post-secondary education at UWinnipeg or employed. We currently have 30 students enrolled from grade 9 to grade 12. Three certified teachers work with the students in all core academic subjects and each student accepted into the program is assessed and an Individualized Education Plan is developed where goals, objectives and potential barriers are identified and addressed.

• The Model School program provides the students with opportunities to connect with school, their community and their local environment through hands on, real world learning experiences. This concept is rooted in the integrated core curricular activities of science and ecology, sustainability and stewardship for the environment, Indigenous science, social studies, math, English language arts and fine arts and is expanded upon and applied by extending the classroom into the schoolyard, neighborhood and community. Students have the opportunity to apply the skills and concepts they are studying at school into a real context.

• The Model School first opened as a pilot project as part of the University's broader Community Learning mandate. The goal of all community learning initiatives is to break down the barriers to post-secondary education and provide academic opportunities for students, regardless of socio-economic background.

• All students at the Model School have faced barriers that prevented them from reaching their fullest potential.

• Students in the Model School program receive a full scholarship to attend the University of Winnipeg Collegiate. They are also provided with continued support including transportation costs, nutrition, equipment such as a laptop computer, and materials and membership at the Bill Wedlake Fitness Centre located at the Duckworth Centre. All students are enrolled in the University’s Opportunity Fund Tuition Credit Account program, where they can earn up to $4,000 in tuition credits. They can use these tuition credits upon completion of Grade 12 to attend UWinnipeg.

• Costs including transportation, nutrition, equipment, registration and supplies are all included in the scholarship.

• Potential students are identified and referred by school administrators from local public schools and may also be nominated by non-profit organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Pathways.

• Each student accepted into the program is assessed and an Individualized Education Plan is developed where goals and objectives are identified, ways of achieving the goals are planned, and barriers that may get in the way of achieving academic success are identified.

• The Innovative Learning Centre and the Model School work closely with an Aboriginal non-profit organization, the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre, to extend the students’ school day. The students are encouraged to participate in extra and co-curricular activities that will develop social, emotional as well as academic skills. 

• The Model School students are provided with the opportunity to work full time in the summer at The University of Winnipeg’s Eco-U summer camp. This is a community outreach day camp for inner-city children and youth aged 7 – 12 years old. The Model School students act as junior and senior leaders at Eco-U Summer Camp and are able to apply first hand the skills they developed throughout the school year, including training in First Aid and CPR, Level 1 Coaching certification, refereeing, babysitting certification, etc. 

• There is also has a mentoring component where the students are partnered with University of Winnipeg Faculty of Education year 4 and 5 students. These mentors have scheduled times with the students at school as well as many opportunities to attend local sporting events and other recreational activities with the youth. 

• All students are enrolled in UWinnipeg's Opportunity Tuition Credit Account program, where they can earn up to $4,000 in tuition credits. They can use these tuition credits upon completion of Grade 12 to attend UWinnipeg.

For more information please contact:

Gerri Zacharias

Acting Director - Model School

g.zacharias@uwinnipeg.ca

204-789-1482