In order to achieve high levels of health and wellness, a constant balance and maintenance of physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual components are essential. With that said, Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School held a Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) program launch last Tuesday.
Teacher Marc Poirier was at the helm of the event, which featured students and staff displaying the intricacies of yoga, human kinetics and many other aspects of health and wellness. The surrounding area of Holy Trinity’s “cafetorium” was loaded with educational displays and students were serving food for all in attendance as well.
The SHSM was launched in 2006 and is a part of the Student Success Strategy initiative, which focuses on expanding quality learning and success for all high school students. It is an Ontario Ministry of Education approved program which enables students to focus their learning on a specific program of their interest, all the while meeting the requirements for their high school diploma. It is a career-focused program designed to help students make a smooth transition from high school to the working world. Each major is a bundle of 8-10 courses in the student's selected field and is geared toward students who are heading for an apprenticeship, college, university or the workplace. Many Ontario colleges and universities are now recognizing students who receive a Health and Wellness SHSM certificate. Students in the health and wellness major will study a bundle of nine Grade 11 and 12 credits in which they’ll need to earn:
· Four health and wellness major credits
· One English credit, one math credit and one science course tailored to include units focused on health and wellness
· Two cooperative education credits to gain workplace experience that enables students to refine, extend and practice sector-specific knowledge and skills
· Experiential learning, career exploration and reach ahead activities within the sector
· Certifications and training programs/courses in first aid, CPR, infection control and hazardous materials
· Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector
Notable occupations related to the SHSM include: kinesiologists, child care workers, audiologists, fitness instructors, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, youth workers, hospital porters and medical technicians.
The Health and Wellness program is the second Specialist High Skills Major program at Holy Trinity. In 2009 they launched a similar program in Arts and Culture.
