Programs at Austin O'Brien
Advanced Placement
Educational Experiences
Golf Academy
Ukrainian Bilingual
Polish Bilingual
Summer School
 Advanced
Placement
"The
Advanced Placement Program is a challenging academic program designed to provide
motivated high school students with college-level academic courses. Established
in 1955 by the College Board, the AP program is a cooperative education endeavor
between secondary schools and colleges and universities. High school students
who complete AP courses demonstrate their mastery of subject material by earning
qualifying grades on AP Examinations."
Approximately ten years ago, teachers at Austin O'Brien became aware of this
academically challenging and beneficial program to enhance student success and
interest both at the high school and university level. The program was being
offered in St. Albert and in other sites in Alberta, Canada, United States and
all over the world. In particular there was interest in offering the Calculus AP
portion of the program to enhance programming for students that had been fast
tracked in junior high and to better prepare students who would be entering the
engineering and science faculties and would need to take the dreaded first year
calculus course. Through the St. Albert board, Edmonton Catholic was able to use
Math 35 (AP Calculus) and apply to Alberta Learning for approval of this locally
developed course. Students taking this course and going on to the University of
Alberta taking a first year calculus course have constantly achieved outstanding
results. Over the years of success and interest of students in this course have
further led to students pursuing AP English at Austin O'Brien and this past year
the Studio Art course. In addition, Austin O’Brien is currently exploring the
possibility of offering AP courses in the Sciences.
"For more information about the AP Program as offered by Edmonton Catholic
Schools click
here"
"For more information about the University of Alberta and the AP Program click
here"
An underlying principle of Catholic education is the recognition that all
human beings possess dignity and value. The objectives of the Edmonton Catholic
School District reflect this. Catholic schools are committed to the growth of
academic skills, personal skills, Christian faith, social responsibility, and
physical and mental health for all students. The Educational Experiences program
Level I, II and III have been developed based on these fundamental principles.
E.E. I Program
The Educational Experiences Level I Program at the senior high level
has been established to suit the specific needs of dependently handicapped
students. The students identified for placement in this program may have skills
and abilities ranging from little to complete mobility, from inability to make
needs known to adequate communication, and from a general unresponsiveness to
the environment to good direct behaviour.
The EEI program at Austin O'Brien meets the specific needs and
developmental goals for each student. It is geared to provide a structured
educational environment to foster skills in motor development as well as basic
communication and social skills. Special attempts are made to organize
curricular activities in the class and in the community. This gives the students
an opportunity to develop their skills in a practical manner in preparation for
life after leaving school.
E.E. II Program
The Educational Experiences Level II Program has been established to
accommodate students who have traditionally been referred to as the `trainable
mentally handicapped'. The students identified for placement in this program are
not able to achieve in the traditional academic subjects but are capable of
profiting from instruction/modelling in the development of receptive /
expressive communication, basic computation and living /vocational skills. They
may require consistent and continuous supervision of their activities for life.
Although these students require very specific educational and occupationally
related programs and services, their needs can generally be met within the
regular school setting. The Educational Experiences Program Level II is based on
the premise that each child is entitled to an opportunity to achieve his/her
full potential to grow physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and
spiritually.
E.E. III Program
The Educational Experiences Level III program at the senior high level has been
established to assist in the education of students with moderate, broad based
learning difficulties. Placement in an Educational Experiences level III class
is available only upon the recommendation of a certified psychologist who has
reviewed the student's mental abilities and regular classroom functioning. This
placement will give attention to the student's specific educational needs.
Students identified for placement in this program are usually significantly
behind others at his grade level in all traditional academic subjects. Students
in this program can benefit from instruction in the development of
receptive/expressive communication, basic computation, reading and writing
skills as well as living/vocational skills.
Upon leaving school some will be able to hold a job and manage their affairs
with varying levels of assistance.
The golf program at Austin O'Brien will enable students in grades 10 through 12
who are highly motivated towards careers in the golf profession to acquire
playing, teaching and business related skills that are prerequisites to success
in the golf industry. Students will attend core academic courses in the
afternoon and take part in a structured golf training program and course play in
the mornings of the second semester. The golf program stresses strong academic
performance while at the same time accommodating the development of outstanding
golf skills. The golf program will provide comprehensive golf training to
develop swing mechanics, course management strategies and mental skills required
by golfers who wish to play at the highest level. The golf program is open to
both male and female golfers. Program includes indoor instruction and students
will play a variety of courses in the city.
All golf lessons are provided by golf professionals certified by the Canadian
Professional Golf Association as Class "A" Teaching Professionals.
Some of the areas covered by the Golf Academy:
- Swing Skills
- Course Management
- Mental Skills
- Physical Conditioning
- Nutrition
- Golf Instruction
- Basic Club Repair and Maintenance
- Club Fitting
- Golf Business Management
- Golf Course Operations
- Course Maintenance
The Ukrainian Bilingual program brings in students from all over the city to
study Ukrainian Language Arts. The students have this subject together with
their Religious Studies class. The remainder of their schedule follows our
regular timetable.
Polish Language Arts 10 (5 Credits)
The program is offered to students who have attended both the elementary and
junior high Polish Bilingual program at St. Basil School. Students with
proficient command of the Polish language who have not been enrolled in the
Polish Bilingual Program may be considered based on principal consent. This is a
high school expansion of the 12 year Polish Bilingual program. The regular high
school program is complemented by Polish Language Arts (5 credits per year) and
Religious Studies with Polish content (3 credits per year). The purpose of the
program is to increase levels of student fluency in reading, writing, speaking
and listening which will lead to the development of effective communicators in
Polish language. Students are provided with numerous opportunities to learn and
use the language in meaningful, purposeful ways to meet their needs, interests
and abilities. The familiarization with the dynamic nature of Polish culture
through the various perspectives of historical elements, contemporary elements, diversity and change is
intended to be integrated with
language learning. Religious Studies course offers an opportunity to explore
Polish Catholic traditions and
rituals.
Summer school at Austin O'Brien High School provides students with a number
of educational opportunities. They may enroll in courses to create room in
their timetable in the following school year, to take courses of interest, to
create a spare for studying, to improve a mark, or to upgrade into a more
academically challenging program. The summer school at Austin O'Brien runs each
day in the morning during the month of July. To register or to gain further
information please visit Life Long Learning at:
www.lifelonglearning.ecsd.net/summer.htm
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