A new program at a local high school is giving students an opportunity to march to the beat of their own drum.
Orillia Secondary School is offering a specialist high-skills major (SHSM) in music, arts and entertainment.
A SHSM allows students to receive focused instruction in a specific area of study, while they complete their regular curriculum. When they graduate, their diplomas will have a red seal that indicates their completion of the major.
Laura Lee Matthie, arts chair and music teacher at the school, has been working toward this day for two years. The application process required her to secure commitments from community partners willing to help students taking part in the program.
“Once I contacted them and they understood what the program was all about, they were totally on board,” Matthie said.
There are a number of partners in this area as well as across the province, including the Orillia Opera House and the Metalworks Institute in Mississauga.
“A lot of them realized this is good for the kids,” Matthie said.
The SHSM is for students in grades 11 and 12 who have an idea of what they want to do after high school. It equips them with certifications, including those that are required for all SHSM programs, such as CPR and first aid.
“It’ll make them look different ... everywhere they go,” Matthie said. “It shows that they’ve persevered and are dedicated. It’ll give them a leg up.”
Each of Orillia’s high schools offers different SHSM programs, including hospitality and construction, but the music, arts and entertainment program at Orillia Secondary School is the first of its kind in town. A few other schools in Simcoe County offer the program, and Matthie said she will look at sharing resources and other ways to partner with them on events like workshops and field trips.
Orillia Secondary School is known for its innovative music program, so having this SHSM “is a natural fit,” Matthie said.
Students are asked to sign up as soon as possible, as the province needs the final numbers by the end of the month. There are required and elective courses that come with it. The electives will depend on the amount of interest shown.
If students sign up and later feel the program is not for them, they can opt out and seamlessly continue their regular studies.
“It seems like a win-win situation for them. They might as well give it a try,” Matthie said.
