Rainbow District School Board and N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the N’Swakamok Native Alternative School Oct. 15.
The purpose of the document is to strengthen educational opportunities for Indigenous students within our city, ensure students have equitable access to all available pathways in completing their secondary school diploma, connect students with post-secondary education, apprenticeships and/or the workplace, and provide support services for Indigenous students to ensure success for all, said a press release from the school board.
The N'Swakamok Native Alternative School operates as a satellite of Sudbury Secondary School in partnership with the N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre.
The Friendship Centre provides the facility and two staff members - a Native Education Support Worker and a Clerical Support Worker. Rainbow District School Board provides the teaching staff.
To attend the school First Nations, Métis and Inuit students must be a minimum of 18 years old and out of school for a period of time. Students work at their own pace on independent learning courses modified to include Native content. Students receive one-on-one assistance from teachers.
The N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre provides a warm and friendly environment where students have access to all other programs and services offered within the Centre.
It also offers an adult literacy program providing Native adults with an opportunity to upgrade their literacy and numeracy skills so they can one day successfully complete credit courses towards their secondary school diploma.
