The First Class - Central Lakes Regional Planning Team

“I chose to do the Dual Credit because I thought it would be a unique experience that would show me what to expect when I move on to post-secondary school. Some benefits I have encountered have been experiencing new and cool art forms. I feel I could have participated much more. I feel this (Dual […]

“I’ve never been very outspoken. A combination of my Asperger’s Syndrome and general discomfort with leading conversations and discussions had severely limited my interactions with others. Although I was understandably uncomfortable taking part in a course based around public speaking with other students who were complete strangers to me, with time invested in this class […]

I chose to take the “blueprint reading” dual credit program mainly because of the course content; such a course is not offered at my school at the high-school level. The only challenge I have encountered thus far is having no previous knowledge of the course content. The skill-set I have gained from the course has […]

Participating in this Dual Credit has been a great experience for me. It made earning a credit a lot easier for me and the environment made me feel a lot more at ease. It also helped me a bit with my social anxiety. Participating in this has also helped me further myself in my art. […]

What the Dual Credit program has done for me is something that I never thought was possible. It was a great valuable, fun, experience that I will always be thankful for and I’m very grateful be one of those who took part in this opportunity. Before Dual Credit, I just wanted to get my high […]

The dual credit program has been an amazing and rewarding experience. The professors and support staff were exceptional as well as the course content being very compelling. Through grade eleven I was in and out of school a lot, and that lead to me dropping out in grade twelve after going through a lot of […]

Eighteen-year-old Samantha Todd took her first dual credit in the fall of 2016. She says studying Sustainable Materials, Finishes and Furnishings from the Interior Decorating program turned out to be a great choice. “This was a great experience for me where I got both a high school credit and college credit, and now I’m closer […]

Jen Thompson admits attendance was an issue for her in high school. The almost-17-year-old ended up failing two courses because of her habit of skipping class to hang out with her friends. But since she joined the School within a College program at the Barrie campus of Georgian College, her work habits have greatly improved, […]

Cyndy Booth is the mother of a two year old daughter who fell behind in high school because of her pregnancy. But connecting with the dual credit program at Georgian College is helping her catch up and providing motivation for her future. “Before I got pregnant, I wanted to (go to college), but I just […]

“I came to the dual credit program to get the last three credits I need to graduate and without this program, I doubt I’d be graduating anytime soon. Depression took my grade 12 year away from me. I couldn’t face high school any longer, adult learning programs were out of the question, but getting credits […]

If at first you don’t succeed…. Christopher Hiscock learned about dual credits when he was attending the Angus Alternative School. He was excited about the opportunity to take a college credit that would count towards his secondary diploma. But the first course he chose didn’t suit him, and he dropped out. But Christopher didn’t give […]

For the first time ever, Georgian College has awarded a scholarship to a student who has taken a dual credit here and gone on to enroll in a full time program. The inaugural winner is Megan Federovich, a graduate of Innisdale Secondary School in Barrie and now in her second semester of the Child and […]

In his own words, Joey Giovannone was “arrogant and immature” at his regular high school. He was behind in credit accumulation, was skipping classes and didn’t get along with others at his school. Today though Joey has accepted a spot in Georgian College’s Police Foundations program complete with a spot in residence in Orillia this […]

Less than a year ago, Julia Sutherland was not attending school. As of June, she will be a high school graduate with four college credits on her transcript. And the 17-year-old can thank, in part, the dual credit program at Georgian. In the Summer of 2016, Julia took a chance and signed up for a […]

Emma Palmer demonstrates the range of students taking dual credits at Georgian College. The program is designed for students facing challenges towards graduation but that does not mean that these students are not academically strong. The challenges are often connected to social and mental health. Emma came to dual credit on the Muskoka campus following […]

Even though the college is between semesters, ten dual credit courses started this week at three different Georgian College campuses, along with one secondary school. The dual credit project, a partnership of the college and five school boards has long run compressed courses in the spring to meet student need. “Most of our spring […]

As part of provincial policy, every dual credit student receives the support of a secondary teacher while attending Georgian College. The role encompasses a wide range of duties, from ensuring students know when a bus is bringing them to campus, to reminding them about assignments, to helping out when a crisis hits. Craig Robertson, who […]

In addition to Georgian’s convocation, School within a College (SWAC) graduation ceremonies were held at our Barrie, Owen Sound, South Georgian Bay and Midland campuses in June. These classes allow secondary students to finish their high school diplomas in an alternative setting while also earning college credits. Many SWAC students faced significant barriers to graduation, […]

Having the option to sample a non-traditional career has led a Bracebridge student to consider a trades career. Mackenzie Gillan was part of the Electrical Installations dual credit on the Muskoka campus in the fall, one of just two girls in the class. She decided to take the course so she could gain more experience […]

More than 300 secondary school students completed dual credits at Georgian College this fall, and many are raving about the experience. Among the twenty-one courses offered across seven campuses was Criminology, taught by instructor Noelle Kirk. Jenna McAlendin wasn’t sure about leaving her high school to come to Georgian to take Criminology, but she says […]

19-year-old Skysin Solorzano is full of excitement and a few happy tears since she received news of her acceptance to the Business Administration-Accounting program at Georgian this January. After dropping out of high school, she held a belief that she would never go to college. She is very grateful things have changed. “If it weren’t […]

Kyla Cosier is among the high school students who expect to graduate through the School within a College(SWAC) program running at Georgian College in partnership with her school board. She’s had medical issues and suffered a significant family loss which led her to be under credited in school. However, the chance to come to the […]

Jess Smith was like many high school students—a little uncertain about her future and unsure about her abilities. She was considering a career as an Early Childhood Educator; through the hands on learning in her dual credit program, she now has the confidence to follow through on that plan. “I knew I needed to push […]

Oliva Spencer has her guidance counsellor to thank for introducing her to dual credit as an option to gain high school credits. “We discussed how it would help me in my future as well as helping me finish high school. For me that was the key – the dual nature of the benefits,” she explains. […]

Seventeen-year-old James Juneau from Midland admits that he struggled with motivation in secondary school. “I’ve really had no idea where I wanted to go and I didn’t really get any ideas of what I wanted to be, or how my skills would help people,” he says. “To be honest I struggled with even knowing who […]

The world needs more tradespeople, and for Ashlie Elkerton that couldn’t be better news. As a student of the Small Engine Function & Design Dual Credit in Midland, Ashlie spent the past few months test driving her dream career. “I love cars. I’m currently enrolled in an extremely rich co-op placement at a mechanic shop […]

For Kharesa Jamieson, a Grade 12 student from St Theresa’s High School in Midland, taking a dual credit will help her graduate with her peers and explore a career path. She is studying Introduction to Psychology at the Midland campus of Georgian College. “I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and had to take my Grade […]

Christal Ouimette left home on Saugeen First Nation at 15 years of age to live by herself. Six years later she is on the dean’s list at Georgian College while mentoring other Indigenous students. The path between those two points wasn’t easy, but Christal credits the Flex School within a College program on the Owen […]

Jack St John was hit with the challenge of ulcerative colitis in grade 11. The triple A hockey player who has posted 100-point seasons in his career was sidelined by the inflammatory bowel disease that flares up unpredictably. He missed many weeks of school in grades 11 and 12 leaving him five credits short of […]

I have really enjoyed this program. It gave me a good view of what college is and how it feels like to be a student. I choose this course because I was interested in Architectural Design and this perfect opportunity had come up for me. I am able to go to college and high school […]

I really enjoyed the dual credit course; I feel that it has helped me in so many ways. Having the chance to go to college when you’re still in high school helps you better understand what there is out there for you after you are done high school. I really think that dual credit has […]

I was pretty bored with school and only liked working in Mr. Muir’s shop. After about a year and a trip to the Toronto Boat Show, I knew that the boating business and power sports was for me. I told my Mom and Dad I decided to take the dual credit course and also that […]

Dual Credit Tool Kit: The First Class

LINE GAME

MARSHMALLOW STUDY

MUSIC FOR POWERPOINT