Amiskwaciy Academy offering grades 7 to 12

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The Amiskwaciy Academy, located at 101 Airport Road in Edmonton, is expanding. It will now be offering junior high classes, as well as grades 10, 11 and 12.

Principal Dr. Phyllis Cardinal said the idea that the school should offer the extra grades came from the Edmonton Public School board in 2002. The academy then took it from there.

The move will give the Aboriginal community an opportunity to choose a school that is both unique and specific to their needs. She estimates that about 400 students will be attending this year.

The high school offers programs that spring from an Aboriginal perspective, as well as a wide variety of sports and social activities. The academy also incorporates Aboriginal ceremonies and prayer each day.

She said that all programs offered to the higher grades will be offered to the junior high students as well. This will give them a chance to explore their history while getting a good sound academic education, which will lead to a high school graduation.

"They will have an opportunity to learn about their culture, history and language. As Aboriginal students, I think that this an opportunity and an incentive to work towards becoming a high school student first of all and then working towards graduating from high school while retaining your culture," she said.

"We are presently taking registration at the school and have two career councillors taking the applications and setting up the interviews with the parents and students. Preferably, registration will wind up at the end of August, but we've taken students right up until the end of September before. We were off to a slow start but I believe this move is generating a lot of interest and I believe that it is picking up," Dr. Phillis Cardinal said.

Cardinal said the school has made the necessary space available for the student.

"I think that we have a beautiful facility, dedicated and hard-working staff to make things possible for young people. [I] invite the students and parents to come and have a look at Amiskwaciy Academy and to see if they feel that it might be something that they would want to pursue," she said.

Cardinal said the school has a lot of potential and opportunities and that they are in the process of establishing partnerships with different communities and businesses.

"One of the more recent ones was with Duvall Publishing. They've designated a cash scholarship for our students upon the completion of Grade 12. Whoever has the highest marks will receive $1,000 toward their education or employment or whatever they choose. These are some of the scholarships that are coming about," she said.

"In addition to that there are a number of other programs available, such as connections with businesses for employment opportunities and the Rotary Club leadership camps. We also have our Elders onsite who also work with both the Aboriginal staff and non-Aboriginal staff so that they are sensitized to our needs as Aboriginal people," she said.

"It is great here. I believe that the students really love their teachers. If you ask them, they will say that teachers are very significant," she said.