YouLearn.ca (Okanagan Similkameen – School District 53)

 

Most people are aware of the many elementary and high schools in our district. These schools are highly visible with their buildings, playing fields and students. However, some people are unaware that there is a school in the district that caters to kindergarten students all the way to adults but it is not as visible as all the rest. It is the school district’s distributed learning school called YouLearn.ca. This school has three campuses: one in Oliver on the SOSS campus, one in Osoyoos inside of OSS and one in Keremeos in the old school district building. However, most students access this school through the school’s website at YouLearn.ca.

YouLearn provides a number of high school required and elective courses. YouLearn offers computer courses such as Digital Painting, Photoshop Creative Core and Intro to 3D graphics and unique elective courses such as Equine Studies, Forensic Science, Psychology and Accounting. Furthermore, their online Math courses allow students to work at their own pace through the curriculum. All oftheir courses can be viewed on their website under the “Courses” tab. New this year is an introductory computer class entirely devoted to the iPAD!

There are several groups who benefit from youlearn’s services.

Parents who choose to educate their children at home receive resources and support from youlearn to deliver the curriculum to their children.

High schools students take youlearn courses for a variety of reasons which include: they cannot fit a courses into their school schedule, they want to study at their own pace, they want to upgrade a mark,or they find courses that are not offered at their home school.

Ungraduated adults take courses at youlearn to complete their graduation requirements.

Graduated adults take courses at youlearn to upgrade courses that are required for post-secondary programs.

Students of all ages come to YouLearn to upgrade their language, math or computer skills through foundation courses.

Principal Glen Heinrichs states his desire for youlearn is to help everyone gain access to a quality education.

“We want to help home school parents educate their children. We want to help our high school students get the courses they need for graduation. We want to help ungraduated adults graduate and graduated adults to qualify for post-secondary programs. We are here to help in any way we can.”

If you want more information on what Youlearn can offer, visit them at www.youlearn.ca.