OUR SCHOOL | Student Experience

A DIFFERENT WAY TO LEARN

Our students strive to create spaces of trust and democracy, ensuring that the division we see so persistently in our country right now does not become the norm. Through regional and national partnerships, students have the opportunity to meet, network, and lead with other students and adults from across the region, country, and world.

NON-TRADITIONAL
EDUCATIONAL MODELS

In today’s world, teaching information alone is no longer enough. Students need to learn how to problem-solve, collaborate, analyze, and think critically. Algoma Venture Academy uses the following educational approaches in order to ensure all students are ready for life after high school:

STUDENT BENEFITS

PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT
TO CHOOSE A NON-TRADITIONAL PATH

FOCUS ON LIFE
SKILLS MORE SO
THAN TRADITIONAL
SETTINGS

REAL WORLD
EXPERIENCE VIA
PRESENTATIONS,
PROJECTS AND
EXPERIENCES
WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY
BUSINESSES AND
ORGANIZATIONS

STILL GET ACCESS
TO ALL THE
EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES AND
STUDENT SUPPORT
OFFERED THROUGH
ALGOMA SCHOOL
DISTRICT

STRONG
TEACHER-STUDENT
RELATIONSHIPS -
ONE ON ONE OR
SMALL GROUPS

GREAT FOR
STUDENTS WHO
LEARN BEST
THROUGH
HANDS-ON
LEARNING

SAME CREDIT
REQUIREMENTS
APPLY, WHILE
TRANSCRIPTS
MAY LOOK
DIFFERENT, THEY
ARE STILL
ACCEPTED BY
INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER LEARNING

GREAT FOR
STUDENTS WHO
LEARN BEST
THROUGH
HANDS-ON
LEARNING

SAME CREDIT REQUIREMENTS APPLY, WHILE TRANSCRIPTS MAY LOOK DIFFERENT, THEY ARE STILL ACCEPTED BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING

NO ONE CAN SAY IT AS WELL AS OUR
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

"Many students can’t sit still and want to learn by experiencing and using their hands. I love that the school is actually doing things and not just talking about things."

- Algoma Venture Academy Parent

"I like that I can learn by actually doing and not just sitting."

- Algoma Venture Academy Student

"My daughter disappeared and got lost in the other schools. The traditional learning path was not showing her true talents. She is creative and she was being measured by tests. This new path was made for my daughter."

- Algoma Venture Academy Parent

"I want to make sure my daughter is ready for the real world. They teach you real-world situations rather than the material or specific learning competencies."

- Algoma Venture Academy Parent

"I think the community link is important because I get to get out of school and learn in the community."

- Algoma Venture Academy Student

"You cannot hide at Algoma Venture Academy. Each student is expected to not just survive, but to thrive."

- Algoma Venture Academy Parent

"My daughter hated school until she started at Algoma Venture Academy. She did not feel she belonged. She has been allowed to be her own person. She has agency. She has morphed into a kid that can make her own learning decisions and leads others rather than follows."

- Algoma Venture Academy Parent

"I never thought I would enjoy growing plants. Now they are my biggest priority."

- Algoma Venture Academy Student

"We have expectations and expected benchmarks. But the STUDENT gets to decide the path to the benchmarks."

- AVA Governance Board Member

"I do not want to talk my kid into having to go to school. The kids should feel safe and comfortable at school. They get to be true to who they are and learn through their strengths."

- Algoma Venture Academy Parent

"I love that they can be independent. They can work through their strengths. She gets to take her passions and run with them."

- Algoma Venture Academy Parent

"My daughter is learning real skills that can be used in EVERYTHING that she does. It is not a memorize and regurgitate. She is learning how to interact with adults and behave as a team."

- Algoma Venture Academy Parent

“Kids deserve the right to think they can change the world.”

      - Lois Lawry