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i 3eCommunty Page 7LaeUâier 8-281 !Milton's Gary Allan High Sehool offers unique approach to high school education 7-1 By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion Miltonian EarI Wells knows first hand that getling an education cornes with a price. F(<r him, that price iclucles lonsg days and shs<fl n<ghts. In the mor<3«3g. he's just lik' a<fy oiier student, tak<ng clas'ses ai1 Ga<ry Ailan H<gh Sch«,<4 1< eam h<s high scho«l d<plomna. But hy the atemoon, hc's w<3rk«3g a lulI-time j«b - <re that doesn'i e<3d until midnight. He caitches 5562< litile steep he cao each nighî helore w2<k«3g 16<3 school the nexî moming. Stilt. there isn'i the slightesi hesitation when Mr. Wells sa<ys the hectic schedule is worth it. You see, Mr. Wells, 41, mîssed oui on eamning h<s h<gh schoot diploma the first lime around. As a teenager, he was lured 10 the working world hefore graduatîng. And so, for the past iwo years, he's heen taking classes ai Gary Allan High School on Ontario Street - an alternative schooi designed for nia- dents pursuing their edacation in a non-tradition- ai manner. "It'it be weird punting on the graduation cap," Mr. Wells said. îaking a hreak from his studies. "When i was yoanger, I'd sec aIl these older peo- pie graduaiing and say, 'Look ai those old peo- pIe!"'. Now, he said. hîs attiude is dîffereni. "My perspective on edaucation changed a loi since i had kids.' The newiy'renovated Milton school offers high school credits ouiside of the usual high schooi senîing, providing for flexible timetables and some evening hours. There are no scheduied classes, hut an independent study format. Studenis can regisier ai any time daring the school year. 'Me reasons studenis attend the school are var- ied, said Milton site supervisor Jan Burns. A i 7-year-old raring io go might take a few courses tn, graduate early. An 86-year-old who currently takes classes wants 10 keep his mmid active and have a place he cao go everyday 10 socialize. And people like Mr. Wells, who didn'i com- plete high school, cao take care of some "unlin- ished business," Ms Bums said. There are also students who need to complete a few courses as college. universiiy or appren- iiceship pre-requisiies, and students who decide mid-career they wanî to, spend theie remaining working years doing something different. Still others wani to îîpdate their skills tn, advance their cancers. "A diverse group cornes to the high school," said Ms Bums, who han heen working in somte capacity in alternative education for eight yeams. Gary Ailan High School offers courses at a grade 10 to 12 level, as well as some ai the workplace, college and university levels -in math, Engiish, business, computer, science, and social science. Teachers work one-on-one with students, who are required te, attend at leasi six-and-a-half hours each week. per course. A $35 registration fee is ail that's required. Under the umbrella of the Gary Allan High School are other alternative programs including STEP (Secondary Teen Education Programn) and TEAM (Teen Education and Motherhood). There are Gary Allan locations in Burlington, Georgetown and Oakville, as well as Milton. Although Mr. Wells already has hîs GED (gen- eral equivalency diploma), he said he wants to eam his high school diploma to give him an edge as he works dloser to his goal of eaming his miii wright diploma. Right now, he's an industrial maintenance mechantc. "It seems that everything from high school has heen leading up tu this occupation:' he said of heing a millwright. "Everything points to thts." He said he hopes te, write the millwright test next year. Mr. Wells said he didn't retum to school just for himself. He also did it 10 set an exampie for his three leenaged children. "l'm also here tu help my daughter - to show her that learning neyer ends," he said, adding his daughter, 19, also takes courses at the school. There will he one prohlemn once he reaches his goal. Mr. Wells noted. -l'Il he hored," he joked. More seriously he added: -l'Il he able to breathe and flot have so much work on my shoulders. lits through helping students like Mr. Wells reach their potential that Ms Bums said she knows she's in the night profession. "We're always capahle of more than we think we are," she said. "But unless we challenge ourselves, we'll neyer find out.' For more information on any of Gary Allan's programns, visit www.gaeyallan.ca or caîl (905) 878-2244. Stephianie T/tiessen <an be re'ached at sthiessen@nntltonc-anadianc-hampion <-om. WVCOGECO fmiy Lo"a Television www.cogoco.CO NORTH HAITON STUDIO Laurier Plaza 500 Laurier Avenue Milton, ON L9T 4R3 Cogeco Cable 9,10 11- , 2 30PIa 7 30pln 530- 630- 3383<38333 <36,33.383 333<8333- 033333 O 3.3 Programming Schedule - Tuesday, November 2 - Monday, November 8, 2004 «o,,,««< '3« wg, nbw 333.33«<33838 PI=3< Swap Talk Rap3a 3 il <8S« 3333- <vIn <s,< S<,<3< 30s 3<333 23 OC25204 5w&6- P' ' .- F.C<s.v J,03 F-1 12 «« 30a V gýoS' US vw «<m n<3fl3 <3333 733 00pn 38333 3,33<8 îe,, C33,383, 2<3<33 S'33 Il F33 s o 33.3 5<3<<5<833 <33383333 AHLHocey 80 ve o'n -1 1 TVCo pco CIleandEKA 1 vs- Ha iqlto FXRa, 73 pm'gdl r Gar Ale HiilOco a aupuviso Jan Bume go.. over an a"sgnnunt wffh atUdant E&I W"N Photo by GRAHAM PAINE KAI ý Pluffl II EXTRA