Galt to add hunting and fishing concentration program
Since 2011, Alexander Galt Regional High School (AGRHS) has developed its concentrations program to motivate students and help decrease the school dropout rate. After significant successes with the sports, visual arts, performing arts, and science concentrations, AGRHS is adding a unique feature to its curriculum: the hunting and fishing concentration.
René Gauthier, French teacher at AGRHS, was the mastermind behind the program. “Many students know that I hunt and fish and showed great interest towards this activity. I had one student that would frequently miss school, and lacked motivation in class, but would light up whenever he would talk to me about hunting and fishing. I wanted to do something to help students like him stay in school and find motivation,” he explained. According to him, several students will miss classes for weeks during deer hunting season.
After founding the hunting and fishing club at AGHRS, Gauthier realized that the students’ interests grew beyond extracurricular activities. “We want to help students improve their wildlife skills, while encouraging them to respect hunting and fishing laws and to participate in wildlife protection and conservation,” he added. Beginning next fall, students in level three, four, and five will be able to take a variety of classes including archery, marksmanship, navigation, traditional harvesting methods, hunting regulations and laws, wildlife management.
The school will partner with the Club de tir Sandhill in Cookshire-eaton for offcampus training, ensuring that no firearms will be brought on campus as required by law. Students will also be closely supervised. “Our goal is to ultimately travel up North to meet with Native communities, to create a relationship with them and understand their culture,” mentioned Gauthier, insisting that part of the course load will focus on the respect and protection of wildlife.
On the nine-day cycle, six blocks will be dedicated to the concentration, including two blocks of in-class theory and two half-days of off-campus training. All students will need their hunting and fishing licence before applying, although Gauthier is working on a summer course that would help students better prepare for getting their licence.
“This project has received lots of support so far. We spoke with the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs and the Fédération québécoise pour le saumon atlantique, and they are very on board and have approved it. We’re also hoping to get an incubator for the salmon, which we would raise and release in the river at the end of the year,” he added. “The students also learn that there are jobs out there that correspond to their passion. It gives them a push.”
Applications for the AGRHS concentrations are still open, whether it be in sports, sciences, visual arts, performing arts, or the new hunting and fishing concentration. The school launched its concentration program in 2011, with around 30 students signing up for the visual arts and sports concentrations in cycle one.
“In 2013, we started offering the science concentration for students in cycle one,” explained Steve Walker, teacher and concentrations coordinator at AGRHS. “In 2014, we opened the sports and visual arts programs to cycle two students, and then in 2017, we inaugurated our performing arts program.” Walker noted that the concentrations now hold around 350 students out of the school’s 950.
“The sports concentration is very popular, because the students are able to choose one sport every term. We offer hockey, basketball, soccer, badminton, and swimming. By the end of the year, they can have focused on three different sports,” stated Walker. “Variety is stimulating for students and it reduces the risk of burnout. However, they can practice the same sport all three terms if they wish.” Students in the sports concentration are also not required to join a sports team. “It’s great for students who have a passion for sports but not necessarily at a competitive level,” he added.
All cycle one concentrations consist of eight blocks per nine-day cycle, with an academic block, while the cycle two programs consist of six blocks. “Allowing the students to practice their passion during class time motivates them,” explained Walker. “The education market has also become more competitive, so it was important for us to keep up with other schools and innovate.”
The visual arts concentration allows its students to dive into a multitude of mediums: painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, fashion design, architecture, and printmaking are just some examples of the curriculum. Students can also expect field trips to museums, art galleries, and visits by local artists.
“Our performing arts program focuses on music, theatre, and dance,” explained Walker. It also allows the students to be involved in the AGRHS’S multidisciplinary theatre productions, which often include dance and music. “The winter play is exclusive to the concentration students, but the spring production, which is usually the larger one, is open to all.”
As for the science concentrations, students in level one and two can expect trips to the Musée des sciences et de la nature de Sherbrooke, to the Mont-mégantic observatory, and to bee colonies. “The program is very hands-on and helps kids develop their curiosity,” added the concentrations coordinator.
“We’ve also developed great partnerships throughout the year with the other local institutions,” noted Walker. “For the sports concentration, we use the arena, gymnasium, and swimming pool at Bishop’s for hockey, swimming, basketball, and badminton. We also head to the Centre Multisports Roland-dussault for indoor soccer and use the BCS gyms at times.” The performing arts program is also looking to partner with BU’S drama department. “Using these institutions’ facilities helps encourage our students to seek higher education,” he mentioned.
That partnership will be honoured on Feb. 16 at the Gaiters’ men’s basketball game in Mitchell Gym. “Our students will be singing the national anthem and the Galt band will be playing at half time. The sports concentration logo will also be revealed at the game to celebrate our implication with Bishop’s,” concluded Walker.
Applications for the concentrations are still open until June. Those who are interested can visit the Galt website at alexandergalt.etsb.qc.ca or email Walker directly at agconcentrations@gmail.com.