About St. Mary Catholic Learning Centre
To serve the diverse needs of learners through night school, summer school, alternative schools, the International Language program, as well as several non-credit programs, the Board has designated St. Mary Catholic Learning Centre (SMCLC) as the hub to coordinate programs.
Continuing Education
The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) is commited to Continuing Education as a vehicle that supports the Board’s vision, mission, and mandate through its role as part of a continuum of learning, designed to provide learner pathways for all students.
The long-term goal of St. Mary Catholic Learning Centre is to support full and part-time students by providing flexible pathways for regular day school students to engage in school to complete a high school diploma and/or transition to post-secondary.
Programs implemented through the Learning Centre are designed to align with Student Success initiatives, engage students and help tailor their education to their individual strengths, goals and interests, as well as support effective transitions.
Continuing education supports learners from school age to adult with personal development and achievement in order for all learners to live significant lives of love and service in Christ.
Continuing education programs are complex because they serve a wide variety of learner needs across multiple programs with different objectives. Under the direction of Principal, Terre Slaght, St. Mary Catholic Learning Centre supports the Board Improvement Plan by ensuring that programs offered are responsive to student and community needs. This is being done by a combination of flexibility, collaboration, advocacy, system thinking and community acumen.
For more information, about the available Continuing Education programs, please visit the the Continuing Education page listed under the Programs menu of this website.
Alternative Education
The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) is also committed to providing individualized programming for students experiencing, for a variety of reasons, significant difficulties with regular attendance.
Available programs include: Alternative Education; Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL); Home Instruction (on school site); Home Instruction (student’s home or alternative location); Long Term Suspension; and, Re-engagement.
All programs provide an individualized approach to:
- a spiritual focus on the Catholic graduate experience;
- credit acquisition (compulsory and optional credits);
- credit recovery for previously failed courses;
- credit rescue of current credits;
- re-engagement;
- suspension/expulsion;
- participation in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT);
- literacy course;
- community service hours.
Support includes but is not limited to:
- teachers;
- social workers;
- child and youth workers;
- mental health;
- principal(s);
- clerical/secretarial;
- community partners, mental health professionals, policing;
- special education resources.
Program goals:
- appreciation for the value of learning;
- academic achievement;
- application of a positive attitude;
- increased attendance;
- develop/enhance the ability to work independently;
- return to home school or daily program.
For more information, please visit the Alternative Education listed under the Programs menu of this website.
Resources
Registration
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) schools (Grades 9 to 12) are open to ALL students. If you are registered in one of our Catholic elementary schools, your child will have the opportunity to connect with their local Catholic High School to learn about the school and courses. If you are not registered in our Catholic system, please contact the Catholic High School closest to your residence or the Catholic Education Centre (519-756-6369) for registration information.
Secondary students register to attend St. Mary Catholic Learning Centre (SMCLC) via one of BHNCDSB's three secondary schools. Students must speak to their guidance counsellor or their vice principal for more details on programs available at SMCLC and the options for registration to attend SMCLC.
Contacts
Alternative Education
Principal
Amy Pimentel
T. 519-753-0552, 519-756-6505 ext. 12402
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Alternative & Continuing Education Secretary
Hailey Bouckhuyt
T. 519-753-0552, 519-756-6505 ext. 12407
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Alternative Education Secretary Receptionist
Anne Marie Watts
T. 519-753-0552, 519-756-6505 ext. 12408
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Special Education & Mental Health
Student Support Services Secretary
Natasha Caldwell
T. 519-756-6505, ext. 12400 / 11267
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
