Students welcome opportunity

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ASSUMPTION - the students in the lifeskills and upgrading programs here feel they are very fortunate to be able to attend, and see the opportunity as a new beginning. Most of the students are guaranteed employment upon completion of the program.

This is the first time the lifeskills program has been available here. The upgrading program was offered once before but fell by the wayside. The program has since been revised in order to better serve the community.

The lifeskills program is aimed at bringing the best out of each student, building confidence, problem solving ability and hands on training. The students registered in the course are all women, with the exception of one male.

"There is a strong network in the created environment, and the students are actively participating in the problem solving," said instructor Eric Nelson.

Most of the students in both these programs have been out of school for eight to 10 years.

Math, English and Social Studies are the three main subjects offered in the upgrading program. Here again, the students are found to be very responsible, and very interested in getting an education in order to pursue their goals. Ed Stelmaschuk, the instructor, says teaching this group has been his greatest reward.

Stelmaschuk says this is his first time teaching and living in a Native environment, and he has truly enjoyed it. He was a school principal for 12 years in Saskatchewan, and took his Ph.D. in Edmonton.

The students are looking forward to the completion of the programs, with some planning on going on to college to get the skills required for their choice of career.

These programs are but two of the positive happenings in Assumption.