When Oilfields High School received a national award for its innovative Quest program last week, the plaque wasn’t presented to the superintendent of schools or the principal.
Fittingly, Dr. Michele Jacobsen, an assistant professor of Education at he University of Calgary, presented the Canadian Education Association’s Ken Spencer Award on Feb. 3 to the most important component of the Quest program – a student, Austin Short.
“I did that deliberately because it is the kids that have to put the sweat equity into this program to make it work,” said Jacobsen who was representing CEA. “They have been able to form strong relationships with each other and formed bonds of trust that will last their lifetimes.
“When I look at each and everyone of them, I couldn’t help but think of them who will take our province into success.”
Black Diamond’s Oilfields High School began looking at alternatives for at-risk students approximately three years ago.
The Quest program, which was born from the school’s highly successful Outward Bound program, was established in the fall and it gives all students the opportunity to learn teamwork and leadership skills through outdoor activities.
It also has the students going out and helping the community, through such activities as a community clean up.
There are approximately 25 students in the program and just like any homeroom in any high school in the province, the Quest classroom has students across the academic spectrum.
Kolton Arthur, a Grade 11 student in the Quest program, has not only had his marks go up this school year, his self-confidence has been given a boost.
“I chose this program because before I didn’t do very well, I failed so many courses,” Arthur said. “Now I can work and I work real hard. I’m sitting in the 70s now and before I was in the 40s.”
Although the Quest students are working on their own modules in different subjects and different grades, he said the teamwork with his fellow Questers motivates him to do his schoolwork.
Quest students aren’t just in the Oilfields High School community, it is part of the entire school community.
For example, Arthur said he is looking forward to representing Oilfields in the upcoming high school rodeo circuit.
Oilfields vice-principal Cynthia Glaicar has been working with the Foothills School Division in bringing the program to the Black Diamond school for the past three years.
She said she is thrilled to have the program receive national recognition. Now, Glaicar is on a quest to help other schools offer the program.
“Our dream is to be able to share what we are doing with other schools and help them with programs in their schools,” Glaicar said. “We are passionate about it. Through this award maybe others will call us and say: ‘What are you doing that is different for kids and how can we make it work at our school?’”
A little bit of national recognition will help promote the program as well.
“We are always looking for funding,” Glaicar said. “We are excited to share this award when we are talking to people about becoming partners in funding this program for youths.”
The Quest program is not being run at the expense of other students.
“We are not pulling funding from other programs to run Quest,” Glaicar said. “We are self-sufficient.”
Jacobsen is definitely a believer in Quest.
“It’s an imaginative program,” Jacobsen said of Quest. “It deliberately focused on relationship but there is a strong emphasis on academics. But it also takes kids out in the community to form bonds with their community.
“This program stood out.”
