A.W.O.L. (Authentic World Of Learning)
Each Wednesday afternoon, students leave the school to take part in authentic activities in their community.
Program Overview
The AWOL program is a structured experiential learning initiative that aligns with key academic outcomes by bridging classroom learning with real-world application. Offered on Wednesday afternoons across Grades 9 through 12, the program is designed to foster critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and personal growth through community engagement, project-based learning, and portfolio development. The program enhances academic preparation by equipping students with the skills, experiences, and reflective practices needed for post-secondary success and career readiness.
The AWOL Program Prepares Students to Thrive at University and Beyond
By the completion of the AWOL program, students will have compiled a comprehensive portfolio that demonstrates both academic achievement and personal growth.
Experiential Learning
Evidence of hands-on learning and real-world experience
Leadership Development
Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire others
Scholarly Research
Examples of rigorous academic inquiry
Community Engagement
Participation in meaningful service
The program prepares students not only to meet academic benchmarks but to excel as innovative thinkers and engaged citizens with the tools to shape their own futures.
Grades 9 and 10: Foundations of Experiential Learning
In the foundational years, students engage with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program, an internationally recognized framework that encourages holistic development through community service, physical activity, skill acquisition, and an outdoor adventure. These components are delivered through teacher-led Master Classes, which provide academic context and mentorship. The structure promotes self-discipline, time management, and civic engagement, while exposing students to interdisciplinary and applied learning scenarios. Through these experiences and in addition to the learning opportunities students begin to cultivate transferable skills such as collaboration, adaptability, and perseverance—skills that research identifies as crucial for academic and lifelong success.
Grade 11:
Advanced Leadership Development and Global Engagement
In Grade 11, students advance their experiential learning through a program that emphasizes leadership, civic responsibility, and global citizenship. Building on their prior involvement in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, students engage in a dual-focus structure that combines academic and community-based learning.
Key components of the program include:
Goal Setting and Pathway Development
Student-Directed Leadership Projects
International Service Learning in Costa Rica
Fundraising and Resource Management
This integrated approach encourages students to move beyond local contexts, fostering a broadened worldview and preparing them for leadership roles in both academic and global spheres.
Grade 12:
Synthesis and Specialization
In their final year, students undertake two major components that allow for deep specialization and real-world application of their academic interests:
The Praxis Project
A capstone initiative culminating in a published academic paper, the Praxis Project challenges students to research, write, and reflect on a topic of personal and academic interest. This process fosters scholarly inquiry, independent learning, and discipline-specific communication skills, while enabling students to produce a tangible academic artifact that distinguishes them in competitive post-secondary admissions processes.
Industry Immersion with The Ottawa Education Group
This 12-week internship-style program immerses students in real business environments while pairing the experience with structured classroom learning. Students gain practical skills in entrepreneurship, operations, and workplace communication, which are reinforced through ongoing academic reflection. The program supports experiential career exploration and builds a bridge between school-based learning and professional contexts.
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