My First Blog Post - WELCOME!

Welcome to the blog of @MsJCantwell - Teacher Candidate.  

I am so happy you have stopped by to see what my project is all about! 

This experiential learning project was designed by our profs to help us learn and navigate various online webtools. Our project is called GENIUS HOUR and the outline of our project requirements can be found HERE! The concept of GENIUS hour is to essentially follow a passion, learn something new and share this expert skill/gift with others.

My GENIUS HOUR question is: How can I support DASS “finish-line” high school students after graduation in their transition to adulthood?

WHY? I chose this topic because I have a very personal connection to the research required for this project outcome. While inquiring to the school about community support information, for a student who was graduating, I found out that the school did not currently have a resource to provide to graduates.

I immediately knew I had to do something to help!

My goal for the GENIUS HOUR project is to create some kind of written/web based infographic that serves as a resource to help graduates navigate the community programs/supports while transitioning into adulthood. 

While the concept may sound easy, it really isn’t all that simple. 

The students at the school are very unique in that they have come to DASS because they are not on track to graduate with their age-like peers. DASS is known for its supportive and caring alternative secondary school environment. This resource must be specific for DASS high school grads and not something that necessarily supports all other Durham high school students. 

I am hoping to find out what options are available for students to navigate after graduation.. If they are not working, what can they do for income? What if they have a disability that prevents them from finding regular work? Who can they contact for well-being or income support? Where can they learn employability skills? What organizations in the neigbourhood provide support to their hungry families? 

Transitions are difficult for everyone at any given time. My goal is to provide this important information to DASS graduates so it may help to ease the transition into the community from high school to adulthood. 

Subscribe to my blog and join me as I begin to build this incredible vision into a reality.

💗 Jenny