Trendy courses at College Regina Assumpta

This text is part of the special booklet Private schools

Concentration integrating digital and robotics, laboratories at the cutting edge of technology… Despite its 66 years of existence, the school continues to innovate to train the adults of tomorrow.

Regina Assumpta College in Montreal offers its 2,260 students, boys and girls, five courses: music and techno, arts and multimedia, science and robotics, dance, and sports. Founded by the sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame, the college is still resolutely up to date. “Since 2000, we have been teaching with laptops. All the students have their personal cellphones, which has also facilitated the transition to remote school during the pandemic, ”says the Director General, Michel Laplante. The construction of a new digital avant-garde five-storey library, linked by a footbridge to the college, will also begin within two or three years.

Options for everyone

Students select a concentration option for the first three years of secondary school; students in the sports (hockey), music and dance concentrations can continue their course in 4^e et en 5^e secondary.

Established a dozen years ago at the college, the science and robotics concentration is an example of an innovative program. Students have access to a state-of-the-art laboratory, allowing them to build a robot from A to Z, and can participate in high-level competitions.

The college also notes a growing interest of girls in this scientific program: “They are taking their place. It is important to promote scientific careers at home, ”says Julie Duchesne, director of educational services. The sport option also attracts as many girls as boys, and offers a variety of sports to suit everyone’s tastes (circus, touch football, outdoors, climbing, etc.).

Express yourself in all forms

The artistic aspect is not to be outdone: “Encouraging creativity is one of the values ​​of the college”, underlines M^me Duchesne. Whether it is by exploring different styles in dance or means of expression in art, students have the opportunity to express many emotions.

The music concentration is inaugurating this year a course in electronic music creation and production, where students learn the basics of software used by professionals around the world. “We want to respond to the interests of young people, and think outside the box, by giving them different experiences,” points out M^me Duchesne.

Support students, regardless of the circumstances

Due to the pandemic, admissions exams were suspended last year, a change that will remain. “We will not go back,” confirms Michel Laplante. The college will only use the application files and the bulletins to select the candidates. “The review doesn’t really offer any additional information. It brings stress and, in the context, it is no longer necessary, ”he continues.

The college is also keen to support its students who have special needs (giftedness, learning difficulties, etc.). Two remedial teachers, two special education technicians, a social worker and a guidance counselor work hand in hand to ensure the continuity of the services offered at the elementary level. These services are free.

The year 2021-2022 will also see the emergence of a whole new project for linking up with primary education, in collaboration with the Federation of Private Educational Institutions. “We wanted to develop a reassuring approach to make a smooth transition from elementary to secondary,” explains M^me Duchesne. From this year, classes of 1^re secondary school will thus be grouped into fixed classes by concentration, to facilitate the development of a feeling of belonging. “Our students come from some 40 different primary schools. It is not always easy to adapt to secondary school, we do not know the other students ”, raises M^me Duchesne.

Students of 1^re secondary school students will always stay in the same class and will not need to travel, except to go to the gymnasium or to specialized laboratories. It is the teachers who will change class. “It will greatly reduce the stress of the students,” assures the director of educational services. Educational routines common to all teachers will be put in place to facilitate the identification of students and the development of work methods. “We want to build on the strengths that students have developed in elementary school, particularly with the pandemic, where they have acquired more autonomy and digital skills, and build on them”, concludes M^me Duchesne.

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