Local high school students in Rossland to benefit from ‘Free Fridays’

Designed to give students more study hours than they had before, the new arrangement is expected to deliver a positive impact

7S student Cooper Baley (left) with his family hiking in his hometown. With Free Fridays, they won't have to limit family time to the weekends. — Photo courtesy Seven Summits Centre for Learning

After testing out the ‘Free Friday’ concept over the last academic year and challenging the notion of a five-day study week, Seven Summits Centre for Learning (7S) in Rossland is beefing up the perks for staff and students by modifying its week into four longer days.

It is fitting that the innovative pioneer in cutting-edge high school education should break the mold in order to establish a smarter way of working for its fully qualified B.C. teachers and high achieving grade 8-12 students. Starting this September, it will be applying its imaginative and flexible approach, not only to its award-winning blended learning program, but to its weekly schedule. The new hours will be 8am – 4pm, Monday to Thursday.

Designed to give students more study hours than they had before, the new arrangement is expected to deliver a positive impact on student performance, inspire meaningful learning and boost academic achievement even further. Class work, labs and assignments will be completed in four days to the same, if not higher, standards than they currently are in five. However, the ‘Free Friday’ will also give students the option to boost their future career prospects by exploring the world of work and volunteering.  It will allow all to catch up on homework, benefit from extra study at home, and enjoy more quality family time or to play, rest and pursue a healthy, active, balanced lifestyle. It will also provide more time for athletes to travel and train.

“Gaining traction in the corporate world, the four-day week will become another significant differentiating factor that enables our students to get so much more out of their high school education,” says Ann Quarterman, operations manager at Seven Summits Centre for Learning.

Providing an exceptional alternative to a big high school education, Seven Summits Centre for Learning is adding ‘Free Fridays’ to an expanding set of unique selling propositions which set its blended learning model, delivered by SD71’s Navigate NIDES program, apart from the competition. These include small classes, low staff/student ratios, accelerated learning, foreign exchanges, a wide choice of core and elective subjects, excellent post-secondary preparation, independence, self-directed study and the kind of custom education options you’d expect from a private school, without their expensive fees.

“Having Fridays off through the school year is one of the best ideas and makes Seven Summits even better for local families and their children’s personal growth,” says Deke Baley, whose son Cooper is in Grade 10 at Seven Summits Centre for Learning. “It will allow him, and us of course, to have some extra fun while still staying on schedule with schoolwork. With the awesome structure at 7S, our kids are guaranteed a top-notch education, while still realizing that life is also about fun and keeping it real,” he adds.

"It’s all about balance,” says Christine Andison, director, Red Mountain Academy which provides competitive athletes in kitefoiling and three snow sports (alpine ski racing, free skiing and snowboarding) with professional sport training five days a week, a complete dry land training programme and a seamless approach to their education and athletic training schedule by partnering with Seven Summits Centre for Learning. “Free Fridays is a fantastic step forward for our competitive athletes.  It’s another great example of how closely 7S works with our coaches to ensure time for learning, training and competing is optimized. The innovative approach to learning at 7S is a wonderful asset for Rossland; it attracts local and international families to the area and gives all 7S students the choice and flexibility to pursue their own interests and personal goals,” she adds. 

Seven Summits Centre for Learning was established by the community, for the community, six years ago to provide greater educational choice in the region. Following the B.C. Ministry of Education’s 21st Century Learning Model and supported by fully certified B.C. teachers, it continues to exceed expectations and has built a solid reputation for delivering an exceptional, personalized, creative, and forward-thinking high school education for students in Grades 8 – 12.

If your child is academically gifted, needs more attention in class to thrive, prefers smaller class sizes, requires a personalized learning schedule to pursue their passions or wants it all in terms of sporting and academic success please arrange a visit or shadowing opportunity to see if is a good fit. Connect via phone: 250-362-7772, web: www.sevensummitslearning.com, or social media: @sevensummitslearning (FB and Instagram) and @7Summitslearn (Twitter).