There's a student at Lakeside Outreach School who’s just a couple of tests away from completing his high school credits. It’s quite an accomplishment for him because unlike most students, he lacks fingers.
“He lost all his fingers to frostbite, when he was quite young,” says his teacher Ross MacDonald. “Through hard work he’s achieved something he was told he wasn’t going to be able to do.”
The student, who didn't want his name published, was one of the students honoured at the school’s annual awards banquet recently. He won the James Courtorielle Memorial Award, which celebrates the most improved student.
“It’s somebody who has overcome adversity in ways that separate him from the rest,” says MacDonald. “He’s very bright and has lots of potential.”
That could be said for quite a few students at the outreach school. There were certainly lots of awards handed out at the ceremony at the Northwest Inn on May 19.
Nicole Letendre and Glenn Boisvert won the award for the best Math marks in senior high. The senior high science award went to the young man mentioned at the top of this story. Roxanne McLean was the top student in both English and Social.
Kelsey Auger won the Athletics award and Taren Cheechoo won the Art award. Auger also won the Citizenship/Role Model award.
The Culture award went to Yvette Supernant.
The Junior high awards went to Jordan Kanzig (Art), Tristen Yellowknee (Hardest Worker), Justin Twin (Science), Steven Brazeau (Most Improved), Mike Proulx (Math), Danny Auger (Humour), Tyler Schmidt (Most Completed Assignments), Jarrett Findlay (Technological Proficiency) and Tyson Manybears (Neatest Work).
At the moment there are about 40 high school and 25 junior high students taking their courses through Lakeside Outreach. The junior high kids do their classes in the school, while the seniors have more flexible arrangements according to their needs. Some do all their work at home and just turn in assignments. Others come in for instruction regularly.
“It’s pretty good,” says the unnamed student, who came to Lakeside last year after having done Grades 10 and 11 in Athabasca. “The atmosphere is more easygoing. There’s one on one help.”
He says he’d recommend the outreach program for anyone who wants to finish their schooling for whom the regular school setting doesn’t work.
“You can work at your own pace going here,” he says.
What’s next for him?
“Getting my diploma and finding a job that suits me,” he says.
He doesn’t think his disability will stop him, just as it hasn’t in school.
“You can’t focus on it,” he says. “You have to see it as a strength.”
Helping students find their strengths is a big part of what the outreach school does. The school is located in the Potpourri Mall in Slave Lake.

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