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Options for Taking Externally Delivered Credit Courses
While WISDOM supports only 100% parent directed education, high school students with WISDOM have some opportunities to take externally delivered credit courses through another school authority. There are two predominant options that support this choice:
Non-Primary Registration Fully Funded
WISDOM students may take up to 5 credits through any school in Alberta that offers online or paper based distance education. These 5 credits are fully funded and do not affect the student’s Home Education program.
Shared Responsibility with Another School WISDOM Fee By Percentage
A student who engages in Shared Responsibility with an outside school authority can take externally delivered credit courses. To cover the funding loss, WISDOM charges a support fee based on the percentage of education taken from the partnership school.
Non-Primary Registration with Another School (600/622 or 623 option):
With this option, WISDOM students are considered to be 100% Home Education students, and are fully funded by Alberta Education for their Home Education program. A student can enroll as a Non-Primary student with another school in Alberta (not including your local school) that offers online or paper-based Distance Education and take up to 5 credits worth of courses. WISDOM retains the primary registration of the student, and Alberta Education will also fully fund the other school school authority to deliver up to 5 credits (equivalent to one core-course). Students must be registered prior to term start dates for courses. Certain schools will also allow students to enroll in more than 5 credits worth of courses by charging the student a fee per credit taken (usually about $125 per credit).
Enrollment Process for Non-Primary Registration:
Student enrolls with WISDOM as normal, then contacts the other school authority to enroll as a non-primary registration student for up to 5 credits (or more if paying for courses). Students must enroll as a Non-Primary student before the term 1 or term 2 deadlines depending on which term the credit course falls in.
Pros:
- Students retain 100% Home Education status.
- Courses are teacher-directed and totally organized by the other school authority.
- Can be a good option for students who need extra support.
- This option is fully funded by Alberta Education.
- Some courses have flexible programming and students can work at their own pace.
- Opportunity to complete off-campus courses with this option (RAP, Green certificate, etc.).
Cons:
- Limited to 5 credits per year.
- Some courses lean heavily into independent study with limited support.
- Some courses follow a strict schedule which may be cumbersome to some students.
- Course delivery method might not fit the student's learning style.
Shared Responsibility with Another School (611/612 option):
WISDOM students may enroll in a Shared Responsibility program with a partner school to take 10 or more credits in externally delivered courses. Shared Responsibility with another school comes with funding implications. In this model of education, funding is divided between the two school authorities according to the percentage of education being delivered at each. As a result, WISDOM receives proportionately less funding but must provide full Home Education support. To assure long term sustainability of this model of schooling, WISDOM will charge a support fee based on the percentage of education pursued with the partnership school (example: if a student takes 10 credits at another school authority, the family will be charged an amount equal to approximately 30% of their normal home education funding allotment to cover lost WISDOM funding). This option is only available to students who have given notification to WISDOM and enrolled in credit courses delivered by the partner school before September 12. Partner Schools include: Hope Christian School, NorthStar Academy, and Chesterton Academy.
Enrollment Process for Shared Responsibility Between Two School Authorities.
The student enrolls with WISDOM as normal, then contacts the other partner school to enroll as a shared responsibility student for 10 or more credits. The partner school will inform WISDOM of the percentage of education they are assuming responsibility for, and WISDOM will adjust the home education notification accordingly. WISDOM will then charge the family a home education support fee which must be paid no later than the September deadline (typically mid-Sept.) for WISDOM to accept the student notification for the year.
Pros:
- Courses are teacher-directed and totally organized by the other school authority.
- Students can take more than 5 credits per year with another school authority.
- Can be a good option for students who need extra support.
- Opportunity to complete off-campus courses with this option (RAP, Green certificate, etc.).
Cons:
- There are funding implications, and WISDOM will charge a support fee to cover any Alberta Education funding lost with this option.
- Option is available only with schools in partnership with WISDOM (currently Hope Christian, NorthStar Academy, and Chesterton Academy).
- Parents must relinquish a portion of their education responsibility to a school authority.
- Course delivery method might not fit the student's learning style.
Important Note: These two options are mutually exclusive of one another. A student can not be enrolled as both a non-primary student and a Shared Responsibility student.
Other Options for Taking Externally Delivered Credit Courses
Summer School (not with WISDOM)
WISDOM students can take up to 10 credits through summer school without affecting their Home Education status during the regular school year. This option is totally external to WISDOM, and is fully funded. Many schools in Alberta offer online summer courses.
Pros:
- Courses are teacher-directed and totally organized by the other school authority.
- Students can take up to 10 credits.
- This option is fully funded.
- Can be a good option for students who need extra support.
- Off-campus courses may be completed with this option (RAP, Green certificate, etc.).
Cons:
- Summer courses may limit other opportunities such as volunteerism, summer jobs, and event or vacation participation.
Post-Secondary Courses
A Home Education student is permitted to take a portion of their overall education at a post-secondary level without affecting their Home Education status. Students can enroll in open studies or upgrading courses delivered by post secondary schools to complete high school courses, and/or some university courses.
Pros:
- Students retain 100% home education status.
- Some open studies courses might be applied to post-secondary program credits.
- Some open studies courses will allow a student to satisfy admission requirements to a post-secondary program through an open admissions pathway.
- Upgrading courses provide mature students an opportunity to take teacher-directed high school courses after graduation.
- Upgrading courses often have very flexible delivery methods.
Cons:
- Courses are expensive (about $650+ per course), and Home Education funding may not be used towards these courses.
For more information, please contact the WISDOM High School Advisor, Christian Bekolay.
Are you a WISDOM Parent, Student or Alumni?
Join our new private business directory to share your business or service with other WISDOM families and alumni. Whether you own a large company or a small service, or a student with crafts or service to share, we welcome you to join the directory.
And even better, your next plumber or window washer could be a WISDOM member! Even if you don't have your own business, sign up here to be notified when the directory is live.
We invite you to join the Cross Country Ski Club for the Calgary area. Joe and Diane Pollock — retired WISDOM facilitators and current PAC members — have created a system of ski trails on their property just southwest of Calgary, and are making them available to WISDOM families.
No experience is necessary, but you will need to have your own ski equipment. Joe is a former ski instructor who is willing to provide lessons for anyone requesting them. Sign up to learn more here!
We are looking forward to seeing you and for a great ski season. Pray for lots of snow!
This workshop is intended to assist students who are preparing for the written portion of the English 30 Diploma exam. Students will learn to decode essay prompts and utilize effective essay formatting. Applicants need to have advanced writing experience.
We cover the two essay types of the written portion of the exam: the Critical/Analytical Response to Literature and the Personal Response. This 6-week program covers each of the 7 scoring categories of the exam to help students achieve the highest possible mark. Students meet for up to 90 minutes, twice a week, with guided writing practice and feedback. Marks for essays and mock-exam in this workshop may be used toward the ELA course challenge mark.
Workshop acceptance based upon application.
What happens after I apply for: Essay Skills: Write Your Best English 30 Diploma Exam?
Based entirely upon the application essay that you submit, your level of “readiness” will be determined:
- If your essay contains the depth and level of thought necessary for the style of literary analysis, but is missing the length or structure required (or vice versa), you are ready for the Essay Skills workshop. You will be notified of this, and will then receive a welcome email approximately one week before the workshop’s start date containing everything you need for the first class (including a reading assignment). If you have not received the welcome email one week prior to the start date, please email Kathy.
- If your essay is missing both the depth or level of thought AND the length or structure required for the diploma style essay, you are not yet ready to join the workshop. You will be notified of your options that will prepare you for the workshop you applied for, or one at a future date. It may mean you first need some help learning what the diploma requirements are and/or possibly some more practice with that style of writing. If it has been more than 10 days and you have not been contacted, please email Kathy.
This 6-week workshop moves along very quickly, containing lessons to cover all 7 categories of the government rubrics for two assignments. Students must demonstrate readiness in order to succeed, both in the workshop, and on the diploma exam.
Note: The workshop is for WISDOM students challenging English 30, so these students are given priority for acceptance to the workshop. Students enrolled outside of The Gilbertine Institute may be accepted at the non-subsidized rate of $450.
Book tutoring
- Initial Consultation hour for WISDOM students is subsidized by WISDOM, and thus free to families.
- Tutoring hours: $65 per hour after Initial Consultation. Option for group tutorials to reduce cost.
- Pay via home education funding or pay CRAMapple Ventures directly.
We hear of critical needs and want to be able to help these families, and with your help, we can. Whether the family has experienced a job loss or illness and needs help to make it to the next month, your donations in any amount will go directly to these families to help them get through.
Any charitable donations will be used to assist WISDOM families in crisis with short-term support, so that they're able to continue to home educate. We appreciate your support in helping to build the home school community.
Donate here, selecting Family Assistance Fund from the dropdown. We also gladly accept donations by cheque. Please write Family Assistance in the memo line, and send to Family Assistance, Box 78, Derwent, AB T0B 1C0.
Basic Reading Assessment - Cost $75.00
The Basic Reading Assessment assesses your child's reading level, comprehension level, reading fluency, and rate.
The Basic Reading assessment, depending on location, is administered online or in person and takes approximately ½ hr - 45 min to complete. A comprehensive report and academic recommendations will be provided and discussed with parents during the follow-up½- hour consultation.
Advanced Reading Assessment - Cost $225.00
The Advanced Reading Assessment includes the Basic Reading Assessment, the PASS Assessment, and the Informal Test. If your child receives less than 80% on the PASS Assessment, formal testing for dyslexia by a registered psychologist will be recommended. The informal Test includes many separate questions to assess writing ability, sequencing, memory, and strategic planning ability. The Advanced Reading Assessment, depending on location, is administered online or in person and takes 2- 2 ½ hours to complete. A comprehensive report and academic recommendations will be provided and discussed with parents during the follow-up one-hour consultation.
For more information or to arrange an assessment appointment, contact Thérèse at therese@wisdomhomeschooling.com, or call the WISDOM office.
Jump to: Local Grad Connections Dance WISDOM Magazine Feature Gear for Grads Grad Signs
Local Grad Connections
Register here to network with other WISDOM grads in your area! We will connect you so you can discuss potential options for joining together to celebrate in your own region.
Honorary Graduation Dance
While WISDOM is not hosting a formal graduation ceremony, we are offering a potluck supper and ballroom dance in Edmonton on May 17th. This event is free to grads and their immediate family; other guests are welcome to attend as paid registrants.
Find out more and register here.
WISDOM Magazine Feature
Grads, may we feature you in the magazine?
The July WISDOM Family magazine will include photos and short bios from as many of of our graduates as possible. Send these to magazine@wisdomhomeschooling.com by May 20. Submissions may be edited for clarity or length.
If we do not hear from you, you will not be listed.
Gear for Grads
Commemorate the occasion with a cozy grad hoodie which you’ll wear for years to come! This hoodie features the 2022 grad logo on the front in vintage high-density puff. Get your name embroidered on the sleeve for $10! Choose from seven colour options.
Always remember your graduation year with a lovely tassel. Gold-tone die-cast charms represent your home schooling program and your grad year: one is embossed with the WISDOM logo, and the other is a die-cast 2024.
Grad Signs
Celebrate your graduate by printing and displaying one of the posters below. You might put it in a window, on your lawn, or even in your vehicle. Shout it from the rooftops! Your grad is special; let's tell everyone!
Now available through Alberta Health (AHS) Pediatric Rehabilitation Services for children from birth to 18 years of age.
- Audiologists
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
and other services.
See here for more information and eligibility: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page16633.aspx