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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.
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.
The Fellowship of the Lord’s Plate is a community of generous supporters who have demonstrated their commitment to the mission of WISDOM Home Schooling through a monthly gift. Their support helps to embolden, bolster, and support parents as primary educators to nurture their children to embrace Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
Before founding the Gilbertine Order in 1131, St Gilbert founded a school and served as Master of Schools, educating local boys and girls. His Order came into being when seven of his female students asked him for a monastic rule, habit, and enclosure. The community would grow as a double house of men and women — that of a willing people of the voluntary poor of Christ. The way by which they went was narrow, but was to eternal life.
The Gilbertines undertook all manner of work: tending sheep, teaching in schools, caring for the sick in hospitals, brewing, and whatever else was required. Yet St Gilbert’s foremost concern was always the personal holiness of his flock. So it was that he included in the Holy Rule a particular devotion to the “Plate of the Lord Jesus”—the custom of setting aside a portion of the community’s best food to be shared with the poor and the hungry.
Today, the observance of the Lord’s Plate is carried on by the Companions of St Gilbert, expressed as a tangible concern for those in need through personal works of charity. Members of the Fellowship of the Lord’s Plate enter into this long, noble and faithful tradition of love of God and neighbour by supporting the educational mission of WISDOM Home Schooling.
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
Conference Details Register Now Presenters Exhibitors Resources Schedule
Jump to: Burman University Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College Olds College Kurios Portage College Rosebud School of the Arts Wyoming Catholic College
Burman University
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Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College
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Kurios
Olds College
Portage College
Rosebud School of the Arts
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Wyoming Catholic College
Conference Details Register Now Presenters Exhibitors Resources Schedule
This schedule subject to change.
Friday – Discover your interests
Registration at 8:00-9:00 Check in (for pre registered and new registrations) at Spruce Grove Alliance Church. Coffee, tea and icebreakers.
8:30 Icebreakers.
9:00 Door Prize - You need to be in your seat to win!
9:05 Welcome and Announcements
9:15 Keynote: Ignite Your Potential - Joshua Peachment
To kick off the conference, Joshua will get us started by discussing the importance of finding and igniting your potential. The talk will start with a discussion on building the foundation for your life journey before diving into one of the most powerful methods for igniting your potential: education. We’ll discuss the many forms of education, and how they can ultimately help you become the best version of yourself.
10:15 Break
10:45 Facilitator Panel: Ignite your Potential
Facilitators will discuss ways to ignite a student's potential and achieve their best in any chosen path through high school.
11:45 Lunch
12:55 Door Prize
1:00 Trades, Post Secondary, or Entrepreneurship - which direction are you going?
1:30 Breakouts 45 mins + QA
Trades - Joe Laurence
Who is a trade?
What is a trade?
Where is a trade?
When is a trade?
Why is a trade?
How is a trade?
Pipefitter & Plumber Joe Laurence will attempt to answer all these questions.
Post Secondary - Approaching Post-Secondary with Intentionality - Joshua Peachment
We all know how expensive the world is these days, and education is no different. In this breakout session, Joshua will discuss the topic of post-secondary education and the most effective way for going about it: with intentionality. This discussion will begin by reviewing the diverse range of study options and how important it is to have a strong plan before entering your chosen school. Next, we will go over how your chosen field of study will affect your high school education, before finishing with an overview of the many ways for funding your post-secondary education, the pros and cons of each option, and how to salvage an education that has gone off the rails.
Entrepreneurship - Jana Boyko
In this workshop, Jana Boyko will share how she turned an idea into a successful business and what she wished she had known when she was starting out. Drawing from her experience building Bedside Business Plan and launching it nationally with Indigo, Jana will offer practical guidance on getting started, testing ideas, and learning through action. By the end of the session, you'll come away with a clearer understanding of what entrepreneurship can look like and the confidence to begin exploring your own business ideas.
2:30 Initiative - How to be self-directed in learning with a growth mindset. - Therese McDonald
Self-change needs initiative and a desire for growth. Join Therese as she elaborates on the qualities of the self-directed learner and breaks down what practical ways young people can embrace taking more responsibility in their studies, behaviour, and life. How does having a growth mindset change outcomes? Where does motivation and initiative come from and how can solid progress be made? Are you ready for more?
3:15 Breakouts - High School Paths
- AB Diploma
- Credits for Core Course
- Planning Your High School without Credits
- Building a Portfolio
- Entering the Workforce
4:30 Keynote: Starting Your Financial Journey on the Right Foot - Joshua Peachment
As much as we don’t like to talk about it, a vital aspect of entering the adult world involves money. Budgeting, bill paying, and saving for the future are all important to finding success as an adult, and the best time to get started on this is now. In this discussion, Joshua will break down what sensible budgeting looks like, how to prioritize saving while paying bills and navigating debts, before breaking into a topic most don’t even consider; saving for long-term goals.
5:00 Break for Supper
6:30 Doors open
7:00 Evening Sessions
Adults | Cardus Research - Catharine Kavanagh
Homeschooling is one of the most stereotyped phenomena in society, with its students frequently branded either as geniuses, or as socially awkward individuals. Luckily, Cardus has actual data on the outcomes of homeschooled students in their adult years. Drawing on the flagship Cardus Education Survey, we will look at the strengths and weaknesses of homeschooling as it pertains to educational attainment, career achievement and trends, civic participation, mental health and well-being, and faith formation. Through analysis of multiple years of data and sub-categories of homeschoolers, we can see the types of individuals, neighbours, friends, citizens, and family members that homeschoolers grow up to be.
Youth | Embracing Growth & Creating a Personal Rule of Life to Ignite your Potential - Nicholas Pierlot
Lasting success in life is built through intentional habits, self-knowledge, and a willingness to grow. One of the most effective ways to cultivate these is by developing a personal rule of life—a practical framework for ordering time, priorities, and daily choices in a way that fosters discipline, freedom, and long-term growth. This session will also explore the importance of self-awareness in decision-making as well as the value of a growth mindset: learning to see challenges, failure, and sustained effort as essential tools for developing new skills, character, and confidence for life beyond school.
Closing at 9:30
Saturday – Find out how to follow your path
8:00-9:00 Check in for pre-registered and new registrations; Coffee & tea
8:30 Icebreakers
9:00 Door Prize
9:05 Welcome and Announcements
9:15 Keynote: Finding a Career Path to be Excited About - Joshua Peachment
While education is important for finding success in life, no less important is finding a career path you can be excited and passionate about. In this talk, Joshua will approach the topic of working the 9-5 job while still maintaining excitement for both your work and the future as you build towards a bigger, better tomorrow. To accomplish this, this talk will discuss goal setting and developing a growth mindset while keeping expectations proper for the type of work and the expected career trajectory such work will bring.
10:15 Post-Secondary & Employment Opportunities - ONE Minute “How can homeschoolers enter your institution?
11:20 Exhibit Hall opens
12:30 Lunch
2:00 Exhibit Hall closes
2:10 Door Prize
2:15 Panel/Round-Table Discussion with Home Schooled Grads, Parents, Experts
3:15 Keynote: Don’t Forget to Be Interesting While You’re Busy Being an Adult - Joshua Peachment
To wrap up the conference, Joshua will focus on life beyond work and education and discuss how important it is to be interesting as an adult. The formula to being an interesting adult relies on three specific concepts: Be Well Read, Be Well Travelled, and Be Well Experienced. In our closing keynote, Joshua will break down each one and how you can use them to become an interesting adult and ultimately ignite your potential.
4:15 Closing remarks
Conference Details Register Now Presenters Exhibitors Resources Schedule
Joshua Peachment
As an alumnus of WISDOM Home Schooling, Joshua Peachment is well acquainted with both the opportunities and the challenges of home schooling. Upon graduating from high school, Joshua went on to complete a BA in Philosophy from the University of Alberta and later a BAA in Criminal Justice from Lethbridge Polytechnic. In and around his studies and plotting his career path, Joshua found the time to travel as much as he could, with a current tally of 25 different countries across 7 continents.
Joshua now serves as the head of training and program development for the Alberta Sheriffs Branch dispatch unit and regularly gives presentations to members across the Branch. Joshua has been published in two student publications through Red Deer Polytechnic and has just finished his first major work, Actually Awesome: Mastering Modern Adult Life, a book on surviving the world of early adulthood. When not in the office or feverishly writing his next book, Joshua enjoys spending time with his wife Aaryn, three young sons, and endlessly working on the house.
Jana Boyko
Jana Boyko is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author inspiring entrepreneurs across North America and beyond. In the last decade, Jana has worked with over 100 brands and businesses from the very small to the very big. She is the founder of All of Her Business, a private coaching practice dedicated to holistically supporting women in their transition from employee to entrepreneur. She is also the author of Bedside Business Plan, a guided journal for aspiring entrepreneurs, which has climbed to national success since launching with Indigo in 2022 and being named a Staff Pick in January 2023. Jana's body of work is dedicated to helping people expand into their highest potential while building businesses in ways that are both sustainable and life-giving. She has been featured as an expert on CBC, Breakfast Television, and The Eyeopener, in addition to delivering a number of important talks at organizations and institutions like Elate Cosmetics, the University of Calgary, and Royal Roads University.
Therese McDonald
Therese McDonald has spent over 30 years helping marriages, family life, and home schoolers to thrive. She has walked with parents, offering guidance during challenging times, bringing them to deeper connection and family attachment. Therese offers tools and solutions, including those available through the Mediated Learning method, and equips parents in their calling to make good choices as the primary teachers in the home. Therese has recently returned to working with WISDOM in the area of special needs and unique learners. She proclaims with energy that the home schooling lifestyle is the finest way of living and that it produces amazing and lasting fruits.
Joe Laurence
Alberta proud tradesman for 25 years in plumbing and gas fitting, as well as a trades instructor in gas fitting for 8 years. Joe is also a musician and songwriter. He and his wife Janice have been married for 32 years and have 10 kids and 11 grandkids. They have been home schooling with WISDOM for 25 years.
Catharine Kavanagh — Cardus Research
Based in Calgary, Catharine works to advance greater diversity and pluralism in provincial education and child care systems. She holds an honours BA in political science from the University of Calgary and previously worked in policy development and analysis, primarily in the areas of agriculture, family and social policy, and Canadian heritage. Catharine has also worked in multicultural outreach and on numerous other grassroots initiatives. She was home schooled for half of her own K-12 years and is deeply appreciative of both the education and the other real-life learning opportunities it provided her.
Nick Pierlot — Speaker for Youth on The Rule of Life
Nicholas Pierlot is the Director of Formation at St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission. Dedicated to teaching the truth of Christian life, he is most interested in the intersection of faith and culture, philosophy, and the Gospel. Born and raised in Eastern Canada, Nick completed his BA in Religious Studies from the University of Prince Edward Island and his MA in Catholic Applied Theology through the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, England. His greatest joy is his family, and he is happily married to his wife, Denise. They have one daughter and three sons. In his spare time, Nick loves reading literature, listening to podcasts, smoking a pipe, baking sourdough bread, and the odd board game with friends.