32 graduate from Inuksuk High

Thirty-two students earned high school diplomas in Iqaluit this year.

That’s about the same number as last year, said Principal Terry Young, but is higher than previous years, when 22 to 24 students graduuated each year.

The news prompted a question from Iqaluit District Education Authority member Katherine Trumper: what can we do to help more kids graduate?

“Give support to kids at the lower end,” said Young, who pointed out that success starts much earlier than high school.

He also said the school needs to provide more support to students on individual education plans, which are designed for students who can’t complete the Alberta curriculum.

Inuksuk already plans to introduce a new program next year that should help: the Teacher Advisory Program for Students, or TAPS. This program creates groups of about 20 students, of all ages, and a teacher. The group meets about once a month, and the teacher will be responsible for checking on the progress of the kids.

“Let them see that there’s some light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak,” Young said.