Slime, sundaes… and success

Summer break may be in full swing, but Gonzaga Middle School in North Point Douglas extended an invitation to its graduating class for a return visit. The event included water balloon fights, academic and employment services, as well as support for the graduates. Roughly 30 alumni, ranging from teenagers to young adults, attended the final grad drop-in of the summer.

Gonzaga's principal, Rex Ferguson-Baird, noted that the presence of 22- and 23-year-olds seeking help with university papers was particularly encouraging, indicating the school's positive impact. Gonzaga, a tuition-free school founded a decade ago, provides a holistic, culturally-sensitive education to students from low-income neighborhoods.

Ninety percent of its graduates have earned high school diplomas, and many have secured scholarships for further education. The school relies on individual donations and provincial funding to operate. Jason Bruce, a recent alumni, visited the school this week to socialize with friends, see former teachers, and play basketball. Gonzaga offers support services throughout the school year, including monthly drop-in sessions and monthly evening drop-ins.

The school also organizes camps and provides resources such as school supplies and assistance with post-secondary applications. Former students continue to be involved in the graduate support program, with 138 individuals participating. Gonzaga, named after Aloysius Gonzaga, a 16th-century patron saint of Catholic students, does not deliver religious instruction but incorporates activities based on the Jesuit Nativity school model to foster reconciliation and collaboration with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.