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This year, the Halton District School Board is celebrating the first graduating class of
I-STEM - an innovative program for secondary students (Grade 9-12) designed to support the next generation of 21st century thinkers.
The program, which was first offered in the 2019-2020 school year at Aldershot School in Burlington, will see 90 students graduating this month. I-STEM (Innovation - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is a regional program for secondary students in Halton and beyond. Students in this four-year program develop innovation skills related to engineering design and design thinking, entrepreneurial thinking skills and global competencies. Students learn to be prepared for technological change and disruption, globalization and shifting demographics.
Jamie Mitchell, I-STEM lead teacher, says students should be proud of what they have accomplished and the growth they experienced in this unique four-year program.
“I am blown away reflecting on students’ growth from Grade 9 through today,” he says. “Each and every one of our graduates will be changemakers in the future. The world will be in good hands with them.”
Students are excited to be part of the I-STEM’s first-ever graduating class. Many talked about the honour of being part of a new program and showing other students how a STEM-focused program can help achieve future goals.
“Being the first graduates of the HDSB's I-STEM Program has allowed me to become comfortable in the field of STEM education, and showcase innovation,” says Benjamin Bloomfield, I-STEM graduate who is enrolled in the Engineering I (Co-Op) program at McMaster for the Fall. “As the first students of the program, we were able to pave the way for future students and help teachers understand what learning strategies work.”
“We've all grown alongside this program and it's been encouraging to witness all the hard work and resiliency of every student and teacher involved,” says Chloe Lee-Yow, I-STEM graduate who is enrolled in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (IBIOMED) program at McMaster University this Fall. “From the innovative ways of learning, to hosting conferences, it’s been an honour to be a part of this remarkable community.”
The I-STEM Program has been able to evolve over time to meet the needs of students, including during the pandemic, Mitchell says.
I-STEM has also been centred by the
HDSB’s 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan, an important document that guides learning across the system.
“Innovation, adaptability and communication are major focuses on the I-STEM Program. These skills are directly connected to the HDSB’s Multi-Year Plan,” Mitchell says. “The learning conditions that are present in I-STEM create the conditions necessary to elevate student achievement. With our focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, students learn how to take action for a sustainable future.”
With growing interest and success in the program, the HDSB has expanded the I-STEM Program to two more secondary schools, including Elsie MacGill Secondary School in Milton and T.A. Blakelock High School in Oakville. Mitchell encouraged students/families to consider enrolling in the program to further their interests in the STEM field.
“Students who have an interest in the field of STEM, who enjoy working with their hands and solving big problems that have connections to the real world will find a great home in the I-STEM Program,” he says. “That being said, the learning experience in I-STEM benefits all students and all learners. We have many graduates going into the STEM field for post-secondary learning. We also have many graduates entering Humanities Programs, exploring the field of Law or Social Science and even Arts programs. The I-STEM experience benefits everyone.”
Learn more about the
I-STEM program and
hear what students have to say about the unique program.
What has the I-STEM program done for you as a student and as a person? (Below is a sampling of student responses)
Vikram Ogale
I found it quite unique and interesting how the class collaborates on solving problems around the classroom. Students find the solutions to the problems faced on their own, and only then is the true solution revealed.
Teighan Miller
It means that I get to be part of the first generation of students to come out of this school with a innovative and real-life oriented skill set.
Sophia Mudie
I feel very lucky to have been able to participate in projects and activities that set the example for grades to come. To be able to show up to class everyday to learn in an engaging and collaborative environment. To then apply my learning in a hands on way that connects to real world problems.
Rachana Adiga
It's crazy that my experience was the first full experience of the I-STEM program because of how it shaped my learning and increased my potential as a student/ creative thinker. The program is still growing but I'm grateful for the students, teachers, and experience I gained from it.
Maher Ahmed
It’s sad to see it all come to an end so soon. I’ve worked side by side with just about every other graduate in the program since my freshman year, and I’ve created a stronger bond with my peers through each and every challenging task and project. Despite this, I’m happy that I can finally say I’m done with high school, and thanks to the I-STEM program, it’s been a very enjoyable 4 years.
Landon Bower
I am proud to be one of the first graduates from the I-Stem program. I am happy that we have helped to shape the I-Stem program to what it is going to become. I hope that other students love the program as much as I did.
James Hickey
It means a lot of stretching and learning in ways that I had never learned before. It also meant sacrificing a traditional high school learning experience in favour of something new, that might benefit kids my age further down the line.
Jacob Rasmussen
Being the first graduate of this program was a unique experience, with everyone demonstrating crazy amounts of learning every year. It means a lot to be able to look back and see what this program has and continues to become.
Hudson Bolduc
Being the first graduates of the I-STEM Program gives me a great sense of pride that I have been part of a new innovative scholastic program that will have long term and far reaching implications for the future of Canadian Innovation. I look forward to seeing the innovation that is developed through future I-STEM students.
Devin Baker
Being the first, I think is a very important and interesting experience. We have seen both the highs and lows of the ISTEM program, and seen how it changes and improve from our year to the years below us. We have grown with our teachers, seeing how they adapt to any challenges that we place fourth to them, COVID being a huge on. And we ourselves have learnt how to be adaptable in turn.
Cole Smith
It means we were given opportunities that no previous class had, everything was a new experience or experiment.
Aisla-Faye Hylton
Being the first ISTEM class to graduate makes me feel accomplished and excited to see how the program progresses in the future.
