Senior high school students from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) recently took part in an enriching experiential learning opportunity as part of their Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program.
The SHSM program is an Ontario Ministry of Education–approved program in Ontario that allows high school students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The program is designed to help students transition more smoothly into postsecondary education, apprenticeships, or the workforce.
St. Michael’s welcomed over 50 students from the TCDSB over two days, March 24 and 25, and introduced them to the following areas: book repair and conservation, event planning, and exhibit curation.
Throughout the day, students engaged in hands-on workshops led by USMC staff including Jessica Barr, University Archivist and Records Manager, Francesca Rousselle, Processing Archivist, and Chinelle McDonald, Residence Care Coordinator.
The initiative, organized by the Continuing Education Division, reflects St. Michael’s commitment to developing and strengthening partnerships and to bridging classroom learning with real-world applications. “What makes these days so valuable is the spark they create: a moment when a student can see themselves in a future pathway they may not have previously imagined. By bringing together education, hands-on practice, and community partnership, we’re helping students build confidence, ask deeper questions, and recognize the many directions their learning can take,” said Michael Salvatori, Director of Continuing Education.
Following their certification sessions, the students enjoyed lunch in the student dining hall and a tour of campus led by one of our St. Mike’s student tour guides.