Niagara Catholic District School Board to partner with Niagara District Airport on Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Aviation and Aerospace Program

Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) is proud to partner with Niagara District Airport in Niagara on the Lake to support a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Aviation and Aerospace Program.  Specialist High Skills Majors let students focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students receive the SHSM seal on their diploma when they:  complete a specific bundle of 8-10 courses in the student's selected field, earn valuable industry certifications and gain important skills on the job through cooperative education placements.

The SHSM Aviation and Aerospace Program is open to all Grade 11 and 12 Niagara Catholic interested students who are heading for apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace and who are wanting to identify, explore and refine their career goals and make informed choices about their next steps after secondary school.  The ever-changing nature of aviation and aerospace, the complexity of supply chain dynamics, and the accelerated pace of change in the aerospace sector provide a variety of career opportunities for Niagara students.  Core industries in this sector include:  maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for aircraft, engines, avionics, systems, and equipment, design and manufacturing of commercial aircraft, engines, systems, avionics, equipment, components and flight operations such as pilot training, airport services, air traffic control, and space and equipment handling (Ministry of Education, 2018).

On Wednesday, October 17th at 9:30am at the Niagara District Airport, 468 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, NCDSB Director of Education John Crocco and Niagara District Airport Chief Executive Officer Daniel Pilon will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Niagara Catholic District School Board and the Niagara District Airport to “enable collaborative activities and agreement that the parties will use their best efforts to establish an effective working relationship regarding programs and projects of mutual interest”.

The MOU signing will take place in the presence of supporting partners that include:  Lord Mayor Pat Darte and the Town of Niagara on the Lake, Brock University, Niagara College, UFly Aviation, Royal Canadian Air Cadets and Fly GTA.  SHSM Aviation students and teachers from Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School and St. Michael catholic Elementary School will be in attendance.

Ref:  http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/shsm.html