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On Monday, July 29^th, a group of 15 students and mentors from our program headed on the York U shuttle bus to the Glendon Campus for a tour of this small, yet beautiful part of the university.  Students were led through the full spectrum of post-secondary student life at Glendon, from the athletic facilities, residence and the academic environment, to the emphasis on the French language and the storied history of the campus.  Highlighted by a tour of the office of President Emerita Dr. Lorna Marsden, who treated us to lunch, which really made everyone feel like VIP guests.  You know the impact of something like this through the conversations on the bus ride home; the consistent sentiment was about seeing university as a cool life experience and something to be excited about.

The sky is the limit, that’s the lesson learned during Success Beyond Limits’ Career Day held at York University this summer. Their collective of prestigious professionals ranged from Gloria Alfred, a lawyer from the TDSB, to Adisa El, a master martial artist. All eyes were on CTV Canada am news writer Camille Dundas as she discussed pursuing a career in journalism and provided helpful advice for students on their journey towards success. She emphasized the importance of literacy and said that the number one thing that will hinder employment chances is submitting a resume with spelling errors. She also insisted that, despite her early hours and modest paycheque, she is happiest doing what she loves. Success Beyond Limits is an initiative that gathers disadvantaged youths from the Jane and Finch area in order to provide them with support to complete their education. For more information on Success Beyond Limits, visit their website at www.successbl.com.

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North York Mirror

Mohamed Ahmed has seen first-hand how young people living in the Jane Street and Finch Avenue area have benefitted from the Success Beyond Limits (SBL) program.

The free, six-week summer program gives students entering Grade 9 an early high school credit.

Some 100 Grade 8 students from Oakdale Park Middle School and Brookview Middle School participated in the program this year, held at York University, focusing on English and math. The other component of the SBL program is field trips, which were organized in afternoons. York University’s Faculty of Education is one of the program’s sponsors.

Those who complete the program, which focuses on literacy, numeracy and life skills, earn a high school credit in General Learning Strategies. Most of the participants go on to start high school at Westview Centennial Secondary School.

The SBL program is conducted in small classrooms, with one teacher and three mentors for every 15 students. Mentors are Westview students.

This year’s program wrapped up Aug. 6, complete with a graduation ceremony.

Ahmed, who was a student in the program before taking on a mentor role, is now the academic and social co-ordinator for the initiative.

“When they go to Westview they will know the mentors and the other students in the program,” he said. “They gain a high school credit so they are already a step ahead of the other students.”

Mentors act as a bumper between students and teachers, Ahmed said, adding younger students view mentors as role models.

“(Mentors) play an integral role,” he said. “They are the backbone of the program.”

Ahmed, who has bachelor of education and sociology degrees from York University, is working toward his masters degree in education, hoping to become a full-time teacher.

After watching a presentation at school about the program, Tanjim Hossain decide to enrol.

“I think it’s very good,” he said. “We learned lots of stuff we didn’t know.”

Hossain said he plans to become an architect and design houses.

The SBL program is a joint initiative of York University and the Jays Care Foundation, in partnership with the Toronto District School Board.

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/4029270-program-gives-edge-to-students-entering-grade-9/

This summer has been marked by change. The program is being hosted at our beautiful new location, Osgoode Hall Law School. Along with a new location, a new curriculum has been implemented. Working in collaboration with TDSB Equitable and Inclusive Schools and Educational Attainment West, SBL has been piloting a Hip Hop Curriculum that will be in print later this fall. CBC joined us for a day, capturing the new curriculum along with the perspectives of our mentors and mentees.