Ottawa - Ottawa Catholic School Board

St. Nicholas Adult High School
officially began to serve the adult
community in September 1992 and
is presently operating from two sites: a west
campus at 893 Admiral Avenue (the former
St. Elizabeth Catholic School) and a central
campus at 20 Graham Avenue (the former
Canadian Martyrs Catholic School).
The school took its name from
an elementary school that had previously
occupied the Lotta Avenue premises where
it began. This elementary school, opened
in September 1953, was the first teaching
apostolate of the Sisters of Holy Cross in the
City View area of Nepean. As an adult high
school, it is designed to meet the needs of
mature students, that is, those who are
18 years of age and over, in order to assist
them to earn the necessary credits to receive
their Ontario secondary school diploma, or
to improve their grades, or to acquire the
necessary prerequisite courses to enter a
certain college or university program.
On average, about 735 students
attend St. Nicholas Adult High School at
any one time, obtaining a credit upgrade,
taking a prerequisite course or seeking
a graduation diploma. The school offers
close to 100 different courses taught by
21 teachers. There are more than
130 graduates each year who receive their
Ontario secondary school diploma. Indeed,
the graduation ceremony is by far the most
significant event that takes place at the
school as it represents the culmination of
the hopes, the dreams, the tears and
thousands of hours of hard work by the
students, teachers, counselors, support staff
and others, helping these adult learners
achieve their goal.
Many graduates of St. Nicholas
Adult High School have gone on to
successful professional careers and lives.
For example, one former student writes
a regular column for a daily newspaper,
ST. NICHOLAS ADULT
ST. NICHOLAS
ADULT
HIGH
SCHOOL
another runs a successful local business,
and another continues to actively advocate
for street children in Paraguay and to
provide resources for them. Two former
students are, in fact, now teachers with the
Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board.
St. Nicholas Adult High School is
committed to providing the academic and
personal support required by older learners
in their quest to achieve scholastic success.
This approach requires mentoring and a
flexible method of curriculum delivery. The
range of curriculum models used increases
immeasurably the chances of the adult
learner meeting his or her personal goals.
Students study in classes
supported by teachers who have specialties
in a number of disciplines.
OTTAWA-CARLETON CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD
59
New programs being implemented
in the 2006-07 school year include a preapprenticeship
program, English as a
Second Language credits and on-line
learning.
Present Principal
John Karam
Past Principals
Mike Matthews
John Karam
Tom Duggan
Brent Wilson
Present Vice-Principal
Mary-Ellen Agnel
Past Vice-Principals
Paul Wubban
Tom Duggan
Peter Atkinson
First Teaching and Support Staff
Dawn Quigley
Marc Orzel
Noella Chisholm
Anna Main
Sue Casey
Cathy Flynn
Jane Foster
Logo
The logo for St. Nicholas Adult
High School is circular, featuring three
students in silhouette over an open book.
At the top of the crest is the phrase
“Committed to Lifelong Learning” while
the school name, “St. Nicholas Adult High
School” is at the bottom of the logo. The
Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board logo
is also featured on the school logo.