'I'm glad I came here:' Alternative high school program boasts largest graduating class

High school had never matteredto Dorian Sandy, regardless of where his classes were held.

He was working on his Grade 9 studieswhen he transferred to Gordon Bell High School's Off-Campus program, an alternativefor students struggling attraditional high schools.

"I was kind of indifferent aboutthe whole thing," Sandy said about his thoughts at the time.

But his thinking has since shifted.

"I mean, I'm glad I came here."

'This is a major event'

Sandy went from thinking he would never graduate from high school to looking forward to wearinga cap and gownTuesday with the largest graduating class the Winnipeg alternative programhas ever produced.

"What's really special about this year's class isthat we are graduating 22grads, which is the most we've had," teacher Mark Dewar told CBC Manitoba's Information Radio host Marcy Markusa.

The program is geared toward Grade 10-12 students, ranging in age from 16 to 21.

"This is a major event to these kids. Some of these students are the first members of their families to have graduated, so that sets a huge precedent for them going forward and changes their lives."

Staff with the Senior Off-Campusprogram on Furby Street, which has operated for more than 20 years,devisean individualized plan for each student, Dewar said.

The studentswork at their own pace, in a setting that favours flexibility over rigidity.

He saidtheyform a tight bond since they spend theirday together and aren't separated into different classrooms throughout the day.

"We try and help folks with problems or issues that they might have outside of school, because it's hard to learn if you've got all that other stuff going on," Dewar said.

In Sandy's case, he'slearned to keep his anger in checkand valuetolerance. He has his school to thank for that.

"Every dayis a really interesting day," he said.

"The people here are pretty awesome. We're alla little rough around the edges, because we're not exactly finished growing [up]yet, but, yeah,awesome people."

With hisdiploma in hand, Sandy is looking to join the military.