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REGINA — Kadence Whitestar said he never imagined graduating high school without the Mother Teresa Middle School (MTMS) graduate support program.
Whitestar was enroled at Luther College and struggled with his workload.
“It was hard. I debated switching schools because of the amount of workload I was given. I wouldn't really say I debated dropping out, but it was definitely there on my mind.”
Growing up as an Indigenous man, Whitestar often heard about First Nations people falling through the cracks.
“People like me drop out, people like me don't finish their education. I've even seen it with my own friends, people who have dropped out or haven't even finished high school.”
Looking for help, Whitestar started attending alumni nights hosted by MTMS in Grade 10.
“I was always reminded that it's very important to stay on track and always make sure that I'm taking the right steps. Let's say in terms of doing my homework, in terms of putting the correct amount of hours into my studies and balancing a personal life with my education.”
He would also connect with former teachers, particularly one who believed he could become a leader.
Since then, Whitestar has developed into a role model for MTMS students in the Buffalo Boys, setting examples and teaching about how the drum inspires oneself.
Without the graduation program, Whitestar admitted he is unsure where he would have ended up.
"The conclusion that I usually come to is that I don't know if I would have been in university right now, or maybe I wouldn't have even graduated from Luther [College]."
How it works
Jeff Zerr, director of marketing, communications and data management at MTMS, explained the graduate support program concept came from its founder, Paul Hill.
“Paul (Hill) came across the nativity model schools,. Those schools support students from middle school throughout high school, post-secondary, all the way to employment, so he began to look into how that could be a possibility in Canada. So we became the first Canadian school under the model in 2011.”
Nativity schools focus on preparing children from low-income backgrounds for the challenges of high school and post-secondary education.
Zerr said their graduate support program follows the model and employs several staff to check in with students.
“All of them work as a team to help any students in different areas. So something like parking, for example, maybe it's bus passes in high school or lunch cards, or maybe it's some extra help with tutoring or something like counselling.”
As part of the program, staff will visit various high schools to check in with graduates.
Zerr also noted that MTMS hosts a range of drop-in activities for alumni, including cultural nights and alumni drumming sessions.
Zerr said many graduates return to the school for support because of the relationships they’ve built there.
Currently, MTMS is one of only two schools in Canada to offer the nativity model, the other being Gonzaga Middle School in Winnipeg, as it requires a significant financial investment from institutions.
"I think one of the biggest barriers is the cost and resources required to start and sustain a school like this,” said Zerr.
Whitestar is currently studying psychology at the University of Regina.
When he graduates, he plans to study how music and culture impact mental health.
