An innovative new learning program is being piloted at Tecumseh Vista Academy.
It's called "e-STEAM" which stands for entrepreneurship through science, technology engineering, arts and math.
Created by guidance teacher Matt Biggley and business teacher Emily Li Causi, it merges several ideas into one program.
Biggley says the community partners like the WEtechAlliance and University of Windsor are key
"We've got a wealth of knowledge of expertise of know-how and it really legitimizes our program it brings that outside expertise to help inform us of the experiences our students need, about the competencies our students need" says Biggley. "They will help provide us with the mentorship and some of the experiences for our students to get that real world experience that is so critical"
Li Causi says this is not simply job training:
"One of the biggest challenges we face is how do we prepare kids for jobs we don;t even know exist yet and so we're looking at what are the skills that our kids need to graduate with in order to be successful in any career and any workplace" said Li Causi. "Getting the students to focus on the process of entrepreneurship and not just results is important. They're more willing to try, they're more willing to be OK with failure. So if they don't make money that's OK, the biggest thing is that they try and they work together in a collaborative nature"
The program is open to students in grades 9 to 12 and involves courses, after-school activities, workplace experience and volunteering.