MEDICINE HAT, AB – Middle school students at Notre Dame Academy in Medicine Hat will have a unique new class option for the coming school year.
The school is preparing to launch Notre Dame Academy Gaming Concepts along with eSports this fall.
The school’s principal Neal Siedlecki says the program offers a gaming concept for students in grades 8 and 9.
He says following parent feedback, they wanted a program that develops good digital citizens.
eSports is a form of sport competition using video games, anything from chess to soccer.
Siedlecki says this class is a way to take student’s passion in the sense of gaming and turn it into an educational opportunity.
The curriculum piece will focus on motor skills, media, and technology.
Part of the program will also offer an e-sports game club that will run after school.
Siedlecki says this will help build relationships and connect kids who have the same interest.
“In that option, we’re going to focus on a lot of self-management skills. How do we behave during gaming, how do we live a balanced lifestyle with our sleep patterns, our passion, healthy eating, and fitness. But it’s really going to teach these concepts during the full curriculum option,” he added.
The school says there’s also a lot of movement in this area provincially with the ACAC adding eSports to its competitive plans.
Chad Kletzel is a teacher at Notre Dame and is helping to get the program started.
He says there was a positive response to have a class of this type during student surveys.
The class will take place in the school’s robotics room.
He says this option will also help student engagement for their other classes.
“We’re looking at it for students to make connections to school and having that feeling that some of the stuff they do outside of school can be a part of here at school,” Kletzel said. “And then usually if you feel more connected within the building then academics get more focused too and kids have more success there. So I think it’s an all-round benefit to having this program here at school.”
Notre Dame Academy plans to start the class in September and wants to be one of the first middle schools to bring this option to students.
