Brock University and Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) have launched a partnership to help better prepare students pursuing kinesiology as they make the leap from high school to university.

Beginning in September, students at Denis Morris Catholic High School in St. Catharines who enroll in Introduction to Kinesiology, a Grade 12 university preparation course, will be able to receive credit towards a first-year Brock Kinesiology course called Foundations of Movement Studies.

About 30 high school students will travel to Brock twice a week to participate in lectures and activity-based classes, all while interacting with faculty from the University’s Department of Kinesiology.

The Exercise Science course will cover a range of topics, including sport history, physical literacy, sport for development, movement sciences, developmental physical activity, sport policy, and social issues and sport.   

Brock and NCDSB officials, joined by Denis Morris students, gathered on Monday, June 19 in Brock’s Bob Davis Gymnasium to formally launch the partnership. 

Denis Morris Catholic High School student Jarod Cleland gathers Brock University gear after the launch of a new dual-credit Kinesiology course announced Monday, June 19.

“This unique opportunity to obtain a high school credit while also obtaining a Brock University credit speaks loudly to our commitment to supporting our local community and students,” said Jamie Mandigo, Brock’s Vice-Provost, Enrolment Management and International, who will also be leading the program as a Kinesiology faculty member. “It also speaks to the NCDSB’s commitment to encouraging and preparing their students to be successful at their next step of learning at post-secondary institutions.”

Mandigo, who hopes this leads to further such collaborations, said the initiative is intended to help high school students feel comfortable on Brock’s campus, and show them that obtaining a university degree is possible.

Peter Tiidus, Brock’s Dean of Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, said the experience will “provide these students with a greater understanding and appreciation of the academic field of kinesiology, including its depth and breadth, that will serve them well in their future education and personal lives.”

“It will perhaps encourage some of them to pursue further post-secondary education in kinesiology, ideally at Brock University, where we look to be the university of choice, particularly for top students from the Niagara region.”

John Crocco, Niagara Catholic’s Director of Education, said the partnership will give high school students the opportunity to explore the Kinesiology program, while also experiencing a university classroom and becoming familiar with Brock’s campus.

“Our Denis Morris students are pioneers in this program,” he said. While relationships have existed between Niagara Catholic and Brock in the past, this is the first full dual-credit course being offered between the two parties.

Crocco said he would like to see the partnership expanded to include other schools within the board.