The first student to graduate from the new Westside Storefront Senior Secondary Program was honoured in a special ceremony Thursday morning.

Joelene Dilay, who prefers to go by the name Jinx, said the storefront program provided her a structure that better suited her individual needs, which she couldn’t find in a typical high school setting.

“Less distraction. Not as much stress either because you come here for two hours, work to your goals and you get your Fridays off. It’s just better off that way.”

Teacher Cheryl Thompson indicated Dilay was more dedicated than the star pupil let on, however.

According to Thompson, Joelene would work a six-hour graveyard shift at the Westbank Zellers and then head straight over to the storefront school, where sometimes she spent up to six hours a day in class when she could make the time.

It’s that freedom which will allow many other youths, who also don’t fit into the typical high school setting for any number of reasons, to meet success at the storefront program, mentioned Thompson.

“Due to personal and academic issues, Joelene was unable to meet the graduation requirements within the mandatory three-year timeframe at Mount Boucherie Secondary,” Thompson continued. “Over the summer, when I was recruiting for the new program, I was thrilled to run into Joelene and tell her that she could attend our school and work on an independent, self-paced curriculum towards graduation.”

More than 60 other youths are enrolled in two high school classes and a middle school class at the storefront school.

Another 20 potential students are on a wait list.

With the high school component just added in September, Thompson expects many more graduation ceremonies to come.

Before now, senior secondary students had to go to Central Schools in downtown Kelowna.

“Sometimes there is a great divide between Kelowna and the Westside—physically and financially for students without a vehicle and even psychologically.”

jluciw@kelownacapnews.com