École L'Odyssée (, English: "Odyssey School") is a public francophone high school in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. It is part of the province's Francophone Sud School District, offering education to students from grade nine to twelve. The school opened in 2005 as part of a $24.2 million project, alongside the adjoining middle school, École Le Mascaret."Official opening for Le Mascaret and L'Odyssée Schools in Moncton", Communications New Brunswick, 30 September 2005, retrieved on 16 June 2010. École L'Odyssée was to alleviate overcrowding at École Mathieu-Martin in nearby Dieppe.Jardine, Aloma (15 April 2010), "New schools to serve students in the north end", Times and Transcript (Moncton), retrieved on 16 May 2010. This move allowed the Moncton Hospital to expand, while the Vanier establishment made way for medical offices."École Beauséjour Monument Unveiled", South-East Regional Health Authority, 6 October 2008, retrieved on 16 June 2010."Amiante à l'hôpital" , Radio-Canada, 17 November 2008, retrieved on 16 June 2010.

It is the only French high school in Moncton.L'Odyssée website index, École L'Odyssée, retrieved on 20 June 2010. (archive)

History As Moncton's population grew over the years, overcrowding in high schools soon became a problem: in the 2004–05 school year, École Mathieu-Martin – the sole francophone high school in the area – had an enrolment of 1,609 students, well above the 2009–2010 enrolment of 1,025."Summary Statistics School Year 2010–2011", New Brunswick Department of Education, March 2011, retrieved on 7 September 2011, p. 62."New Brunswick Education Dropout Rates", New Brunswick Department of Education, July 2006, retrieved on 19 June 2010, p. 16. When the city's growth rate climbed from 5% in the years 1991–96 to 6.5% in the years 2001–06, the problem became even more apparent."Population Statistics for Moncton – 1996", Statistics Canada, 14 May 1996, retrieved on 15 June 2010."Population Statistics for Moncton – 2006", Statistics Canada, 16 May 2006, retrieved on 15 June 2010. In fact, prior to construction, the idea of a second francophone complex had been in the minds of the New Brunswick Department of Education since as early as December 20, 2002."Education minister unveils capital projects for 2003–2004", Communications New Brunswick, 20 December 2002, retrieved on 15 June 2010. This idea was later confirmed in New Brunswick's record-breaking $809 million budget for the 2003–04 fiscal year, where $100,000 was allocated to "develop the educational specifications" of the complex."Record budget of $809 million for Department of Education", Communications New Brunswick, 3 April 2003, retrieved on 15 June 2010. Originally, the project was code named "Moncton School Complex" ()."Francophone school project awarded federal energy efficiency funding", Communications New Brunswick, 15 July 2005, retrieved on 16 June 2010.

On January 12, 2004, the two schools were revealed to be attached side-to-side, occupying a combined area of 16,000 square meters ( square feet) about 2.5 kilometres ( miles) from the nearby Université de Moncton."Presentation of model, artist's rendering of Moncton's new school complex", Communications New Brunswick, 12 January 2004, retrieved on 16 June 2010. When commenting on the new facility, New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord said that "[this] project offers numerous advantages, from several points of view", and that "it reflects [the government's] commitment to equipping New Brunswick with a high-calibre education system." The names for the two schools were picked from submissions sent by the education councils of District 01 and District 03 on March 14, 2005."Names announced for new schools in Moncton and Edmundston", Communications New Brunswick, 14 March 2005, retrieved on 15 June 2010. Both schools were announced to be replacing École Beauséjour and École Vanier, two francophone middle schools, which made way for the expansion of the Moncton Hospital and for medical offices, respectively.

A final $11.2 million was allocated on January 6, 2005, which was 23.3% of the $48 million Department of Education budget for that fiscal year."REVISED / Education capital budget continues to increase", Communications New Brunswick, 6 January 2005, retrieved on 16 June 2010. On July 15, 2005, the school was awarded a $60,000 federal fund for energy efficiency 39% below the national energy threshold; this would save the New Brunswick government $115,193 per year, or an eventual $2 million over 20 years. The school held its inauguration ceremony with Bernard Lord present on September 30, 2005. Lord spoke of his government's intention to add schools to the growing number of Francophone institutions in New Brunswick, as well as advancing the state of the province's education. "Today's inauguration represents an historic moment for Moncton's Francophone community," he said in his speech. "Parents, students and teaching staff now have modern, state of the art facilities. I feel very proud about this project and I am delighted that it is now a reality.""Inauguration Ceremony at École L'Odyssée" , 13:32–13:38 minutes, Communications New Brunswick, 20 September 2005, retrieved on 16 June 2010. On September 9, 2009, a new, $884,100 permit was awarded to extend L'Odyssée's total area by for the expansion of its new infirmary and orientation center.L'Odyssée expansion news release, Communications New Brunswick, 9 September 2009, retrieved on 16 May 2010.

The city went under scrutiny after the death on November 30, 2009 of Erica Frenette, a student at L'Odyssée, who was struck by a car after crossing an intersection near the school in poor weather conditions."Erica Frenette Funeral Home", Frenette Funeral Home, December 2009, retrieved on 16 June 2010. (archive)"Father wants lighting at deadly crosswalk", CBC New Brunswick (Moncton), 3 December 2009, retrieved on 16 June 2010. Parents began petitions to install street lights near what they deemed to be a "dangerous [street corner]", and on May 4, 2010, the request was approved."Parents petition for crosswalk where teen killed", CBC New Brunswick (Moncton), 7 April 2010, retrieved on 16 June 2010."Moncton crossings gets safety lights", CBC New Brunswick (Moncton), 4 May 2010, retrieved on 16 June 2010.

Academics

Curriculum The school's curriculum is based on a 30-credit system, requiring a student to receive all 17 mandatory credits and seven optional credits to graduate."Description du régime pédagogique et des cours offerts" , École L'Odyssée, 2009–10, retrieved on 16 May 2010. (archive) Examples of notable courses are law, Esperanto, German, Auto mechanics, carpentry, entrepreneurship, world religions, cooperative education, and leadership. L'Odyssée also offers exclusive courses in work-life development and speaking Acadian.

A partnership with the Université de Moncton and CCNB Dieppe allows students to take and be credited for select courses off-campus one period per semester at no cost during their senior year. Additionally, Cisco offers a course in server and information sustainment, and the school offers access to ten online courses, including astronomy and world geography. Sports programs are available and credited, including hockey and soccer.

There are two curricular programs, called "Volets", for students wishing to graduate with honours in science and engineering or art and social sciences.Although the volet is on the list of programs, it was removed in early 2009 due to lack of participation. The main differences between the standard curriculum and the two "Volet" programs are the addition of mandatory courses in the domain of the chosen program, and the requirement to complete thirty hours of volunteer duty. A student must gain an average of 80% in the additional mandatory courses to graduate with honours."Objectifs des volets" , École L'Odyssée, 2008, retrieved on 19 June 2010. (archive)"Formulaire de choix de cours" , 88 Kb, , École L'Odyssée, 2009, retrieved on 19 June 2010.

Schedule

+ Schedule layout (as of June 21, 2019)Agenda – École L'Odyssée 2009–2010, p. 4.Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Wednesday 9:00–9:41 PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ 9:00–9:16 9:46–10:58 A C A A A 9:22–10:25 11:11–12:23 B B C B B 10:38–11:41 1:23–2:35 D E D C E 12:41–1:43 2:48–4:00 E D E D C 1:57–3:00

École L'Odyssée operates on a modified version of the controversial concept of block scheduling.J. Bennett, Karen (12 April 2000), "Block Scheduling: With a Mathematics Perspective", University of Illinois, retrieved on 17 June 2010.W. Laurence, William and D. McPherson, Danny (24 October 2008), "A Comparative Study of Block Scheduling and Traditional Scheduling on Academic Achievement", ABC-CLIO, 2000, retrieved on 17 June 2010. Instead of the traditional seven- or eight-period school day, every day students attend four out of the five classes for that semester. The following semester, students attend their remaining five courses in the same fashion, totalling ten courses per year. School days are labelled 1 to 5, instead of Monday to Friday, with each "day" having a predetermined layout.

Wednesdays, regardless of the "day", are cut by one hour throughout the district to compensate for Community of Practice (French: , or "CAP") meetings between teachers at the end of the day, to "direct [the district's efforts] towards the educational success of students.""Rapport annuel 2008–2009" , District Scolaire 01, 2008, retrieved on 17 June 2010, p. 4. Study hall (known as the "PAAQ" period, which stands for "") is reserved between the first and second period of the day, except for Wednesdays, where the period is removed to compensate for the CAP meetings."La Période PAAQ" , École L'Odyssée, retrieved on 17 June 2010. (archive)

Although the schedule is identical throughout the school, students must fill in their courses – A through E – as defined by their schedule:

+ Example schedule for a sophomore First semester Course Second semester Math A Math Physical Education B Health Education French C French Science D World History English E Biology

+ First semesterDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Wednesday 9:00–10:15 Math Fr. Math Math Math 9:00–10:08 10:20–10:45 PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ No PAAQ 10:59–12:14 P.E. P.E. Fr. P.E. P.E. 10:22–11:30 1:16–2:31 Sc. Eng. Sc. Fr. Eng. 12:30–1:38 2:45–4:00 Eng. Sc. Eng. Sc. Fr. 1:52–3:00 + Second semesterDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Wednesday 9:00–10:15 Math Fr. Math Math Math 9:00–10:08 10:20–10:45 PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ PAAQ No PAAQ 10:59–12:14 H.E. H.E. Fr. H.E. H.E. 10:22–11:30 1:16–2:31 Hist. Bio. Hist. Fr. Bio. 12:30–1:38 2:45–4:00 Bio. Hist. Bio. Hist Fr. 1:52–3:00

Rankings Outside rankings for the school have been low compared to the district's average. In 2010, a report published by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies put L'Odyssée at the bottom of the district's 22-school list overall (one school being unranked), based on data from 2005 to 2008.8th "Annual Report Card on Atlantic Canadian High Schools", Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, 2010, retrieved on 16 May 2010, pp. 6–7.

Subject Note Rank Post-Secondary Prep. MathA−3 Socio-Economic Status–4 Teacher Certification–5 Overall Math MarkA−6 Overall EngagementB8 Pupil-Teacher Ratio–10 Post-Secondary AchievementF21Final MarkC21