Regina school takes 'backpacks to briefcase' approach

About 30 kids look on as their classmate, Drayden Cyr, locks arms with Ron Gonzales.

Ron is the graduate support worker at Mother Teresa Middle School in Reginas inner city.He is also a former university wrestler and coach.

Each is trying to take out the other's legs without slipping out of the wrestling circle to pin their opponent. In what seems like a split second, Ron pins Drayden on the mat.

• Take a tour of Mother Teresa Middle School

Three years ago, you wouldn't have found Drayden Cyr in a wrestling classor taking part in any school sports.In fact, Drayden was only attending his local school about two or three days a week.

His mother, Bridgette, worked early mornings so she couldn't be there to make her son go to school.

I saw that Draydens attendance was very poor when he was going to school at Albert School, rememberedBridgett.

He was [only]attending sometimes two or three days a week and he was getting honours.He was bored.He has great potential to learn.All the children do.But they need the opportunity and somebody there to really nurture them.

The school of change

But inside, its very different.From the outside,Mother Teresa Middle School looks like any other school.The red brick building has a large cross and the name just above the door, and big blue metal doors lead inside.

Its modelled after a network of schools called NativityMiguel.These inner-city schools,started in New York, turned around school dropout rates drastically in one case,changing an85 per cent dropout rate into an 80 per centgraduation rate.

We've got a pain in the province. We have to be a painkiller,not a vitamin.- Principal CurtisKleisinger

Regina businessmanPaul Hillis the man behind the idea that turned intoMother Teresa Middle School.It was his way of honouring the work of Mother Teresa,to create the same kind of changes she did abroadin his own hometown.

The idea is to remove all the barriers to education things likelack of food, clothing, and health issues so all that's left for students is to focus on their education.

Mother Teresa Middle School has55 studentsthis year, Grades 6 to8, andtargets inner city Regina kids. The schoolprovides breakfast, lunch and two snacks, as well as school uniforms.If the students need glasses or dental work, the school arranges it. The school buses all the kids from their homes to the school and back every day.

Programming is also tailored to fit students needs.Assignments and classes can be altered to fit students' strengths.

The school year stretches past the usual academic yearand includes summer programming, and there are after-school programs every day.

Mother Teresa is an independent school in Saskatchewan, so it does receive provincial money.However, that only accounts for about 20 per cent of the costs to educate each student here.The rest is made up with grants and donations.

Mentors from all different careers also work with students.Andwhen the students graduate, Ron Gonzales, the graduate support worker, follows each onethrough high school and post-secondary training to ensure they are transitioning.

Our number one goal is to increase graduation rates, said principal Curtis Kleisinger.

We've got a pain in the province. We have to be a painkiller,not a vitamin,Kleisingercontinued.

We have to find a different way to educate our First Nations youth.We have to do a better job than a30 to 35 per cent graduation rate.

Providing this kind of education does come at a price. And Kleisingersaidhes luckybecause his staff does not count hours.

Breaking the trend: The case of Drayden Cyr

KleisingersaidDrayden Cyr is a prime example of how a school like this can help a kid going down the wrong path before he loses his chance to graduate.

Dray didn't go to school a whole lot.I asked him and he said, 'I got all As what did I need to go for?'"Kleisinger recalled.

He's a sharp young man.The problem is you can only do that so long.If you're not coming in Grade 5, youll come less every year after. You'll just quit.You'll start getting behind because you don't have good work habits."

Drayden'smom Bridgette recalled telling her son, If you're not committed to it, if its not something you think you can dobecause the hours are longer, then dont do it.

"He said, 'No, no. I'm going here.' And he really did commit himself to it, and Isaw a change.

These days,Drayden doesnt miss a day of school. He saidthis school is different not just because there is more programming, but because of staff memberslike Kleisinger and Gonzales.

Theyre nice and they care and they push us to do ourgreatest, Drayden said.Its like a family.Its like having my other family.

Bridgette's youngest son,Blue, also started at Mother Teresa this year, and shesees the same improvements in Blue thatshesees in Drayden.

Theyre nice and they care and they push us to do ourgreatest...Its like a family.- Student Drayden Cyr

She sees this school making the difference between her sons getting ahead andfalling behind for good.

Not everybody has the opportunity financially to get their kids where they want to be this school has taken 55,60 kids and has given them that opportunity, saidBridgette.

I think all these kids have potential and they want to go somewhere in life,and this is going to take them there.

Signs of success

Kleisinger saidseeing his students succeed is more than just rewarding. It's proofthat if you change the game,these kids really can win.

He's already becoming a leader, Kleisinger said of Drayden Cyr.

Dray knows he's got a responsibility to pay it forward. He has perfect attendance. He comes ready to go to work.Hes focused on what he needs to do in the future.He's a lot healthierand has become an athlete in track and football, has hopes and dreams for the future. Hes among our best leaders, people follow him, he shows good judgmentand is mature beyond his years.

I thinkDrayden'sready [for graduation from middle school]," says Drayden's mother. "I remember at his first interview he couldn't talk;he was crying.Very reserved, very scared.And right away, his self-confidence just increased."

Kleisinger saidevery day, he sees changes like this in his students.He sees their reading levels improve drastically.

Kids that used to move a lot,and therefore transfer schools a lot, finally find a place that feels like home.Even though this is a school that targets inner-city youth, if they move out of the area,the bus will still come pick them up every day.

"Sometimes youre feeling tired, run down, and sometimes you think, 'Geez, what am I doing here?' Some of my students have every reason in the world to throw in the towel and they dont," saidKleisinger.

"They're tired and they're hurting and they keep coming back.If they wont quit on you,you can't quit on them.

Back in the gym,Drayden is once again demonstrating wrestling moves with Ron Gonzales.It's good practice,since he wants to be a math teacher and a coach.

Drayden is one of 17 Grade 8students who will graduate from Mother Teresa this year. Asupport worker from the school will follow them through high school, post-secondary education, and theirlaunchinto theworkforce.

Drayden said he knows that this education is a gift,and he is ready to pay it forward.

I can pass on to others my knowledge of things, he said. [Help them] be better members in the community and help them strive for greatness.