Guest blogger Catherine Phipps

Hello. My name is Catherine Phipps. I have been a Ranch employee since June of 1997. I have been in various roles over the years, starting as a youth care worker (YCW) at the Supportive Independent Living Program, moving to Schaller as an education assistant, and then spending over ten years as a student support worker at Cochrane High School.

I would like to spend some time talking about Cochrane High School.  It offers a modified academic program with emphasis on vocational skills training. My role as a student support worker had many facets:  tutor, liaison, mediator, and counsellor.  Unfortunately, the Ranch program at Cochrane closed in October 2013 due to a decision by Regina Public School Board to phase out the Cochrane program. By September 2015, Cochrane High School will become' Campus Regina Public' (CRP). This transition began in September 2012.

Cochrane School Cochrane High School courtesy of wikipedia

I firmly believe that in-town high school placements are crucial for the growth and maturity of Ranch Ehrlo youth.  At Cochrane, our students were fully integrated into mainstream classes. They were held to the same standards and experienced the same treatment as any other Cochrane student.   With the support of agency staff, they were expected to display a certain level of independence and maturity in order to maintain their high school placement. Based on my experience at Cochrane, I believe that the goal for other high schools is to have Ranch students as fully integrated as possible in mainstream classes and extracurricular activities.

I was asked to explain why I stayed at Cochrane for as long as I did, so I will try to put it into words. Cochrane is a special place in so many ways. For starters, the staff goes above and beyond to help the students become more successful in their academic and personal lives. I was blessed to be a part of the Cochrane family, a group of educators who really understand the needs of their students.  Cochrane has its own special challenges as the students often have similar backgrounds to Ranch youth.  Students seek out relationships with different staff members for support and understanding because they know that the staff genuinely care about their lives. During my time at Cochrane, there was never a morning I woke up and didn’t want to go to work. For that I feel very lucky!

I have been fortunate to continue to remain in touch with several students by text, by phone call, and occasionally getting together outside of work.  Emilio is the only youth I worked with from Grade 9 to graduation.  We had our struggles together along the way, but I am immensely proud of that young man! We continue to stay in touch as he finds his way in life.

A former Ranch staff member, who is also a friend of mine, and I were discussing the fact that working at the Ranch is not just a job, but becomes part of who you are.  You set out, in hope, to make a difference in people’s lives only to discover that they have made a difference in yours. This may sound cliché, but for me it is true.  Pretty much the only thing in life that is guaranteed is change.  As I go into a new phase in my career, I am truly truly grateful for the memories that those years have given me and the lasting relationships that have become an integral part of my life.