To all educators, you are absolute rockstars making a significant difference in students’ lives every day. We understand and deeply appreciate that you are already going above and beyond to deliver the SHSM program. One of the reasons we provide full autonomy in customizing our program is so you can seamlessly integrate it with your SHSM sector experiences. While it provides a standard model, you have full autonomy to customize it to fit SHSM requirements, sector, and student needs. Personalize it and make it your own. We’re here to support you and your incredible efforts!
This Playbook is designed to help align your Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program with the Award, providing guidance for Award Coordinators (Board-Level Coordinators/SHSM Coordinator) to manage their Award Centres. This Playbook covers the administrative setup and running of the program at your Award Centre, while the Award-SHSM Delivery Playbook focuses on delivering the Award to students.
Since every Award Centre is unique, this Playbook offers a standard delivery model as a foundation, but encourages flexibility, personalization, and creativity. Depending on whether you have a Board-Level Coordinator or SHSM Lead taking on the role of Award Coordinator, this approach will be central to your program’s structure. We understand that Board-Level Coordinators have varying levels of involvement based on the number of schools they support, so feel free to use what works best for you.
This is an exciting and unique pilot program. Together, we’ll be learning from the experience, gathering feedback and refining it in the future to better support your needs as educators.
Award Delivery At-a-Glance
Note: Level One training is an internationally recognized training, standardized across the world. It is asynchronous and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. There is also a more advanced Level Two training, which is conducted online and typically lasts around 4 hours. While both trainings are mandatory for the Award Coordinator (Board-Level Coordinator), the Award Leader (SHSM Lead) is only required to complete Level One.
SHSM Lead = Award Leader (delivers the Award). Board level/SHSM Coordinator = Award Centre Coordinator (manages the Award Centre).
Award Delivery Calendar Complete List of ResourcesWe are here to support you
We’re proud to support you and your students on this journey. Let us know how we can continue to support you in this rewarding work!
24/7/365 support through our AI Chatbot. Click the icon on the bottom right of your screen to begin.
Connect, share ideas and find support from peers. The Award Canada run Facebook group for all trained Award Leaders in Canada.
For key policies relating to the Online Record Book (ORB), click here.
Pre-Award Delivery Checklist
Please note that this section should be completed prior to officially starting the Award. This serves as a preparatory phase and includes a generic checklist to ensure everything is ready before launching the program. However, the timeline and specific tasks may vary depending on each school’s schedule and needs, so feel free to adjust as necessary. This preparation ensures a smooth program launch and an impactful experience.
Annual Program Review and Fee Agreement with School Board Leadership Checklist
Review of program goals and achievements with School Board Learning Coordinator (Award Centre Coordinator) and Superintendent for following school year startup.
Agree on Annual Fee with school board lead(s) and superintendent.
- Organization Information Form: Should be completed by Award Centre Administrator (Authorizing Contact) to ensure organization information is up to date.
- Participant Transfer Form: This form is to be completed by the Award Centre that the participant is joining.
- Award Centre Management Manual
Dedicated Account Manager Support Checklist
Connect with Board Educator Coordinator to have check-ins throughout the year with the Award Account Manager to discuss progress at a board system level. Additional check-ins may be required for school specific SHSM leads.
- Every Award Centre is assigned a dedicated Account Manager who will connect with you regularly to ensure your Award Centre is on target for success. The frequency of these check-in’s will depend on the specific needs and level of support required by your Award Centre. The regularity of these dedicated check-ins is designed to provide tailored support, ensuring that each Award Centre can effectively deliver the Award program and achieve their goals. Your Account Manager is a valuable resource, committed to helping your Award Centre thrive and ensuring a successful and rewarding experience for all participants.
Meet with SHSM Coordinator and Leads at Your School Board/Award Centre Checklist
Discuss plan for upcoming school year.
Discuss budget for upcoming year – could be done centrally or school specific as a certification, depending on your SHSM board structure.
Discuss and agree on Award Centre/School Board team for upcoming year.
- Becoming an Adult Mentor in the Award: A step-by-step guide on becoming an Award Coordinator, Leader or volunteer.
- Award Delivery Handbook
Award Leader Training – SHSM Board Coordinator and SHSM School Lead Training Checklist
New Award Leaders/SHSM System Coordinators and Sector SHSM Leads complete training. Training sessions include two hours offline and 4 hours of live online learning.
All Award Leaders/SHSM Sector Leads and Coordinators have completed Level One training that takes 2 hours of modules at your own pace – Asynchronous /offline.
At least one team member holds Level Two training that is completed live online. Each school should have one person qualified with Level 2. Level 2 is a virtual class size training for educators. Invite other Award Leaders/SHSM Coordinators to complete Level Two training. Level Two is two, two-hour sessions LIVE in a virtual setting (normally a week apart). This would be helpful for the system learning coordinator to complete 4 hours LIVE or two, 2-hour blocks.
Note: Level One training is an internationally recognized training, standardized across Canada. It is asynchronous and takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
There is also a more advanced Level Two training, which is conducted online and typically lasts around 4 hours. While both trainings are mandatory for the Award Coordinator (Board-Level Coordinator), the Award Leader (SHSM Lead) is only required to complete Level One.
- Training for Adults delivering the Award: A list of required training for adults who deliver the Award at your Award Centre and how to complete it.
- Award Volunteer Welcome Video
Prepare for Participant Recruitment in September Checklist
Ensure your school website or communications platform is updated with Award information. A good strategy might be to include Award opportunities with your SHSM media content.
Discuss with the Award Leader and schedule/manage the information session that will be facilitated in September, if this is something you are looking to do.
Risk Assessment & Safety Planning Checklist
Award Leaders understand organizations risk management policies as they pertain to the Award.
Award Leaders understand organizations safeguarding policies.
Adventurous Journey Plan Checklist
Examine the Adventurous Journey (AJ) requirements to familiarize yourself with its components. The recommended timeline for completing the AJ is between months 3 and 6, so it’s beneficial to start preparing in advance.
Discover inspiration and ideas for planning your sector-specific Adventurous Journey by exploring our SHSM Adaptation Adventurous Journey Library.
Utilize the AJ Navigator to coordinate with the Award Leader to have a plan in place for the AJ for the upcoming year.
Coordinate with your school administration on appropriate procedures for approving a field trip or excursion activity to plan and complete the Adventurous Journey.
Check for any specific requirements or restrictions related to booking sites or transportation and allocate budgets accordingly, if required.
- The Adventurous Journey Navigator: One-stop-shop with everything you need to plan, do, and review the AJ successfully and safely.
- AJ Library of Examples: Ideas and real-life examples of Adventurous Journeys, all to help inspire and assist in your journey planning.
- Leading with Adventure: Check out our Activity Zone for ways participants can build their Award around the Adventurous Journey!
Adventurous Journey Risk Management
Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for the AJ, identifying potential hazards and implementing measures to mitigate them.
Confirm that all participants and leaders have completed any necessary training, including first aid and emergency response.
Verify appropriate insurance for the AJ.
- The Adventurous Journey Navigator: One-stop-shop with everything you need to plan, do, and review the AJ successfully and safely.
Month 1: Award Delivery and Financial Details
Please note that Month 1 marks the start of your school’s delivery of both the Award and SHSM to students, when they officially begin the programs. The exact timing may vary depending on each school’s schedule, so adjust as needed to fit your timeline. This process serves to maintain financial accuracy and compliance. Timely completion is essential to ensure smooth financial operations and to uphold financial commitments.
Financial Details Checklist
Signature of Statement of Fees
Invoice Issuance
Payment of Invoice
- Organization Information Form: Should be completed by Award Centre Administrator (Authorizing Contact) to ensure organization information is up to date.
Month 2: Begin Celebration Planning
After submitting financial details in Month 1, the next key step in managing your Award Centre is to help with celebration planning to recognize students’ achievements. The timing for this depends on your school’s schedule, so once your school starts planning, consider it as Month 2. Participants will begin completing their Awards in the coming months, making this a critical time to stay in contact with the Award Leader to be aware of students nearing completion.
Please coordinate with your Award Leaders to initiate celebration planning. It’s important for Award Coordinators and Leaders to collaborate with school administration to recognize Award Achievers at upcoming events, such as assemblies, graduation, luncheons, or other celebrations.
In planning your celebration, aim to highlight the individual and collective milestones achieved that allow everyone’s experiences to be shared. This celebration is not just an end, but a bridge to future adventures, encouraging participants to reflect on their learnings and how they can be applied in their continuing journey of self-discovery and development.
Celebration Planning
Coordinate with the Award Leaders to determine how to celebrate the participants.
Collaborate with the Award Leaders to identify if celebrations are taking place in other classes and coordinate the ordering of certificates and pins. Keep in mind the deadline to order recognition events is 2-3 weeks before your scheduled event.
Begin preparing invitations, venue arrangements, and any other necessary logistics, if required.
- Award Celebration Webpage: Explains celebrations at each level, pins & certificates, an FAQ, and upcoming Award celebrations.
- A Guide for Bronze & Silver Celebrations: If you need support planning a celebration, this document provides helpful guidance.
Note: Celebrate your participants and their achievements with others! Whether it’s a school assembly, graduation or another event, the key is to recognize the students’ hard work and present them with their certificates and pins. The actual hosting of the celebration is flexible, as long as their achievements are acknowledged.
Note: If you need help planning a celebration, please reach out to your Account Manager.
Month 3-4: Support for Youth, Celebration Finalization and Recognition
As your participants draw near to the conclusion of their journey with the Award, it’s a time for celebration. The timing of this celebration will depend on when students have completed their Awards and when your event is taking place, so feel free to adjust according to what works best for your group and event preparation.
This phase is dedicated to honouring the perseverance, achievements, and personal growth each participant has demonstrated. You come together to celebrate participants’ Award journeys. Let’s recognize their achievements, express gratitude to the Award Centre team, and acknowledge the impact of this transformative experience!
Participant Support Assessment for Fees Checklist
Have a discussion to identify the number of participants requiring additional support to complete their Award for accurate fee assessment
Complete Celebration Planning for example, Graduation (June or Fall) Checklist
Finalize celebration planning such as issuing invitations, confirming photographers (if applicable), and any other necessary logistics
Supporting Award Section Completion
Provide support to your Award Leaders on Award section completion. At Bronze, the non-Major sections take a minimum of 13 weeks to complete.
Note: The Major section will take a minimum of 26 weeks to complete. Please see month 6 for further information on supporting Major Section completion.
Month 6: Supporting Award Completion
As your participants approach the completion of their Award and Major sections, coordinate with your Award Leaders to provide them with support to ensure that Awards are being completed and submitted on time. This month focuses on providing Award Leaders support on the Major Section Completion along with supporting them with Award submissions and verification with the National Award Office.
Supporting Major Section Completion Checklist
Provide support to your Award Leaders on Major section completion. At Bronze, the Major section takes a minimum of 26 weeks to complete.
Supporting Award Submissions and Verification Checklist
Provide support to your Award Leaders on getting participant Awards submitted in a timely manner. This is critical for scheduled Celebrations.
Note: The National Award Office experiences high level of Award submissions during peak season (December, May, etc.). Please plan accordingly and ensure Awards are submitted with this in mind.
