Alexei and Lucas. Two smart cookies

Lucas Turpin and Alexei Berg and are two smart cookies from St. Mary's College.

They accompanied Vice Principal Danny Viotto to last night's Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB) meeting to offer input following Viotto's presentation about the school's advanced placement (AP) program.

Different from an enrichment program in which students study at the same advanced level in all courses, the AP program allows students who excel in a specific course to study at a higher grade level in a specialized class.

Grade 12 students who successfully complete the class and pass the AP exam can have that credit applied to their university degree.

AP Students have the potential to enter university with five credits under their belts.

Both Berg [shown, right] and Turpin applied last year for pre-AP courses in math and science while in Grade 8, attending St. Mary's with other students from across the city to study at a Grade 9 level.

"From our perspective, I think it was a good experience," Berg told reporters. "We got to see what life at high school would be like, and we were able to see what we would be challenged with."

Turpin passed his AP courses with a 94 in science and a 92 in math.

Berg had similar results.

Now in Grade 9, the boys are continuing their AP courses, Berg in math and science and Turpin in math, science and English.

They plan on carry them through to Grade 12.

Both students praised the program, its teachers and the class environment for fostering a focused atmosphere where those who wish to be challenged in their education can do so without interruptions.

On a completely separate note, St. Mary's College student trustee Michael Paluzzi revealed to the board that this past Pennies From Heaven drive broke all previous records by raising a total of $18,651 for various local charities.