The administration generally operates with managerial elements and according to rigid policies set out by itself, the school board and the Ontario government.
[3] Students who attend Nicholson Catholic College are taught under the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, or the IB World Education curriculum if they are enrolled in the program.
Co-op education is an important element of the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) or Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) training.
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program is for students who have career plans to become an apprentice in the skilled trades.
Course offerings include Health and Personal Services, Hairstyling and Aesthetics, Transportation, Design, Manufacturing and Construction Technologies.
Nicholson is expanding the broad number of community partnerships to support experiential learning for students of all grade levels to build bridges to Apprenticeships, College programs and University programs The Life Long Learning Center (Eastern Campus – Cobourg, Ontario): Students interested in the construction trades may apply for this program which prepares students who are interested in becoming a certified brick and stonemason, cement finisher or construction craft worker.
Nicholson Catholic College accepts over twenty-five international students who come from Asia, Germany, Mexico, and South America to enroll in the Ontario secondary school curriculum.
Of special note is the Games Club at Nicholson, which is headed by a teacher who is the recipient of several nationwide modelling and painting awards.
The gathering together of students reinforces the concept of good democracy that promotes informed votes, and the element of a united Catholic school community.
Once a month students from all grades attend a worship service conducted at St. Michael's Catholic Church across the street from Nicholson.
The mass is conducted by Father Richard Whalen, and the purpose is to encourage the student's spiritual development in the Catholic faith.
The Grade 9 Fun Day is held once a year to welcome all freshmen students to Nicholson Catholic College and to make them feel accepted into the school community.
'Civvies' Day at Nicholson Catholic College usually occurs on the last Friday of a month and is an exception to the school's uniform policy.
On Civvies Days, students are encouraged to wear whatever clothes they want as long as it is not "rude, lewd, nude, or crude" according to the school's staff.
The game only takes place; during breaks and lunch periods, only on school property and washrooms are off limits.
In recent years the final two participants partake in a duel in front of the entire school (on the stage of the providence gym).
Held annually in the spring, where students from all grades compete in a road race around the east end of Belleville near the school.