PROGRAMS --- CAREER EXPLORATION & PREPARATION

Career Preparation and Exploration is a comprehensive program that provides students with an opportunity to learn the skills, habits, and attitudes to help them become successful employees/employers in the work world. Community-based aspects of the program include the Grade 9 participation in the "Take Our Kids to Work" day, and the Grade 11 and 12 work experience placements.

Benefits to the Student

1. Helps the student relate education to career interests.
2. Allows the student to make a smoother transition from school to career.
3. Permits direct contact with business and industry.
4. Students obtain valuable work reference before they leave school.
5. Increases student self-confidence, leadership, and social skills.
6. Provides an opportunity for students to encounter potential role models in the people they meet in the workplace.
7. Helps students recognize the increased importance of continuous, life-long learning in pursuing career opportunities.
8. Enables students to think more about the choices they will have to make and the paths they must follow to meet their career and life goals.
9. Encourages students to stay in school.
10. Creates a relationship between business, labour, education, and community.
11. Provides students with current "up-to-the-minute" experience in today's rapidly changing job market.

Benefits to the Employer

1. Provides an opportunity to view potential employees.
2. Gives the business/employer an opportunity to take an active part in the school program.
3. Helps provide exposure and create interest in the employer's business/industry, thus encouraging students to pursue further education in the field, which in turn ensures a well-trained labour force in the future.
4. Enables the employer to receive a more direct return from their tax dollar.

Benefits to the School

1. Reflects current occupational requirements in the curriculum.
2. Helps the school stay current with respect to trends in business and industry.
3. Helps the school meet the training needs of the community.
4. Integrates business attitudes and expectations into the school curriculum.
5. Provides relevant, practical experiences which compliment theories and practices taught in school.
6. When students discover the link between education and future job opportunities, they return to classes with a sharper focus, and they are more likely to stay in school to work toward their specific career goals.

Benefits to the Community

1. Encourages the student to become a contributing member of the community.
2. Promotes closer cooperation between community and school.
3. Helps students recognize their community responsibilities at an earlier age.

Employer Responsibilities

The employer must understand the responsibilities and conditions regarding participation in Career Exploration placements, and be willing to assist the student and the school by:

1. Ensuring that the workplace conforms to the regulations of the Employment Safety Act and Workplace Safety and Health.
2. Giving adequate instructions to the student in the proper and safe use of any equipment he/she will be working with.
3. Arranging for participation in Cooperative Education without replacing paid employees.
4. Informing the student of specific safety and fire regulations and other routines, and ensuring that he/she wears the proper safety equipment.
5. Ensuring the completion of the student and program evaluation forms.
6. Providing immediate transportation of the student to a hospital if medical attention is required as a result of a workplace accident. It is also requested that the Cooperative Education Coordinator be informed immediately.
7. Completing the student and program evaluations objectively and openly, including both positive feedback and suggestions for improvement as required.

Career Preparation and Exploration Coordinators