Teachers
Ms. J. Black (Subject Head) - 905-887-2216 X370
Mrs. L. Butler X371
Ms. S. Fusco X371
What is Co-op?
Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a provincial-wide secondary school program that integrates classroom theory with practical experience at the workplace. The program is based on a partnership between a school and a business or community organization that allows students to complete classes, and also to be at work 3-6 hours per day, 5 days a week throughout the semester (five-month period). With this non-paid work experience, students are able to earn high school credits and to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for future success.
Student Benefits:
- Promotes understanding of career possibilities and skill requirements.
- Develops multitude of employability skills like problem solving and communication skills.
- Builds a network of potential future employers and a source of references.
- Allows students to gain substantial experiences to enhance supplementary applications for post-secondary programs (ie. apprenticeships, university, college or other certifications
Employer Benefits:
- Utilizes the magnitude of technological and creative skillset of our youth within your company.
- Develops a work force of young people who have employment skills and on-the-job experience.
- Provides the opportunity to build the future employee talent pool and your business connections.
- Increases the knowledge, employability and skill levels of youth.
- Enhances employee morale. Employees who work with students gain new skills, both supervisory and interpersonal. They also enjoy the benefit of youthful enthusiasm.
Community Benefits:
- Promotes awareness of businesses and job opportunities within our community.
- Can increase youth employment rates because students are motivated to stay in school when they could gain more clarity of future career options.
- When employers team up with schools, the exchange of information and expertise helps enhance the school curriculum and integrates classroom and workplace learning.
Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) is entirely covered by the Ministry of Education and Training.
If students are interested in joining co-op, they must complete an application for co-op and attend an interview with a co-op teacher.
Community Businesses / Organizations interested in hosting a co-op student?
If you are interested in hosting a co-op student, please complete this Google Form and a co-op teacher will contact you for further information.
Contact us for more information, or to start our valuable community partnership! Thank you!
Available Co-Operative Education Courses
Cooperative Education is a mode of learning in which students earn Grade 11 or 12 credits in a workplace setting. Students will be placed at a location where they will explore a career and gain hands-on experience in a field of their choice. Students will develop skills, knowledge, and habits of mind that will support them in their learning, including their education and career / life planning, at school and beyond, today and in the future. They will create and implement a learning plan that meets their particular interests and needs, reflect on their learning, and make connections between their experience in the community and other aspects of their lives. This program assists students bound for apprenticeship, college, university or the workplace. Students are required to complete a mandatory application for the co-op program found in my blueprint.
Resources:
1. General co-op program information for parents/students
2. Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
3. High Performance Athlete (HPA) program
4. Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) - YRDSB