Huntsville High School’s co-op program gives students the chance to test drive a career while earning their credits in the process.
The program is open to students in grade 11 and 12 and they can earn up to eight credits and still meet all requirements to graduate.
Placement options include office work, elementary schools, daycares, trades companies, restaurants and more.
Some of the Huntsville-area employers that regularly take on students are South Mary Lake Construction, Huntsville Hospital, HLD Construction, numerous real estate agents, the Town of Huntsville and the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce.
“My co-op is at Lakeland Power in Bracebridge and I feel it will be my future career,” said grade 12 student Lukas Smith. “I just applied to college for the power line trade. I was always eager to wake up and get to my work. I had lots of fun and they taught me a lot. Anyone thinking of doing a co-op I would highly recommend it!”
Grade 12 student Victoria Langford says of her co-op experience, “I absolutely love my placement and it has really reinforced my desire to be a teacher. My experience has been so rewarding and fulfilling. I look forward to going to my placement every day, getting to spend time with these amazing kids and helping them learn. It has helped me to realize that this is what I want to do in the future.” Langford’s co-op placement is at Huntsville Public School.
Students who want to enter an apprenticeship trade can also register with the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and their hours in a related co-op placement can be used toward a future apprenticeship program after they graduate from high school.
“Through co-op (placements), students learn what industry they do want to go into and some learn that their dream career may not be the perfect fit. Both are ultimately as helpful to the students,” said co-op teacher Jennifer Cooper. “Often students may not be passionate in the classroom but when they enter their co-op placement they really thrive and love what they do.”
Nolan Shay (left at South Mary Lake Contracting) and Victoria Langford in the HPS kindergarten classroom (supplied photos)
Each co-op program starts with two weeks in the classroom where students learn employment skills and safety lessons.
After those two weeks, they spend the remainder of their time in the workplace except for one classroom session every two weeks to check in and complete assignments. The majority of the assessment for the program is done on how students are in the workplace.
“As a teacher, it’s really fun to drive around town and see students at their placements,” said Cooper. “They’re the ones who end up teaching me something new that I never knew before.”
Cooper often goes into her students’ placements to make sure they are practicing the workplace safety they learned at the beginning of the program.
“My experience at my co-op placement has taught me a lot and, more importantly, helped me realize that this is something I want to do in the future,” said grade 12 student Nolan Shay who is completing his co-op placement at South Mary Lake Construction.
If any employers in the community wish to take on future co-op students, please contact Jennifer Cooper at [email protected].
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Combined with the marvelous work of many of the public schools, e.g. Huntsville PS and Irwin PS, our students are being afforded a real chance to succeed; both socially-conscious and career-wise.
Fantastic idea !!! Hope it remains in the school.