The Career Preparation & Exploration (CP&E) program is a program that provides students with an opportunity to learn the skills, habits and attitudes that will help them become successful in the workplace. It is a community-based program that allows students to get real life experience in the working world. Students have the chance to make industry connections in their community that will give them a head start after graduation.
Throughout a student's high school career, they will partake in many activities that will help prepare them for life after school. Students will get a taste of this in their Life/Work Exploration classes where they use myBlueprint and other career development tools. Grade 9's get their first taste of the community-based learning by participating in "Take Our Kids to Work" Day, which is a national event, held the first week of November. The next community-based programs that will take place are the Work Experiences that students do in Grades 11 & 12.
The Work Experience that Grade 11 & 12 students participate in allow each person to see first-hand a career that they are interested in. They are given the chance to choose an area of interest and businesses that they would like to see. The hope is that by going out, participating and seeing the work that people do daily will help students connect the dots between education and careers. This program encourages students to stay in school because they see the correlation between business, labour, education and the community. It gets students thinking about what their next steps are past graduation and increases their self-confidence and social skills.
The Work Exploration program also has a community impact by benefiting local employers. Employers get to view potential employees before making a hiring decision and it's a way for the business to give back to the community and school. It is a great marketing tool for employers because it gets students, parents and teachers talking about their business.
At the end of the day this program gets students thinking about their next steps. It gets them motivated to be a contributing member of their community and they begin to set goals and plan for their future. By completing all required outcomes of the Work Experience program, students will receive two half credits, Life/Work Building 35S and Life/Work Transitioning 45S.
For more information, please contact Sandra Wilkins, Career Development and High School Apprenticeship Program Teacher at
[email protected] or 1 204 867 2754 ext. 224.