An Information Session for Parents

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Talking Opportunities

• An Information Session for Parents

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Pathways to Opportunity
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PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child earning money while
  enjoying doing this?

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PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child earning money while
  enjoying doing this?

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PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child earning money while
  enjoying doing this?

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PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child earning money while
  enjoying doing this?

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PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child earning money while
  enjoying doing this?

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The Transition to High School

• Talking Opportunities Parent Presentation
• Secondary School Guidance Counsellors visit Grade
  8 Classes to distribute course selection
  information packages (Jan/Feb)
• Grade 8 Information Evening and Open House at the
  Secondary School (Dec/Jan/Feb)
• Grade 8 Tour of the School (May/June)
• Grade 9 Registration Day (Aug)
• Grade 9 Parent Information Night (Sept)

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Agenda

• Introduction and Rationale
• Pathways Presentation
• Guidance Services and Career Cruising Websites
• Q A

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Pathways to Opportunity 6-12
Apprenticeship College Community Living
University Workplace

OYAP Co-op Programs Work Experience Job
Shadowing/ Twinning
SCHOOL-WORK PROGRAM
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY
SELF KNOWLEDGE JOURNEY
AUTHENTIC/ EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
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Most employment sectors have a full range of
employment opportunities
scientist
engineer
technologist
technician
skilled trades assistant
skilled trades person
University degree (4-6 yr.)
University Degree (4-6 yr.)
College diploma (3 yr.)
College diploma (2 yr.)
Apprenticeship Certification (2-5 yr.)
On the job Training (1 2 yr.)
More hands-on
More conceptual
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The Pathways

• Students in Ontario have many options for post
  secondary training.
• They can choose from 28 colleges, 19
  universities, hundreds of private career
  colleges, over 140 apprenticeship opportunities
  and on the job training programs.

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The Apprenticeship Pathway

• a hands-on training program that has existed
• for 1,000s of years

• one of Ontarios best kept secrets of
  post-secondary training

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The Skilled Trades

• These high demand, highly skilled, highly
  practical careers are now referred to as Gold
  Collar Careers since many trades people can earn
  50,000-75,000 within 3-5 years of high school
  graduation
• Students and parents need to pay more attention
  to this pathway as a powerful means of obtaining
  practical experience and skills, keeping in mind
  that over 50 of Ontarios Grade 9 students do
  not choose to pursue either a college diploma or
  a university degree.
• YRDSB offers the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship
  Program (OYAP) program starting in Grade 11
  students earn high school credits while they
  explore career opportunities in the skilled
  trades.

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The Principles ofApprenticeship Training

• training is experiential (85-90 occurs
  on-the-job, and 10-15 takes place in the
  classroom)

• apprentices earn while they learn

• success requires competencies in Math, English
  and Science and an aptitude for applied technology

• leads to a wide variety of rewarding careers in
  the industrial, transportation, construction and
  service sectors of Ontarios economy

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What are the trades?
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The 33 construction trades include

• Carpenter
• Electrician
• Crane Operator
• Glazier
• Drywall Finisher/Plasterer
• Mason
• Painter

Plumber Power Line Worker Refrigeration/AC
Mechanic Roofer Steam
Fitter Sheet Metal Worker
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The 20 motive power trades include

• Auto Body Tech.
• Automotive Painter
• Auto Service Technician
• Partsperson
• Small Engine Mechanic
• Marine Engine Repairer
• Heavy Duty Technician
• Transmission Technician
• Motorcycle Technician
• Truck/Coach Technician

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The 48 industrial trades include

• Facilities Mtce. Mechanic
• Fitter
• General Machinist
• Hydraulic Mechanic
• Industrial Electrician
• Locksmith
• Mould Maker
• Ski lift Mechanic
• Tool Die Maker
• Welder

Aircraft Mtce. Engineer Blacksmith
Cabinetmaker Draftsperson CNC Programmer
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The 34 service trades include

• Agriculture Technician
• Appliance Service Tech
• Arborist
• Baker
• Cook
• Child/Youth Worker
• Construction Craft Worker
• ECE
• Education Asst
• Pool Hot Tub/Spa Tech.
• Retail Meat Cutter

Electronic Service Tech Hairstylist
Horse Groomer Horticultural Technician IT
support analyst Network cabling
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Many employment sectors have a full range of
training opportunities
Social Work
Child Youth Studies
Child Youth Worker
Child Youth Worker
Graduate degree (Masters)
University Degree (4-6 yr.)
College diploma (3 yr.)
Apprenticeship Certification (2-5 yr.)
More hands-on
More conceptual
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Wage Information
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The College Pathway

• Community college programs provide a valuable
  combination of academic and practical/technical
  skills training for a specific career
• There are almost 600 programs to choose from at
  Ontarios community colleges, including Business
  Administration, Biomedical Technology, Computer
  Animation, Engineering Technology, Paramedic,
  and Social Worker
• Seneca College tells us that York University is
  their biggest feeder school as University Grads
  discover that they require practical job skills
  in addition to theory

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University ?? College

• Program links between colleges and universities
  are increasing dramatically by offering
• joint programs that will provide students with
  both the theoretical and practical skills
  required for their career and earn them a degree
  and a diploma in four years, and,
• Multiple opportunities for transfer between
  colleges and universities exist.

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The University Pathway

• University programs provide theoretical academic
  training
• In general, there are 5 main types of programs at
  most universities
• Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences
• Life/Health Sciences
• Physical/Engineering Sciences
• Business/Commerce
• Professional programs

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The Workplace Pathway
Remember we are all going to work but we enter
the workforce at different times in our lives!

• There are many viable entry-level job
  opportunities for students who have completed
  their OSSD and have workplace experiences.
  Students who are fast-tracking into the
  workforce/community directly after high school
  should
• work with guidance, community-based education,
  subject teachers, employment centres to create a
  personal portfolio (resume, cover letters,
  letters of reference, successes, etc.) to present
  to prospective employers, and,
• be aware that cooperative education is an
  important component of workplace preparation.

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The New World of Work Current Realities of
the 21st Century

• increased demand for technological literacy
  skills
• decreased demand for unskilled labour
• new flexibility in the work place growing
• dependence on part-time, contract or
  free-lance
• work v.s. life-long employment
• increase in self-employment (82 of York region
  
• employers are small business)
• Life-long career is being replaced by 6-8
  different
• careers during ones working life
• Commitment to life-long learning a requirement of
  
• most employment

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Paradigm Shift
OLD Choose a DESTINATION What will you be when
... NEW Follow your HEART Who are you
now? What are your special skills,
abilities, talents, gifts (assets)? Who needs
what you like to do? What work arrangements
might make sense? What skills do you need
to acquire or enhance to manage your career?
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Our goal is to move this last 24 into the other
three categories.
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Tips for Parents

• Help your teen understand who they are
• Honour your teens decisions
• Help your teen explore a variety of careers and
  extra-curricular activities
• Encourage your teen to apply for a Co-op
  Education Program
• Help your teen develop good work habits

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Tips for Parents

• Help your teen build a personal portfolio
• Provide advice on money management
• Recognize the importance of setting directions
  for the future by encouraging your teen to
• Consider long-range planning options
• Research job opportunities
• Set aside time for reflection and discussion

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Course Selection for all Pathways
Compulsory credits
Option credits
All students need to be aware of prerequisites
for course selection and for post- secondary
destinations. Option credits provide
opportunities to explore other areas of interest
/or hands-on experiential learning
opportunities.
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Think about your own Career Journey

• Help your teen to be mindful of the destination,
  but focus primarily on the journey.
• Remember that pathways are changeable and
  flexible. As interests, skills and aptitudes
  develop and mature, there will be many
  opportunities for your teen to re-chart their
  journey.

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Opening Doors

• When our children choose courses for Secondary
  school it is important that they do some honest
  self assessment, matching their ability with
  their interests and aptitudes.
• When we choose courses based on a concern about
  closing doors we are suggesting that the door
  locks behind us. Initial decisions made in grade
  8 are not final decisions. There are many
  pathways to the destination they dream of!

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Pathways to Opportunity
College
International Travel/Educn
Work
School
Apprenticeship
University
Private Training
Which path will your teen choose?
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• Career cruising is a web-based career
  exploration and planning tool that your teen uses
  to explore career and education options and
  create a comprehensive career portfolio. It
  includes the following features
• Interest and skills assessments
• Detailed career profiles
• Multimedia interviews
• Apprenticeship, college and university
  information
• Electronic career portfolio
• Resume Builder
• Check it out at www.careercruising.com

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Guidance Services Website

• For links to more information on high school
  programming, the YRDSB course calendar,
  post-secondary options and career exploration
  visit
• www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/guidance.services
• Check out the excellent sections entitled
• About Grade 9
• About Possible Destinations

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PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child earning money while
  enjoying doing this?

39
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child earning money

while enjoying doing this?
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PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child earning money while
  enjoying doing this?

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PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

• Can you see your child
• earning money
• while enjoying a career
• involving one of these?

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THERE ARE MANY PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS