Students gain a clearer understanding of career interest in new Grade 10 collegiate program
Students participating in Black Gold School Division’s Grade 10 collegiate program are gaining a stronger understanding of what careers they want to explore because of the experiences they’ve had this semester in a new career pathways program.
The program involves Grade 10 students participating in a number of full day field trips. Each trip focuses on providing hands-on experiences with a variety of trades including carpentry, electrician, pipe trades (welding), ironworking, bricklaying, painting and insulation.
“I wanted to try this because I want to see what I’m interested in. It’s great to see everything we’ve seen,” says Paxton M., a student from Thorsby Jr / Sr High School. “It will help me figure out what I want to go into.”
“It opens up the idea of doing this as a career,” says Liam N., a student from Thorsby Jr / Sr High School. Liam says so far he has enjoyed electrical the best. “I liked connecting fuse boxes and switches, and then testing it to see if it works.”
“I’m not really sure what I want to do,” says Mia H., a student from Warburg School, “so I thought it would be good to try out the trades.” Mia says so far she likes doing electrical, and will consider taking advantage of more trades learning opportunities next year.
“We designed the Grade 10 experience to be a very gentle, low-risk exposure to careers in the skilled trades,” says Justin Klaassen, Principal, Calmar Secondary Collegiate School.
“We wanted students to try out a variety of trades to see what is a fit for them, and what is not, before they invest in additional learning.”
Students who complete the course receive five high school credits and three post-secondary credits from Portage College. The program operates out of Calmar Secondary Collegiate School (CSCS), and welcomes students from any high school in Black Gold School Division, as well as from Wetaskiwin Public Schools and Wild Rose School Division.
The program had its start last spring with 15 students from CSCS, and is now in its first full year of operation within the division. The course operates for the full school year. Currently there are two classes of 20 students each.
“It’s important that students are able to see themselves and their futures at school,” says Klaassen. “This program is helping students feel motivated about their futures, and more engaged in their learning right now.”
“I like that this is hands-on and not sitting in class. It’s learning a trade,” says Stephen S., a student from Warburg School. Stephen says he liked pipe trades and electrical experiences the best so far, and is considering learning more about them next year.
Ava H., a student from Warburg School agrees. “I think trying it is better than hearing about it.”
Sam Place is a plumbing instructor at the Alberta Pipe Trades College, where students experienced welding and plumbing activities. “Having the students here has been fantastic. They are polite, good young adults. I think this is a good program because it shows the students what is out there.”
“Black Gold is appreciative of the good relationships we have with Industry Partners, the Trade Union Halls, and Portage College for supporting Collegiate programming at Calmar Secondary Collegiate School. It is the partnerships that make this happen,” says Erin Tisdale, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Gr. 7-12, BGSD.
In Grade 11, students gain more in-depth learning experiences in electrical, carpentry and pipe-trades through 90 half day classes. In Grade 12, students select a single trade from the previous year to focus on. They focus on the trade during 60 full school days, and prepare to take their apprenticeship exam.
