Career Program (SSA)

CAREER DEVELOPMENT
WORK EXPERIENCE - DOORWAY TO YOUR FUTURE

“Work Experience” means that part of an educational program, which provides s student with an opportunity to participate in, observe or learn about the performance tasks and responsibilities, related to an occupation or career.  This may include the work experience that is required as part of the Graduation Transition Plan.

There are several types of work experience opportunities available and students may choose a variety of experiences to meet the 30-hour requirement.  The student’s work experience must support their career, educational and/or personal goals described in their Graduation Transition Plan.

The following activities qualify as work experience activities:

• School-arranged Work Experience
• Entrepreneurship
• Job Shadowing
• Volunteering Community Service
• Student Employment
• Electronic Work Experience
• Work Study Program

Students may accumulate work experience hours over several years (grades 10-12).  School-arranged Work Experience is automatically recorded in the Career Centre data files. 

Further information is available from the Career Centre.  Parents are asked to become informed about the work experience activities, help the student plan for the work and provide on-going support to the student. 

The Career Development and Work Experience Coordinator, the Career Planning Assistant and the Graduation Transition Plan Coordinator all support the student’s work experience needs.

Extended 100 Hour (4 credits)
Senior students whose program of study involves participating in a Focus Area Preparation Program may choose to earn credit from an extended work experience of 100 hours (4 credits).

Electing to participate in additional work experience, students may:

• Have an excellent opportunity to explore work situations related to their areas of interest
• Receive credit for Work Experience 12 (see description) for participating in Career Preparation
• Receive Focus Area designation in the specific program area on their official transcript
• Receive a Certificate of Completion recognizing their Focus Areas awarded at the graduation ceremony

Students may complete the Focus Area Preparation Program over the course of their grade 10, 11 and 12 years.  They are encouraged to begin their commitment to the Work Experience requirement in grade 10 to have accumulated hours applied to the appropriate Focus Area program.


The Career Education and Work Experience Teachers and staff of the Career Centre facilitate work experience activities at Maple Ridge Secondary.  Any inquiries or offers of work experience placement opportunities should be directed to the coordinators at 604-463-4175.

CAREER PROGRAMS
Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA)
This Career Program provides students over the age of 15 with the opportunity to begin an apprenticeship while still in high school. If a student is currently working in an apprenticable area (but not registered), or finds an employer who is interested in registering him as an apprentice, he may be eligible for this program.  In order to complete a secondary school apprenticeship, a student must complete at least 480 hours of paid work-based training in an apprenticable field.  A student must graduate to have hours credited towards this apprenticeship.


Other possible benefits include earning a wage while training, qualifying for scholarship assistance and receiving Secondary School apprenticeship course credits (up to 16) for work-based training.
There are currently over 200 apprenticable occupations in B.C.  Broad related areas include automotive, construction, electronics, food, industrial, service, and horticulture. 

New areas include tourism and hospitality, motion film and theatre, and the aerospace industry.
For further information, contact the MRSS Career Development and Work Experience Coordinator or go to www.itabc.ca

FOCUS AREA PREPARATION
The Focus Area Preparation is available to grade 11 and 12 students.  This Career Education Program will help prepare a student for either direct entry into business/industry employment by developing marketable skills, or prepare him/her to enter a post-secondary institution, sometimes with either advanced placement or standing.  The Focus Area Preparation Program includes a selection of courses in both general education subjects and specific career related subjects that will lead to graduation.  See examples that follow.

One of the grade 12 course requirements of a school district offering a Focus Area Preparation Program is Work Experience 12.  This credit course requires a minimum of 100 hours.  A student may participate in a “hands on” job experience that relates to the specialty program in which he is enrolled.  This is carried out under the supervision of the Career Education and Work Experience Coordinator and the placement employer(s).  Evaluation forms and letters of reference may be used by students to enhance their personal resumes and secure employment after graduation.

Students entering Grade 12 on a Focus Area Preparation Program must successfully qualify for graduation requirements, complete WE12A and complete three (3) elective courses of which one is at the Grade 12 level that supports the chosen Focus Area.