Cooperative Education is an experiential method of learning that gives students an opportunity to work outside the school while earning secondary school credits. Cooperative Education allows students to explore a career of interest, develop job skills, obtain career-related practical experience, gather references for a resume and develop attitudes necessary for success in the workplace.
Cooperative Education placements are possible for most Grade 11 and 12 courses and packages may be assembled for students to earn 2 or 4 credits. Students must have taken a course related to their co-op experience or be taking a related course concurrently with the co-op experience. Students must be 16 years of age and have earned 16 credits in order to enroll and participate in the Cooperative Education program.
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is described in the York Region District School Board regional calendar. This program is designed for students who wish to pursue a skilled trade while meeting the academic requirements to graduate secondary school. Students may enroll in OYAP in grade 11 and may continue with OYAP in grade 12. Students may be asked to already have a placement and a supervisor willing to take them on as an apprentice in trade areas that are highly regulated.
Accelerated OYAP
This co-op program is offered to students in their last year of secondary school who have acquired at least 26 of the 30 credits required to graduate high school. Students work in a skilled trade while obtaining their level 1 apprenticeship certification in the skilled trade at a designated college. Students who are highly focused are able to complete the secondary school co-op requirements in conjunction with the college requirements and may benefit from these reach-ahead opportunities. Students must be in good academic standing and have excellent attendance and punctuality to be considered.
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a 2-year certification process that students would begin in grade 11 and complete by the end of grade 12. The focus for the SHSM at MMHS are Health & Wellness, Business and Environment.
Students entered into SHSM programs could obtain a special Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with a SHSM red seal certification on their OSSD.
The SHSM program allows students to:
-include a bundle of nine courses,
-develop sector-specific skills and knowledge,
-gain industry/business recognized certifications, and
-participate in relevant work experience and 'reach ahead' opportunities
For further information, contact a Guidance Counselor or Cooperative Education teacher to discuss the benefits of SHSM.
Robin Mitchell
Cooperative Education Teacher
robin.mitchell@yrdsb.ca
905-477-0072 Ext.520