SD83 Career Programs

Sunshine & lunch time pizza—what more could a student ask for?

Nearly 250 Grade Eight students from Shuswap Middle and King’s Christian Schools descended upon Okanagan College in Salmon Arm for a morning of learning and exploring career options. The students marshalled in the central courtyard to start the morning fresh from their walks from their schools. From there, the students chose one of three learning streams: University, Trades and Technology and Health and Human Services. Those who were curious about University were involved with learning about science, arts and business careers; others who enquired about health and human services careers learned about early childhood education, social work and nursing; the final trades and technology group learned more about engineering, red seal trades and dual credit opportunities.

Many of the activities were interactive. Tours of the campus were also given to students as well as many participated in some indigenous games. Students ended the session with a pizza lunch in the courtyard.

This is the second year of a pilot involving Salmon Arm’s Okanagan Campus, SD83 Careers and Shuswap Middle School to expose Grade Eights to start exploring their future selves. The pilot will be expanded next year thanks to a grant from the BC Government. It is hoped that all five-hundred Grade Eights in the district will be invited to the Salmon Arm campus for the two day event which will also involve the participation of Interior Health with a focus on Health Care careers.

If you have any other ideas to expose students to career learning, don’t hesitate to reach out to SD83 Career Education Coordinator George Richard via text or phone at 778-824-1188 or you can email grichard@sd83.bc.ca.

“Oh, do I do this again,” questioned Kathy Burke.

“Yes” replied Maryke Simmonds pointing to Cathy’s computer screen. Cathy moves her mouse and selects the image.

“Oh wow! Look at that” exclaimed Burke.

Simmonds, Burke and six other teachers had the opportunity to build their own Charcuterie board as part of a pro-d activity hosted by SD83’s Career Program and Shuswap MakerSpace. Three retired MakerSpace veterans led the workshop. They included former SD83 Principal Abbas El Gazzar, former SD83 teacher D’Arcy McLeod and former USNR Machinist and Mechanical Technologist Pat Shea .The workshop focus was not just on making the board. The three facilitators also focused their lesson modelling team building exercises for doing such projects. They also wish the teachers to bring their learning back to their classrooms where they can collaborate in the future with MakerSpace on doing other projects that space but, next time, with their students.

Participants started the event learning or re-affirming the theoretical importance of team building on project work and discussed the difference between task or goal/process-oriented people and how they tackle such projects. From there, the teachers picked names out of a hat to determine their partner. They then followed the computer design demonstration with the “A” partner on the computer and the “B” partner giving instructions before switching up.

Once their design was finished, they brought their computer file down to the MakerSpace woodshop where they could plug that into the shop’s CNC router and laser cutter machines. Following some cutting of the boards and sanding along with a bees wax finish, the maple, walnut and cherry boards were ready to be taken home.

Shuswap MakerSpace hopes to have more of these Pro-D sessions for interested teachers next year. If you’re a teacher that’s interested in these potential session or have other career-based learning ideas for teacher professional learning, don’t hesitate to reach out to George Richard at 778-824-1188 via text or phone or email grichard@sd83.bc.ca.

SD 83 Careers and the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF) are offering a virtual seminar to individual students and teachers with their class later this month. The event will be carried province-wide on Friday, May 24th.

The four guest presenters from B.C. will explain their different career journeys, the schooling they took and what they do in their jobs. The presenters represent the following professions: Naval Architecture, Vessel Operations, a Red Seal Marine Service Technician and a Spill Response Technician.

Students or teachers wanting to participate need a parental permission form first before they register for the event through their school-based career office. If you have any other questions about the event or you wish to share some ideas for different career pathways, please talk with SD83 Career Education Coordinator George Richard by texting or phoning 778-824-1188 or you can email grichard@sd83.bc.ca.

SD83 students and parents interested in a career in emergency services may be interested in checking out a community event tomorrow.

The Ranchero-Deep Creek Fire Department is having an Open House between 11AM-3PM at its fire hall on Highway 97B. Besides the volunteer firefighters, there will also be personnel on hand from the RCMP, Ambulance Service, BC Conservation Service, Wildfire Protection, Search & Rescue and, potentially, Rap Attack. This would be a great time to not just tour the equipment, see the rescue demonstrations and have a hamburger but also talk with emergency professionals about career opportunities and make personal connections.

If there are other community events with a career flavour that you feel our students would be interested in, please contact George Richard via text or phone at 778-824-1188 or email grichard@sd83.bc.ca.

SD83 Grade 10-12 Students will get a chance to experience a bit of College Life on Friday, May 3rd.

SD83 and Okanagan College Salmon Arm will have their second “Experience OC” event since the pandemic. The students will have a chance to talk with professors and tour the campus for the full-day event. Starting now, students can view an array of different short classes taught by OC Instructors and then sign up for three of these courses for that day. Students can choose courses in the academic arts, business, science, engineering, health, social development and technology, among other offerings.

Students need a signed parent permission form to register for the event. They can approach their school-based career coordinator to pick up those forms. If you wish more details, don’t hesitate to reach out to the school’s career coordinator or contact District Career Education Coordinator George Richard at grichard@sd83.bc.ca or text or phone 778-824-1188.