SMS Day at Okanagan College

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.