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Elementary Students Receive Introduction to Career Paths

June 05, 2008

Elementary Students Receive Early Introduction to Potential Career Paths at Loyalist College

Approximately 250 senior elementary students from the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, and the Tyendinaga Education Committee visited Loyalist College on June 4th to explore the diverse career opportunities available through college post-secondary studies.

“The students were able to choose the hands-on workshops they wanted to attend from a wide and interesting selection,” said Dave O’Hearn, Program Manager, School of Continuing Education at Loyalist College. “Our goal is to engage students in thoughts of post-secondary education at an earlier age.”

Erna Sorensen, Guidance Coordinator for the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board described the partnership as an excellent one. “This is a time when these students are just starting to look ahead at career opportunities and it is important that they understand that college holds excellent choices for them. It’s not just the students here today who benefit from this experience. They return to their schools and share what they have learned with others. In addition to the students, we were also pleased to welcome 50 administrators, school council members, parent council representatives and teachers to a luncheon presentation and campus tour. Our hope is that after today they too will have a better understanding of the opportunities that Loyalist can offer our students.”

“I discovered today that there is a lot more to esthetics and baking bread than I ever imagined, “ said Emilia Garro, a grade eight student from St. Michael’s in Belleville. “I think that today was really helpful because it gave me an overview of what is offered at college, allowing me to make some decisions that could help me later. Now, I know there are classes that I will want to take in high school that will help me prepare for areas that I am interested in for post-secondary. This has been a great day.”

Serge Lavoie, a teacher from St. Michael’s was pleased that his students were able to participate in the day’s events. “I gave them background information in the different areas they were going to be able to choose their sessions from. This gave them a chance to think about the subjects they were interested in before they arrived. The day has been extremely well organized and fun. Even some of my students who had been a little hesitant at first are glad that they participated.”

 

The project was funded through the combined funds of the Eastern Lakeshore Regional Planning Team and Partnering to Articulate Student Success (PASS), both School-College-Work Initiative (SCWI) funded groups. The SCWI is a cooperative effort that involves school boards and colleges with a mandate to assist in creating a seamless transition for students from secondary school to college. It is funded jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

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Media Contact:  Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2332; e-mail:  mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca  or Jim Whiteway, Chair, Schools of Business, Biosciences and Justice Studies, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2329

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