Displaying opportunity for discovery

Over the course of the first semester at Fort High, many students have enrolled in co-op placements.
Co-op is an opportunity for students to get experience in a career they are interested in. Businesses from Fort Frances to Emo offer these placements.
“The community is very receptive to the co-op program. We have wonderful support,” said Nancy Gillon of the Co-op department at Fort Frances High School.
Students can find placements in many areas of work, such as Abitibi-Consolidated, La Place Rendez-Vous, La Verendrye Hospital, J.W. Walker School, and the Fort Frances OPP.
“[Co-op] lets students try on a job and see if it’s what they would like to do,” explained Gillon. “Students will find out what it’s like in that career, learn tasks, and make sure it’s something they want to do in the future.
“There is a lot of time, effort, and expense wasted if they make the wrong choice in university,” she added.
While at their placements, students take on a lot of work. Each week, written logs have to be handed in, and throughout the semester, assignments, evaluations, portfolios, and a display must be completed.
Co-op Display Day took place at Fort High last Wednesday, which was an opportunity for students to use creative skills and knowledge to share information on their placements and the experience so far.
Marnie Cumming, another teacher in the Co-op department, was very impressed with the students’ displays this year. “I think the students worked very hard to showcase their experiences at co-op,” she remarked.
“It was a great day,” agreed Gillon. “There were very creative displays, lots of variety, lots of hard work.”
The day was very successful, and students were enthusiastic and demonstrated their work well. Sara DeGagne is among the co-op students for this semester and was happy to see all the effort put into the event.
“It’s a fun way to demonstrate what we’ve learned,” she said.
DeGagne has a placement at J.W. Walker, where she helps teach a Grade 2 class. She seems to be enjoying her co-op experience.
“It’s an awesome opportunity to get a good look at what you think you want to do in the future. I’ve really learned a lot,” she enthused.
“I think it’s great that we’re offered this, and that so many businesses are all for it,” she added.
Students have just over a month left before the semester is over, and hopefully this is enough time for them to really get a good feel for what the career path they have in mind will have to offer.
“We are very proud of our students—all students. They work very hard,” noted Gillon.