Students share job experiences

Fort Frances High School’s co-op placement program has been around since 1970 and students taking part in it for the first semester this school year staged a display day last Wednesday.
“Today was fabulous. We had approximately 50 displays from all types of business and industry,” noted Nancy Gillon, the full-time co-op monitor at FFHS.
“There’s different levels of ability, and they [students] took one aspect of their placement and found a new interest and built a creative display.
“The students really get involved in their work. The enthusiasm was overwhelming,” she added.
Gillon sets up the placement for the students, as well as monitors them once they’re in that placement. She also is involved in the evaluation at the end.
Skylar Odahl, a Grade 12 student, did her display on “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” which centered around ultrasounds and X-rays for pregnant women.
“I like babies,” said Odahl, who added an interest in ultrasounds got her interested in the field.
Casey Grant, also in Grade 12, entitled his display “All Wired Up On Electricity.”
“My dad was an electrician. I did a lot of household wiring,” said Grant, who added he’s “thinking about” a career in electricity after he graduates from high school.
“Learn to Read & Write in French” was the theme for Elizabeth Black’s display.
“My dad speaks French. I’ve been speaking French since I was in kindergarten,” she remarked.
Black, 17, already has teaching experience at St. Michael’s School here. “When the regular teacher is away, I actually go ahead and teach the class,” she explained.
Jason Mathews’ “Ohms Law!” also was among the displays last Wednesday.
“I enjoy working with my hands,” he said. “I understand it really well, it excites me a lot more than desk work.”
Proving theories about voltage, resistance, and amps was the theme of his display, with Mathews also explaining more about the electrician trade to fellow students and teachers.