Co-operative Education Program

Grades  9-12

Teachers:  Mark Sutton and Jenny Castro,

Co-Operative education integrates academic study and classroom theory with practical experience in the workplace. It allows students to earn secondary school credits while completing a work placement in the community. Co-Operative education allows students to participate in valuable learning experiences that help prepare them for the next stage of their lives, whether in apprenticeship training, college, community living, university, or the workplace.

Students are required to participate in a classroom component prior to beginning a work placement. The classroom component covers topics such as: Job readiness skills and self-assessment, career development, health and safety, ethics and confidentiality, unions, interviews, resume and letter writing, and workplace expectations.

The Co-Operative Education Teacher-Monitor is responsible for guiding the student throughout his / her work experience.

All students in grade 11 and 12 are encouraged to explore the Co-Operative education option!

Students go to work placements in either the a.m. or p.m. for 3 hours each day. Co-Op placements are supervised on a continuous basis by the Co-Op Teacher-Monitor. Transportation to and from work is the responsibility of each student. Bus passes are not provided for coop. Once a month the students are brought together as a group for planned workshops at school.

Students must accumulate a minimum of 220 work hours for 2 credits that are linked to an in-school course.

Student assessment is based on the in-school component as well as the work-placement in consultation with the supervisor.

Examples of previous work placements: 

• Nursing, Lab Technologist, 

• Tourism/Hotel Management, Les Suites, 

• Medicine, 

• Automotive Technician, 

• Law Enforcement, Ottawa Police, RCMP, 

• Physiotherapy, 

• Teaching, 

• Computers, Storm Internet, 

• CHEO, 

• Childcare, 

• Veterinary Clinics, 

• General Hospital, 

• Chef, Marriott Hotel, Ritz Canal. 

Placements are always made in consultation with students. It is important that the placement fit the student’s abilities and interests.  For more information please call 613-837-2400

Read more about the Cooperative Education program at the OCSB.