Alex Berthelot
January 23 marked the last day of work for the Coronach School Grade 10 Career and Work Exploration class. “I enjoyed it a lot, It got me out of the school routine. It taught me about working in real life” said Sydney Elder who completed her term working at Marv’s Tire and Auto Glass.
Students started work on September 27 and after 5 months will have completed enough hours for the Career and Work Credit. There are a number of other components that make up the mark for the class.
Marvin Holbrook, owner of Marv’s Tire and Auto Glass in Coronach, has been taking students for over 10 years. “It is very good for the students. It gives them a little heads up of what is happening in the world,” said Holbrook.
The CWEX program is designed to help kids get a taste of what it is like working at a real job. It also helps students decide what they like and do not like and even give them a job opportunity at the business.
“I think it was a good learning experience for me,” said Jesse Pratchler who worked at the Co-op for CWEX. It also teaches them skills they would never learn on a daily basis and that some jobs are not as easy at they look. “ I learned how much work it takes to keep a grocery store running” said Jesse Pratchler,
“I learned to clean an entire shop, learned to balance tires and write up bills for Marv at the end of the month” said Sydney Elder, who was placed at Marv’s Tire.
Employers report that the program brings benefits to both the students and the employers. “It is a great learning program for the students and employer to hire potential employees,” said Lyle Hancock of Acklands Grainger. After this semester employers are looking to take in kids again “Yes, I would take in kids again next semester” said Holbrook.
According to Belinda Spagrud, teacher of the Career and Work Exploration class in Coronach, to keep this program running Coronach businesses must keep taking in students to work for them.
I enjoyed it a lot, It got me out of the school routine. It taught me about working in real life - Sydney Elder
Coronach has had a number of businesses, like Marv’s Tire, who have been taking in students for the past 10 years. With those experienced employees come satisfied students “Overall it is a fun program and I would not have switched my placement if I could” said Sydney Elder who worked with Marv.
Alex Berthelot, who worked at Triangle News for his placement, said, “I would like to thank everyone for their efforts letting us have this awesome opportunity to work and be a part of the community.”
“We are thankful to have employers who are willing to take students under their wing and teach them work skills. Without them the program would not be possible,” wrapped up Spagrud.
The Grade 11 class will be taking Career and Work Exploration in the second semester of this year, which will begin shortly.
trianglenews@sasktel.net
