Sixty Chinook’s Edge Grade 9 students are taking advantage of an opportunity designed to begin exploration of, and readiness for skilled trades careers. The newly designed “CTF Fuse Your Future”, a three day exploration experience at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, will give students confidence in the next steps available to them at the high school level.
CTF stands for Career and Technology Foundations. CTF courses are offered in middle school, whereas in Grades 10 to 12, students can enroll in CTS (Career and Technology Studies) courses. “We designed ‘CTF Fuse Your Future’ to allow students to explore different career-related experiences earlier than high school, which we anticipate will help with navigating Career pathway planning,” says Brianne Fletcher, Career Connections Coordinator.
“We are working to extend our Career Connections priority into lower grades, and build students' confidence moving into the dual credit experiences for Grades 10 to 12. Just imagine how well versed and confident our students will be entering into these career experiences in high school,” she says. “I’m excited about that and what this does for their future.”
Roxy Reynolds, a Grade 9 student from Bowden Grandview School, says, "This is a great opportunity to explore the profession of welding, as well as get insight into the trades. I am hoping to learn more about welding, and the trades in general". Bella Stoutenburg, a Grade 9 student from Spruce View School says, "I took this experience to try and help me learn what I would like to pursue as a career when I am older, and the trades have always been an interest of mine. I am wanting to learn more about welding and all trades."
The CTF initiative has been underway for three years. The first year the division welcomed 60 students to the campus for one day. Last year, Chinook’s Edge had Grade 8 students that came from around the division to experience heavy duty equipment.
This year the opportunity is expanding to Grade 9. Students come to the campus for three days, separately throughout the fall, in rotations of 15 students at a time. New this year is having students coming to the opportunity with safety orientation completed online, so that more of the time is spent learning hands-on about welding, from expert journeyperson instructors.
“The three days allows students to grasp the content and hands-on portion of welding and understand how to be successful in skilled trades careers as they head into high school,” says Fletcher.
This school year is also the first time the opportunity has happened in welding. In the winter semester, the division will again offer heavy equipment mechanics to the Grade 8 students.
Noah Hetu, a Grade 9 student from Spruce View School, says, "This has been a great opportunity to extend my knowledge in the trades. My family is a part of the trades, and I too will be a part of the trades after high school. I love the feeling of being in the shop and learning. Anything Trades related and anything hands on, this is why I took the opportunity".
Paige Bennett , a Grade 9 student from Ecole Olds High School, says, "I wanted to try ‘Fuse Your Future’ for some experience and knowledge for when I'm older. We learned how to measure metal and make dog tags.I really enjoy projects and hands-on learning."
Jackson Corkum, a Grade 9 student from Ecole Olds High School, says, "I like having different opportunities to learn outside of the classroom and explore career choices. The day was full of lots of hands-on learning and was very interesting. I'm looking forward to creating more projects and learning more about welding in the next two classes."
Story Submitted by Laurette Woodward, Communications Coordinator, Chinook's Edge School Divison
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