Co-operative Education

Co-operative Education

 

“The only source of knowledge is experience.”   

- Albert Einstein

Silverthorn’s Co-op Program runs a two-credit course in semester two for grade 11 and 12 students.  This is a requirement for SHSM students.

How Does Co-op Work?
  • In the semester BEFORE co-op starts, students have an interview with their co-op teacher to discuss their areas of interest and possible placements

  • Some careers (like the armed forces, health care, and banking) have centralized placements.  This means that students all over the TDSB compete for selected placements in a process that starts in semester one

  • Students who are interested in the trades will become OYAP students where they can start to log hours towards their apprenticeship.  As well, there are specialized programs for certain trades (like automotive repair, HVAC, plumbing…) which will earn four co-op credits and a college credit.  This application process also starts in semester one

  • Teacher and students will work together to find work opportunities.

  • The first three weeks of the semester are called Pre-placement, when students come to class to work on assignments like resumes, cover letters, and health and safety

  • Students generally work at their placements from the end of September to the middle of January in first semester and from the end of February to middle of June in the second semester

  • Approximately every two weeks, students will return to the school to debrief their experiences and work on other assignments related to the world of work. The last week is spent at school in preparation for the Culminating Activity.

Hear From Our Co-op Students