Career Development
Our students will succeed in a much different future from the one we envisioned 10 or 15 years ago. It is our responsibility to prepare all children for success in whatever life path they choose, connecting learning opportunities with future career possibilities. We know that real-life experiences - like community involvement, gaining business knowledge, and hands-on-learning - build better students and life-long citizens.
Goals
- Improve core competencies so students can achieve career/life goals.
- Improve graduation rates.
Graduate Spotlight
Tomorrow, I will write my 20th Century History 12 final exam, and if I do a decent job of it, I will get my
high school diploma. Why is this significant; I am 67 years old and my oldest granddaughter is
graduating in June. I thought I would like to graduate ahead of all my grandchildren, so in the summer
of 2024 my wife talked me into enrolling into Abbotsford Virtual School. I found out I was five courses
shy of diploma.
When I was in high school, I was not very inspired, and lazy. I put off schoolwork for any excuse, a ball
game, a date, or a party always seemed to get in the way, and finally time ran out, and I sat in the
stands and watched my girlfriend and classmates get their diplomas. Of course I laughed it off, made
out like it did not matter, but it was embarrassing. I eventually got a journeyman electrical ticket and
had a strong career in the traffic signal business. I was incredibly lucky, and I had to work my tail off to
go back and get math courses so I could manage the workload when I was in trade school. I was smart
enough, I just needed the motivation, and having a 1-year-old at home was that motivation. But you
cannot do that anymore, I was lucky to get in the program, and anyone in my position now better be
willing to work hard for low pay, as that is all that you will get without a high school education. I cannot
count the times someone asked me “What, you don’t have a high school education?” and I would again
laugh it off and state that it worked out fine for me, but it bothered me.
So, on June 16th I hope to attend the graduation ceremony at Abbotsford Virtual School, and on June
20th my oldest granddaughter will graduate [High School]. I am so immensely proud of my granddaughter, she has struggled at school but has managed to find the discipline to get through in the last 2 years and has done extremely well. And I am proud of myself, this was harder than I thought, and at 67 I am not as adept at computers as my fellow grade 12 students are, and that is basic knowledge now. It was important to me to show my grandchildren that this is important, to be able to set aside time to get important things done, and to take a step in the direction of being a responsible adult.
One unexpected perk that I get out of this- my graduating class that I missed out celebrating with will celebrate a very informal 50th class reunion this year, and I am so excited to go and see old friends with my brand new Dogwood andtell them that I finally decided to join the club. 50 years late, who would have
thought.
Thanks to the people who helped me with my computer questions, my wife and family, the five very patient and helpful teachers who guided me through this little journey, and the administration staff at AVS, what a wonderful program.
Fusion Rockets and Robots
Fusion students wrapped up the term with a culmination of their learning. Students designed, 3-D printed, and then tested their rockets. The students also had a battlebots showdown of robots they designed, created, and programmed in ADST.
Trades
Our students will succeed in a much different future from the one we envisioned 10 or 15 years ago. It is our responsibility to prepare students for success in whatever life path they choose, which includes connecting learning opportunities with future career possibilities. We know that real-life experiences - like community involvement, gaining business knowledge, and hands-on-learning - build better students and life-long citizens.
Recently, AVS' grade 8-10 Fusion students attended a guest speaker presentation entitled, "Futures in Red Seal Trades," by Ralph Vergara of the BC Building Trades Council, who himself is an electrician by trade, and took advantage of the program his school district offered to start his certification during high school. Ralph was a super engaging and animated presenter who connected immediately with our students. It was eye-opening for students to see someone just a few years older than themselves in such a successful position already.
While you might think of common careers in the trades being jobs such as bricklayer, carpenter, and electrician, Ralph introduced our students to a host of other careers in this sector.
Did you know, for example, that a "glazier" is someone who specializes in installing windows, and that huge panels of glass (such as at the front of the Apple store) can cost $1 million each? This is certainly not a profession for the clumsy-handed.
Also, a "sprinkler fitter" is not someone who comes to water your lawn, but rather someone who outfits buildings with ceiling sprinklers in case of fire. Interesting to note that the water that emerges from these sprinklers is usually black and gunky as it has been sitting in the pipes in a "ready to go" position for years. Certainly not optimal shower water.
A "sheet metal worker" is someone who creates shapes out of large, pliable sheets of metal to create ducts and vents for buildings to ensure adequate ventilation.
Ralph shared that there is an increasing demand for workers in the trades, especially women, and that funding is often available to help with schooling costs. High wages can be earned; often around $50/hour after certifications are completed, and sometimes as high as $75/hour (specifically for refrigeration mechanics). This is in addition to retirement and benefits.
Ralph had groups of AVS students compete in an activity called "Spot the Trade," where they identified 20 trades on a large diagram of a building project. Most students scored 100% on this, but it was challenging (and therefore time-consuming) to identify trades, the majority of which are less well-known. Description cards of each trade were provided to help students figure out the jobs on the diagram, and to provide more insight into what each trade entails.
If you are interested in gathering more information about what trade may be a match for you, or where to enroll in schooling for it, visit the BC Building Trades website at bcbuildingtrades.org, or get in touch with Ryan at info@collegeofthebcbt.ca
If you have questions about high school courses you may need for careers in various specific trades, first do all the research you can online, and email Mrs. Nairn in counselling at AVS.
Recently, AVS' grade 6-12 Fusion students attended a guest speaker presentation about "Careers in the Greenhouse Sector," by Gary Jones, Program Manager of the BC Greenhouse Growers' Association.
While you might think of common jobs in greenhouses, such as planting, watering, and harvesting, Mr. Jones shared with our students other careers in this sector. For every one on-farm job, there are ten spin-off roles in careers areas such as Biology and Plant Science, Business and Economics, Computer Science, Electrical and Mechanical, Food and Health Science, and Construction.
Did you know that there are 28,000 unfilled positions in this sector, Canada-wide? This presents an excellent opportunity for potential careers, and NOW is great time to start thinking toward the future in terms of post-secondary options, and high school courses that are required for entry into these programs.
Some highlights that Mr. Jones shared with students are that:
- drones are used to fly over crops to identify plant diseases
- insects are used to eat pests (instead of spraying crops with chemicals to treat them)
- bees are used to pollinate plants in greenhouses. At the end of the day they return to their "bee-box" for a rest. They are attracted back to their box as they can sense their queen bee in the box.
- robots built in the Netherlands are used to harvest some crops and transport them to the packing house for distribution. This is done entirely free of human involvement.
- employers are looking for employees who are willing to work, and have either a diploma or a degree in a related field.
If you are interested in finding out more information, visit the bcgreenhouse.ca website, or get in touch with Gary Jones at gary@bcgreenhouse.ca
If you have questions about high school courses you may need for careers in this industry, come see or email Mrs. Nairn in counselling at AVS.
Corinna Nairn
School Counsellor and Career Facilitator
Abbotsford Virtual School
