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4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 30, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Students enjoy the co-op experience Local businesses provide young people an opportunity to learn about the working world By Lindsay Sheehan Port Perry Star The Co-op program at Port Perry High School provides a rewarding and valuable experience for both students and employers. The latest group of 65 students from the school headed out to their job placements at the beginning of the semester in February, and will contin- ue until late June. Joan Quail started the co-op depart- ment a little over 10 years ago; approx- imately 130 students participate in it each year, going out into the commu- nity to gain real work experience at a variety of job placements. The object of the program is to pro- vide job experience, and to allow stu- dents to practice the theory they've studied in school in the real world. Another aim of the program is to help young people determine whether the career they choose for a co-op place- ment is one they wish to pursue after high school. "Everyone wins," says Glen Wraith, who took over administration of the co-op department when Mrs. Quail retired. "The employer gets input with a new perspective, the student gets valuable work experience. And it also reinforces the strong link between the community and the school." Throughout the years, students have found placements in such diverse settings as CityTV, Northwood exotic animal farm in Seagrave, and General Motors. Students approach prospective employers for a job interview, and present their resumes. They report to their work place for three hours'a day throughout the week. Employers assign responsibilities, and make a plan for students to become fully integrated in their work setting as the placement progresses. Teachers from the co-op department check reg- ularly with employers on the students and their progrdks. Erin Broome, a Grade 12 student at Port Perry High School, is glad she took part in the program. "The co-op program enabled me to see if I wanted to go threugh college for this career," she said. She is currently co-oping at Michael L. Fowler's law office in Port Perry. The firm has taken part in the co-op program for several years. Ms Broome is responsible for answering phones, filing, preparing Kelly Gatchell supervises Grade 12 student Erin Broome in her co-op work placement at Michael Fowler's law offices in Port Perry. Erin is among a group of 65 legal documents, taking messages, photocopying and doing mail-runs. She plans to study computers in col- lege, and hopes to travel in the near future. "I feel more comfortable working in the office atmosphere, and working with people I don't really know," she said Ms Broome's co-workers agree that the experience has been a valuable one for her. "It has helped Erin understand how an office runs," said supervisor Kelly Gatchell. "It is fun and interesting to teach her to use the right language in an office, and show her how everything operates." Ms Gatchell has gained personally from this experience as well: "I am good friends with Erin, and I think I have taught her a lot of what goes on at the receptionist desk. I have also taught her confidence in the work- place." Samantha Diotte, also in Grade 12, is enjoying her co-op placement at Port Perry Veterinary Services. "It has given me the chance to see what goes on at the vet practice and get hands-on experience," said Ms Diotte, who plans on going to Guelph University, then to veterinary school and hopes to specialize in horses. At fhe local vet clinic, she has been able to work with both small and large animals. She is responsible for making sure that equipment is clean, recording students from Port Perry High School currently assigned co-op placements, which see them working at a variety of businesses in Scugog Township and beyond. information, preparing equipment, preparing animals for surgery and cleaning kennels. "I pretty much do everything that the vet technicians do," she said. Administrators of the PPHS pro- gram are grateful to the employers who make it possible for students to get such a real view of the working world. "Businesses are the backbone," said Mr. Wraith. "Without them, the co-op program wouldn't be possible, and I can't thank them enough." Lindsay Sheehan, a Grade 12 stu- dent at Port Perry High School, is doing her co-op placement at The Port Perry Star this semester. Local youth choir to sing at Massey Hall concert April 3 | The Uxbridge Youth Choir, a choir comprised of 24 Uxbridge, Port Perry and area children, will be joining 976 other youth and children for a concert at Massey Hall in Toronto on Easter Weekend. The Glory of Easter is a benefit con- cert for the Christian Children's Fund of Canada which takes place on Saturday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. Presently, the Youth Choir is learn- ing the music (seven or eight songs) here in Uxbridge under the direction of Donna van Veghel and assistant direc- tor Joel van Veghel. They join the other choirs for their first mass rehearsal on the afternoon of Saturday, April 3 under the director Glenn Barlow. It is an honour for the Youth Choir to be asked to take part in this exciting concert. It is a wonderful experience for the children to sing in a choir of 1,000 voices, and it is a very worthwhile cause. (The Christian Children's Fund of Canada). The Optimist Club of Uxbridge has generously donated the cost of a coach to transport the choir to Massey Hall. The choir will thank the club personally on March 4 with a small recital. Tickets to the Glory of Easter concert are available to the public, (but are going quickly) by phone at TicketMaster 416-870-8000 or at Roy Thomson Hall hos office 416-872-4255. All tickets are 25. If you require transportation, there are a few seats left on the bus leaving at noon. Call Yvonne Carroll at 905-852-9344 if you'd like to join them. On the n morning of Good Friday, Ap ril 2, Noagh the streets of Port Perry, pausing at seven "stations" in a the last 1 the life of Jesus. ay members of each participating church reading and carrying a rougk wooden cross to the next stop. ~The route stays on street sible. Readers will use a micrg pl ches host Good Friday walk ou're invited to walk 'utes, concluding in the hall of Port retelling of Matthew' 8 version of | The walk begins at 9:30 a.m. at' the bandshell in Palmer Park, with Scugo Ministerial Assecjation ; sidewalks, and is wheelchair acc 8: : ro atalons of church affiliation. a and portable sound system to ensure that all are able to hear. The walk will take about 45 min- Perry United Church with refresh- 3) i and hot drinks. Participants ncouraged to dress warmly. Now in its third year, the Good y Walk is sponsored by the hose member clergy have desi {: » to be inclusive of all, Dance will benefit local nursery school senting Blackstock Co-op Nursery School is pre- "Two for the Show" at Blackstock Rec. Centre, April 10. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the cost is $12.50 in advance or $15 at the door. Cash bar, includes buffet, show and danc- ing. Call Charlene at 986- 0182.