FAQs

What is 'Making my way - success for all students' about?

The Peel District School Board and the Ontario Ministry of Education have set a goal of increasing the secondary graduation rate to 85 per cent by 2010. All students, with the right support, can be successful in obtaining enough credits to graduate.

Making my way - success for all students describes the programs and resources offered by the Peel board to:

• support students in graduating from high school
• prepare them to pursue their post-secondary goals

What is my role as a parent in my child's career and life planning?

It is important for young people to explore the world around them - at home, at school and in the community - and to think about their future. Parents play a very important role in helping their children to develop and succeed.

Here are some things you can do to help your child through this important time in life.

• You can help your child explore the answers to the following questions:
  • Who am I?
  • What are my opportunities?
  • Who do I want to become?
  • What are my plans to achieve my goals?
• You can work with your child to identify and explore interests, abilities and talents.
• You can work with your child's teacher and the school's guidance staff to address any issues that may stand in the way of your child's progress.
• You can learn about the high school curriculum and help your child track his/her progress toward earning a diploma.
• You can learn about apprenticeship training, college, university, work and other post-secondary programs.

When should my child start career planning?

It's never too early to talk to your child about his/her interests and abilities. Generally, it's best to encourage your child to explore life and career opportunities as early as grade 7. This is the first step to developing an individual plan or pathway for secondary school and beyond.

Where do I start? Where can I find information to help my child explore his/her future?

Experts at the Peel District School Board have identified good online resources to help you support your child in career and life planning. You can find them throughout this website.

It may be helpful to write down any questions you have while you are reviewing the website and then follow up by speaking with your child's teacher or guidance counsellor.

My child is leaving middle school and entering grade 9. What can I do to make the transition as smooth as possible?

Getting a good start in high school is very important for students and contributes to their future success. Here are a few tips to making the transition as smooth as possible:

• Talk to your child about feelings he/she may have about leaving middle school and entering high school. Acknowledge that it's normal to have these feelings.
• Help your child make good course selections for grade 9. Talk to teachers at your child's middle school for assistance in choosing courses.
• Encourage your child to speak to other students-relatives, friends and neighbors-who have already entered high school about their experiences.
• Find out about transition activities planned by your child's middle school to prepare students for high school. For example, do students visit the local high school before they start grade 9? Do they have an opportunity to speak with high school students?
• Encourage your child to get involved in high school activities, teams and clubs that interest him/her.
• Learn about resources and programs that are available to help your child adjust to high school.

How can my child's teacher and guidance counsellors help?

Teachers and guidance counsellors can address any questions you or you child have about the school curriculum, course requirements for graduation, options after leaving high school and work experience programs. They can also work with you to address any issues that may make success in school difficult for your child.

What if my child changes his or her mind about a career choice while in high school? Won't early selection of a career path and courses work against my child if he or she does keep options open?

Students should begin the career/life planning process as early as grade 7, but they do not have to choose a career until much later. Career planning is an ongoing process, and goals evolve as students learn more about themselves and their opportunities. Required courses in high school help ensure that your child has a broad educational foundation.

A guidance counsellor can work with you and your child to determine his/her abilities and interests and the optional courses that relate to them. The counsellor can also help you explore the types of careers that might be rewarding for your child.

What are the choices for my child after finishing high school?

There are many options open to students with a high school diploma, including apprenticeship, college, university and work. You can learn more about these options throughout this website and from the guidance department at your school.

It's great for my child to pursue his or her interests, but what about being able to get a job after finishing school?

There are many possibilities open to students based on specific interests and abilities. For example, a student who is interested in science may consider:

• apprenticeship-arborist, horticulturist
• college-laser technician, paramedic, environmental technologist
• university-physical therapist, nurse, meteorologist
• work-animal care worker, groundskeeper, health care aide

To find out more about opportunities based on specific interests, click on one of the occupational areas at the top of the screen.

What are the labour market trends? What jobs will be in demand when my child graduates?

The Canadian economy is expected to remain steady over the next 10 years with most job creation expected to be in occupations requiring post-secondary education and training. Here are a few facts:

• About two-thirds of job openings are expected to be in occupations usually requiring post-secondary education-apprenticeship, college or university. Overall, high skilled occupations account for about 70% of all new jobs to be created.
• Key occupations that will face strong retirement pressures include skilled trades, teachers, nurses, public administration managers, social and community services.
• Given current trends, several occupations are expected to be in demand:
• health care (nurses' aides, nurse managers, supervisors, physicians)
• management (e.g. human resources and business service professionals)
• skilled trades
• Among services, employment growth is expected to be particularly strong in the health, computer system design and professional services sectors.

What resources and tools are available to help us plan?

Experts within the Peel District School Board have identified good online resources that you can find throughout this website. These resources will help you work with your child to explore his/her interests, abilities and options.

You can also speak with your child's teacher or a guidance counsellor at the school.

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