Co-op Department

What is Co-op?


  • Cooperative Education is an educational program that integrates classroom theory with practical experience in the workplace. The program is based on a partnership between the school and a business/ community organization.
  • It involves the participation of students, teachers and placement supervisors.
  • This is a credit-earning program.
  • Students who enroll in Co-op can take a 2 credit (half day) or 4 credit (full day) package.

 

Who is it for?


  • Grade 11 and 12 students
  • Applies to all destinations: College, University, Apprenticeship and Workplace
  • SWMSS offers a variety of Co-op experiences to support student learning 

 

What are the benefits?


  • Explore a career to help decide on educational and career decisions
  • Develop skills and knowledge through hands-on experience
  • Gain valuable work experience
  • Develop maturity and self-confidence in the workplace
  • Networking in the workforce
  • Complete requirements of the SHSM program

 

Application Process for the Co-op Program


  1. Select the Co-op course at course selection time (2 or 4 credit Co-op)
  2. Student completes an application form and gets 2 teacher references
  3. Student meets with the Co-op teacher to discuss the student's goals and job readiness

Co-op Courses

Learn more about the co-op courses offered at Sir William Mulock Secondary School.
Courses

 

Co-op Placements/Programs


Here are a few examples of co-op placements:

  • Health & Wellness: Nursing, Physiotherapy, Medical Imaging, Hospital, Dentistry, Personal Trainer, etc.
  • Business: Marketing, Accounting, Retail, Finance, Human Resources. etc.
  • Technology: Programming, IT repair, Film editing, Engineering, etc.
  • Trades: Electrical, Plumbing, Carpentry, Cook, Auto service, Hairstylist, etc.
  • Arts: Graphic Design, Theatre, music teacher, photography, etc.
  • Social Studies: Journalism, Social Worker, Teacher, Daycare worker, etc.
  • Law: Law firm, Courthouse , Immigration firm, etc.

There are also several programs that include co-op:

  • Students with placements in an apprenticeable trade automatically become participants in the OYAP
  • OYAP provides students with an opportunity to be signed as an apprentice and earn hours toward their Level One Apprenticeship while still in high school.
  • Students in OYAP have the option of continuing with their trade as an apprentice or attending college to complete their training.

  • It is available in Semester 2 to Grade 12 students who have had some previous experience in a specific trade and who are committed to pursuing that trade as a career.
  • Successful applicants (applications are due in October) will have the opportunity to attend a training centre (Humber, Centennial, Seneca, etc.) to complete their Level 1 Apprenticeship training while still in high school.
  • This program allows students to accelerate their apprenticeship and get ahead in becoming a fully certified journeyperson.

  • ​There are some trades which require travel to job sites on a daily basis (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc.).
  • It is recommended that students interested in these trades take a 4 credit Coop package to allow for travel to and from work sites.

  • Students who are part of the SHSM Program must take, at minimum, a 2 credit Cooperative Education Program in either Grade 11 or Grade 12. There placement must be related to their SHSM specialty. SWMSS has a Health & Wellness, Information & Communication Technology and Business SHSM.

 

Process to Find a Co-op Placement


  • The student and the Co-op teacher work together to explore co-op placement options that suits the student's interests and abilities
  • The co-op teacher sets up the interview and prepares the student for the interview
  • Once the placement is secured, the supervisor and the Co-op teacher work with the student to set goals and provide feedback on performance.

Teachers

NameRolePhone Extension
T. Godin Head of the Co-op Department(905-967-1045 x221 or voice mail x 519
B. LoriaCo-op Teacher905-967-1045 ext. 221 or voice mail x 446
A. RozenbergCo-op Teacher905-967-1045 ext. 221