Students get glimpse into life in the working world

Not every Grade 9 student gets to participate in Take Your Kid to Work Day.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t get to experience learning about working.

Grade 9 students at Birchwood Intermediate School who didn’t go with their parents on Nov. 6, stayed at the school for presentations about being in a workforce. The students were shown four presentations covering law enforcement, careers in pharmacies, work place safety and youth employment.

Grade 9 teacher Gary Devine helped co- ordinate the day and said the day was very successful.

“We were very with the day.”

He added students attended the presentations and then spent the afternoon aboard the HMCS

pleased Queen Charlotte.

Principal Ronnie Carragher was also pleased with how the day transpired.

“Other intermediate schools struggle for all the students ( to be involved) for the day.”

He added the struggle is keeping all kids involved as some parents work parttime or shift work or may have been laid off.

Carragher was glad the kids got to ride aboard the HMCS Queen Charlotte, too.

“We try to create as much hands- on experience as possible,” he said.

He added that the students who didn’t go on work placements got to experience a whole set of career paths, rather than one location.

Clare Waddell, a youth education consultant for the Workers Compensation Board of P. E. I.,, said some people assume it is workers in dangerous trade jobs that need to be careful.

“All workers have a right to be safe,” said Waddell the presenter of workplace safety to Grade 9 Birchwood students.

Many incidents occur from slips and falls and the students were quick to learn about.

“They all made miniposters about slips and falls afterwards.”

The students also learned of the rights they have and the responsibilities they have themselves.

“No matter what you do, you have a role in staying safe.”

Waddell visits all Grade 9 students through the year to help teach workplace safety to students as part of their curriculum.

“They more they hear the message ( of workplace safety), the more they’ll remember.”

GUARDIAN PHOTO BY HEATHER TAWEEL Amber Laybolt, left, and Grace Yorke, students at Birchwood School, are helped with a workplace safety exercise by Clare Waddell, Workers Compensation Board, during an information session for students as part of Take our Kids to Work Day.