Celebrating Ontario Public Service Learn & Work Program’s 10th Anniversary
Jacob Roper and his mom Heather celebrate at the Ontario Public Service ceremony.
By ROB FAULKNER
On June 20, students, families and staff celebrated the Ontario Public Service Learn & Work Program’s 10th anniversary – highlighting the co-op program in which students who struggled with school earn credits, high school diplomas and meaningful paid work experience.
With cake, artwork and heart-felt speeches, the celebration was part congratulations to the students, and part thank you to the Ontario Public Service and non-profit employers who have hosted and helped during the six-week student placements. Employers ranged from the City of Hamilton to Family Court to Today’s Family and many more.
HWDSB is one of the four Ontario school boards to host the program, which gives students a chance to find their path through learning and leadership opportunities. Many students, who can stay in the experiential program for a year, go on to apprenticeships, college, university or the workplace.
At the celebration event, Jacob Roper said that OPS Learn & Work was exactly the change he needed after disliking the traditional school setting. “The classroom setting was just a trigger for me, I needed to be more active,” he said.
He did program placements at Good Shepherd, receiving items and helping customers in need of clothing or household items. He has also helped cook for hundreds each day during his placement at Wesley Urban Ministries. He loved the atmosphere at both sites and was able to earn credits much faster than when he was in a traditional school.
“When Jacob was in Grade 1, he ran right out of school and said ‘Mom, I can’t stay here all day,’” said Heather, a proud mom when Jacob spoke on behalf of the OPS program’s Class of 2016.
While in the OPS program, Jacob said he had many people to thank. He singled out Jose at Wesley Urban Ministries, for being a great support and making job duties like food prep, coffee-making and dishwashing a lot of fun. He thanked his mom for waking him up every day so he could get to work on time.
He reserved special thanks for his teacher, Lee Ann Armstrong, for the “wonderful support” she gave him. “She made me want to do better and strive so that all the hard work she puts in for me is worth it.”
About the Ontario Public Service (OPS) Learn and Work Program
This program is funded by OPS and the Ministry of Government Services. Students are given the opportunity to earn secondary school credits while completing a specialized co-op placement in the Ontario Public Service and its related agencies. These paid work experiences are available in areas including: Administrative and Support Services; Arts, Culture and Heritage; Communications and Marketing; Human Resources; and Travel and Tourism. Any HWDSB student may apply for the 15-20 positions available each semester. Only four Ontario school boards offer the program. Located at Delta Secondary School.
Ontario Public Service Learn and Work application
Updated on Tuesday, June 21, 2016.