Grade 8 students from Holy Rosary Catholic School, Wyoming and St. Philip Catholic School, Petrolia got an introduction to the trades during a recent visit to St. Patrick's Catholic High School and the Labourers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) training centre in Sarnia.
"We think it's important that our students know about the many pathways choices that are available to them after high school," says Scott Johnson, Superintendent of Education. "And one of those choices is a career in the trades."
Two Pathways to Success teachers from St. Clair Catholic are visiting elementary schools across the district to begin discussions with Grade 8 students about the diverse workforce that awaits them. Apprenticeships in the trades are an important option that students should consider.
St. Clair Catholic has established a partnership with LiUNA and is looking to build relationships with other trade unions across Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent.
While at LiUNA, the students participated in hands-on activities including connecting pipes, concrete finishing and assembling scaffolding. During their morning visit to tech classes at St. Patrick's, they visited the television studio and a welding class.
The students learned that Sarnia-Lambton has between 6,000 and 7,000 skilled building trades workers and that it is a growing industry.
Mr. Johnson says that more visits by Grade 8 students are being planned for the future.
