Children want help with career planning, and families have the most significant impact on their children’s decisions regarding their plans following high school.
FACTS provides workshops and monthly newsletters to all families of grade 9, 10, and 11 students. The workshop and newsletters help families understand how they can guide and support their children as they move from intermediate school to high school and from high school to post-secondary education, apprenticeship, or into the workforce. FACTS gives families practical information and strategies regarding high school pathways, community-based learning opportunities, and ways to engage in career conversations with their children.
FACTS workshops are available at no cost to all families with children in grades 9 – 11. Check with your school to request a workshop.
Keep in mind:
Your child will connect most with a career path that relates to their own interests and skills.
You do not need to be a career development expert to support your child in this process.
Occupations come, go, and change so much these days that you cannot make one definite career decision that will last a lifetime. Parents as Career Coaches workshops support parents in helping their children make sense of information so they can make informed choices.
Your child will need assistance and advice in planning their potential high school pathways. Find out the requirements, choices, and processes involved in planning your child's senior high school pathway by talking with your child’s teacher or school counsellor, and by attending a FACTS workshop.
Some Grade 10 courses are prerequisites for more advanced high school courses. As well, certain programs enable students to meet entry requirements for post-secondary programs or acquire the knowledge and skills to enter directly into a career. Keep future goals in mind when planning grade 10 programs.
Who Am I?
Helping your child know themselves is an important step in planning their future and deciding their next steps. Understanding their skills, values, likes and dislikes, interests, and learning styles will help them along their journey.
Questions for your child to consider
· What am I good at?
· What do I care about?
· What do I like to do?
· What inspires me?
What Are My Opportunities?
Encouraging your child to use their time in school and in the community to explore options, make connections, and participate in community-based learning courses can help them to explore areas of interest.
Questions for your child to consider
· What high school courses, programs, and extracurricular activities allow me to explore my interests in school and in the community?
· How can my choices in high school create new opportunities for me?
· What kinds of jobs or occupations interest me?
· What post secondary programs interest me?
What Are My Next Steps and Why?
Choosing courses and experiences that align with your child’s interests will help them to set goals to create the future they want. Encourage your child to ensure their choices and actions are guided by what’s really important to them.
Questions for your child to consider
· What is available in my pathway after high school?
· Have I selected the courses required for high school graduation and that meet the entrance requirements for post secondary programs that interest me?
· What courses and learning experiences will help me reach my goals?
· What are my priorities about my learning, wellness, occupation, and financial expectations?
What Is My Action Plan?
Identifying resources, building skills, and creating networks will help your child to achieve their goals as they take their next step in their journey though and beyond high school. Encourage your child to get in motion, access their allies, and always have a backup plan!
Questions for your child to consider
· What can I do now to plan for my future?
· What resources will I use to achieve my goals?
· What are some challenges I might face and how will I deal with them?
· How will I save money for my next steps after high school?