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What is "O²" ?
What is "O²" ?
O² is a specialized 3-year senior high program that combines provincial high school credits with unique career exploration opportunities and community involvement. During co-op placements in grades 11 and 12, students are matched with employers in the local community to gain real work experience. These experiences all help to support students in making better-informed decisions about career pathways they wish to explore or pursue upon graduation.
O² Program Structure
O² Program Structure
In addition to the provincial high school graduation requirements, O² students must take the following:
Career Development 10 (Grade 10, Semester 1) - students explore their personal interests, strengths, skills and values, and begin to identify potential career paths. Developing resumes, job interview skills, financial awareness, and the start of a career portfolio are some areas of focus.
Community-Based Learning 11 (Grade 10, Semester 2) - is a highly experiential course that prepares students for community engagement as active citizens. In addition, students continue to develop skills related to career exploration and life planning, financial awareness, and workplace culture and safety. These outcomes are achieved through in-class lessons, guest speakers, community service projects, volunteering, and the completion of safety certifications such as First Aid, WHMIS, and OHS/CELT.
Co-op 11(Grade 11*) and Co-op 12 (Grade 12*, two separate credits) - students will select community hosts/employers to do 80 hours of work experience in a career field of their choice. Please note that O2 students require the successful completion of 3 separate co-op placements to earn their O2 Certificate upon graduation.
*Please note: there is some flexibility in scheduling co-op credits
Explore Career Pathways & Options...
Explore Career Pathways & Options...
Some examples of the career pathways and programs explored by O2 students:
Health and Human Services
Trades and Technologies
Business and Education
Hospitality and Tourism
Arts, Culture, and Recreation
Information Technology (IT)
Is O² Right for You?
Is O² Right for You?
What does an O² student/candidate look like at Drumlin Heights Consolidated School?
Students should be in good standing academically, have good attendance, be hard workers, co-operative, trustworthy, motivated and appreciate that learning takes many forms, including hands-on participation in a variety of activities and settings. Students should have a willingness to explore various career options with the goal to further their education after high school towards their career pathway.
Benefits of O²
Students will make real world connections between school and potential careers
Students will gain leadership skills and a better understanding of who they are
Multiple pathways to university, college, apprenticeship, or the workforce
Exposure to unique opportunities in and outside the school that other students do not have
Class size is capped to a maximum of 20 students;
students become a tight-knit group/cohort
Priority seating to any NSCC program
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:
To graduate, each student in Nova Scotia must obtain 18 credits, of which 13 are compulsory. Students have opportunities to earn 24 credits within the regular school schedule. O² students are required to complete the five compulsory O2 credits listed above to qualify for the Options & Opportunities Certificate of Achievement. This certificate is awarded at the graduation ceremonies in June of the student's grade 12 year.
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