MTEL Hours and Credit Achievement

Please complete the achieved hours and credits for each co-op student profile in MTEL. The OCDSB is requesting that all Sem 2 co-op records are archived by June 26th. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns about this process.

Video Tutorial - Here is a list of MTEL video tutorials. You will find “Placement Hours and Credits Achieved” and “Archiving Process – Co-op Teachers” at the bottom. 

OYAP Reimbursements

Teachers can submit requests for reimbursement through the OYAP Forms and Supports page. Reimbursement may be approved for the following, depending on need and funding availability: PPE, training, and gas mileage.

Semester 2 - Requests for reimbursement must be submitted by June 14th, 2024.

Teacher Opportunities

A memo has just gone out to schools about summer projects through P&LI that teachers may be interested in getting involved with. I wanted to highlight the one for co-op, as the position closes on June 6th (through ATE).

Scope of Work: 

• Create a network of co-op placements that meets the diverse needs of students and values personal identity;

• Identification of areas of growth required for co-op placements, and actively seek opportunities and community connections;

• Focus on industry sector placements in the tech and trades;

• Co-op qualifications and at least three years of experience is required.

• Time Commitment: Maximum 10 days for this project/person

• Contact: David Hubbard at David.Hubbard@ocdsb.ca

Graduation Awards

Hopefully you were passed on the memo that came out yesterday around bursaries and awards. I wanted to share it here in case!

OCDSB Job Board

As you are preparing for next year's co-op students and experiences, please continue to keep an eye on our Co-op Job Board. Here you will continue to find placement opportunities from prospective employers, as well as central opportunities students may be able to take advantage of. 

Teacher Resources

We are continuing to populate our Teacher Resources around OYAP. You can now access presentations, marketing materials, videos, trades math books, websites, labour market information, and more.

Local 93 Carpenters Program

Local 93 is partnering with our board to allow for 10-15 students to be placed through the Carpenter’s Union for co-op. This program will provide students with the opportunity to earn industry certifications leading up to the co-op experience, with hopes that students will become industry-ready when entering their placement. The goal is for students to have a successful co-op experience at the late stages of their high schooling and transition to a Summer Level 1 program at the conclusion of co-op.

Ideal Candidate:

• Grade 12 graduating student

• Enrolled in 4 credit co-op Sem 2

• Previous trades or OYAP experience

Expression of Interest Form

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well! It has been really great seeing and chatting with those of you who were able to attend some of the board-wide events going on this week. I know it’s a busy time, but I just wanted to reach out and share some updates around Co-op/OYAP.

Algonquin Level 1’s

The portal will open Monday, May 13th at 8:00AM to accept applications for the 2024-2025 school year. The portal remains open throughout the year, with specific trade and intake deadlines which can be found here: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ap/timeline-oyap/

Application Portal: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ap/oyapapplication/

Password: OYAP24/25

For more information on RTA’s, Level 1 opportunities, and the application process, please refer to this page.

Cooperative Education PD

We have a scheduled Co-op PD session set for 1:00 - 3:00 on June 3rd at Confederation Education Centre. Calendar invites and agenda will be sent out to teachers in the coming days. If you need release in order to attend, please reach out to me directly.

OYAP Presto Passes

May will be the last month of full month passes for students who were approved for OYAP Presto’s. Single Ride Vouchers will be provided to students to support them with the first two weeks of co-op learning in June.

Reimbursement Deadline

Just a friendly reminder of the deadline to submit OYAP requests for reimbursement. These requests can be submitted here by June 14, 2024.

CWB Grants

The Canadian Welding Bureau has put together a list of scholarships and bursaries that are available to students and educators to support welding initiatives. Please explore this link to find out more.

Ministry of Education Announcement

The MoE has released a new policy introducing Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training (FAST) “that will allow students in Grades 11 and 12 to participate in more apprenticeship learning through additional co-operative education credits while completing high school.” The policy also highlights an online job matching platform that they intend to roll out, but there is limited info at the moment.

OYAP Bursaries

The OCDSB is still finalizing grant and bursary information that will be shared with schools. As soon as I receive the information around OYAP bursaries I will follow up and share this with teachers. 

OYAP Website

There are a couple new sections on the OYAP website that I encourage you to explore. There is now a “Resources for Grads” section and a “Teacher Resources” section. If there’s anything you would like to see added to these areas please don’t hesitate to reach out! I've also included all the previous Co-op Updates emails in case that is helpful.

Thanks for all you do! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or want to chat.

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to flood your inboxes with another email. I just wanted to get these recent updates out to you ASAP, as some of them have timeline considerations.

St. Lawrence College - Level 1 Application Details

If you have any students interested in applying for the Welding Level 1 hosted this fall at St. Lawrence College, please see the application info below. Please note that OCDSB students are only eligible to apply for the Welding program at SLC and would not be eligible for any of the other programs offered.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Application Portal: Link 

Password: OYAPFall2024

Acceptances will be sent out the week of June 24th, and students will require a Registered Training Agreement prior to this date.

Ottawa Police Services - Co-op Program

Ottawa Police Services are ready to begin the process of accepting applicants for the Fall 2024 High School OPS Co-op program. Unfortunately they do not have any wiggle room around their timelines to submit applications and I’m told the current dates are firm. I have advocated that this may be too early for some schools.

• This is for Semester 1 of 2024-2025 school year

• Students typically work half days (3 hours daily), 5 days per week (15 hours weekly).

• All students will go through a competition process to be placed with a coop program.

• A maximum of two (2) students will be selected from every school based on their performance during the competition process.

• They will be assigned a morning/afternoon shift for in-person roles only.

• If successful in the selection process, students will be asked to submit their preferences for section placement within the OPS.

Some information around their selection process:

• Schools will select their 2 students based on their internal selection criteria and pass on the information to David Hubbard through this Google Form

• Every student must submit their Resume and two (2) recommendation letters by May 16, 2024 along with their application.

• This competition has one component: 30 minutes virtual interview.

• The virtual interview will tentatively take place early June 2024.

• Candidates considered for placement will also be subject to a Background Check.

• Please note that the applicants will not proceed to an interview if the required documentation is incomplete.

Good morning!

I just wanted to reach out and provide some updates from the world of Co-op and OYAP.

We Build a Dream

A memo will be coming out to schools in the coming days to provide details around our “We Build a Dream” women in trades initiative. On May 8th, we will be inviting 400 female identifying secondary school students to the Shaw Centre for a day of skilled trade exploration. This event is very hands-on and exploratory in nature, and is similar to what we did at Level Up! In the fall. Please keep an eye out for this if you’re interested in getting your school involved. No previous trades experience necessary!

CUTC93 Pre Apprenticeship

Local 93 Carpenters Union is offering a pre-apprenticeship program that is available to students interested in gaining experience in the Carpentry pathway. This program consists of 10 weeks of job readiness training - which includes safety certificates, trade exposure, and completion of the Level apprenticeship program. At the conclusion of this 10 weeks, participants who successfully complete the program will be provided an 8 week paid work placement with a chance at staying on through the Union. The current intake is for a July 2nd start, and more info can be found here.

Co-op Subject Council Meeting

There is a subject council meeting on May 6th from 1-3. This will take place out of the Library at Confed. Please note that this is not an official PD this time around, and release is not available.

Co-op Job Board

One of my co-op students has been working hard on creating a job board with placement opportunities that are available to students. We have been doing a great deal of community outreach to engage with employers and identify placements that are willing and able to take on co-op students. This job board is continually getting updated as new opportunities present themselves and I encourage you to give it a look.

OYAP Forms

Just a reminder that all OYAP forms need to be submitted here and not sent in by email. I have an OA who periodically comes in to help with these entries, and it is important they have access to the forms in one place. Please double check that all forms have been entered - even if a student is not going on to a Level 1 or does not need support funding. The more forms we have submitted and entered into the ministry system, the better our chances of advocating for increased OYAP funding for future years. 

OYAP Student Supports

As discussed at the December PD, we are currently faced with financial constraints as our OYAP numbers have significantly increased this year. I want to reiterate that we are operating on a fixed OYAP budget and that these funding requests should be tied to need. It’s very important that the requests are coming from parents/guardians who have identified a barrier to participation as opposed to us advertising what is available. Due to the time of year and limited funding available, I have decided to close the option to submit a request and ask that you reach out to me personally to discuss any student needs.

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for a Friday afternoon email, but I wanted to get this info out asap.

Algonquin - Plumbing Level 1

This is messaging that I just received from Algonquin regarding the Level 1 Plumbing program:

“We would like to bring to your attention an important update regarding the upcoming Plumbing Level 1 intake originally scheduled for April 29. Regrettably, the college has informed us of the cancellation of this section, leaving us unable to proceed with the previously allocated seats. I recognize that this is an unfortunate situation, and will potentially change plans and trajectories for students.

Currently, I am collaborating with the college and ministry to explore alternative arrangements in order to accommodate as many candidates as possible. Right now, the college is holding six Plumbing seats within an earlier intake (MARCH 11 – MAY 3), but I am waiting to hear back from the ministry if we will be funded for these seats as it spans fiscal periods. While we await confirmation from the ministry, I would like to work together to figure out the best way forward. I would like to discuss how we should allocate these seats among the six school boards and for you to start these conversations with students to see if the date change might work with their schedule.”

If you have a plumbing candidate that is able to attend during March 11 - May 3 (including March Break), has an RTA, and would be interested in attending this program please connect with me ASAP! There are currently no guarantees that we will have any seats.

Other Spring Level 1’s

This is a reminder that the deadline for the Spring Level 1’s is approaching. Applicants must have everything submitted by March 8th. For more info on timelines and requirements, please check out this page.

Skilled Trades Ontario: Umoja Series

“An exciting event for high school students to celebrate the black history month that highlights different trades and industries. We will learn about having a winning mindset in the trades and more about the lives of skilled trade professionals.”

This event takes place virtually on February 28th, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. I only just received this info, so apologize for the last minute notice. Event poster with registration link attached.

OYAP Vouchers / Supports

I have been doing my best to keep up with the Boot vouchers and PPE vouchers in a timely fashion. If you have anyone you feel has been missed, please don't hesitate to follow up with me. Due to budget constraints we have had to put a pause on clothing requests - but please connect if it is urgent and we can work on a solution together. 

The first batch of prestos went out and should be in the hands of schools. The second batch has been processed today and should be arriving at some point next week. 

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to reach out and provide some updates around the world of Co-op and OYAP. January flew right by and I hope everyone had a smooth wrap up to semester 1 and start to semester 2. I know how busy this time of year is for you and am appreciative of the amazing work currently underway across our board to get students through their pre-placement learning and into the meaningful opportunities you have set up.

Skills Ontario: Women in Trades Event

Skills Ontario is hosting an event for young women in grades 9-11 to participate in a day of trades exploration and learning. This event takes place on Tuesday, February 27 at Algonquin College and provides the following benefits.

• Gain an understanding of what skilled trade and technology careers are out there and why they are important. 

• Learn about different careers in the skilled trades and technologies.

• Learn about and try different day-to-day activities performed in a skilled trade and technology career while participating in a variety of hands-on workshops. 

This (which includes an expression of interest form) will be shared with Guidance Teams and SST teams tomorrow, but I wanted to make you aware in case you are interested in participating or know of any students. There are very limited seats for this event.

MTEL Archiving

A big thank you to those of you who completed your semester 1 records. Just a reminder that at this point, all semester 1 students should be archived in MTEL, with credit and placement hours input. Please let me know if you have run into any issues with this process.

OYAP Promo

I will have a videographer booked periodically throughout the semester and I am hopeful that we are able to capture student voices from OYAP students who have had a meaningful experience through their co-op programs. This can be students who are just starting an experience, students who have already had one, and even recent grads. The idea is that we have a strong promotional piece that captures the successes of our students and the ways OYAP has supported them in their pathways (funding, certifications, experiences, reach ahead opportunities, etc.). Please connect with me if you have students that might be interested!

OYAP Supports/Funding

I have been doing my best to work through the OYAP requests and you should see Boot/PPE Vouchers within ~24 hours of submission. If you have submitted requests for Presto’s please keep checking with your OA as these will be delivered directly to schools through board mail. I want to remind everyone that support funding is limited, and these are meant for students/guardians who have identified a need to co-op teachers in order to access the learning experience.

OYAP Forms

When submitting OYAP forms and requests please be mindful to ensure the forms have been completed properly and that all required information has been submitted. If any of the required information is missing we will not be able to input the student into the MOL system, and they will be in jeopardy of not having their OYAP hours count towards their apprenticeship pathway. Sandra Disipio has been connecting with teachers to get this missing information.

Co-op Supplies

I am working through the co-op supplies that have been requested and now have a new batch of folders and supervisor manuals to send out to schools. I am still waiting on certificates of achievement but will follow up with those as soon as they become available. These have started going out by board mail and will begin arriving at schools if you have requested them. Thank you for your patience on this!

Focus on Youth (Summer Co-op Program)

The FOY co-op program running in the summer has just released information around how students can get involved. Please refer to the attached memo for more information. FOY is accepting referrals starting February 7th and any questions can be directed to Wendy Lamble.

Feb 16 - Professional Development

On the 16th there will be a Co-op specific PD day that you are invited to attend. Teachers will have the chance to tour manufacturing and automotive industries to learn more about these pathways and requirements. Google Form.

Spring Level 1’s

Please be mindful of the approaching application deadline for our Spring Session OYAP Level 1’s. If you have not yet connected with me about an applicant please touch base. Students applying to this program will need an RTA in order to be accepted.

Hey Co-op,

Happy new year! I hope you all had a great holiday break. I just wanted to send out an update around some of the things going on in the world of co-op. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

OYAP Level 1's:

The deadline to apply for a Winter Session program is TOMORROW January 12th

• Automotive Service Technician

• Commercial Vehicle 

Successful candidates will be notified of their acceptance into Winter programs on January 18th

The deadline to apply for a Spring Session program is March 8th

• Autobody / Collision Repair

• Electrician

• General Carpenter

• Hairstyling

• Plumber

Successful candidates will be notified of their acceptance into the Spring programs on March 22nd

MTEL Records and Archiving

At the completion of the student’s placement, the Cooperative Education teachers must archive the Students’ Cooperative Education Learning Plan in MTEL.  As part of this process the teacher must indicate the total number of insurable hours worked in the placement and the credits attempted and credits achieved. MTEL archiving for the first semester is due by January 31, 2024.

Liability & Risk Management for Cooperative Education Programs Webinar

This session will provide an overview of OSBIE’s liability insurance coverage and risk management strategies for Cooperative Education programs.

Date: January 16th at 10am 

Register Now

Schulich Builders: Scholarships for the Skilled Trades

https://www.algonquincollege.com/acce/schulich-builders-scholarship/

Application Deadline Date: Monday, March 25th, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Nomination Deadline Date: March 15th, 2024.

*NOTE: a student does not require a nomination to apply for this scholarship.

Co-op Placements Available

The central team at Program and Learning Innovation is in a position to take on 2-3 co-op students in the area of information and communications technology. Students will have an opportunity to facilitate the delivery of Virtual Reality learning programs, capture photos and videos for OCDSB initiatives, gain experience with sound and video editing, and more. If you have an interested student, please connect with myself and Curtis Van de Ligt.

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to provide an update around some things happening in the world of Co-op and OYAP. I have also included info around this Friday’s PD as at the bottom. 

The Co-op and OYAP Websites:

Please check out the newly revamped Co-op and OYAP websites. There are new systems in place for submitting OYAP forms and requests ahead of Sem 2. There are also several new resources around finding placements that may be helpful. We will explore this together more at PD, but if there’s anything you would like to see changed or added to this platform, please let me know!

Level Up:

A big thank you to all those who got involved with the Level Up! Skilled Trade Exploration Event. We had 1100 students from our board attend over those two days, and it was amazing to engage with your students around these pathways. There will be a meeting with the ministry after the break, and if you have any feedback (both positive and negative) it would be great to know and pass that on so things are even better next year.

CareersLabs VR:

Our Board is in the process of securing a central contract with CareersLabsVR. This platform utilizes virtual reality environments to help students engage and participate in skilled trades learning. Schools will have the opportunity to book these devices for things like: pre-placement, integration days, careers classes, or community events. I will be looking to take on one or two responsible co-op students in Semester 2 that can help facilitate and deliver this to schools. More info on the booking process will come out once everything is finalized and ready.

First Aid Training:

This has been covered previously, but just a reminder of the messaging that came from Ramsey Shuck and Curtis Van de Ligt around Co-op Certification Training. SHSM is NOT able to cover non-shsm students for this training and our board is no longer offering this to all co-op students. If you have anything booked for Sem 2 and were relying on this, please cancel your bookings.

December PD:

Our PD is coming up in a couple days (December 15th) and you should have all received a calendar invite. I apologize if you received the invite multiple times. This will be hosted out of Ottawa Technical S.S. who’s SHSM students will be putting on a full service lunch for us.

Menu highlights:

• Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad

• Shawarma Potato Salad (gf/df/vegan)

• Jerk Chicken with red beans and rice (halal/gf/df)

• Sous Vide Beef Striploin with mash and vegetables

• Gnocchi with truffle cream and parmesan (vegetarian)

Agenda

• Co-op Updates

• OYAP Terms and Meanings

• Break Out Sessions: Best Practices for Securing RTA’s

• Pre-Apprenticeship vs. Apprenticeship Programs

• Exploring the new Website and Resources

• Lunch (11:00 - 12:00)

• Informal Collaboration Time (or head back to schools)

Hello Co-op!

I know teachers are starting to look ahead to semester 2 and the opportunities that are available. I just wanted to share some contacts that have reached out, expressing an interest in taking on students for February. 

Ottawa Policing Services:

• This has previously been shared and is an opportunity available to all schools

• They are requesting that teachers submit names to this Google Form by Thursday, November 16th

• I've tried to push back on the turnaround time, expressing a need to give co-op teachers time to identify and work with students, but they don't have much flexibility. Get what you can in - even if just names and resumes!

HairRepublic

• They have a few assistant openings at their various Salon/Spa locations

• Reach out to Cassandra Davidson (cassandra@hairrepublic.ca)

Mattamy Homes

• A placement is available in the Architecture Department

• Pass along resumes to Lindsey Giles (lindsey.giles@mattamycorp.com)

Drip House

• A couple placements available in the areas of cooking and baking

• Reach out to Jules Thornton (Jules@driphouseottawa.com)

Baxtec

• Placement available in Plumbing

• Reach out to Patty Claesson (pclaessen@baxtec.com)

Military

• The military is running a Co-op program this year and looking for interested students

• For more information reach out to Oliver Fontaine (Olivier.Fontaine2@forces.gc.ca)

Coventry Connections

• Automotive Service positions available with potential for an RTA

• Reach out to Jacque Labaki (jlabaki@coventryconnections.com)

I also want to draw attention to the following resources:

Thank you to Ashley, Jacki and Rebecca for sourcing co-op placements related to tech & trades and identity-specific placements over the summer to share with everyone. These placements can be found by clicking here.

I am also continuing to populate the Trades Map of trades placements used by our board. This can be helpful in knowing what trades related opportunities are available within a specific region. 

Let me know if you have any questions!

Welcome back, everyone!

As we head into the new school year, here are some updates and house-keeping items:

1. Who's Who?

Please welcome Dave Hubbard as the new OYAP Coordinator.  You can reach out to David for all things OYAP related.  You can also find the contact information for all IAL staff on the Contact Us page on the IAL staff website.

2. Co-op Teacher Contact Information

Please consider updating the co-op teacher contact information for your school in the shared spreadsheet.  This distribution list is used to push out co-op information, important dates and subject council meeting information.

3. Pathways Calendar

Please watch the Pathways Calendar for upcoming dates, events, subject council meetings, etc.  The calendar is found on the homepage of the IAL staff website.  You can add it directly into your google calendar using the link below:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=Y181YThvYjVnMGM4c2NqbWV0Nmd1NGoza3ZiZ0Bncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t

4. Centrally Funded Student Training

Central principals will be sending out a message to school principals about what central funds will be available for which activities.  I will forward you the message once it is sent out.  Please pause all requests for centrally-funded student training for non-OYAP and non-SHSM students until the message is released.  As always, requests for centrally-funded OYAP and SHSM student trainings must be approved in advance by either Dave or Curt.

5. MTEL

You can contact me for MTEL support.  If you've changed schools, please let me know.  There will be virtual drop-in hours for MTEL help Tues 5th - Fri 8th next week daily from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon.  Use the Google Meet code/nickname ocdsb-coop to join.

6. Placements

Thank you to Ashley, Jacki and Rebecca for sourcing co-op placements related to tech & trades and identity-specific placements over the summer to share with everyone.  These new placements can be found by clicking here and will eventually be merged into the Placement Leads shared spreadsheet on the IAL staff page.

Thank you to Dave who has also put together a map for staff of tech and trades related placements that have accepted co-op students over the past 5 years:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1RSnUCqzPXLoyHWi7SZnb1nx0J_DvIOs&ll=45.29643411683442%2C-75.71129145091727&z