Long-term work experience is open to Grade 10, 11 or 12 students who have an interest in pursuing any career field. In Work Experience 12A (WEx), a student spends 100-120 hours working and learning at a job site. By doing this, skills are learned and questions answered before career decisions are made. Work experience can be paid or unpaid volunteer work. Students usually work during the evenings, weekends, and over school holidays. WEx 12B can be done once 12A is completed and the student is gaining new job skills.

The benefits of Work Experience are:

• resume and covering letter creation

• pre-employment job training

• making valuable industry contacts

• apprenticeship opportunities

• some paid work experience placements

• discover skills and interests 

• opportunity to explore an employment area of interest

• opportunity to gain credit toward grad for learning that happens outside the school

See Mr. Bussoli in the Career Centre for more details.

Saanich is very proud to offer 5 career programs. Seats are limited and an application and interview are required. 

• TASK - (Trades Awareness Skills and Knowledge) - Trade Sampler - hosted at the Saanichton Learning Center in semester one

• Trades Exploration (TEx) -  Trade Sampler - Camosun Partnership hosted at Claremont Secondary School in semester two

• STAC (Skills Training Apprenticeship Carpentry) - Carpentry Level 1 Program Camosun Partnership hosted at Saanichton Learning Centre in semester two

• Hairstylist Program – Vancouver Community College Partnership hosted at Saanichton Learning. Ten-month program starting in semester two.

• MST- Marine Service Technician - Quadrant Marine Partnership - District Career Program hosted by Parkland Secondary School at Quadrant Marine in Canoe Cove. Ten-month program starting in semester one.

After reading about our District Programs, please have your son/daughter meet with Mr. Bussoli in the Career Centre to begin building a plan. 

Camosun College partners with South Island school districts (61, 62, 63, 64, and 79) to offer post-secondary training and courses to qualified, college-ready, high school students. These dual credit opportunities allow students to earn both high school graduation credit and college credit.

For more information about available courses and programs, please visit the Career Centre to speak with Mr. Bussoli and consult the Dual Credit website.

Youth Work in Trades (WRK) 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B are elective, four-credit courses, each 120 hours in duration, open to students aged 16–19. These courses enable students to log Work-Based Training hours as part of the Youth Apprenticeship program with SkilledTradesBC, providing a head start on accumulating apprenticeship hours and recognizing authentic trade training beyond the traditional classroom.

To participate, students must be formally indentured as Youth Apprentices with an employer in a specific trade and be supervised by a qualified trade practitioner holding a Certificate of Qualification or Sign-Off Authority. While students may begin with unpaid Work Experience courses (WEx 12A or 12B), participation in WRK courses must be paid.

Each course is customized to the student’s chosen trade. A personalized training plan must be developed in collaboration with the school-based Career Teacher and the workplace employer/supervisor prior to the start of each 120-hour segment. For more information, please visit the Skilled Trades BC website.

If you would like to get started on your Trades Career, please see Mr. Bussoli in the Career Centre.