my Opportunities

Co-op Education

A co-op credit will provide you with an excellent opportunity to test drive a job to see if it is suitable. Our high schools offer a range of different co-op programs that offer something in common – real-world work experience.

Interested in learning more? Take a look at Connecting Students to Opportunities in Skilled Professions.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (Oyap)

Through the OYAP program, students are able to start their apprenticeships while they are still working toward their high school diploma. Some of our former students have finished their apprenticeships and were writing their certification exams when they were only 20 or 21 years old – this is an amazing feat.

Why choose the skilled trades and apprenticeship?

  • It is estimated by the year 2020 Canada will need 1,000,000 more skilled trades people

  • A current shortage is expected to become more evident in the next five to ten years as thousands of certified journey-persons reach retirement age

  • Approximately 50% of secondary school graduates do not move immediately to college or university

  • Apprentices earn wages while learning their trade

  • Many licensed tradespeople earn more than $50,000 per year and have their own business .

Parents, students and teachers are encouraged to visit our OYAP website.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

Imagine a program where you can get high school credits, work experience, and certifications in a specific industry that you are interested in! The SHSM program enables senior students to gain valuable hands-on experience, while they are working towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. But don't take our word for it - look for yourself!

Different schools offer different opportunities. What does your school offer?

Dual Credits

Dual credits give senior secondary students the opportunity to sample college and gain credit in both secondary school and college. Students take a college credit from a college faculty member and must meet the requirements to pass.

To learn more, visit www.centrallakes.ca and/or visit your guidance office.

Travel Credits

Want to earn a high school credit while travelling the world? The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board has some amazing opportunities for high school students to do just that.

Grade 9 Canadian Geography in Ontario (CGC1D/1P)

Grade 10 Civics and Careers (CHV2O/GLC2O) - New York, Montreal and Ottawa

Grade 11 English and Photography in Italy (ENG3U and AWQ2O/3O)


Aquatic Leadership

Students are eligible to earn high school credits as well as earning qualifications to be a trained lifeguard certified to work anywhere in Canada.

Interested? Find out more!

Mission Trips

At the high school level we wanted to provide our students with a more profound opportunity to experience servant leadership, which is why we introduced our Mission Trips program.

Beginning 2009, students and staff from high schools across our board have embarked on 28 different mission trips. More than 775 students have travelled to Kenya, Ecuador, India, Tanzania and Ghana. They spend close to two weeks immersed in the culture, working on educational activities and building projects. The goal is to help improve the local community in practical ways.