• Co-op students take part in both in-school (approximately 30 hours of classroom time) and out-of-school components (approximately 180 hours for a 2-credit Co-op). 

• The in-school component requires pre-placement classes covering topics such as resumes, interview skills, health and safety in the workplace, and employment legislation. Throughout the year there will be periodic classes covering other employment-related topics. Assignments are to be completed throughout the year including an end-of-year culminating project.  

• The out-of-school component is the placement experience.

• Two or four credit co-op options are available.

• Students attend their work placements during the periods scheduled on their timetables instead of being at school.

• Students may take Co-op in grade 11 and/or 12. You are permitted to take Co-op more than once. You may want to consult your Guidance counsellor regarding appropriate timing.

• It may be difficult to fit in your timetable in grade 12 due to courses you must take to apply to certain post-secondary programs. Co-op does not count toward your 6 grade 12 courses required to apply to university and some other degree programs.

• It is generally recommended that you take Co-op as soon as you can so that you may start exploring your career interests and post-secondary plans.

Note:  Not all of the career fields listed below are available each year.  Other career fields are possible depending on placement availability and suitability.

Some examples include:

• ART (ex. retail store, school, architecture, art administration)

• BUSINESS STUDIES (ex. accounting, finance, marketing, real estate)

• COMPUTER STUDIES (computer repair, programming)

• ENGLISH (ex. journalism, media studies) 

• FAMILY STUDIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

  • Fashion (retail store)

  • Food and Nutrition (restaurant, bakery)

  • Parenting (daycare, school)

  • Psychology (seniors’ retirement home, academic research, school)

• GEOGRAPHY (travel and tourism)

• HISTORY/LAW (law , political office, police)

• MUSIC (retail store, school)

• PHYSICAL EDUCATION (teacher assistant, physiotherapy)

• SCIENCE (ex. hospital, vet clinic, pharmacy, optometrist, physiotherapist, dental, electrician)

• TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES

  • Automotive Technology (ex. auto service technician)

  • Construction Technology (ex. plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, cabinetmaker, electrician, home renovations, retail supply store) **Hands on construction trade placements require 4 credit full-day co-op.

  • Communications Technology (ex. architecture, computer repair)    

• ARMY RESERVE (4 credits full day, second semester only)

• The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a program that opens the door to work in apprenticeship occupations through the cooperative education program.  Students have an opportunity to become registered apprenticeships and work towards becoming certified journeypersons in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas. 

• Links to TDSB OYAP information are shown below:

  • OYAP Information 

  • YouTube: OYAP

  • TDSB OYAP Programs 

  • TDSB OYAP Programs Video

  • OYAP Commercial

Do some career research online, think about specific placements that interest you or talk to the co-op teacher. Keep in mind the career that you would like to explore and the subject that you will be linking your coop to. Rank your top two choices on your application form.

• Choose a placement where students have worked before

• You have a contact through family or friends for a new placement

• Come to us with a new placement idea and we'll look into it for you

1. Complete the Co-op Application and email it to ryan.sloan@tdsb.on.ca no later than March 31. 

2. Select COOP-02 (2 credits) or COOP-04 (4 credits) in myBlueprint. 

3. Mr. Sloan will e-mail you to arrange a meeting to discuss your placement interests. (April/May)

4. Interview with a potential co-op placement. (May/June or August/September)

A Your two-credit coop course must be linked to a subject you have already passed OR one you will be taking the same semester as your coop. You will need to meet some expectations listed in the government curriculum document. 

During April/May, Mr. Sloan meets students to discuss their placement choices. Mr. Sloan's goal is to place as many students at their first choice as possible. 

One of the coop teachers will coordinate a competitive interview situation. The teacher will call the placement and ask if they are willing to interview more than one student. If they are willing the teacher will give the names of the students to be interviewed. 

During the first two weeks of the semester, all coop students are in school for the Pre-Placement Orientation. Students will be informed in August/September or earlier about their placement and placement interviews.

Pre-placement Orientation takes place in the first two weeks of the semester. During this time cover letters, resumes, application forms and interviewing are reviewed. Safety in the workplace is a major topic. 

Three Integration Days are scheduled throughout the semester when you will be back in school to discuss your learning experiences with your classmates and do assignments. 

Your term will be worth 70% and your final culminating activity will be worth 30% of your mark. The KICA categories are broken down as Knowledge 15%, Inquiry 15%, Communication 30% and Application 40%. Both your placement supervisor and your coop teacher will evaluate you.

Your work schedule will be determined during your interview with your placement supervisor. Coop will be timetabled for either all morning or all afternoon. You will need to plan to work for at least 2 ½ hours per day to ensure you will have completed the mandatory hours at your placement. 

Students are covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. A Work Education Agreement form must be signed by you, your parent (if you are under 18), your placement supervisor and your teacher prior to beginning work at your placement.

Transportation to and from your placement is your responsibility. Our school board does NOT provide insurance coverage for students driving motorized vehicles while working AT your placement. 

A You will be treated like a regular employee. You will be expected to notify your placement supervisor when you will be absent. You also must call the school’s attendance line and your coop teacher.