Catalyst

March 2010 30 Years of Dedicated Service

Visit IEC’s new website at

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I

EC Hamilton has been serving the Hamilton community since 1980. The first of its kind in Canada, our founding partners had the foresight to believe in and develop a council whose sole purpose was to promote the importance of careermentorship and facilitate connections between industry and education.

We have a truly wonderful city with new and exciting prospects on the way (see Canada Bread article on page 6) ,fantastic educational systems Did you know that students start thinking about careers as early as Kindergarten? and thousands of young people who have a thirst for knowledge and a desire to learn.

Inside this issue: Curriculum Corner -Media Literacy Resource

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Spring Events

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Always an Adventure at Green Venture

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Preparing Students for the Future

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Specialist High Skills Major

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‘Staying on the Move’

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Our students are looking to US to help them navigate and develop the essential skills required for a successful and rewarding life.

There are a variety of ways that you can get involved with our future workforce - from visiting a classroom and talking about your career journey to taking on a student for a cooperative education or intern placement. We can help customize your level of involvement to ensure that you are selecting the appropriate career-mentoring activity for you and your organization.

IEC Programs

Canada Bread Bringing 300 jobs 7 to Hamilton ‘Dared to Tri’ Triathlon

7

A World of Health and Safety

8

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Benefit Tomorrow

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The Catalyst March 2010

Page 2

Curriculum Corner Grades K – 12 Media Literacy resource Director’s Cut (DC) Overview former educator, in the York Region, Bryan always incorporated media literacy into his classes even before it became an aspect of the curriculum. “I ran film festivals, introduced digital photography and found that it was important aspect for students to tell stories.” It was this passion that inspired Bryan and his wife Lori to create Director’s Cut (DC), the first mobile film and imaging studio dedicated to children in Canada.

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Imagine your kindergarten class exploring digital photography while learning their alphabet. Or students in Grade 2 creating interactive story books. Better yet, Grades 9 creating music videos, comic books, etc.? These cross-curricular workshops directly relate to Media Literacy, Language, Arts/Drama and more!

It is the belief at Director’s Cut that film makers and media specialists can be mentors to help kids explore their talents and lead them to discover new and interesting viable career opportunities that to pursue.

Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 can have access to Director’s Cut programs.

What Educators are saying about Director’s Cut? Sandra Devins-Lidgey, Grade 5 teacher at James MacDonald School, invited Director’s Cut into her classroom this year. This is what she had to say.

Film Festival In May, Director’s Cut will organize film festivals that will be held in 15 locations in Ontario by collaboration with Cineplex Theatres and Indigo books. Bryan describes these festivals as ‘electric’ when the students see their own work on the ‘big screen’.

Q- How does Director’s Cut support existing Media Literacy programs?

A- Director’s Cut touches on a variety of Media Literacy Curriculum expectations. During the preparation for the workshop the children were able to cover media sections in the curriculum. This of course leads to a final project that the students can be proud of.

How can you book Director’s Cut through IEC Hamilton?

By going to Employer Registry— the Ministry of Education supported online resource at www.employerregistry.ca

Q- Why is it important to bring career mentors into your classroom?

A- The world that our children are growing up in is changing. So are occupation opportunities. Director’s Cut gives students a taste of the media world that might just spark the interest in one of our future media stars.

Fees Due to the amount of high tech equipment, staff time, workshop preparation, not to mention providing each student with their own DVD copy of their work, the cost for participation, per student is $21.00 (includes GST) Site Incentive Program When a teacher refers this program to a colleague, The Directors Cut provides the teacher a gift certificate for Indigo. Plus, if a school books 500 students or more, DC donate a 42” Plasma television to the school.

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“If we are not bringing the real technology into classrooms, that students use at home, they are not going to think media is something they can pursue as a career option.” says Bryan Goldmintz, Executive Director, The Directors Cut (DC)

Q- Would you recommend this program?

A- I would definitely recommend this program to my colleagues.

On a professional level, Director’s Cut gives you an opportunity to incorporate the HWDSB Character Builds Attributes and our Teaching Learning Critical Pathway (TLCP) curriculum expectations. On a personal level, it is a wonderful experience to share with your students.

What students are saying about Director’s Cut ?

“You get to make a video, at a young age, and it lets us have a good idea of the future and future jobs”.

- Jonathan Wells, Grade 5 student “I like that you get to work with new people that you usually don't work with, you get to use computers and cameras, all the pictures and making backgrounds, the sets, choosing your characters and making the movie”.

- Sara Gill, Grade 5 student

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The Catalyst March 2010

Page 3

Always an adventure at Green Venture!

Future Building 2010 Hamilton Future Building 2010 Hamilton Introduces exceptional career Paths for tomorrow’s builders!

Future Building 2010 Hamilton is a FREE threeday, interactive hands on career exhibition designed to show attendees the opportunities available in the Ontario construction industry.

Participants can enjoy a wide variety of activities, for instance you can “Move the Earth” with Operating Engineers, “Hammer it Home” with the carpenters or take a “Virtual Walk” on skyscraper scaffolding.

Date: Tuesday April 13-15, 2010 Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Location: The Careport Centre, 270 Longwood Rd S, Hamilton, ON L8P 1A6

Path to Success Employment Awareness Event If you are an Employer or a Community Employment Service Provider, this is your invitation to help prepare young and eager, emerging graduates make vital career decisions as they exit our Catholic Secondary Schools.

You will be given a space to network and display your business.

Date: April 27, 2010 Time: Employers and Service providers are asked to be available from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Location: Nicholas Mancini Centre, Main Floor 44 Hunt Street, Hamilton, ON For more information and registration, Contact: Marilyn Presutti 905 525 2930 ext 2845 presuttim@hwcdsb.ca

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“W

ork hard, apply yourself, and you can do some really great things!” This was the message the Grade 7 and 8 students at Hillcrest Elementary School were given by the self proclaimed “high school drop-out”, factory worker, and “wanna be rock star,” Pete Wobschall- Executive Director of Green Venture.

Pete explained to the students that he realized his plan to be a rock star needed a back-up plan, so after two years he went back to school. He chose Environmental Studies, at Sir Sanford Fleming College in Lindsay. “It was the best 2 years of my life, I met a lot of people and ate a lot of pizza” laughed Pete as he held the attention and admiration of the curious young students. Pete went on to say how he worked in landscaping and continued his music “gigs” in the evenings. While laid off from landscaping, his love for the outdoors, and interest in the environment, led him to his first job at Green Venture. Starting as a water program coordinator, he worked his way up to managing “EcoHouse”, and eventually landing his current role as Executive Director. He attributes his success to his hard work. As Pete spoke earnestly with the kids about how he wasted two years of his life figuring out where he wanted to be, “the good news is” Pete says, “now I’m here, the “Big Boss” at the coolest place in Hamilton to work”!

Gooey Worms, flushing and non flushing toilets, shocking shower exhibits, yummy vegetable gardens, wind and energy demonstrations are all part of the workplace tour offered at Green Venture through the IEC Workplace Tour program. EcoHouse and Green Venture Home office serve to demonstrate environmental technologies from the past, present and future. “Hands on demonstrations are constructive for the students”, says Pat Gross -Grade 7 and 8 Teacher at Hillcrest. “They’re more focused than in a classroom setting”. The students not only get to have fun while they’re learning, but they just might be inspired by their experience, and consider environmental studies as their future career! For that, Green Venture gets the “Green Light” from us!

Are you interested in inspiring students to pursue a career in your field? Then our workplace tour program is the right choice for you. Go to www.employerregistry.ca and register your organization or contact us at info@iechamilton.ca.

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The Catalyst March 2010

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Lawfield Elementary: Preparing Students for the Future Interview with Bill DeMille – Principal at Lawfield Elementary

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n the fall of 2005, two months into his new job as Principal at Lawfield Elementary School, Bill DeMille was dealing with a disaster when a tornado hit the school as it ripped through the quiet residential neighbourhood on “the Mountain”. He and his staff seized the opportunity to not only re-build the school, but to redefine their environment with the integration of digital media. A tour of Lawfield and observing classroom activity is like entering a portal to a real-life example of what all primary schools might be like ten or fifteen years from now.

In one room we see a Grade-3 English class in discussion with students somewhere in Quebec, with very “present”, life-size images on a screen via Skype. In a small room between classrooms, three Grade-2 girls huddle around a computer monitor holding up a book to the screen and reading out-loud to a group of children at another school. Kindergarten children jog in place along with cartoon characters running along an on-screen road. Technology is the delivery-hub of every classroom we enter.

It requires vision and focus to plan and direct resources and funding into technology – to create a school equipped to ease students seamlessly into the future. Bill DeMille remarks, “It’s not so much the tools of technology that are important, anybody can get equipment, it’s providing the support and the professional development for the teachers to use the tools in the curriculum.”

The school is only in its second year of a three year plan and DeMille says, “We are very flexible and in constant change.

Teachers are becoming greater risk-takers, more collaborative, they are sharing their classrooms

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Did you Know? with their students, and they are really meeting the needs of individual students. With computers you can start to personalize and customize instruction for the student to a certain degree.”

Having outgrown many outside training sources, in-house training and expertise have become increasingly important. Teachers at Lawfield pool their talent and knowledge to expand their use of technology, and mentor and support one another. The school is among three Smart showcase schools for Ontario, a model for other schools, and training ground for other institutions like Brock University.

At Lawfield textbooks are purchased in small numbers as resources, and students are encouraged to learn to use the Internet properly and critically.

Bill DeMille states “The internet makes learning come alive. Now, just reading a book isn’t enough, you need to have sound, you need to have the graphics, you know, that’s the way, interact with it. It’s called digital literacy

Lawfield is among which is a part of what we would call three Smart Showcase our standard literacy.” But as Bill Schools for Ontario. admits he still enjoys sitting down to read a book.

“Education is always trying to catch up to what is taking place in society.”

Bill says, “We teach students process skills, critical thinking, problem solving, learn to collaborate and be creative, innovate – those are the skills they will need in the workplace. What you are doing is providing what the student needs to make it relevant to their learning. That’s the bottom line.”

For more information visit - http://hwdsb.on.ca/Lawfield Click on the link below for the CTV video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycP6Uj7z-mE

The Catalyst is delivered for over 15000 people in Hamilton. Are you involved in preparing Hamilton’s future workforce? Tell us your stories and have your school, business or organization featured in the coming issues of The Catalyst. Email us at newsletter@iechamilton.ca

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The Catalyst March 2010

Page 5

Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School : Specialist High Skills Major Talk with Sara Cannon-Principal of Cardinal Newman

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ardinal Newman offers both Health and Wellness, and Arts and Culture Specialist High Skills Majors programs (SHSM’s).

Principal Sara Cannon has noticed a significant effect on the students’ engagement in their own learning in the last 3 years.

“They’re interested and they take more ownership in the choices that they make. The quality and diversity of their work is outstanding, and representative of the special skills learned from their experiential curriculum.

Sure, there are challenges, but if it wasn’t for the challenges we would never learn”.

Sara particularly speaks proudly and passionately about the Health and Wellness SHSM. “We have always had strong, long term partnerships with the

hospitals and the long term care facilities. We have qualified teachers in particular areas such as CPR, who run certification classes right here at the school so the students don’t have to go elsewhere to get certified ”. In addition, Cardinal Newman is especially unique because it has its own “palliative care” component included in the Health & Wellness SHSM”.

Sara emphasizes the importance and value of her co-op teachers.

“They dedicate one period a day tracking and searching SHSM’s and matching them up with the students’ strengths and interests”.

Looking at market trends, Sara understands the different levels of training that are required. “We see the technology grow. There are career opportunities out there that we don’t even know about yet.”

What is SHSM?

Sara believes that in terms of sustaining themselves in a job, “hands on” experiences prepare the students in various level.

A ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements for Ontario Secondary School Diploma

Sara says “Whether you’re a PHD graduate, or entering the workplace directly from school, each and every career path is honorable. we hope we instill that kind of wisdom and respect for everyone’s choices, whether that choice is to be a doctor, a personal support worker, or an automotive mechanic, everybody has a contribution to make.”

Tomorrow’s Most Promising Occupations Health: Professionals such as physicians, dentists, pharmacists and registered nurses; medical technologists and technicians; therapy and assessment professionals; technical occupations in dental health care; Natural and applied sciences: Electrical and electronics engineers;

Business: Specialists in human resources; professional occupations in business services to management; Managers: Managers in construction and transportation; art, culture, recreation and sports; engineering, architecture, science and information systems; administrative services; Other Occupations: Psychologists; social workers; judges, lawyers and Quebec notaries; oil and gas well drilling workers and services operators; supervisors (mining and oil and gas); supervisors (processing occupations).

Source: http://www.jobfutures.ca/en/brochure/JobFuture.pdf

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The Catalyst March 2010

Page 6

“Staying On The Move” Interview with Janis Blimkie – Principal at Beverly Central

Primary School

Canada Bread bringing 300 jobs to Hamilton

O Principal Janis Blimkie in Olympic Circle with some Beverly Central students

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everly Central Public School sits at a four-way intersection in the middle of prime farmland between Waterdown and St. George, west of highway 6. Two hundred children from the surrounding countryside attend junior kindergarten to grade five, including a special class for developmentally delayed children. Four years ago the Ministry of Education took notice of the school’s high scores.

Following visits from the Ministry and a look at the school’s data and practices, Beverly Central was declared a School on the Move and was listed among the top forty schools in Ontario. Asked how she felt about the recognition, Principal Janis Blimkie, says, “We were honoured, but we were challenged – we felt responsible. We are always seeking to do what is best, and what’s best for our students. “ Four years later they are still a School on the Move.

Last fall Janis Blimkie got a call. Beverly Central had been nominated for the Leader to Leader program, an initiative of the Premiere and Ontario government.

The mentoring program pairs up ten sets of schools, ten that are well on their way,

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with ten others that need support.

Beverly Central was matched statistically and demographically with Earl Prentice Public School in Marmora, Ontario, just north of Belleville. Janis Blimkie exclaims, “It was a really positive match - we all learned from it.” The success and hard work of both schools was evident in the change of scores for Earl Prentice, which went from the 30’s to 60’s and 70’s.

What does it take to remain a School on the Move? “With student achievement and success you are doing what is best for the students, first and foremost.” states Janis, “You want to find their strengths, you want to nurture their needs, and use strategies for each student to have success. We are always raising the bar.”

As an example Janis offers, “This one boy explained to me what he had done to solve a math problem and I said when we call home to your parent, do you think you could summarize this. And he did, he was so articulate. It’s fun to call parents and say everything is fine, no one got hurt, nobody is in trouble – this is a good news call. And that’s the best part of my day, when I get to do that.”

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n February 17, 2010, Canada Bread announced its intention to build Canada's largest bakery in Hamilton. This $100million, 375,000-square-foot bakery in the city's industrial park in North Glanbrook will create 300 permanent jobs, as well as an additional 120 spots during construction and 31 seasonal positions.

It will also generate $1.1 million to $1.5 million in taxes annually and $2.5 million in development charges. Hamilton was chosen from among several municipalities because of its Golden Horseshoe location, its skilled workforce and the park's proximity to major highways.

Ian MacPherson, Canada Bread's vice-president of human resources, also said the company is familiar with the city as it operates two other factories here, on Nebo Road and in Stoney Creek. "The choice to locate in Hamilton -- well, quite frankly, it was easy for us," MacPherson said. For more information on investing in Hamilton, visit: www.investinhamilton.ca.

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The Catalyst March 2010

Page 7

“Dared to Tri” Triathlon Interview with Mike Schurer, Ancaster High

M

ike Schurer is an enthusiastic teacher at Ancaster High, committed

primary schools and other

to getting students involved in sports and physical education and

high schools. Mike says his

helping them find the appropriate fitness program that will ignite a desire

aim has always been to get

to keep fit for life. This passion extends to everyone, no matter their age or

other high schools involved.

physical abilities. He believes strongly that everyone should have access to what they need to have fun and stay fit. Starting the Dared to Tri, Triathlon

But, the Triathlon is also open

event was a natural way to extend this philosophy to the community.

to everyone – anyone of any age can participate, no

Dared to Tri, an annual event, will be held on May 28, 2010, and is now in

matter their fitness level. It is

its 11th year. It is a partnership between schools, students and teachers,

truly a community event. The

and the community. Local businesses contribute through sponsorships in

number of participants has

the form of goods, services and donations.

jumped from 40 in the first

Mike Schurer

year, to 570 last year. Mike The event also has a fundraising component. In the early years Hess

says in the early years, the

Street and Mount Hope Primary Schools were the recipients of some of the

nature of the event was misunderstood, “Nobody else would

proceeds from fundraising at the Triathlon. Since 2004, a portion of the

come, they didn’t know what it was, they thought it was for

proceeds raised through the Dared to Tri Triathlon have gone towards

hard-core athletes. It wasn’t until after 6 years that a couple of

physical education facilities, uniforms and equipment for Bennetto

other schools decided to try it.” Promotion for Dared to Tri is

Elementary school, Ancaster High’s partner school in the city. And now

primarily through word of mouth and it sounds like people are

most of those children from Bennetto go to Sir John A. Macdonald

catching on. Mike chuckles, “We had a guy two years ago who

Secondary School. Bonds between students at the two schools have formed

completed it on a unicycle. It took him an hour and 10 minutes

over the years and they attend and help volunteer at the event each year.

to do the ride. Other people walk their dog, they don’t run. you

This year the students at Bennetto will decide where to contribute their

can put a team of three in, and some dress up in wacky

portion of the money raised at Dared to Tri, within their own community.

costumes. So, it ranges - it’s fun…We’ve never had anybody not finish, no matter how long it takes them. The important part is

Last year busloads of students came to participate in the event from

they accomplish something at the end of it.”

For registration forms, and other details for Dared to Tri Triathlon http://fcinternet.hwdsb.on.ca/~ancasterweb/sports/triathlon/triathlonwelcome

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The Catalyst March 2010

A World of Health and Safety Help, Here in Hamilton

W

orkplaces have become increasingly complex and employers and workers have a shared responsibility to ensure they are knowledgeable about how to protect themselves from harm. In fact, it’s the law.

Whether it’s about planning for emergencies, working in confined spaces, being aware of chemical hazards and WHMIS, addressing workplace violence issues or creating effective health and safety committees, you can find practical tools and information from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Based here in Hamilton, CCOHS has been trusted as Canada’s national resource for the advancement of workplace health and safety for more than 30 years.

If you have questions about workplace health and safety, CCOHS can help. Access our OSH Answers fact sheets online, or call our health and safety experts for confidential, one-on-one assistance.

Engage with online health and safety communities through the workplace discussion board and HS-Canada e-mail discussion group. Tap into comprehensive websites for young workers, healthy workplaces and pandemic planning. CCOHS also provides online training courses, newsletters, podcasts and webinars, many of which are available for free.

To learn more about how CCOHS can help you achieve a safe and healthy workplace, visit www.ccohs.ca, call 905.572.2981, or

IEC Board of Directors Cheryl Jensen, IEC Chair VP, Technology, Apprenticeship and Corporate Training, Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology Ron Bailey, Team Leader Human Resources, Professional Development, ArcelorMittal Dofasco

Lily Lumsden, General Manager, YMCA Career Development and Learning

Diane Dent, Professor, Faculty of French, Redeemer University College

Beryl Roberto, Retired President and CEO, Teachers Credit Union

Nancy Di Gregorio, Superintendent, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board

Pat Rocco, Superintendent, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

Lloyd Ferguson, Ward 12 City Councillor, City of Hamilton

Mark Zega, Barrister and Solicitor, Evans, Philp

Visit IEC’s new website at

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Tim McCabe, General Manager, Planning and Economic Development, City of Hamilton Rick McClure, Training Manager, US Steel Canada

www.iechamilton.ca

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