Thousands of Grade 9 students in the Lambton-Kent District School Board (LKDSB) will experience a whole new version of Take Our Kids to Work Day this year.
The annual initiative which began in 1994, is going virtual for 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Coordinator for LKDSB Nicole Beuckelare said this year's initiative, set for November 4, is more about general career exploration.
"The benefits to that is that teachers can tailor that discussion to the curriculum they're teaching. So the science teacher can engage the students in career exploration for science or a math teacher can talk about how math relates to careers out there, so there's a lot of great opportunities."
Beuckelare added that this year's virtual format gives classrooms some flexibility.
"There's a bunch of online platforms that are hosting Take Our Kids to Work Day live interviews with guest speakers, we'll also encourage teachers to take the opportunity to have local virtual guest speakers to their classrooms that they can set up by reaching out to people they know or encouraging their students to have their parents come talk about their careers."
Beuckelare said despite some increased flexibility and other advantages of a virtual Take Our Kids to Work Day, there are a few drawbacks.
"Unfortunately not having students attend placements, it's not the same feel for them to see exactly what their parents do in their job. So the disadvantage is that connection to what their parents do, now we're just doing general career exploration."
Grade 9 students in the St. Clair Catholic District School Board will also be conducting a virtual Take Our Kids to Work Day Wednesday -- the national event involves over 250,000 Grade 9 students.
For more information, click here: https://www.thelearningpartnership.ca/take-our-kids-to-work
