College of Ontario

May 14, 2007
By Cheryl Bauslaugh

John Bory always knew he wanted to work with his hands, although not necessarily in his dad's machine shop.

Now, he's getting the skills he needs to pursue a career as a millwright at the same time he earns high school credits. It's all part of School Within a College, a joint program of the Grand Erie and Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic district school boards and Mohawk College.

The program gives high school students a chance to get the credits they need to graduate, as well as two college credits. They also develop skills that can help them go on to a job or apprenticeship.

"A lot of these students don't know what they want to do when they come here, " said Ed House, a teacher with the public board. He provides academic instruction, while Dennis Perras, a teacher with the Catholic board, works with students in the shops, along with a college instructor.

Students divide their time between the classroom and the shops, where they have a chance to sample five courses related to manufacturing and construction. Those who stay for a second semester can go on to a co-op placement or apprenticeship.

"This is an opportunity to gain some skills and explore the trades but it's also giving them their high school graduation," Perras said. "It's an unbelievable program."

House, who has been part of the program since it started in September 2005, said it was originally targeted at students who were at risk of not graduating from high school. But it's now being seen as more of an alternative path for students who want to get hands-on experience in a skilled trade.

"It's not that they're a failure (in high school)," House said. "It's that this is the right place for them to be at this time.

"Quite a few people find what they're looking for once they come here."

Count Bory among them.

The 18-year-old was trying to juggle a full-time job with Grade 12 studies at Brantford Collegiate Institute when he heard about School Within a College from his vice-principal. Now, he's got the credits he needs to graduate in June and he's earning hours towards an apprenticeship as a millwright, through a co- op term at Sunoco Canada Corp.

Bory grew up working in his dad's machine shop - "I've been a machinist all my life," he said. But he enjoys the challenge of working at Sonoco, where no two days are alike.

"Before, I did the same job over and over," he said. "As a millwright, I get to do something different every day."

Sonoco is one of 14 local companies that provide placements for the program. Craig Higdon, maintenance manager at Sonoco, said co-op placements "are a bit of work" because students must be carefully supervised, for safety reasons. And there is some teaching involved.

But, he said Sonoco employees enjoy the chance to mentor someone who may be part of the next generation of skilled workers.

"Our guys enjoy having the junior guys around. It's really great when you can contribute to a young guy just starting out."

And, with many workers in the skilled trades middle-aged or older, there's a real need to attract more young people to jobs like welder, tool and die maker and machinist. Higdon feels Bory has what it takes to be one of them.

"He's got a real hunger and a thirst for knowledge," he said. "And he's not afraid to get his hands dirty."

The Mohawk program has room for 22 students each semester. That allows for plenty of one-on-one instruction and ensures that each student has access to equipment - something that doesn't always happen in a high school shop class.

This semester, two of the students are female, including Melissa Kelly, a budding machinist who hopes to go on to a placement with a local company next fall.

"I always wanted to do something with my hands," said the 17-year-old, who often helped out at the family auto body shop in Waterford.

But, after dropping out of high school in Grade 10, she wasn't sure what to do next, until her grandmother steered her towards the Mohawk program. Now, after trying out carpentry, cabinetry and computer-assisted design, she's decided to focus on becoming a machinist.

"If I didn't come here, I would have been a dropout the rest of my life," said Kelly, who has excelled in all of the shops.

That's not surprising, said Perras, who notes that women are often better at jobs like welding that require precision and attention to detail.

"At one company in Courtland, they will only hire women welders."

Perras, who spent 10 years working as a heating and air conditioning installer before becoming a high school teacher, said he's come "full circle" now, by helping students get into the skilled trades.

"I hope to encourage these guys not to lose sight of their dreams," he said.

House said the program has been "an amazing success," with a graduation rate of 85 per cent. But, even though it has been around for two years, a lot of people still don't know about it.

An open house is scheduled for May 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., to give interested students a chance to meet instructors and tour the shop facilities. Two of the current students will also be visiting area high schools this month to talk about their experiences in the program. Information and an application form are also available on the web at www.mohawkcollege.ca/SWAC