Take Our Kids To Work is a project where workplaces and schools work together for the benefit of our young people by providing a link between classroom learning and the community. This is critical in helping our students value their education and understand how it will assist them in the future.

Students have the opportunity to link classroom and workplace experiences directly and to understand individual jobs in the context of the working community. Workplaces get a first hand look at future employees and consumers. Students receive increased exposure to the working world that leaves them better prepared to navigate their own career paths.

Grade nine students go to work for a day with a parent, friend or relative. Teachers prepare the students for the experience and spend time reflecting after the day. Workplaces collaborate to plan and help ensure a successful day. In 1994, 60,000 Grade 9 students in the Greater Toronto Area went to work for a day with a parent, relative, friend or volunteer host. In 1995, 120,000 Grade 9 students across Ontario and pilot sites outside Ontario participated. In 1996, over 175,000 Grade 9 students from across Canada spent the day in over 25,000 workplaces. The response was overwhelming. In 1997, over 400,000 Grade 9 students from all provinces and territories are invited to participate in over 75,000 workplaces.

Holy Trinity School invites all parents of grade 9 students to participate in this highly successful national program. Every year, on the first Wednesday in November, parents are asked to take their grade 9 child to work with them, and to assist their child in examining a variety of questions and issues related to the workplace. Students are required to complete a report which discusses their one day experience in the working world. Details of this report are contained on the attached assignment sheet.

Parents are asked to complete and sign the Parent Agreement and Excursion Form attached with this package, and return it to their business teacher well in advance of Take our Kids to Work Day.

Although it is preferred that students accompany their own parents on this day, students are permitted to accompany a parent of another grade 9 student under the following conditions:

• the host parent is aware of, and agreeable to, the situation;
• the parents of the visiting student are aware of, and agreeable to, the situation;
• the parents of the visiting student have completed and signed the Parent Agreement and Excursion Form.

  
  

Read student comments regarding the experience of shadowing an adult at work for a day:

• Student Comments, 2000
• Student Comments, 1999
• Student Comments, 1998
• Student Comments, 1997

Please Note: Mr. Lightstone will be calling the workplaces during Take Our Kids to Work Day to confirm that students are actively participating in the program.