HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-05-31, Page 30_COMi1d lIN1TY
Times -Advocate, May 31, 1995 Page 29
Students at SHDHS give school another shot
Mature students excited to return to SHDHS for P.A.C.E. program to improve their future career prospects
Ingrid Nielsen TA Staff
EXETER - "This is the most dif-
ficult part for me - computers,"
says Sylvia Bowman, a student at
SHDHS who is giving school an-
other shot.
Bowman is part of P.A.C.E.
(Preparation And Counselling for
Employment), a six week course
that Icts unemployed and under-
employed people earn credits to-
wards their high school diploma
while they, "figure out what they
want to be when they grow up,"
says SCisan Graham, PACE co-
ordinator.
The program has been in opera-
tion at SHDHS for one year. 1t is
These students have found that computer knowledge is a valuable asset. From left: Jan Mel -
lace, Sylvia Bowman, Wanda Taylor, Brenda Wilson, and Richard Kenney.
one of two models in Canada. The
othcr model is in Clinton, at Va-
nastra Public School. The super-
visor of the program, Susan
McKee, works out of Godcrich and
has presented this program to of-
ficials in Ottawa.
With today's economy, too many
people Lind themselves without
enough education or skills to get the
jobs they want, and end up settling
for unstable work that is not ap-
pealing to them. PACE, which is a
joint venture of Human Resources,
Canada and Huron County Board of
Education, gives people six weeks
to assess their skills, target their tal-
ents, and learn how to approach the
job they have always wanted.
"We ask the question, 'Is it asking
'too much to want a job that we.real-
'y enjoy', asks Graham. "And of
course, it's not."
"About 60 per cent of the people
who are in the program don't have
their high school diploma," says
Graham. "We have had people with
a grade three level of education, up
to a teacher in class. It really varies.
The ages have been between 18
years old and 65."
The first three weeks bf the pro-
gram are spent doing self-
assessment, skills analysis, english
skills, and an introduction to com-
puters. This allows the individual to
make realistic and solid expecta-
tions about a future career.
"If I want to be helped," says
Bowman. "I have to he as honest
with myself as possible."
The second part of the program
•
Kirkton Guides and Brownies
These Klrkton Pathfinders are nearing completion on their
Canada cord, the highest honour in Pathfinders. Above, from
left are: Elsa Pihl, Pathfinder leader Nancy Taut and Pamela
Traut.
At right, Kirkton Junior leaders Heather Hardeman and Lind-
say Holdsworth were thanked last week for helping out with
the Brownie troop.
"Do you
know who
you are
going
to vote
for
in the
upcoming
pro vinclal
election?"
Irene Schwartzentruber -
Exeter
"No, I haven't made up my
mind. I haven't given it a
lot of thought."
Bill Walker - Alymer
"Yeah, I think so. It's been
pretty difficult. I'm not too
crazy about any of them."
Gus Gregus - Exeter
"No, I haven't made up my
mind yet. I want to hear
some more speeches."
Shirley Hill - Varna Ken McPherson - Exeter Bob Reschke - Dashwood
"I think so. No, not really. "Nope. I haven't even lis- "Yes. It wasn't a difficult
It's a difficult decision." tened to any of them yet." decision."
involves learning how to "get the
job". This means looking at at-
titudes and approach. resumes and
developing a plan of action. The
students go out on "information in-
terviews", where they talk to people
in the field
they are inter-
ested in and
ask them how
they got there.
The program
also offers an
eight week co-
op placement
for students to try out their new-
found skills, and sec if this is the
job they want. This part of the pro-
gram is worth an additional two
credits, and is a full time placement.
"The students can try it on for
two months without risking any
money," says Graham.
During the program, students who
are on Unemployment Insurance,
are excused from looking for work,
"as this is considered training."
Some students can also qualify
for "life experience" credits. One
credit can be awarded for each year
the person has been out of school,
up to a maximum of 12 credits.
This is assessed and awarded by the
principal.
There are many different ways to
find financial support while taking
part in PACE. One woman in the
class has qualified for Transitions,
which means $4,500 for people 45
and over to go hack to school.
"I left my job in January, and 1
have been on U.I. for 10 weeks,"
says Bowman. "This course just
might give me some direction. I'm
so glad to be a part of it."
Most of the students share that
enthusiasm, and the mood is kept
positive.
Is it asking too
much to want a job
that we really
enjoy? Of course,
it's not.
Another student,
Richard Kenny, is
looking forward to at-
tending college in the
fall. He has applied to
Westervelt College in
London, and is excit-
ed about the op-
portuntics ahead of
him.
"I had given up on college," says
Kenny. "But now, I am ready to
go"
Another student who has been a
factory worker for the past twelve
years, looks forward to her future as
a health care aid.
"1 always wanted to be a nurse,
but in grade 10. I quit," says Mar-
ilyn Fenwick,
"I have been laid off hundreds of
times since 1983. In the factory
door, and back out again, with no
one to help. I thought there must be
something better than this. Now 1
have three more credits to get my
diploma."
As for being back in the high
school setting, the new students
don't feel too uneasy. Fenwick has a
son who also goes to SHDHS.
"I was teasing him at first, telling
him how we could eat lunch togeth-
er, go on the bus together. Wouldn't
that be cool?"
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Times -Advocate at 235-1331
Riding pretty on his Harley
Jim MacGregor from Exeter sits on his beautiful new Harley
Davidson motorcycle that he won by purchasing a raffle tick-
et for Muscular Dystrophy. The bike, a Heritage Classic Sof-
tail,
oftail, is worth $19,699 before taxes and will depreciate very
little. MacGregor, who is an avid motorbike rider, is a vol-
unteer fireman in Exeter, and heard about the raffle at the
station. He bought one ticket for $20.
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