Wednesday March 16, 2022 | COLWOOD, BC [Updated March 17, 2022]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Cert PR | Island Social Trends
Career Exploration Day 2022 at Royal Bay Secondary School (RBSS) in Colwood was back to in-person this year. For all grades (9 to 12).
Wearing masks (by staff, students and presenters) was required within the day’s COVID safety protocols. Some presenters insisted on it, even though public health policy is currently that masks are not required by health order.
In 2020 and 2021 the career day activity was adapted to mostly online, but students generally got less of a full experience.
Coordinators for the day were school staff Danielle Huculak, Tanya Phillips and Leanne Harrington. The school principal is Mike Huck.
Back to the 2018 format:
Presenters this year were a combination of those who had presented in the first year (2018) as well as business people who had provided work experience for students.
Presenters were also found among parents in the school community, as well as community leaders and SD62 administration leadership.
“It’s the narrative of a person’s story” that is most interesting to the students in many cases, said Career Exploration Day organizer and teacher Danielle Huculak. But of course the details of careers were key points made by speakers.
Three sessions per student:
The speaker series was designed to help students explore various career pathways. There were about 100 presenters, offering 50 to 60 session opportunities of 45 minutes, over three rotations through the morning.
Topic areas covered by speakers today covered a wide range: Arts and Communication, Business and Finance, Health Services, Human Services, Information Technology, Natural Resources and Environment, Skilled Trades, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and University Life.
Speakers included local MLA Mitzi Dean (Esquimalt-Metchosin), Professor and Environmentalist (and former BC Green Party Leader) Andrew Weaver, and Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission Commissioner Kathleen Gilbert.
From the City of Colwood presenters included Colwood Mayor Rob Martin and Manager of Corporate Communications Sandra Russell.
From the City of Langford was Michelle Mahovlich, Director Engineering & Public Works.
Sooke School District SD62 (SD62) administration speakers included Superintendent Scott Stinson, Associate Superintendent Paul Block, Associate Superintendent David Strange, Secretary-Treasurer Harold Cull, District Principal Capital Planning Windy Beadall, District Principal of Pathways & Choice Jim Lamond, and Healthy School Consultant Cindy Andrew.
Positive for presenters:
“Presenters expressed a great deal of positivity after participating in the event,” said Huculak. “They felt our students were engaged and respectful. They felt the event was very well organized and they felt welcome,” she told Island Social Trends.
Prizes to students for attending:
Students were issued a Career Exploration Day Passport. Filling in which Session 1, Session 2 and Session 3 that they attended made them eligible for a prize.
Students were placed in all three of their top choices, says Huculak, unless there was a need to place them otherwise (such as for cancellations or some sessions being too full).
Web-enabled:
A full web portal was prepared for the day’s activities, detailing presenter bios and schedules, the student sign-up process, technical requirements, and the day’s COVID safety plan.
Hospitality:
Coffee and other hot beverages were served. There was a bit of mingling for speakers ahead of the event.
A carry-out lunch was provided to speakers at the end of the morning. The lunches were made by Royal Bay Secondary School’s resident chefs.
The take-home gift to presenters was honey from Smoky Mountain Apiary in Metchosin.
Presenters were treated to easy parking for the morning event, having full use of the staff parking area. Staff used the parking lot next to the turf field.
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===== ABOUT THE WRITER:
Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Cert PR, has been covering the news of SD62 at the board and committee level since 2014.
As editor of Island Social Trends she explores how education is adapting to socioeconomic influences, both at the K-12 level and post-secondary.
Island Social Trends offers a scholarship in journalism to graduates of the high schools in SD62. For more information contact your school career office or inquire to news@islandsocialtrends.com .