Options and Opportunities Program Celebrates Annual Showcase

Options and Opportunities students (O2) are displaying innovative projects they created for their annual showcase today, May 27, at the Holiday Inn Harbourview in Dartmouth.

The O2 program enables high school students to explore careers through hands-on work experience. The program prepares students for the job market, helps them make informed career choices by focusing on career development and supports personal growth. It matches students with qualified employers to give them the opportunity to gain experience in a workplace. They graduate with four co-operative education credits, a certificate in workplace health and safety and a personalized career plan.

"O2 students are finding great success inside and outside of the classroom because of this program," said Education Minister Marilyn More. "Students who were once disengaged have become proud and successful members of their school community. They have improved their grades, attendance, self-esteem and self-confidence.

"The government is committed to creating good jobs and O2 is the kind of program that helps prepare students for these jobs, and encourages them to stay and build a life here."

According to teachers and parents, Options and Opportunities has been an overwhelming success. Originally piloted in 27 schools in the fall of 2006,the program has expanded to over 105 classrooms and 46 schools across the province. Teachers say they see significant improvements in student grades and attendance, and fewer discipline problems. Parents say relationships with their children are better and students themselves have higher self-esteem and self-worth.

"Before I enrolled in O2, I found it hard to pay attention in class, my grades were very low and I was failing all my classes," said J.L. Ilsley grade 12 student Jessica Albert, who is preparing to be a chef and is enrolled in the culinary arts fall classes at Nova Scotia Community College.

"O2 made a big difference in my education. It helped me succeed and has prepared me well for NSCC."

This year nearly 3,000 employers support O2 students through work placements.

"This showcase shows employers and potential employers the exciting projects the students have been working on all year," said Department of Education consultant Peter Smith. "It's the perfect venue to show everyone what these students are made of."

The showcase begins at 7 p.m.