Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jan 22/99) - Samuel Hearne students in grades 9 through 12 spend every other Friday afternoon reading about potential careers, thinking about possible post-secondary options and planning what high school courses to take to keep career doors open.

"It's all part of a long process and it is important for them when they plan their high school courses," says guidance counsellor Nora Dixon, who is closely involved with Career and Program Planning (CPP.)

She urges parents to get involved and says they are welcome to contact the school to look at any CPP their child is working on.

Home room teachers help students narrow down their career interests to match abilities, skills, talents and aptitudes. What students are often left with are three possible careers they think are realistic for them, according to Dixon.

Grade 9 teacher Marg Kahler says CPP also helps the school plan its staffing needs while ensuring it offers students the courses they will need for the future.

The change to CPP this year means the school is phasing out the former Career and Life Management (CALM 20.)

CALM 20 included modules on relationships, self- awareness and independent living as well as one entitled, "the world of work."

Some of the life-skills aspects of CALM 20 will be integrated into the CPP and Dixon, who piloted the CALM 20 program 11 years ago, says staff are available to discuss basic requirements for getting a job, such as how to get a social insurance number, if they need help in that area.

"Ideally they take their career and program plan they develop in Grade 9, complete with input from the school and their parents, and revise and update it each year," Dixon says.

"Then, as students progress toward Grade 12, they will choose courses to lead them to their career hopes and aspirations so the doors aren't shut when they get there."

When students are in Grade 12, they fill out college and university applications, develop their resume and work together to create a portfolio they can bring to future employers.

"They should be well equipped by the time they finish Grade 12 to go out to the real world," Dixon says.

And while the focus is clearly on senior and junior high students, principal Bernie MacLean says he hopes some career-planning thoughts filter down to SAM elementary school so students there can be "on-line" working on student portfolios this year.

"If you want to be a professional hockey player and you're 13 years old and you can't skate, you probably won't be a professional hockey player," MacLean says.

"So we have to match what is realistic with what the kids want."