Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Repulse Bay (Nov 16/05) - Tusarvik in Repulse Bay was the only Kivalliq school to take part in Career Week activities this month.

A total of 13 Grade 9 students took part in Take Our Kids to Work Day on Nov. 3.

Tusarvik students Celestino Kopak and Robin Katokra, right, work at the Naujat Co-op in Repulse Bay during Career Week. - photo courtesy of Jeremy Chippett

The students worked at almost every available venue in Repulse, including the hamlet office, Northern store, Co-op, RCMP detachment, health centre and maintenance garage.

The group sat down with teacher Jeremy Chippett to work out who would go where during work day.

He says many of the students had an interest in one particular area. "We had two students who really had an interest in what the RCMP do in the run of a day," says Chippett.

"They were adamant about that placement and it worked out for them to spend the day with the RCMP. Between the students and I, we were able to work everything out."

Chippett says there are numerous benefits for students who take part in the program.

He says he would have loved having such a day available to him in Grade 9.

"Almost all of my 13 students enjoyed the experience and came back to the school to write about everything they did.

"They gained valuable knowledge about what to expect in the workplace."

Chippett says the students who worked at the hamlet office quickly realized you need math skills to look after many of the day-to-day tasks that office workers must perform.

And even more of them learned the same can be said for writing. "A number of students couldn't believe how much paper work they had to do in just one day on the job.

"The day gave them an idea of what type of work is available out there for them, and what skills they're going to need to go after those jobs.

"They were quite excited about the experience, and the majority of them were happy to talk about their day in the classroom.

"Some of them even let us know what it's like to be on a real coffee break when you're working."