WCI
Enriching lives in and beyond the classroom
Cooperative Education Page
Parent Corner
Thank you for taking the time to look at this website. Although I try to communicate mostly with the Co-op students, as I feel they are at the age where they need to really learn what it is to be responsible at school and at Co-op, I welcome communication from parents.
Most importantly, I would like to cover a few of the main points in regards to co-op attendance,insurance and assignments.
Attendance:
Attendance is taken daily through TEXT MESSAGE, if possible. Students are responsible for texting their co-op teacher as soon as they arrive at their co-op placement. This would most likely be between 8:30-9:00am or 11:45-12:15. If the teacher does not receive a text in a timely manner the student WILL BE MARKED ABSENT, and a phone message will go home. At times, students forget to text; if this is the case and you get a phone message, please ask them if they texted their teacher in time. If they forgot, they can come and get a note from their teacher to state they were present at co-op. They can take the note to the attendance secretary to have their attendance changed. Attendance is VERY IMPORTANT, as employers expect co-op students to be present. Co-op students also need 220 hours total for a 2 credit co-op class. If the teacher feels the student is behind in hours, they may need to go in to co-op for extra hours, or be removed from the course.
Insurance:
Students are covered under WSIB when at their co-op placement. The students will be filling out a WEA form which parents, students, teachers and employers MUST sign before the placement begins. The form will state the hours in which the students are covered for insurance. If the student works outside of these hours, they must fill in an Extra Hours Form, BEFORE they work those hours. Please note that the co-op teacher must be available during these hours, so if the teacher is out of town, the extra hours may not be possible. If an extra hours form is not complete before the student works the hours, they are NOT covered by insurance through WEA.
Parents can also purchase extra insurance. Please speak with the school about extra insurance providers.
Students will also be bringing home driving forms. These forms are to notify you that students, when driving, ARE NOT COVERED by the school for insurance purposes. It will be the student or parent insurance that would cover driving to and from placements. Students are also not to drive other students to their co-op placement. The school also does not cover driving at placements. This would be up to the employer to have insurance if driving is part of the learning process at co-op. If the student is driving their own vehicle, and not the company's, it would again be the student's or parent's insurance. We strongly encourage students NOT to drive, as accidents do occur.
Assignments
All assignments for the first 2 weeks are listed in the Pre-Placement section of this website. Subsequent assignments are listed in Integration and Culminating sections. Please also note that LOGS are due on a weekly basis. Please see log section of website. If logs are not being handed in on time students will be pulled from their co-op placements to catch up on their work. They would then be responsible for making up any missed time at co-op. If students are constantly missing assignment deadlines this may jeopardize their credits.
Here is an example transportation form that students will be bringing home. Please note the warning on the Special Transportation Form.
WARNING : Students accept all risks and civil liability when they use their own vehicle, that of their parent, or when they are a passenger in any vehicle to get to their placement. Students who operate their co-op employer’s motor vehicle are covered under their co-op employer’s automobile insurance, with all the limitations described in that insurance policy. The School Board does not provide any form of insurance to drivers or passengers of any motor vehicle, including automobile, civil liability, accidental death, disability, mutilation or medical fees insurance.
Operating a Motor Vehicle
Please note the stipulations on the form. It states that driving must be part of the students PPLP, as well as the fact students must provide a copy of their driver's licence etc. If a student IS driving as part of their co-op learning process (e.g. driving a car into a garage for a tune up, driving a golf cart, tractor etc.), they must fill in the following form.