Tech Education

The SCS Tech Education Department

Trades people in Canada are in high demand. We want to ensure that our students receive the training they need to be marketable to this growing job market and have the skills they need to further their studies at the post secondary level.

Here at Simcoe Composite School we offer a wide variety of Technological courses from grades 9 to 12 including; Exploring Technologies, Construction, Manufacturing, Communication Technology, Transportation, Technological Design, Hairstyling & Aesthetics and Green Industries. Our courses offer project based education that is founded on the design process. Hands on learners excel in our well equipped classrooms with state of the art tools, computers and machinery.

Schools and employers respect Technology Students as effective problem solvers, critical thinkers, hard workers and ones that are able to respond and adapt to technological innovation and growth. We pride ourselves as one of the premiere Technology programs in the school board/region and have complete confidence in the abilities of our graduates.

Department Head: Anne Busk

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

Simcoe Composite offers two Specialist High Skills Major, Ministry of Education approved programs that allow students the opportunity to gain an overview of different industries as well as receive specialized training while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Students will participate in classroom learning, gain hands-on experience, and off-site experiential co-operative learning as they establish network relationships with many post-secondary institutions and employers in their appropriate sector.

Simcoe Composite students can explore both the Transportation and Information Communications and Technology industries in and out of the classroom.

Co-operative Education (Co-op)

What is it?

A program that allows students to apply two co-op credits towards their compulsory high school graduation requirements, with no limit on earning optional co-op credits.

Who is it for?

Students who are heading for university, college, apprenticeship or the workplace.

Benefits of Co-op...

Students have the opportunity to:

Experience hands-on learning
"Test-drive" career options
See the relevance of their classroom learning
Develop the essential skills and habits required in the workplace
Gain valuable work experience to help build a resumé for post-secondary programs and future employment

For more information, download the Grand Erie Co-op Sheet or download the Ministry of Education's Co-op Fact Sheet.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

OYAP enables full-time students who are 16 years of age or older with at least 16 credits to meet diploma requirements while participating in an occupation that requires on-the-job training.

The OYAP program is designed to increase the number of secondary students interested in exploring the trades and prepares them to successfully pursue careers in the trades. Students in Grades 11 or 12 can gain training, through a cooperative education program, in an apprenticeship trade of interest.

To be eligible for OYAP, students must:

be enrolled full-time in secondary school
be working towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
be enrolled in a cooperative education program with a placement in an apprenticeship trade
have successfully completed 16 credits
be at least 16 years of age

Check out OYAP's website for additional resources and information about how taking OYAP could be right for you!