Work Experience Course

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There are two Work Experience courses.  Work Experience 12A (WEX 12A) and Work Experience 12B (WEX 12B).  Students can be enrolled in one or both courses simultaneously.  These courses are optional, meaning that they are not required by the Ministry of Education for a student to graduate.

Each completed Work Experience course is worth four Grade 12 Elective Credits.  In other words, a total of eight Grade 12 Elective Credits may be earned.

A minimum of 80 hours of paid work and/or volunteering must be completed for each course.

NOTE:  Even though the Work Experience course is an optional course, when enrolled in WEX 12A, the student’s first 30 hours of work and/or volunteering completed by the student will also count toward the ‘required 30 hours of work and/or volunteer’ for CLC (Career Life Connections).

Students can arrange a placement of their own or can ask Career Centre/work experience teacher for assistance in finding an appropriate work/volunteer placement.

Examples of long term Work/Volunteer activities:

  • Volunteen at Ridge Meadows Hospital
  • Cadet in Maple Ridge Fire Department Youth Academy
  • Ambassador in Encounters With Canada
  • Vancouver Aquarium Student Placements
  • Youth Leader with Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Parks and Leisure Services
  • Walmart
  • MacDonalds
  • Save On Foods
  • Tim Hortons

Examples of short Term Work and Volunteer activities:

  • Job Shadow or Job Exploration
  • Attending Career or Post-Secondary Info Sessions, Open Houses, Events
  • Volunteering at Community Festivals and Events
  • Work with Charity, Service Clubs, Non-Profit Organizations
  • Volunteering at Elementary School Events or in Classrooms
  • Summer Camps

Additionally, if you complete WEX 12A and you are taking two or three senior courses in a Focus Area (see below) you are also eligible to receive a Career Preparation Certificate in a Focus Area which will be recognized on your Dogwood Diploma from the Ministry of Education.

Focus Areas are:

Focus Area Certificate Name (focus symbol) – Courses in that focus area you might have taken or are currently enrolled in.

  • Business and Applied Business (XA) – Business Ed, Computer, Psychology, Law
  • Fine Arts, Design, and Media (XB) – Art, Music, Dance, Theatre, Computer
  • Fitness and Recreation (XC) – Physical Education (PE), First Aid, Leadership
  • Health and Human Services (XD) – Sciences, Human Services, Leadership
  • Liberal Arts Humanities (XE) – Socials, English, Languages, History, Law
  • Science and Applied Science (XF) – Sciences, math, Computers, Technology
  • Tourism, Hospitality, and Foods (XG) – Foods, Marketing, Psychology
  • Trades and Technology (XH) – Wood, Metal, Auto, Trades

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