Take Our Kids to Work Day set for Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Media release
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
On Wednesday, November 6, 2013, more than 5,100 Grade 9 students from across the Durham District
School Board (DDSB) will participate in the annual Take Our Kids to Work Day. The day’s aim is to help
Grade 9 students connect school, the world of work, and their own futures, by shadowing their parent(s), or
person designated by the parent or guardian, through an entire work day.
Many Grade 9 students do not yet know what kind of work they want to do as adults. Most of them will have
access to a wide range of career possibilities and will change careers several times in their lifetimes. Making a
career decision can be crucial and challenging, and parents can play a key role in helping their children sort
through the options.
Take Our Kids to Work Day gives students opportunities to learn necessary workplace skill sets like the
ability to adapt to change, apply problem-solving and decision-making techniques and communicate both
independently and as part of a team. It also helps them to recognize the value of life-long learning.
Several Grade 9 students will participate in Take Our Kids to Work Day at the DDSB’s Education
Centre. Participants will meet with Director of Education, Martyn Beckett, take part in a career assessment
and planning activity, complete a tour and Scavenger Hunt of our Facility and spend time job-shadowing their
parent/host.
Take Our Kids to Work Day was first piloted in 1993 in the DDSB. Since that time, under the direction of
The Learning Partnership, Grade 9 students around the world have participated in the program. For additional
information on the program, visit www.thelearningpartnership.ca.
The Durham District School Board is responsible for public education in the rural settings of Uxbridge, Brock
and Scugog Townships and the urban settings of Ajax, Whitby, Pickering and Oshawa. The Board employs
7,000 teaching and educational services staff. With 128 elementary and secondary schools and learning
centres, the Board accommodates more than 66,000 regular day students and thousands more who take
advantage of a wide variety of continuing education and adult credit courses. More information can be found
on the Board’s website at www.ddsb.ca. Please follow us on Twitter @DurhamDSB.
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