Education & Training Community Report

February 2014

We are offering upgrading with CNC Nechako at the band office Monday to Friday. The program is called College and Career Prep. It is continuous intake, meaning as some finish their courses, others can join. I encourage anyone wanting to continue their education to please come in and see Tannis, CCP Coordinator, and speak to Linda, the instructor. The CCP is working in coordination with Bernie at the Adult Learning Centre in Vanderhoof to assist people in completing their grade 12. Lunch is provided and a small training incentive is also available to those who attend every day. The upgrading will continue until June, there will be a summer break until September and will start up again.

Grade 12 is a requirement of post-secondary education. I encourage everyone to consider furthering their education beyond grade 12. If you would like help please feel free to stop in or call me. My door is always open and I enjoy assisting everyone in furthering their career goals. Chief and Council have agreed to increase the rates for post-secondary to encourage our young people to get an education, and to ensure that the student can focus on schooling and not have to worry about finances. All education funding Saik’uz receives is spent on education – it is NOT discretionary funding anymore and must be spent and reported on post-secondary education.

Trades are not considered post-secondary and therefore we cannot assist under post-secondary but there a number of other resources available to people who are interested in continuing their education in trades.

The Camp/Prep Cook Training is graduating 5 participants today March 28, 2014. CheliseVandelaar has done an outstanding job teaching the basics of the foundation Cook program to the students. The students also received certification in FoodSafe and OFA 1. The students now have the opportunity to challenge the ITA exam and to continue on in their chosen trade. Congratulations to the graduates from the program: Peggy Phillips, Anita Antoine, Michael Sayre, Justine Traynor and Sherron Raphael.

The Foundation Carpentry program is completed on March 28, 2014 with six out of twelve completing the 30 week program. They took their ITA exam on March 27. Two of the six that completed the program already have employment. The graduates from the Foundation Carpentry program, ‘Building for the Future,’ are: Gil Vickers, Cassidy Todd, Randy George, Brandon J. Thomas, Harvey Raphael and Tyler Thomas.Renee Raphael was the program coordinator for the carpentry program and also did an outstanding job supporting the students!

The Environment Monitor Certificate Program has twelve participants that completed 5 weeks of Essential Skills upgrading, 5 days of GIS, and one week of their Environmental Monitor Certificate completed to date. The final four weeks will be completed in May. The program is a highly recognized certificate offered by Vancouver Island University. We were able to get the program fully funded by PTP ASEP and AANDC – a huge task that required assistance from all staff at the office. Thanks to everyone, all my co-workers who assisted in making this program a reality for our community!

All the learners should be commended on their commitment and encouraged to continue on whether through employment to earn the hours they need in their trade or to continue their education journey.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the graduates! Continue your programs until you’re fully certified and keep working hard – it will pay off with each step you take.

I also would like to thank all the staff at theoffice for assisting the students every day! It takes a team to make a difference and I see the staff go the extra mile everyday with everyone they help. Sometimes we forget to pat each other on the back for a job well done! I would like to thank the team.

Saik’uz staff work very hard to make a difference for our wholecommunity. We are restricted by policies and rules that we sometimesdon’t understand or agree with, but we have to follow otherwise we cannot receive funding.

It’s very exciting time for our people to get their education & training now. There will be so much work in the area. A driver’s licence is essential to employment. If you need help to get your learner’s licence we can assist you after you studied the book and prepared by trying the on-line tests. If you owe fines, make an attempt to pay them. You can talk to ICBC and make a payment arrangement even if you can only pay a little at a time, it makes a difference then just avoiding it.

My office door is always open and I am willing to help everyone realize their education and career goals.

Faith Thomas

Education & Training Coordinator