A Wee Delay

 So we have a  wee delay.  Not long, just two weeks.  We were going to restart class on Sept 28, but now we are going to restart two weeks later on:

TUESDAY OCTOBER 13

That's right, we will not be in class next week, so do not come next week.  If you do come, you will be standing outside alone.  Maybe that's what you want.  Maybe quarantine is getting to you, in which case, sure, go ahead and come.  But you will be alone, the rest of us won't be there, because the rest of us are returning to class on

 TUESDAY OCTOBER 13

Why the delay?   Most of us just weren't ready to restart next week.  I've spoken to almost all of you individually, and the new date was the most gooder for the most people. Sorry for the confusion, of course, but it is more better over all.  

 As before, please review the covid protocols video still linked below, and come prepared every morning with your mask, etc.

Looking forward to seeing you all!  

Back To School!

 That's right, it's time to get back in the class room and finish up.

We still had a few days left in our level one carpentry curriculum when the shut down happened.  Despite all the work you've done, you can't get your level one credit unless you finish those hours.  So we're bringing you back into the classroom to do the remaining hours, as well as your electrical and welding components.  Once those are done, you will have your level one, and will have completed the first step towards becoming a licensed carpenter.

Now, as for the work placements.  Given all the circumstances, we've had mixed success with those this year.  Only about half of you are working in placements.  As far as the course goes - that's actually not that bad.  The work placement is NOT required to get the level one credit.  The work placement is required ONLY to get you Canadore Pre-Carpentry Certificate.  So if you have not gotten into a placement yet, the worst case scenario is merely that you graduate with your ministry level one credit, but not a Canadore certificate.  But you'd still have your level one, which means you're still on your way.  Furthermore, if we can get you working and get the placement hours complete in the near future, Canadore is willing to count that retroactively and issue your certificate.  So it should be fine either way.

Now, the date of our class resumption is:

SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 9.

Please confirm with me as soon as possible that you will be able to make it.  

Also,  the college has protocols in place to manage Covid19, please watch the video below to complete your covid training.

 

Finally, I need to put out an APB on Megan and Jolene.  I don't know if it's just that I smell bad, or what, but I haven't been able to connect with either of them.  If you have either of them within your friend circle, please ask them to get in touch with me.

That's all for now, see you soon!  

 

 

The New Plan!

Alright Carpenters, it's the moment you've all been waiting for: the new plan.

I've been consulting with the big cheeses in north bay, and this is what we've come up with.

We're going to do the work placements now. 

Then we'll come back together in the fall to finish the in class.

This is a little bit backwards, as normally you would complete your inclass training prior to attempting to use that training in your work placement, but it is too impractical to try to do the inclass portion now during the summer months and we would have difficulty finding work placements for you in the fall.  So even though you'll be a little under-equipped for your placement, we think this is the best option over all, given the circumstances.  Besides, you were all doing so well in the class when we stopped, I'm confident you'll all do just fine in the placements. 

Ok, Questions:

What if I don't want to continue?  While we've been on hiatus, I've found a rewarding new career as a pastry chef.  

No problem.  I'll be contacting you all individually to discuss your next steps.  I know already that one or two of you have already moved on to greener pastures, and that's fine. I mean, my feelings were totally hurt, but I had a good cry, rewatched The Notebook, and now I'm fine. 

I want to continue, but I've actually already started a great construction job with a contractor in town.

Also not a problem. In fact, far from being a problem, that's awesome.  I can register that job as a work placement, and so you'll get credit for the hours you are already doing. Also, your boss will get the subsidy cheque, so it's a real win for both of you.  I'll sort out those details with you when we talk. 

When will we do the inclass?  

Some time in the fall, I'm thinking October.  We'll talk and come up with a commonly agreeable time. 

Why should we bother finishing the in class once we're already in a good job?

Because finishing the in class will get you your level one carpentry certificate.  That will be a required piece of paper if you ever want to continue on and do levels two and three and ultimately get your red seal certificate of qualification.  Even if you're not sure you will ever want to do it, it's wise to make sure you have that option should you ever change your mind.  Otherwise, you'd have to pay some other school in the future to re-do your level one, which would be a real kick in the rear seeing as you're so close to having it now.

So what happens next?

Sit tight and wait for my phone call. 

What if I changed my phone number?  

Then email it to me!  Send it to the address I gave you in class. 



That's it, talk to you all soon.
 
 

Latest Update April 16th

Hello Carpenters,

Unfortunately, the latest official word is that the in class portion of our course will not be able to reconvene until at least August 4th.  Since I doubt that date would work for anyone, I'm currently looking into whether we could finish up in the fall.  Not asking for a commitment yet, but if any of you know already that you could not finish up in the fall, please email me now at the address I gave you in class.  Second, I wanted to explore the idea of getting you into work placements this summer. It would be a bit premature, since you haven't completed the in-class yet, but it would be a great way to get the placements done and out of the way while we have the chance.  I know of some possible placements that could be underway even right now - on still-running essential jobs in rural settings.  If any of you would have strong objects to that, please let me know by email.  Again, all of this is still very tentative and I'm still working all of this out with the administration in North Bay, but I wanted to check in with you for now. Please shoot me an email,
Thanks!

Another Corona Update

Hello Carpenters,

The latest official word is that our program is still "on hold".   I'm optimistic that the college will re-open in time for us just to pick up where we left off and complete the program this year.  The latest word from the province is that public schools will remain closed until at least May 4th, and I think it's unlikely that Canadore would re-open before then.  Obviously whatever is going to happen will happen, and there's not a lot of control that any of us have over that.  The best we can do is respond when it does. 


Hope you are all keeping safe, and in the meantime, Teddy has helpfully found our first project for when we do resume:

Get Your Stuff!

Hello carpenters,

Canadore has just announced that they will be locking up the college building at the end of business this Friday. It looks like after that point you will have no access to the building till we reopen and start class again.  If you have anything in your locker that you think you might need during this interim period, please come and get it before Friday.

Hope you all are well otherwise,

Corona Update

Hello Carpenters,

Canadore has just posted the latest update here:
https://cdn.agilitycms.com/canadore-college/covid-19-coronavirus-update--march-17.pdf

If you read that, you will see that all in class sessions have now been cancelled up to April 3.

If all goes well, this would have us restarting class on Monday April 6th. 

Certainly the situation is fluid and in flux, and may change again between now and then.  Please stay tuned to this website and the official Canadore Updates, linked above.

While you are off, I'd encourage you to continue studying your text book.  As well, I will likely be back here with some more learning activities.  Also, many of you do have a culminating exercise to be done for Carrie, and this unexpected break will likely be a good opportunity to get those done.  I will be consulting with Carrie and will be in contact with the affected students individually to arrange that. 

Stay safe!