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schools
The Paper | Thursday, May 8, 2014
Work-based learning opportunities
For The Paper
Early Childhood Education students shared about career options. Peyton Drake, Alyssa Edison, Ryan Fogarty, Kaylee Garcia, Janice Guzman, Olivia Hays, Shai Jackson, Yeimy James, Monica Jimenez, Courtney Keck, Whitney Keck, Shelton Kendrix, Anna Levigne, Alisha Maddox, Tizzi Marroquin, Valerie Parker, Madi Pecht, Summer Talley, Kaitlin Thomas, Nicole Wilkerson and Lindsey Zalewski.
Students talk careers with others
What puddle will you jump in? This is the theme that Jackson County Comprehensive High School Early Childhood Education students are presenting to feeder elementary schools when teaching about career options. “Part of the College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) requirements for an elementary school is that the students be taught certain lessons and introduced to career clusters,” explained Laura Boswell, Work Based Learning Coordinator with Jackson County Schools. Students are now required to choose one of the 17 career “clusters” when they reach high school, with each cluster leading down several “pathways” or jobs within each career. As part of that, elementary school students must be exposed to different options before entering middle school. “It’s about career awareness and educating students so they get used to the terminology of the career cluster and what those clusters might look like,” Boswell said. In first and second grade, students learn about three clusters, while four are taught in fourth and fifth grade.
LeAnne Akin The Paper
Front row: Dwayne Hobbs, Work Based Learning Program Manager, GA Dept. of Education; Eric Ramey; Ashley Wilbanks; Birdie Yang; Sierra Sorrow; Patrick Kral; Laura Boswell, Jackson County Schools Work Based Learning Coordinator. Back row: Todd Shultz, Jackson County Schools CTAE Director; Alex Dodd, Brendan McClellan.
Chamber gets updates on students’ experiences On March 27, Boswell took 22 students in Mrs. Kathy Jones’ Early Childhood Education career cluster at Jackson County High into West Jackson Primary to teach first and second grades about the different options available to them. “Being a part of this program was a good practical application of what I’m learning and about my potential future career path,” said JCCHS sophomore Tizziana Marroquin. “I learned a lot about the kids and how eager they are to participate,” said sophomore Monica Jimenez. The high school students use slideshow presentations and an interactive website to promote career clusters and pathways. This year, JCCHS students have been teaching career awareness units to first and second grades at Gums Springs Elementary and third, fourth and fifth grades West Jackson Intermediate School.
At the March Business and Breakfast meeting of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, Laura Boswell, welcomed several participants to talk about their on-the-job experiences. The presentation is part of the ongoing effort by the Chamber to highlight area high schoolers. Birdie Yang said she had been happily working with Commerce Insurance Agency where co-workers were like family to her. Because of her success in the program which resulted in her organizing the office, the Jackson County Comprehensive High School graduate was asked to trained a new WorkBased Learning participant. “I had never trained anyone before,” said Birdie, who has seen to it that Sierra Sorrow is also becoming an important part of the Commerce Insurance Agency team. Sierra said she was initially scared because she did not have any experience in the world of work. After six months on the job, Sierra says she has had an amazing experience in the program. Also on hand for the presentation was Alex Dodd, Rainey Brandon McClellan and Ashley Wilbanks International Recruitment and Service in Flowery Branch. Dwayne Hobbs from the State Department
of Education also attended the meeting and explained that across the State of Georgia, 20,000 students are involved in Career , Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) and there is nothing better than on-the-job experience. Over a two-year period, surveys were conducted as a part of the curriculum revision process and, with more than 50,000 inputs, it was confirmed that development of soft skills, also known as employability skills, was lacking in recent graduates. While many of the soft skills, such as knowing how to dress properly for the business environment, punctuality, the value of communication skills, work ethics, are fostered in the home environment, some students do not get the needed reinforcement of those skills at home. Thus, schools are being looked to by the business world to help enhance instruction of those skills to yield the type of student an employer would need to join the workforce. There is nothing better than reporting to work to teach students the value of development of a strong work ethic and the Jackson County School System has had the opportunity to place 80 students into the workforce through Work-Based Learning.
Appreciation expressed for teachers at West Jackson Primary School
A/C TUNE-UP
West Jackson Primary School celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week April 28 through May 2. Teachers and staff were treated to a lunch provided by PTO along with other special tokens of appreciation throughout the week. “This celebration provides us the op-
STRAIGHT TALK Continued from 3B
out of three teens are in a bad relationship. Kayla Wood, a freshman at Jefferson High School, received the Why Not Me Award because of her willingness to make a change in her community. The Foundations for Living award theme “Why Not Me” is given because of their beliefs in that if someone is in need of a smile, why not me, if someone is need of help, why not me, which basically says that someone has to step up and make a difference in others lives, so why not me. “The night would not have been completed in such ex-
portunity to express our appreciation for our teachers hard work and dedication which they demonstrate for our students and families all year long.” WJPS administrators Linda Bell and Michele Archibald said. “Our teachers and staff invest their
cellence without the guidance of God’s love for this community, your support and participation. My speakers, my sponsors and my administration team – I thank God for You!” said BaileyGwinn. The speakers were District Attorney, Brad Smith, who spoke on sexting laws; Lisa Macy, CEO and owner of Stellari Health Inc., who spoke about unhealthy dating relationships from the perspective of a third generation of domestic violence in her family. Macy’s grandmother was killed and her mother was beaten. As a child, she and her siblings were beaten and assaulted by her father. She now
hearts and souls in educating our students and preparing them for success. We sincerely appreciate all of the hard work and dedication our teachers demonstrate on a daily basis, and we are privileged to be able to work alongside this staff,” said Bell and Archibald.
teaches self-defense and talks about empowerment. She also showed self defense moves. The other speakers were Donna Jackson from Peace Place who also spoke about unhealthy dating relationships, and the Honorable Judge Rodney Harris of Gwinnett County, who is the Director of STRAP – Seeking The Right Amendable Program, who spoke to the parents about healthy relationships. The last speaker was an inspirational speaker, Natasha Davis-Walker. She is founder of Living Light Ministries. She educates people in drug awareness, HIV and public health education.
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