Preparing for the Real World
Schuylerville Central School District provides a broad array of career-related programs and activities for our students. These activities have the common characteristic of helping to prepare pupils for the real world.
Who can be a mentor?
Virtually anyone could be part of the Career Education Program. There is no expense and the experience of sharing one’s expertise and enthusiasm for the profession may be the incentive that a student needs to get involved. Mentors are just experienced and proficient workers who welcome curious interns into their workplaces in order to exchange ideas within their common field.
Speakers’ Bureau – Be Influential
Speakers’ Bureau is for those who wish to share their experience, talents and various skills with Schuylerville students. Call the High School (518) 695-3255, ext. 2239 if you’re interested in being part of the Speaker’s Bureau. In many cases, teachers and students also reach out to professionals to come into classrooms to share their knowledge and skills.
Shadowing – A Taste of Reality
Normally initiated before a student enters 10th grade, shadowing matches professionals with students in real-world work experiences. Shadowing typically occurs within the Home and Careers course, but students can also work with Student Services Center staff members to arrange additional shadowing opportunities. This is a chance for all who participate to experience careers that may be of interest to them and perhaps find if the chosen job is right for them.
Internships – The “Ins and Outs” of Life
The credit-bearing internship program is open only to high school seniors, who experience all elements of a chosen profession. Students are required to submit an application, dress and act appropriately for an interview and then, if selected, are obligated to spend part of each school day working in a professional setting related to their potential career choices. Interns typically rotate through four different career environments during the school year.
Gaining Hands-On Experience in Professional Settings
The Internship Program is an opportunity to get hands-on experience in a chosen profession. Students rotate through four different career areas during their one-year internships.
The credit-bearing Internship Program is open only to high school seniors, and an application process must ensue in order to be a part of the program. The requirements are as follows:
- An application must be completed and returned to Ms. Bean in the Student Services Center. Students are also required to have a resume.
- An interview is scheduled between the student applicant and Ms. Bean.
- Students are expected to dress and act as though they’re in a real job interview when meeting with Ms. Bean.
- Students accepted into the program are sent acceptance notices during the summer prior to their senior year.
- Students interview with their proposed first mentor before the beginning of the school year.
- An orientation and training process takes place during the first few days of school.
- Interns are expected to present themselves each day as if they are regular employees of the company or organization where they’ve been placed.
Requirements of an Intern
In addition to working in their internships, participants must also complete other career-related assignments; all are considered for an intern’s grade. For example, all interns must keep a portfolio of their experiences. The portfolio includes:
- Completed time slips (signed by the mentors) that show the hours worked.
- Weekly journal entries detailing the internship experiences.
- An occupational project every five weeks.
- Students interview with their proposed first mentor before the beginning of the school year.
- A reflection paper at the end of each internship, which details the intern’s experiences, memories and feeling about the internship.
- Miscellaneous pictures, forms, projects, etc. that reflect the intern’s experience.
Looking for more information on the High School’s Internship Program?
Call Career Education Coordinator Carrie Bean at (518) 695-3255, ext. 2239.
Career Day
This program is geared toward 7th- and 8th-grade students in an effort to give them the earliest possible opportunity to make occupational choices. Several professionals from a variety of fields come to the school and speak to the students. They make suggestions to those who are interested in specific careers, giving examples of experiences they have had, salary levels, job outlooks for the future, as well as frank discussions about both the positives and negatives of their careers.
High school Links
more information
Call Career Education Coordinator Carrie Bean at (518) 695-3255, ext. 2239.