CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PROJECT PACKET 204 Schoolhouse Road Ebensburg, PA 15931 814-472-8860 814-472-8970 (fax) CAREER EXPLORATION PROJECT PACKET Central Cambria High School 204 Schoolhouse Road Ebensburg, PA 15931 Overview Students at Central Cambria High School will complete a comprehensive Career Exploration Project under the guidance and supervision of the high school faculty. There are four components to this project: 1. Career Exploration/Job Shadowing 2. Community Service 3. Oral Presentation 4. Career Portfolio Project This process will begin during the student's freshman year and conclude by the end of their senior year. Completing the project will demonstrate that the student can self-explore, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information to present evidence of a comprehensive learning endeavor. Completion of this project is MANDATORY for graduation from Central Cambria High School. Timeline/Student Responsibilities Freshman Year Submit Parent/Student Agreement to Faculty Advisor by the end of the Third Quarter Complete Career Exploration Classroom Activities during Advisor/Advisee Meetings Sophomore Year Begin Career Exploration Independent Research Project (IRP) at careercruising.com Explore Opportunities for Completion of Community Service Hours Complete Career Exploration Classroom Activities during Advisor/Advisee Meetings Junior Year Complete Career Exploration IRP Choose Career in which to conduct Job Shadowing Experience Complete Job Shadowing Experiences (2 sites, 6 – 8 hours total) on Off-School Time Complete Community Service Hours Complete Career Exploration Classroom Activities during Advisor/Advisee Meetings Senior Year Present Oral Summary of Career Exploration Project by November of Senior Year (Refer to Oral Presentation Rubric) Submit Community Service Hours Agreement, IRP, and Job Shadowing Journals/Evaluations to Faculty Advisor at Oral Presentation Complete Career Portfolio in Senior English Class Complete Career Exploration Classroom Activities during Advisor/Advisee Meetings Oral Presentation and Evaluation The oral presentations of the Career Exploration Project will be scheduled at the discretion of the building principal. The “Career Exploration Project Oral Presentation Rubric” (See below) will be used to evaluate the project: a. Student will appear before the Evaluation Panel at the appointed time. b. Student will dress appropriately. c. Students will submit required career exploration materials to Evaluation Panel. d. The following is an approximate time frame: 5-8 minutes for oral presentation by the student to give an overview of their project. 2-5 minutes for a question and answer period between the student and the Evaluation Panel. 5 minutes for the Evaluation Panel to discuss and evaluate the Career Exploration Project and oral presentation. Visit www.cchs.k12.pa.us to access the following information: Oral Presentation Rubric Community Service Suggestions IRP Materials Definitions/Descriptions of Career Exploration Project Components Independent Research Project (IRP) The purpose of these short research projects is to help students identify occupation interests and viable career path. The activities will ultimately make the student’s career search far more effective. The IRP will be conducted through the career exploration website, careercruising.com Classroom Career Exploration Activities During quarterly faculty advisor/advisee meetings, students will be directed to complete lessons which reinforce the other components of the Career Exploration Project. These activities will focus on the Pennsylvania Standards for Career, Education, and Work, which include Career Awareness and Preparation; Career Acquisition; Career Retention and Advancement; Entrepreneurship. Job Shadowing Job shadowing is a short term work-based learning experience that allows students to follow a host employer during a typical day while observing daily activities and asking questions about a particular career. For many students, a job shadow may be their first, practical exposure to a particular career or even to the world of work in general. Job Shadowing allows a student to observe a career path of his or her interest. Students will be given the opportunity to report to an area employer to learn about a particular occupation or business/industry without actually being involved in an employer-employee, in depth, hands on/production relationship. They may be able to witness a variety of tasks and learn about the educational/training requirements associated with a particular career. The experience can help a student formulate a more realistic impression of whether or not they are truly compatible regarding their individual interests and abilities. Job Shadowing is a good way to assist in building lasting partnerships among students, parents, education, and business/industry. Job Shadowing Responsibilities of the Student To observe the daily activities of his or her mentor at the worksite To ask appropriate questions of site personnel during the experience To conduct him/herself in a responsible/professional manner (promptness, attire, body language, respect, confidentiality) To follow all safety and security policies/procedures of the worksite To reflect upon the experience (written and oral communication) Job Shadowing Benefits Helps students to see the connection between school and work Helps students to refine post-graduate career plans Provides support for parents by helping students make financially responsible career planning decisions Allows students to see opportunities available in their local community (work/education) Community Service Community service is an act by a person that benefits the local community. People become involved in community service for many reasons. The goal of requiring community service hours of high school students is to encourage good citizenship. In many educational jurisdictions in the United States, a certain number of hours of community service are required to graduate from high school. Five (5) hours of community service must be completed by Central Cambria High School students in order for the student to meet graduation requirements. Career Portfolio Career portfolios are used to plan, organize and document education, work samples, and skills. Career portfolios serve as proof of one's skills, abilities, and potential in. They are becoming common in high schools, college, and workforce development because they verify skills and abilities of the person who has collected the information for the personal portfolio. Career portfolios can be used to obtain a job or acceptance to institutions of higher education. A career portfolio should be personal and contain critical information. Items that should be included include (but are not limited to) personal information, evaluations, sample work, and awards and acknowledgments. Career portfolios are often kept in a simple three-ring binder or online as an electronic portfolio and should be updated often. The career portfolio component of the CCHS Career Exploration Graduation Project will be developed in the student’s senior English class. CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL CAREER EXPLORATION PARENT/STUDENT AGREEMENT (Complete and return to Faculty Advisor) 1. Student will complete 8-10 hours total of job shadowing at 2 different site locations. 2. Student will complete the career cruising exploration project provided in the packet. 3. Student is not permitted to miss school in order to complete the required job shadowing hours. 4. Student is not permitted to shadow parents/guardians or relatives. 5. Completion of the required hours, documentation, and presentation are required for graduation. 6. Student is responsible for scheduling his/her job shadowing visits. 7. Transportation of the student to the observation site is the responsibility of the parent/student. 8. The student must journal his/her activities/experiences at the observation site. 9. Parent/student understands that each job shadowing location may be contacted by Central Cambria following the student’s visit. 10. This agreement must be signed by the student and the parent prior to participation in the job shadowing experience. 11. Parent and student agree to release the training site and the school district from any and all liability for injury or losses that may arise during the job shadowing experience ______________________________________________________________________________ As parent/guardian and student, we hereby agree to the terms and conditions of this Job Shadowing Agreement. ________________________ _________ Student Signature Date ________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature _________ Date CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL Job Shadowing Verification Form RECORD OF DATES AND HOURS Date Time In Time Out Total Site Host’s Signature *TOTAL HOURS: ___________________ By signing this form, I verify that the above documented hours are accurate and that I have completed the job shadowing graduation project requirements outlined in the CCHS Career Exploration Graduation Project Packet. STUDENT’S SIGNATURE____________________________ *TOTAL HOURS between the two job sites must equal at least 8 hours. DATE ____________ CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL Job Shadowing Journal Student is to complete this journal (along with their evaluation) and return it to the advisor/evaluation panel at the time of the oral presentation. Student must complete a separate job shadowing journal for each day he/she is at a job location. ______________________ Student’s Name _______________ Host Site _______________________ Site Address ______________________ Host Mentor’s Name/Title _______________ Phone Number _______________________ Email Address 1. Please provide an attached document journaling your visit to the job showing location. This journal should include but is not limited to: What you did/observed, interesting things you learned, your overall thoughts and feeling on the day, whether or not this is still a career you are/would consider pursuing. This document should be typed and double spaced using size 11 font and 1.5 inch margins. Each daily entry should be at least half a page. Be sure to date each entry. 2. Aside from your mentor, what other individuals did you work with during your visit? 3. What did you find out about the education/training necessary to enter this career? (Include anything about degree, time, or even schools offering this education/training.) 4. How are people expected to dress in this type of job? 5. For success on this job, the employer would look for someone with what type of: Attitude/Personality: Interests: Abilities/Skills: 6. What is the customary starting salary for someone in this position? 7. What, if any, fringe benefits are offered to employees at this job site? CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL Student Evaluation of Job Shadowing Experience Student is to complete this evaluation (along with their journal) and return it to the advisor/evaluation panel at the time of the oral presentation. Student must complete a separate job shadowing evaluation for each day he/she is at a job location. Name_______________________________ Shadowing Site ____________________________ Date(s) of Experience ___________________________________________________________ Disagree Agree 1. My shadowing site offered me a genuine learning experience. 1 2 3 4 5 2. The people at the site made me feel welcome. 1 2 3 4 5 3. The experience has helped me in my career planning. 1 2 3 4 5 4. My experience has caused me to change my career plans. 1 2 3 4 5 5. My site offered me a variety of activities. 1 2 3 4 5 6. My site was well prepared for my visit and the experience was well organized. 1 2 3 4 5 7. Overall, the experience was positive for me. 1 2 3 4 5 8. My experience helped me: - Appreciate the value of dependability (attendance/punctuality.) - Know post-graduate education & training requirements for the job. - Experience the application of technology at work. - Appreciate the application of teamwork and cooperation. - Realize the need to be willing to learn beyond high school. - Realize school education does relate to the real world of work. 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 9. The most enjoyable part of the job shadowing experience was: 10. The least enjoyable part of the job shadowing was: CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL Job Shadowing Journal Students are to complete this journal (along with their evaluation) and return it to the advisor/evaluation panel at the time of the oral presentation. Student must complete a separate job shadowing journal for each day he/she is at a job location. ______________________ Student’s Name _______________ Host Site _______________________ Site Address ______________________ Host Mentor’s Name/Title _______________ Phone Number _______________________ Email Address 1. Please provide an attached document journaling your visit to the job showing location. This journal should include but is not limited to: What you did/observed, interesting things you learned, your overall thoughts and feeling on the day, whether or not this is still a career you are/would consider pursuing. This document should be typed and double spaced using size 11 font and 1.5 inch margins. Each daily entry should be at least half a page. Be sure to date each entry. 2. Aside from your mentor, what other individuals did you work with during your visit? 3. What did you find out about the education/training necessary to enter this career? (Include anything about degree, time, or even schools offering this education/training). 4. How are people expected to dress in this type of job? 5. For success on this job, the employer would look for someone with what type of: Attitude/Personality: Interests: Abilities/Skills: 6. What is the customary starting salary for someone in this position? 7. What, if any, fringe benefits are offered to employees at this job site? CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL Student Evaluation of Job Shadowing Experience Student is to complete this evaluation (along with their journal) and return it to the advisor/evaluation panel at the time of the oral presentation. Student must complete a separate job shadowing evaluation for each day he/she is at a job location. Name_______________________________ Shadowing Site ____________________________ Date(s) of Experience ___________________________________________________________ Disagree Agree 1. My shadowing site offered me a genuine learning experience. 1 2 3 4 5 2. The people at the site made me feel welcome. 1 2 3 4 5 3. The experience has helped me in my career planning. 1 2 3 4 5 4. My experience has caused me to change my career plans. 1 2 3 4 5 5. My site offered me a variety of activities. 1 2 3 4 5 6. My site was well prepared for my visit and the experience was well organized. 1 2 3 4 5 7. Overall, the experience was positive for me. 1 2 3 4 5 8. My experience helped me: - Appreciate the value of dependability (attendance/punctuality) - Know post-graduate education & training requirements for the job. - Experience the application of technology at work. - Appreciate the application of teamwork and cooperation. - Realize the need to be willing to learn beyond high school. - Realize school education does relate to the real world of work. 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 9. The most enjoyable part of the job shadowing experience was: 10. The least enjoyable part of the job shadowing was: CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL Community Service Agreement (Complete and return to Faculty Advisor) I understand that to successfully complete the community service component of my Career Exploration Project I must successfully complete and document at least 5 hours of community service. Community Service Hours are not to be completed for parents/guardians. Student Name: ________________________________________ (Please Print) Student Signature: _____________________________________ Parent/Guardian Name: ________________________________________ (Please Print) Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________________ Faculty Advisor Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ____________________ Description of Community Service Activity: Hours Served: ____________________ Community Service Supervisor Signature: Community Service Supervisor Name: (Please Print) Community Service Supervisor Telephone Number: CAREER EXPLORATION GRADUATION PROJECT FINAL CHECKLIST (Check items student has completed) STUDENT: ___________________________________________________________ DATE OF ORAL PRESENTATION: ______________________________________ 1. Parent Student Agreement ________ 2. Independent Research Project ________ 3. Job Shadow Site 1 Journal and Evaluation ________ 4. Job Shadow Site 2 Journal and Evaluation ________ 5. Job Shadowing Verification Sheet ________ 6. Community Service Agreement ________ 7. Career Portfolio ________ By signing this form, I verify that the above student has completed the career exploration graduation project requirements. FACULTY ADVISOR’S SIGNATURE: _______________________________________ DATE: __________________