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: __________________