The 2010-2011 school year begins Tuesday,...

Career Exploration                                                                        (grade 9) .5 credit

The Career Exploration curriculum at the NEL/CPS Career Academy has been prepared for 9^th grader to introduce them to what they can expect when they seek to become productive members of the work force.

The program includes group and one-on-one career exploration intended to introduce students to the various careers for which they may have an interest and aptitude. During the year each student is assisted in preparing his or her resume. While at this point in their lives they may not have work experience and extensive education to put on the resume, there is an emphasis placed on including their skills and interests as well as any work they may have done in the household or in their neighborhood. Students are amazed to learn that they have quite a bit that they have accomplished in their young lives and are pleased to see that documented on a resume.

Students are also introduced to job interviewing skills and how to prepare letters of introduction and thank you letters for interviews.

A critical portion of the Career Exploration curriculum is lessons that focus on life skills and work place etiquette and behavior. Students are introduced to such topics as listening skills, thinking skills, integrity, honesty, teamwork, conflict resolution, dealing with work situations and other areas designed to help them become good citizens and eventually good workers.

World of Work                                                      (grade 11) .5 credit

In the 11^th grade, students are now able to put into practice what they previously learned in the way of life skills and work readiness skills. During the year the students’ resumes are update and more emphasis is placed on career exploration.

Much more instruction is provided in interviewing skills and how to apply for jobs to include filling out job applications, sending cover letters, thank you letters, and resignation letters. Students are introduced to the major industry clusters for which there is a growing job demand.

A critical component of the World of Work program is placement of the student in either paid or unpaid work experiences. These may be in the private or public sector. This placement gives the student an opportunity to put into practice all the work readiness and life skills that they have learned in class.

Also during the school year, students participate in a class project that is designed to teach teamwork and is directly related to the world of work.