School to Work

What is School to Work?

Students explore a wide range of career choices through activities such as career speakers, job shadowing, and internships. Students learn what skills are necessary and what it takes to succeed in those careers. Partnerships comprised of parents, schools, and businesses work together to provide students with hands-on job experiences that complement their classroom studies.

Freshmen/Sophomore Component: Career Day

All freshmen participate in Career Day by attending an informative presentation about the direct correlation of education and income, the most popular career choices in today’s workforce, and a list of skills that employers seek in their new hires. Students also choose four careers from a list of eighteen potential jobs which they would like to learn more from people currently working in those jobs. This year, some career presenters were an electrician, police officer, marine biologist, advertisement, Marine staff-sergeant, banker, veterinarian, electrical engineer, writer, digital marketer, and cyber security expert. Then, on Career Day, students attend four chosen sessions where they listen to presentations from guests who share their expertise. Students ask questions and explore the education needed for various careers while hearing inside perspectives into four career fields. Each session is approximately 15 minutes.

Junior Component: Job Shadowing Day

Job Shadowing is a one-day educational experience that enables students to spend time in a workplace, providing an up-close look at what a “real job” is like and how the skills they learn in school can be put into action. Students take the initiative by setting up the job shadowing site. Many students shadow a parent, relative, or professional who is recommended by a friend or family member. Then, on Job Shadowing Day, students spend four to six hours at their job shadowing site. The student follows or “shadows” their host for a specified time to better understand the requirements of a particular job or career and how the student’s work in school correlates to the career field.

Senior Component: BRIDGE Program

The BRIDGE Program is the senior year component of the IHS School-to-Work Program. Through a five-week, full-time internship, seniors learn what skills are necessary and what it takes to succeed in a career while gaining real-world experience. At the culmination of the BRIDGE Program, each participant delivers a presentation highlighting their experience. Peers, teachers, administrators, and community members are part of the audience for these presentations held in the Dolan Performing Arts Center. Eligible seniors participate in internships throughout the region in various workplaces. In the Spring of 2021, despite covid-19 restrictions, 28 seniors completed internships.