The Community Pathways program offers several elective credit-bearing Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) pathways to enhance our traditional curriculum. ELOs engage students in personalized and independent learning to address interests, passions, aspirations, and/or potential career paths. We recognize that student development is optimized when learning is coupled with rich and meaningful relationships with experts and mentors. To that end, partnerships with vested businesses, organizations, community members, and educators are central to many ELOs. Each experience begins with clearly articulated personal learning goals, and ends with an oral presentation or interview that showcases the experience.
(Important note: In order to be considered full-time, students in Grades 9-11 are expected to be enrolled in six courses and may pursue a Community Pathways experience as an additional credit beyond this; students in Grade 12 may pursue a Community Pathways experience as a sixth credit in addition to five courses. All exceptions to this rule should be discussed with a school counselor and must be approved by the school principal.)
Independent Studies
Independent Studies provide students with opportunities to pursue individualized and self-motivated learning experiences. Typically, Independent Studies addresses a personal interest, passion, or aspiration that a student may have. Though they are self-directed, the experiences do include regular engagement with the Community Learning Coordinator. Independent Studies may or may not be supported by partners from businesses, organizations, community, or education.
Internships
Internships, possibly paid or unpaid, provide students with opportunities to pursue career, academic, and service interests while being hosted in a professional setting by partnering businesses and organizations. Internships are excellent opportunities for college and employment readiness, and they typically results in significant personal and professional growth. An emphasis is placed upon career exploration and workplace skills/knowledge acquisition. In addition to being supported by the Community Learning Coordinator, Internships are hosted by business and organization partners who serve as expert advisors and mentors.
Work-Based Studies
Work-Based Studies provide students with opportunities to couple on-the-job work experiences with specific personal learning goals. Such learning goals typically address job-specific skill sets, career exploration, career readiness, and/or career advancement. Work-Based Studies are usually associated with employment already secured by students, though at times employment application and interview support may be provided the Community Learning Coordinator or other staff member. Work-Based Studies are pursued in cooperation with employment supervisors who serve as expert advisors and mentors. They are also supported by the Community Learning Coordinator.