Any student who will be 16 years of age at the start of the school year can sign up for Co-Op I and earn up to one and a half credits for the semester course. One credit is awarded for successfully completing a minimum of eight hours of work and a half credit for the classroom experience. Once Co-op I is completed or if it is scheduled for the second semester, a student can take Co-op II and earn one credit for a minimum of eight hours of work weekly. Interested students can see Ms. Stockbridge before school or during advisory or can go to guidance to begin the Co-Op application process. Advisors, guidance counselors, or Ms. Stockbridge can sign for a student to register for Co-Op I. The student does not need to be employed at the time of course registration, but should be working when the school year starts.
CO-OP I (COOPERATIVE EDUCATION) - 1.5 Credits
This half year class provides classroom instruction combined with work experience to enhance job and life skills. It is an excellent class for students to show potential colleges their ability to balance school and work.
Classroom work is based on the four phases of career development:
1. Self-exploration
2. Career exploration
3. Job placement and implementation
4. Job success
The classroom work is geared toward each individual’s general and specific future goals. On the job, the student must average a minimum of eight hours of work weekly. Classroom instruction is applied and put to practice at each job. The student’s work is monitored regularly by the employer and the co-op coordinator. An evaluation by the employer is part of the grade.
Requirements: A student must:
be at least 16 years of age before the beginning of the next school year.
have parental approval.
have school counselor or co-op coordinator’s approval.
be employed in an approved co-op job and work an average of eight hours per week.
CO-OP II - 1 Credit
This half year class is offered to any student who has successfully completed Co-op I or is scheduled to take Co-op I in the next semester. The student is monitored on the job and maintains weekly updates to the co-op coordinator. One hundred percent of the student’s grade comes from the employer. The requirements are the same as those for Co-op I.
INTERNSHIPS
The Kennebunk High School Internship Program provides an opportunity for juniors and seniors to go out into the community to work with mentors in areas related to career choices. Typically, students do internships during study hall time, but some programs take place in the afternoon or evening depending on the mentor’s schedule. All internships are set up as semester length classes. Interested students should contact Ann Stockbridge in the Guidance Office or by emailing her at astockbridge@rsu21.net to learn more about the program. Credits are determined based on the number of hours worked. Community mentors determine Pass/Fail grades based on the internship rubric. Students are required to submit journals to Ms. Stockbridge throughout each semester of an internship.