Clairemont High School
internship program
Fostering personal and professional growth, career exploration, and facilitating a seamless transition for 12th graders into higher education or the workforce after graduation.
Program Overview
CHS is committed to providing our seniors with a quality internship: a meaningful, hands-on work experience outside of the classroom designed to prepare them for life after high school. Internships provide real world, hands-on work experience to prepare them for life after graduation. It teaches them many transferable skills in a 10 week work placement for 70 total hours.
We believe internships are the most valuable way for 12th graders to explore a field of industry interest. They learn how their course of study applies to the real world and build up their resumes and essential soft skills, making them stronger candidates for jobs after graduation.
Our local industry and community benefit from the program as well. The opportunity to inspire and develop potential future employees allows them to build a "pipeline" of bright minds who are interested in the field and more prepared for their world of work.
2023 Intern: Annika
Boz Research Institute
2022 Interns: Kevin, Chase, Edgar, Trevor, and Charlie
Mossy Toyota Pacific Beach
2022-23 Intern: Grace
Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
The Interns
All CHS students have taken three or more career technical courses for their chosen industry pathways in either Business, Engineering, Health and Medical Sciences, Information Technology, or Video Production, bringing a unique set of transferable technical skills to the workplace.
Additionally, as part of the academy experience at CHS, students have had ample exposure to project-based teamwork, community and industry connections, presentations of learning, and off-campus experiences in the form of field trips and job shadows. All CHS 12th graders have also participated in the 11th Grade CHS Mentoring Program, which empowered them with monthly access to conversations with a community or industry volunteer.
CHS students are also proficient with various types of industry-specific technology (according to their pathway), and all students are well versed in Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Platform applications, and social media platforms.
2023 Spring Intern: Bailee
Bay Park Elementary School
2023 Spring Interns: Kai, Payton, Joey
Boz Research Institute
2023 Spring Interns: Chase and Ryan
McCarthy Building Company
Preparation & Course Content
During the first six weeks of the course, students undergo intensive hands-on training in essential workplace soft skills, such as communication, networking, teamwork, self-awareness, resilience, adaptability, and workplace professionalism.
As a course requirement, students also create a professional resumes, LinkedIn profiles, participate in mock interviews, and prepare a final presentation of learning.
Our students are well prepared to function as valuable assets to a company in whichever work environment they intern.
Course Basics
CTE Elective Class: offered 3rd and 4th period to all seniors across all academies
Career Internship Placement: Recognized by UC for credit and runs every day for a 90 minute period
Exploratory Work Experience: a tandem class period in their schedule to provide more work hours
10 working weeks: 4 days a week for a minimum of 7 hours and back in class on Friday
Important Dates for the 2023-24 School Year
Supervisor Registration & Intern Request
Complete the Google form
Semester 1: August 1, 2023 - September 18, 2023
Semester 2: January 1, 2024 - February 19, 2024
Intern Supervisor Orientation & Interview Fair
Held at Clairemont High School in the library
Semester 1: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Semester 2: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Intern Work Weeks Start & End Dates
First day and last day of work at placements
Semester 1: October 9, 2023 - December 12, 2023
Semester 2: March 11, 2024 - May 16, 2024
Interns’ Final Exhibition & Awards
Supervisors, teachers, peers, & families invited to attend
Semester 1: Friday, January 12, 2024
Semester 2: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Josue interviewing for an internship with Mossy Toyota at the Interview Fair in Spring 2023
Bay Park Elementary School interns, Nick & Diego, at their Presentation of Learning in Spring 2023
Make an Impact and Host an Intern!
Clairemont High School has gone to great lengths to make our internship program an easy win-win for students and industry partners alike. We have planned all the logistics for you! Clairemont staff has already created an Internship Handbook, prepped interns on workplace etiquette, secured free public transportation passes for interns, and carries liability insurance through our school district. The structure of our program provides the foundation needed for a rewarding experience.
Course Instructor
My name is Ms. Cantwell, and I teach Work-Based Learning and the Internship Program at Clairemont High School. I primarily teach seniors enrolled in Career Internship Placement & Exploratory Work Experience. I come from the market research field and have a bachelor's in Journalism and a master's in Education. I have held many internships and am passionate about helping students navigate their entry into the workforce.