We are thrilled to share the incredible journey of exploration and learning that unfolded throughout December in our classrooms! This month, our focus was dedicated to the Health Science Career Cluster, and we are excited to showcase the diverse and enriching experiences the students encountered.

Engaging Learning Sessions - 2nd Grade:

2nd-grade students embarked on a captivating journey into the world of health science careers. They began with an engaging read-aloud session featuring "ABC Healthcare Careers for Me" by Farihah Amatullah. Following this, students participated in hands-on activities and a career awareness worksheet tailored to their grade level. These sessions provided a dynamic and comprehensive learning experience. Realistic tasks included using tongs to drop a cotton ball through a tube into ice cube trays and rolling an activity cube to complete different exercises. Investigative activities involved sorting buttons by color into containers to simulate pharmacy sorting while artistic endeavors focused on assembling a skeleton puzzle to label different bones. Social activities included applying pressure bandages while enterprising tasks involved flossing and brushing teeth. Conventional activities comprised sorting health science careers alphabetically.

Broadening Horizons - 4th & 5th Grade:

Our 4th and 5th-grade students actively participated in career awareness activities exploring various health science careers through engaging hands-on experiences and career worksheets. Some activities included properly putting on and taking off gloves and using playdough to create dental fillings, thanks to our collaboration with Penta's dental program to simulate realistic activities. Creating DNA strands using beads and expressing emotions through art by completing an emotion wheel focused on investigative and artistic tasks. Students worked together to use therapy bands for exercises, read eye charts with an eye occluder, and created health science career words by pulling alphabet letter beads out of therapy putty.

Community Reach:

This month, we extended our initiative to several schools, including Dorr Elementary, Swanton Elementary, Eastwood Elementary, Crissey Elementary, Otsego Elementary, Holloway Elementary, Bowling Green-Conneaut, Elmwood Elementary, and Northwood Elementary. Additionally, we delivered kits to Lake Middle School and Springfield-Holland Intermediate, ensuring that our initiative reaches a broader audience. We were also part of Dorr Elementary's Career Day for 3rd graders, where students participated in hands-on activities representing various career clusters.

Future Plans:

We are thrilled by the incredible enthusiasm and active participation demonstrated by the students during this initiative. Their engagement speaks volumes about their curiosity and dedication to exploring health science careers. If there are specific aspects you would like to discuss or if you are seeking fresh ideas for future activities, we are here and eager to collaborate. Together, we are molding the future and igniting young minds! Thank you for your steadfast support in nurturing our students' passion for learning about health science careers.

Third graders at Dorr Elementary, embarked on an enriching journey learning about different career clusters during the much-anticipated Career Day. Engaging in hands-on activities, the students explored various professions. From sorting vibrant gems to crafting miniature animal habitats, each task highlighted a different dimension of the professional world. With care and focus, they honed occupational therapy skills and learned the art of caregiving by tending to baby dolls. Navigating mail routes and mastering phone dialing techniques sparked curiosity about transportation and business management. With magnifying glasses in hand, they eagerly explored detective work, unraveling mysteries in law enforcement. This immersive experience ignited excitement and curiosity, planting seeds for their future career aspirations.

• Exercise Science & Sports Medicine is designed to provide students with an introduction to the area of fitness training, athletic training, and therapeutic careers. Students will be prepared to work as a rehabilitation aide, or move on to college for further study of athletic training, strength and conditioning, physical therapy, or occupational therapy.

• Medical Office Management students learn the skills necessary to further their education or begin careers in a medical office environment. Upon successful completion of the program, students are prepared to work in entry-level positions in medical offices.
  

• Medical Technologies Academy students learn skills in patient care, diagnostic procedures, medical office procedures, and emergency care. Upon successful completion of this program, students are prepared for careers in the health care industry. Students are also prepared to further their education for certification or degrees in areas such as nursing, medical assisting, and phlebotomy.
  

• Phlebotomy technicians are critical team members in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and blood donor centers. As new types of tests are developed, and laboratory tech positions grow, it's an especially exciting time to begin a career in this thriving field.
  

• Small Animal Care is designed for students who enjoy working with a wide variety of small animal species. The program is an excellent opportunity for students who wish to explore careers in the animal care industry. Students will learn through hands-on experiences in areas such as grooming, customer service and health. Students will also work with reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and birds. The senior program is designed to acquaint students with the field of laboratory animal science, research and medicine. Some of the instructional topics include: history of laboratory animal medicine, body systems and surgical preparation. Upon successful completion of this program, students may earn college credit in associated veterinary technology coursework and the LabDiet course.
  

Eastwood Local Schools is charting a course for the future by placing a strong emphasis on career development. They are dedicated to providing their students with a comprehensive and dynamic approach that extends beyond traditional classroom learning. Here's a glimpse into the exciting initiatives and activities propelling their students towards success in their post-high school journeys.

Eastwood Middle School

6th Grade:

• Career Scoot: An engaging introduction to career clusters.

• Career Story: Students interview a family member or friend about their career.

• Science Career Week: Immersive experience with guest speakers from the science field.

7th Grade:

• YouScience Integration: Utilizing YouScience for personalized career exploration.

• Career Cluster Scavenger Hunt: Students explore careers through posters, examining daily tasks, job outlook, soft skills, global impacts and education levels.

• Career Family Tree: A revealing activity showcasing the interconnectedness of careers.

• Would You Rather: Interactive game exploring different work skills.

8th Grade:

• YouScience Integration: Continued use for refined career exploration.

• Career Research Project: Culminating in a visually engaging Career Infographic Presentation.

• Penta Career Center Presentation and Expo: Introduction to vocational and technical education options.

• Career Connections (Elective) and CBI Program: Offering elective choices and a Career-Based Intervention program for 7th and 8th graders.

YouScience Integration at Every Level:

• English Classes: Integration of YouScience at every grade level, allowing students to explore aptitudes and interests, providing valuable insights into potential career paths.

Career Premiere Event (March):

• A highlight for Eastwood juniors and seniors, the Career Premiere event exposes students to diverse career options and industries, aiding them in making informed decisions about their futures.

Individual Counseling Sessions:

• The dedicated counseling team provides one-on-one sessions for seniors and juniors, ensuring personalized guidance tailored to each student's unique aspirations and challenges.

Sophomore Visit to Penta:

• Sophomores embark on a journey to Penta Career Center, exploring vocational and technical education options, empowering them to make informed decisions about their futures.

New Senior Course: Life After High School:

• A groundbreaking course, soon to be required for all seniors, delves into the practical aspects of life after high school, equipping seniors with essential skills and knowledge for a smooth transition into the "real" world of work.

Early Standardized Testing for Freshmen and Sophomores:

• Freshmen and sophomores actively participate in the ACT or PreACT, showcasing Eastwood's commitment to early preparation.

Engaging with College and Military Recruiters:

• Select groups of students have unique opportunities to interact with college and military recruiters, gaining firsthand information about diverse post-secondary options.

Large Employers Speaking to Seniors:

• Undecided seniors benefit from direct interactions with representatives of large employers, broadening their horizons and offering insights into alternative career paths.

Alumni Chat for Juniors and Seniors:

• The Eastwood Alumni Chat program creates a bridge between recent graduates and current juniors and seniors, providing invaluable real-world perspectives as students navigate post-high school life.

At Eastwood Local Schools, the focus extends beyond shaping academic minds to cultivating well-rounded individuals prepared to take on the world. Through a robust career development program, students are empowered to embark on their journeys with confidence and purpose, building a foundation for success that extends far beyond the walls of their classrooms.

It sounds like the students in Mrs. May's Career Connections class at Otsego Junior High had an engaging and hands-on experience exploring the Hospitality and Tourism Career Pathway. The incorporation of Transfr VR headsets for a hotel front desk simulation is a modern and innovative approach to exposing students to the practical aspects of customer service in the hospitality industry. The variety of activities, such as setting a proper table placement, decorative napkin folding, fun bath/hand towel folding, fancy soap making, recreation center ride designs and creating travel-related materials like brochures and itineraries, offers a well-rounded perspective on the different aspects of the industry. These activities not only provide valuable skills related to hospitality and tourism but also allow students to explore and potentially discover their interests and aptitudes within this career pathway. Hands-on experiences like these can be instrumental in helping students make informed decisions about their future career paths. Mrs. May's class seems to have created a dynamic and interactive learning environment for students to explore the exciting world of hospitality and tourism.

Email: acarey@pentacc.org, memerine@pentacc.org
Website: https://www.pentacareercenter.org/CareerAwarenessforMemberDistrictsK-12.aspx
Phone: 419-661-6468