CHS Journalism Staff - Jace Panning
Crofton High School has introduced a new work study program for seniors.
This program gives students the opportunity to spend a part of their school day gaining work experience at a job or by doing a job shadow.
According to guidance counselor Addie Rossman, “This year, our school introduced a work study class to better prepare students for today’s workforce. With a growing emphasis on career readiness and real-world skills, we saw the need to provide structured job experience before graduation.”
Before the seniors are allowed to do the work study they must take the Future Pathways class during their junior year or the first semester of their senior year to meet the classroom instruction requirement. After completing the Future Pathways they may then find a placement for the work study program.
FCS teacher Jonelle Theone is responsible for teaching the Future Pathways class. She said, “The Future Pathways course provides Crofton students with meaningful, real-world experience by allowing them to apply classroom learning in professional settings.”
There were 12 students who completed the Future Pathways class and now are placed in a work study. Some of the placements are at Broadway Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Inc. , a dental office, and Studio BLU in Yankton. Senior Joshua Palensky works at Broadway and he has learned a lot about business. Senior Pamela Dennis works at a dental office and she said, “I think the work study is beneficial, I’ve learned a lot about dental hygiene and office spaces. I do think it can be hard to have a work study every day of the week because, especially for dental hygienists, days can be repetitive. Other than that I love it.”
One of the hopes of the work study program is to help students make informed plans for their postsecondary education and future careers. Senior Karoline Schendt said, “This work study will help me to achieve my future goals in many ways. It is giving me early experience in the beauty industry that can be hard to get sometimes. I have learned a lot from my job and am excited to see where my future goes. This job has also helped me with customer service/clients relationships as well as seeing a business be successfully run.”
Seniors are looking to the future and asking themselves what it is that they want to do in the future. Partaking in this program gives the seniors opportunities to gain experience that will help them make a decision.
Senior Jaisie Janssen stated, “It has helped me to know if that’s something I want to pursue in the future and it’s nice getting out of school for a block. It's nice to have some freedom.”
Overall the work study program has been a success this year, but Rossman said that she would like to make a few changes, “the rules and expectations need to be refined and refreshed.”