Newsletter November 2009

In The News!

Dr. Diane Ross-Gary, consultant for the Connecticut State Department of Education, has asked the REAL committee to present at the annual College Career Pathways conference, to be held on December 2nd. She tells us that our programming is innovative and wants other districts hear about our program. Thanks to committee members for sharing their time and expertise!

Opportunities

Are you interested in helping to develop the next generation of employees? We are forming two new subcommittees to explore the new initiatives defined by the advisory committee. If you would like to serve on the Internship or Student Showcase committee, please contact either Deb Maccarone or Jane Garibay. Our contact information is as follows:

Jane Garibay
Windsor Chamber of Commerce jane@windsorcc.org
860-688-5165

Deb Maccarone
Windsor Public Schools dmaccarone@windsorct.org
860-687-2020 x332

REAL Committee/Teacher Site Visits in November

The REAL program is proud to be sponsoring site visits for 21 middle and high school teachers on the November 3rd professional development day. Teachers will spend the morning touring sites associated with their discipline and then develop or revise lessons to reflect new learning in the afternoon.

School/Business Partnership Advisory Board Meeting Minutes, September

Minutes, School/BusinessPartnership meeting held September 25th, 7:45-9:00 in the WHS library
I. Introductions and welcome

II. Update-ongoing initiatives
--A. REAL program provided site visits to 19 teachers last year
--B. 78 students were placed at 34 business sites on April 2nd, job shadowing day at WHS
--C. Speakers from business sites were utilized throughout the building during the 08-09 school year

III. Next steps-guest facilitator Jerry Wistrom/All About Coaching
--A. Partners expressed interest in exploring two initiatives, student internships and a student career fair
--B. Student internship benefits
1. Students will be better prepared for employment
2. Students will have a sense of accomplishment
3. Can lead to long-term career mentoring
4. Employees model workplace behavior
5. Refreshes the workplace employees who review their tasks for students' benefit
--C. Student internship needs/concerns/considerations
1. Workplace safety/OSHA concerns
2. Need to quantify time commitment for student and workplace mentor
3. Need for school-based preparation, ties to the curriculum, interviewing skills, decorum, attire, understanding of privacy/confidentiality issues, sensitivity to generational differences
4. Need criteria for workplace expectations
--D. Student career fair
1. Format: students set up individual tables to be visited by employers; students market themselves to employers through resumes, interview skills, business cards, power point presentations, etc. Tables could be grouped by career pathways
2. Questions and potential solutions
a. student preparation-after school seminars facilitated by business partners
b. fair assessment of students-utilize rubrics or rating sheets, exit interview
c. student selection-open enrollment, provide online application

IV. Closure and thanks

In attendance: Aetna Christine Sarner; All About Coaching facilitator Jerry Wistrom; Alstom Power Sharon Arcouette, Beverly Boucher; Building Blocks of Windsor Arlene Masera; Capital Community College Nokafu Sandra Koudoro; Delta Industries Gary Zweifel; The Hartford Life Insurance Companies Robert DeMallie; ING Michael Linehan; Kamatics Corp. Julie Wetherell; Kimberly Hall Kelly Koretz; Konica Minolta Ray Embury; Nutmeg Exhibit John McNaughton; Spencer Turbine David Early; State Dept. of Ed. Dr. Diane Ross Gary; Stowe Machines Judy Boyle; Town of Windsor Economic Development Dept. Jim Burke; Town of Windsor Health Dept. Dr. William Harris; Windsor Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jane Garibay; Windsor Federal Savings Jan Kelley; Windsor High School Steve Hodges (video studio), Wally Truss (manufacturing), Eileen Blair (head of guidance), Alan Strauss (vice principal), Hyacinth Defoe (business), Dan Chrisis (health careers), Russell Sills (principal), Carol Szulc, vice principal; Windsor Police Dept. Chief Kevin Searles; School/Business Liaison Ann Parkhurst; Windsor Public Schools Dr. Elizabeth Feser; Career and Fine Arts Supervisor Deborah Maccarone.

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