School-to-Work Week Planned for January 31 – February 4

CONTACT: AMANDA BLANTON, EXT. 2247

FOR RELEASE ON OR
BEFORE JANUARY 31, PLEASE 1/20/2000

PENDLETON --- The Tech Prep initiative, apprenticeships, internships, and cooperative education ventures, all components of the School-to-Work initiative, give students valuable technical skills and work experience, a big advantage in today's job market.

To heighten awareness and appreciation of School-to-Work, as well as to gain visibility in the schools and community, the Partnership for Academic and Career Education (PACE) staff and a team of school-to-work coordinators have planned a week-long celebration, scheduled for January 31 – February 4.

The School-to-Work initiative enables schools to more closely link classroom learning with workplace learning, and education with careers. Earlier this year, PACE received $499,280 in federal funds to implement school-to-work activities in the tri-county's seven school districts, Tri-County Technical College and Clemson University.

A part of the grant will fund events throughout the week, such as a February 1 conference for teachers and counselors titled "Our Community's New Workplace."

Attending the conference will be representatives from high schools and middle schools, school-to-work coordinators, PACE board members, principals and career specialists. The all-day conference will be held at the Madren Conference Center at Clemson University.

Sessions will be taught by local business and industry leaders from Michelin North America, Duke Power, Robert Bosch Corporation, Anderson Area Medical Center, and the S.C. Alliance of Manufacturers. Topics will include industries' technical needs, using teams in the workplace, the culture of the workplace, diversity issues and South Carolina's global economy. Senator Larry Martin, chair of the S.C. School to Work advisory Council and a member of the PACE coordinating board, will provide the keynote address.

Groundhog Job Shadow Day, a nationwide School-to-Work initiative for the past three years, will begin on February 2 and will last all week. Students from middle and high schools in the area will be shadowing in the workplace. "These activities help students to explore careers of interest to them," said Amanda Blanton, PACE career specialist. "Work experience also teaches them such basics as being on time, teamwork, and communication skills," she said. "This experience helps them to decide what may or may not be right for them, in terms of a career, before investing a lot of time or effort. They can spend a full day or half day at the business," she added.

For example, Tom Hewitt, School-to-Work coordinator for Anderson District 4, has arranged for students to shadow members of the Clemson/Calhoun Rotary Club on Friday.

'The exposure of STW this week hopefully will increase the opportunities for students to shadow as well as to participate in other work-based learning activities," said Mrs. Blanton.

"The state's School-to-Work initiative, signed into law in 1994, involves many components, all resulting in high levels of academic and technical achievement for students, as well as clear career goals, better access to postsecondary education and meaningful employment, and a better understanding of the world of work," said Mrs. Blanton.

More structured work-based experiences, such as cooperative education and youth apprenticeships, are being supported by area employers. "These programs give students actual workplace skills and hands-on experience they can put to use in their future careers," she said. Tri-County Technical College, area high schools and career centers offer co-op and apprenticeship experiences structured to meet the needs of individual students.

Career awareness concepts are being integrated into the curriculum in all subject areas. "Efforts are made to ensure that students are exposed to a variety of career options -- not just traditional ones," she said.

"But the most important point of all is that School-to-Work is for all students," said Mrs. Blanton. "It's career planning and work-based learning experiences for everyone -- those who plan to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, those who plan to enroll in a two-year college, and those who will enroll immediately in a four-year college. And it's not limited to K - 12 students -- it's for postsecondary students as well."

She urges parents to tune into what's happening in their child's school – elementary, secondary and postsecondary. "Efforts are being made to ensure that students have a clear picture of their future and a meaningful, realistic plan for achieving their goals," she said.

For more information about the South Carolina School-to-Work Initiative in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties, contact the PACE office at Tri-County Tech at 646-8361, Ext. 2107.
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