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College and Career Planning Guide
How can I get the most from career speakers in my classroom? How do my high school courses relate to my future career? What's the outlook for computer programmers in Massachusetts? Would I enjoy working in a science career? Should I take the SAT II? How can I apply for financial aid for college?
The College and Career Planning Guide guides teachers and counselors as they guide students through four years of college and career exploration. The guide, which was developed by the Career and Technical Education / School to Career office, is now online for convenient viewing and printing.
Visit the High School Renewal website at http://www.highschoolrenewal.org and click on the link for College and Career Planning and then open the College and Career Planning Guide, or click here to go directly to the College and Career Planning Guide Table of Contents.
The College and Career Planning Guide has been developed by a group of
Boston high school guidance counselors. The project was supported by Perkins grant funds. Contact Vicky Magaletta with questions about the guide.
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Choosing a High School - For Eighth Grade Students
For eighth graders and their families: Choosing a High School [PDF] is a booklet that explains the high school choice process and describes the career pathways, small learning communities and small schools available. |
Burke High School
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Burke Student Tech Assistants
Richard Rivera and Tho Lee, A+ Computer Science senior students at the Burke, are working with Mr. McLean and Ms. Ingram, Technology Support Teacher (TST) Specialist, to solve daily computer glitches and upgrades. The program allows the students to obtain additional technical knowledge in the area of tech support through after school technical training. Under the guidance of the TST, these two students troubleshoot designated computers and perform tasks such as:
- Working with TST to identify computer problems
- Writing up forms for computers being sent out for service
- Setting up printers and installing drivers
- Installation of floppy and CD drives
- Disconnecting and transporting computers to various teachers' rooms
- Reconnection of teacher and administrators' computers after the summer
- Assistance in documentation of equipment for inventory purpose
These experiences promote the School to Career Competencies by fostering lifelong problem solving and communications skills, speaking, listening, writing and reading skills; organizational skills; problem solving; use of technology; completing tasks; and acting professionally.
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Burke High School
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| Women in Technology
In July, a group of students from the Burke and Madison Park Technical Vocational High School participated in a computer repair technology enrichment-training program for tenth grade girls in an effort to interest more women in technology. The Private Industry Council funded the program. The four-week program introduced the young ladies to the major components of the personal computer and troubleshooting techniques used to solve basic computer problems. The students also learned how a computer functions, how to determine if a computer is upgradeable and if so how to upgrade, how to install hardware and software, computer safety tips and how to combat computer viruses.
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Dorchester Education Complex
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| College Fair
Over 50 colleges, technical schools, and other postsecondary programs attended the DEC College Fair on November 4, 2003. Senior students from the Economics and Business Academy and the Academy of Public Service spent an hour learning about college programs and requirements. The schools and programs ranged from technical programs, two and four year colleges, City Year and the U.S. Military. Students were directed to colleges that provide majors of interest and were prepared with pertinent questions.
The college recruiters started the day with coffee and pastry in the College and Career Center. Students in the JROTC program were assigned as to the front door, assisting the recruiters as needed. A luncheon was served in the College and Career Center after the completion of the fair.
Planning for the college fair began in June 2003. Joan Dolan, School to Career Coordinator worked with the Student Development Advisors to contact colleges, prepare students and coordinate the schedule for the day.
Students left the fair with materials, applications and a contact person for the schools they are interested in. Every senior in EBA and APS is assigned a "college and career planner" to assist them with post secondary plans. This includes registering for the SAT, researching colleges in the College and Career Center, completing applications and helping with the financial aid process.
The college fair provided students a chance to see what programs they qualify for, what they need to do for admission and a chance to learn about programs they are not familiar with. DEC plans to continue the college fair next year and hope to add even more schools and programs.
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Dorchester Education Complex
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| Partners Fair
On Wednesday, November 5, the Dorchester Education Complex hosted the Partners Fair for staff. This was a wonderful opportunity for teachers to get to meet representatives from the outside agencies who offer support to Dorchester Education Complex students during and after school. Over ten outside partners such as Urban Schools and Gear Up were on hand.
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DEC Economics and Business Academy
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Marketing Our New School
As a business school, the Economics and Business Academy at the Dorchester Education Complex is always looking for real-world applications of business principles. Recently, the Board of Advisors was asked how best to market our new school in preparation for the annual Showcase of Schools. Cynthia Greene from the Electric Insurance Company offered to meet with students in our 11th grade Marketing class to gather student quotes, photos, and ideas in preparation for creating marketing literature. In addition, one of our major partners, the TJX Corporation, offered to lend their expertise the task. In the month ahead, we anticipate that students will visit the TJX Corporation in Natick and work with their marketing department to brainstorm new brochures, flyers, posters, and banners for EBA. We hope by Christmas to have new, professional promotional materials for our school, plus some students who have an amazing experience with a top-flight marketing department.
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East Boston High School
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| Mentor Kick-Off: The Benefits of Building Adult Relationships
On Thursday, October 30, 2003, Monica Hurd, Academy of Management Board Chair, hosted a Halloween Mentor Kick-Off at the Sheraton, Boston. There were twenty Academy of Management seniors and twenty mentors from the Sheraton, Harborside Hyatt, Royal Sonesta, Colonnade, The Ritz Carlton, The Seaport Hotel, Hilton Logan Airport and Go Boston Destinations.
Students were treated to a lovely breakfast with their mentors followed by icebreakers and team building exercises done by Ted Cormier and his group from Learning for Life. The students commented on how quickly they got to know their mentors and it was evident that they were enjoying themselves.
The mentors and mentees will meet at the high school on the first Tuesday of every other month and they will e-mail or visit at the workplace on the alternate months. The next meeting is scheduled for December 2, 2003 from 8:00-9:00 AM in the EBHS Library. The topic is "How to Apply to College and Financial Aid." Our goal is for students to be better prepared for college and the workplace through these adult relationships. Several of the hotels have offered guest speakers, tours, rotations and possible unpaid or paid internships for students in the Academy of Management.
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Health Education & Careers Network
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Health Care Internship
The Health Education & Careers Network will be accepting applicants for the
Health Care Internship program up to November 20, 2003. All applications can be faxed to 617-635-7932.
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Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
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Ahoy There
The newly expanded Madison Park Technical Vocational High School's Carpentry Shop is about to become dry dock for the refit of a 1/16 scale model of the USS Constitution. This model of the oldest ship in the U.S. Navy is owned by the S.V.A. Department of Massachusetts (Navy Seabee Veterans Of America). The crew of Island X-7, Plymouth, MA has chosen MPTVHS student carpenters and our upgraded facility for the important task of making sure this model is once again ship shape. Our efforts will be on view in the famous Bunker Hill Day Parade. Be sure to look for "Old Ironsides" at your next parade.
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Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
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Homemade Thanksgiving Desserts at Madison Park
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Menu
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Pies -- $7.00 each. |
Apple Pie - Orchard fresh apples, super flaky piecrust, and plenty of cinnamon makes this everyone's favorite.
Sweet Potato Pie - Without a doubt the best Sweet Potato pie this side of the Mississippi!
Blueberry Pie - All you need is a scoop of vanilla ice cream to complement this mouth watering wild blueberry pie.
Pumpkin Pie - This pie melts in your mouth, not on your plate!
Pecan Pie - The northern version of the southern tradition will have your family asking for seconds.
Coconut Custard Cream Pie - An old-fashioned custard cream pie topped with fresh whipped cream.
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Cheesecakes |
Cheesecake with Rosettes - 10 inch - graham cracker crust with whipped cream rosettes -- $15.00
Cheesecake Topped with Fresh Fruit - 10 inch - graham cracker crust topped with fresh fruit (Kiwi, Strawberry, or Raspberry) -- $20.00
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Rolls | |
Fresh Butter Rolls baked to order -- $1.50 dozen
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Thanksgiving Breads |
Banana Bread - This very moist family favorite is especially good warm and topped with cream cheese or butter. -- $3.00
Thanksgiving T-Bread - Impress your family and friends with this special bread made with sour cream and filled with tart cranberries and walnuts. -- $3.00
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Visit Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and savor the sweet scents as students master the fine art of creating cakes, cookies, rolls, breads and pies. Mr. Lucas and his students will accept prepaid orders for pies, cheesecakes, breads and rolls for your Thanksgiving table Orders may be placed, with payment, until Wednesday November 18th at 11:00 AM. Orders must be picked up at Madison Park's Bakery between 10:00 and 11:00 AM on November 26, 2003. (Nov. 26 is an Early Release Day so you must be prompt). Check the menu and call Mr. Lucas at 617-635-8976 ext.110.
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Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
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| Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Scholars Program Continues Healthy Growth at Madison Park
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts/Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Blue Scholars recently joined Director of Community Relations, Sylvia Stevens-Edouard and her assistant Erika Croteau at a round table discussion with prospective members of the Class of 2006 Blue Scholars Team. These exceptional candidates were selected by the Directors because of their outstanding grades, leadership skills and their willingness to participate in the competitive application process to become a Blue Scholar.
In leading the discussion, Juniors Jasmin Lorenzo and Dieula (Emma) Emmanual outlined what it takes to be a member of this prestigious group of achievers. Both spoke of the importance of keeping grades in the A/B range, attending the meetings at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Landmark Center and participating in all enrichment activities the Scholars research and plan with the help of Sylvia, Erika and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Mentors. In addition, they urged the prospective scholars to take advantage of the academic assistance opportunities available through the Scholars Program and not to wait until it's too late to ask for help. In addition, both Jasmin and Emma shared anecdotes about their summer job opportunities at Blue Cross Blue Shield and stressed the importance of networking while you are participating in Scholar activities at the Landmark Center and beyond! Because of their involvement in the Scholars program, each interns twice a month in the Office of State Senator Jarrett T. Barrios!
After a brief question and answer period, the prospective members of the tenth grade Blue Scholars went off in search of teacher recommendations, a peek at their grades for this term and perhaps a younger brother, sister or cousin in the Ninth Grade Academy who might make the grade for the Scholars of 2007!
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Monument High School
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Unique Learning Opportunities at Monument High School
This fall, Monument High School is in full gear developing unique learning opportunities for students. As this year's class of ninth grade students are more excited than ever about the criminal justice and public safety theme of the school, ninth grade teachers have been working hard to develop opportunities to expose students to this theme. Building on last years "Professor Speaker Series" with faculty from Northeastern's College of Criminal Justice, attorneys from Robinson and Cole, Monument's first law firm partner, have developed a monthly speaker series where lawyers from different fields of the law will come to speak with freshman about their career choices.
In addition, the eleventh grade Introduction to Criminal Justice class has already taken a trip to the BPD Headquarters where they toured the 911 tower to get a better understanding of how technology is used to support the 911 system.
In the Introduction to Pubic Safety Class, a new unit has been developed on automobile safety. To support this curriculum, an accident reconstruction specialist from the BPD came to speak to the class about his first hand experience with teens and automobiles, driving home his point with a graphic presentation about the high incidences of teen automobile fatalities. Also, a driver's education instructor came to the class and made a presentation about defensive driving techniques and ways for teens to ensure that they remain safe behind the wheel.
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National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
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NFTE New York Trip
On November 14, 2003 at 6:00 AM, 290 Boston students will board seven buses to travel to the wholesale district of New York City on their daylong quest for the "best deals." The trip is coordinated by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE -pronounced "nifty") and the schools. Equipped with $50 in venture capital, provided by NFTE, students will scour the wholesale district for products to sell for a profit when they return to Boston.
Student will purchase accessories, hats, gloves, scarves, ties, toys, socks, jewelry, perfume, and CDs. The bus ride home is usually transformed into a veritable marketplace as many of these eager entrepreneurs zealously selling to each other and the chaperones. Students are preparing for the experience by learning practical skills such as negotiation, risk-taking and keystoning strategies in the classroom.
Students will create signs, posters and fliers and market the products to teachers, students and administrators. Students will take advantage of the holiday shopping season through selling events at external locations including South Station and The Shops at Prudential Center.
Through this trip, students generate start-up capital for their businesses, which will be planned and developed in the spring semester.
Each student will calculate Return on Investment (ROI) and will also write a letter to next year's budding entrepreneurs to advise them on how to make money and relate their own accomplishments and lessons learned. In each class the student with the best ROI and the student with the best advice letter will receive $20 each. A "SimBusiness" site license will be awarded to the classroom with the highest overall ROI.
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Tech Prep
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| Celebrating Girls in Math, Science, Engineering and Technology at Bunker Hill Community College
One hundred and forty ninth and tenth grade girls from Charlestown High School were the beneficiaries of a collaboration between Charlestown High School, Bunker Hill Community College, CISCO Systems, TechBoston, GEAR Up Boston, and the Metro Boston Tech Prep Consortium. The program entitled Celebration of Girls in Math, Science, Engineering and Technology was held at Bunker Hill Community College on May 29 through May 30, 2003. President Mary Fifield and Dean Cynthia Bioteau of Bunker Hill Community College welcomed students to the college.
Leo Carey, a teacher in the CISCO Networking Academy Program at Charlestown High, provided the impetus for this program after recognizing that females represented only twenty percent of his enrolled students. Therefore, this program was designed to encourage young women at Charlestown High School to enroll in career pathways that focus on skills attained in mathematics, science and technology that could lead to high skills, high wage-paying careers. With the assistance and support of TechBoston, Leo is credited with implementing the first CISCO Networking Academy Program in Massachusetts.
Mentors and role models representing a wide range of careers and professions including manufacturing engineering, network consulting engineering, software engineering, engineering graduate students, and Charlestown High School teachers led students in kite and egg drop apparatus design competitions, and a robotics workshop.
CISCO Systems provided 11 female mentors/role models, including the main speaker Nanette Halliburton, a Test Development Engineer. Other mentors/role models were from Genzyme, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Minnesota, Charlestown High School, and Bunker Hill Community College (including BHCC honor student and physics major, Sophine Landi Kouleya-Levene). Serving as observers and participants in this program were: Christine Cunningham, Vice President of Research from the Museum of Science, Marie Zwickert and Cynthia Murphy Area Academy Managers, CISCO Networking Academy Program, Karen Katz, and Kelly Lane, Manager, Human Resources New England Region, CISCO Systems.
Organizers of this program were Leo Carey, Shawn Vasdev and Allene Wallace, Coordinators from the Boston GEAR Up Program, Teresa Feeney, School-to-Career Coordinator and Sharon Caulfield, Coordinator of the Metro Boston Tech Prep Consortium.
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West Roxbury
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Welcoming Freshman
The West Roxbury TEACHBoston class recently completed a group work assignment to learn how to work as a team. Each group was assigned to prepare a fifteen minute lesson to be presented to thirty-five new freshmen at 'Westie". During the presentation the group was required to give a short summary about the school, talk about school rules, describe how one finds the way around the school, introduce key people in the school, and initiate school spirit. Students were encouraged to make their presentations interesting with the use of posters, "Westie" materials (handbook, newspapers, yearbooks, pictures), and guest speakers.
The students had two days to prepare their lessons. Much creativity was put into the presentations and the strengths of some students were emphasized with poster work and research for the lessons.
Each group was also given an evaluation form with a rubric to evaluate their peers during the presentation. Students reported that evaluating each other can be difficult, and found that they were very hard markers!! They discovered in the presentation process that organization, time management, and teamwork were necessary to make their assignment succeed.
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West Roxbury / TEACHBoston
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| Story Hour Activites Demonstrate Students' Teaching Skills
The Westie Media Center was filled with excitement on Tuesday, October 28th with the visit of 50 first graders from the James E. Curley Elementary School. The children traveled by bus to the high school and were treated to activities at four unique learning corners. At each corner, the children were delighted with a storyboard depicting a Halloween book that the teens read aloud.
The TEACHBoston students displayed many of the teaching skills that they have learned so far in class this year. They asked the children higher level thinking questions generated from studying Bloom's Taxonomy. The high school students' professional attitude was evident in the wonderful rapport they exhibited with the younger children. It was a very engaging and productive morning. The smiles on the first graders' faces as they left the building were priceless. The class looks forward to the next story hour in December.
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