Dakota Ridge High School

Career Explore Program Information Night

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Career Explore Team

• Ms. Watts-Gebhard: Career Explore Coordinator
• Math, ACE, Edgenuity
• Mr. Casanova
• English
• Ms. Weikel
• Social Studies
• Ms. Sullivan
• Social Studies
• Mr. St. Louis
• Science
• Ms. Bell
• ACE
• Ms. Keller and Mr. Dougherty
• Principal and Assistant Principal

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What is Career Explore?

• Career Explore is a career ready training program that takes students outside of a traditional classroom setting
• Students engage in meaningful educational experiences that create a bright future while they work towards their high school diploma
• A great Win-Win: School and the community pool resources to meet local businesses/industry needs and connect students with real opportunities

Why are you here?

• Want a different approach to learning?
• Uncertain about your future path?
• Seeking a plan for postsecondary opportunities?
• Wanting a positive partnership and support to develop skills for your future?
• Behind on credits?
• Other?

Benefits of Career Explore

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• 21st Century Skills:
• 88% of students have earned an Industry Certification
• Intentional focus on essential 21st century skills necessary to enter the workforce.
• Students gain confidence
• They understand how to be competitive in the job market.
• They are empowered to achieve their career goals.
• They understand what it means to be professional and presentable at a workplace.
• Internship experience
• Exposure to the “real world”
• Opportunities to make up credit
• Credit recovery support through Edgenuity
• Credit for competency
• Credit for work: On the Job Experience (OJE)
• Direct line to career and educational opportunities

How it Works?

The Career Explore Senior Year

in Three Stages

• Stage 1: Exploring Careers (Fall of Junior Year)
• Stage 2: Training (Spring of Junior Year)
• Stage 3: Internship (Senior Year)

* Subject to change due to community partners

Stage 1: Exploring Careers (Fall of Junior Year)

• All Students experience all pathways
• Student select their pathway
• May include both classroom and other experiential learning to support an informed decision on pathway

Stage 2: Training

(Spring of Junior Year)

• In chosen pathway, industry training takes place outside of the building
• Includes hands-on, relevant experiences
• Schedule depends on pathway chosen
• Industry training and materials are aligned with Common Core Standards
• Students earn certificates specific to pathway
• CNA, HBI, OSHA 10, ServSafe
• Upon successful completion of the first two stages, students interview for the internship phase

Stage 3: Internship

(Senior Year)

• Internships will be around 160 hours
• Paid when possible
• Students will be placed with partnering agencies
• Expectations and experiences vary
• Internship will happen during school hours
• 1-3 days per week
• Potential summer/post graduate work
• Over 80% of students received full-time job offers

The Career Explore Week

• Monday - Friday
• Schedule varies depending on pathway
• Core classes at DRHS
• Each class worth .5 Credit
• Training at local site or DRHS
• Internship at local site

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• Navy Days
• 1st Block: ACE
• Bell
• 2nd Block: English
• Mr. Cassanova
• 3rd Block: Math
• Ms. Watts-Gebhard
• 4th Block: Credit Recovery
• Ms. Watts-Gebhard

Senior Career Explore

• Cardinal Days
• 5th Block: Seminar
• Stay with current Seminar
• 6th Block: ACE Career
• Ms. Watts-Gebhard
• 7th Block: Social Studies
• Ms. Watts-Gebhard
• 8th Block: Credit Recovery
• Ms. Watts-Gebhard

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• Navy Days
• 1st Block: ACE
• Ms. Watts-Gebhard
• 2nd Block: World History
• Ms. Sullivan
• 3rd Block: English
• Mr. Casanova
• 4th Block: Credit Recovery
• Ms. Watts-Gebhard

Junior Career Explore

• Cardinal Days
• 5th Block: Seminar
• Stay with current Seminar
• 6th Block: CE Science
• Mr. St. Louis
• 7th Block: Elective/Credit Recovery or Off Block
• 8th Block: Elective/ Credit Recovery or Off Block

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Capstone Presentation

• Upon conclusion of a student’s Career Explore experience, they will complete a Capstone Presentation
• The Capstone will be ongoing the entire year and a major component to Senior English and Career Explore Math Class
• A capstone is a culminating project that highlights the academic and intellectual journey a student experienced during their pathway

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Career Explore: DRHS Eligibility Criteria

Specific Expectations regarding Attendance and Academics

1. Students must be in attendance at least 90% of the time to all classes and internships
1. Students must have 12 or fewer block absences (3 days) in a 6 week period
1. A day consists of 4 blocks
2. Three tardies is considered a block absence
2. Students must be passing all classes at the end of each 6 week grade reporting window
• Passing in a Career Explore class is 70%
• All Career Explore grades are recorded as P/F on transcript

Probation: Students failing to meet the Attendance and Academic expectations will be placed on probation the next 6 weeks. Students that fail to meet expectations and come into compliance during probation will be removed from the program. Students can be placed on probation only ONCE in a school year.

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Career Explore: DRHS Eligibility Criteria

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Expectations regarding Behavior

1. Students must adhere to specific requirements
1. Take and/or pass any drug test required for your chosen program
2. Successfully perform required tasks and expectations at training and apprenticeships
2. Students cannot interfere with the educational process of fellow students
• Disruptions in the classroom, on field-trips, training or during internships will not be tolerated
• Inappropriate use of cell phones and other technology during , training, internships, field trips, or in classes is unacceptable.
1. Cell phone use is at the discretion of staff, whether school district employed or a community partner

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Industry Partners

Construction Pathway

Colorado Homebuilding Academy, Duro, McBride Electric, Crossland, Hensel Phelps

Construction

Health Pathway

Morning Star, Stepping Stones, Columbine Gardens

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Technology Pathway

TTM

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Automotive Pathway

Dakota Ridge Auto, DTI Trucks, AutoZone

Hospitality Pathway

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Contact Information

Christi Watts-Gebhard: Christi.watts-gebhard@jeffco.k12.co.us

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Next Steps

• Decide if Career Explore is for you and fill out Career Explore Interest Form
• Prepare questions for our info meeting this spring or email us.
• Sign and turn in Contract by April 11th.
• We will get back to you if you are accepted by April 30th.

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