CURRENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS

This is the place to see the latest Gilchrist County School-To-Work accomplishments, as well as any upcoming events. You might want to bookmark this page and check it from time to time. There are so many great things happening with STW in Gilchrist county we couldn't cover them all, but here are a few.


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$UCCESS AT WORK


Gilchrist County Schools are the first in the consortium to implement the Success At Work program started by Volusia County Schools. The program calls for a local business partner to come into a classroom for one hour a week for five weeks in a row. During this time presenter talks not about their own career, but about the workplace in general. One of the principal benefits of the program is that the students are involved from the very outset. There are many interactive hands on activities that students really throw themselves into. For instance, one activity distributes newspapers to the class and has them pick out the car and house they would like to live in when they graduate. First the presenter takes the average of the responses he receives and formulates a budget on the chalkboard. As you can imagine, the costs figured by the students are usually quite high. The presenter then helps the class to see that to acquire these things will take planning, saving, and education. Other activities include mock job interviews, filling out a job application, and resume skills.


Mike McElroy, Manager of Capital City Bank in Bell, FL teaches students how to interview for a job

There are actually two Success At Work programs. Success At Work 1 which is intended for 8th graders, and Success At Work 2 designed for 10th graders. Volusia County administers both programs to all their students, but only Success At Work 2 was adopted by Gilchrist County Schools. The program can be administered in any class, but district principals decided tenth grade Social Studies would be the best for them.

Gilchrist County Schools first heard of Success At Work when Joyce DeLoach of Stetson University, and Joan Carter of Volusia County schools made a presentation at LCCC in April. Subsequently they were invited to conduct a training session at Gilchrist County Schools in July. Six business partners volunteered for the training: Sheree Lancaster and Duke Lang, Attorneys at Law, Mike McElroy and Becky Oder of Capital City Bank, Mark Watson of First Federal Florida, and Scott Guthrie of Trenton Medical Center. Thus far the program has been received tremendously well by students, faculty and administration. Dr. Jim Longstreth, Principal of Bell High School stated:" This is the best career oriented program we've ever seen. Teachers who have had Success At Work in the first half of the year are talking it up to the teachers who will have it the second half. The students to seem impressed that a local business person will come and spend time with them."


Attorney Sheri Lancaster shows students how to plan a budget


The business community as well seems very pleased to have input in the classroom. When asked his opinion of Success At Work, Michael McElroy of Capital City Bank replied: "I think it's a wonderful program. I'm a parent and a businessman so I'm interested in what's being taught in school from both standpoints. This is information I want my kids to have, and I'm glad I get a chance to contribute to my community by sharing it with my neighbor's kids." Michael enjoyed his experience so much that on the last day he treated the entire class to breakfast. With testimonials like these it looks like Success At Work is in Gilchrist County Schools to stay.

SILVER ZONE AWARDS


Lake City Community College honored Medic Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center, and Hunter Marine with the School-To-Work Silver Zone Award. This award was sought after by all 5 of the counties in the Crown Consortium, but only three awards were available for all 5 counties. Of these 3, Gilchrist County Schools' business partners recieved 2.


Mike Williams, Production Manager for Hunter Marine, accepts the Silver School-To-Work Zone Award, one of only 3 awarded in the 5 county area. left to right- Larry Douglass of Lake City Community College, Mike Williams of Hunter Marine, Mike McElroy of the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce and Don Thomas Superintendent of Schools.


Silver School-To-Work Zone Award presented to Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center. left to right- Larry Douglass of Lake City Community College, Cindy Slaughter of Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center, Mike McElroy of the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce and Don Thomas Superintendent of Schools.

STATE SCHOOL TO WORK CONFERENCE



Paula Fugel and Kim Jordan (standing) explain how to build effective partnerships with businesses as the business panel prepares to speak

The State School-To-Work Conference was held April 16-18, 1997 in Orlando, FL. The three day program consisted of workshops relating to all aspects of School-To-Work, such as mentoring, shadowing, academies, and how to create a school based enterprise. Shawntel Smith, who in addition to being Miss America 1996 is also the national spokesperson for School-To-Work, spoke at the event on Friday. Every county in Florida was represented by delegates, but not necessarily by presenters.

Gilchrist County Schools were selected to present not just one program, but two. The first, which took place on Thursday dealt with how to establish an health academy that will meet the needs of the 21st century. Paula Fugel, Director of Instructional Support for Gilchrist County Schools, as well as Bell Health Academy instructors Kim Jordan, Cheri Brodeur, and Judith Martens, conducted the program. Those in attendance enjoyed good advice on how to build a true health academy team, integrate curriculum, select students, and involve the community. A computer generated slide show, as well as the unveiling of the new School-To-Work website, made for an impressive presentation.


The presenters left to right- Paula Fugel, Scott Fortner, Barbara Richardson, Kim Jordan, Cindy Slaughter, Judith Martens, Cheri broduer, Marie Colletti, Terri Golden, Faye Hurst and Jason Arndt

The second of the presentations took place the following day, and dealt with how to bring schools and businesses together. The very same group that had presented just a day before now had another 90 minute presentation to conduct. Fortunately, they had plenty of help in the form of representatives from local Bell and Trenton Businesses. Cindy Slaughter of Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center, Faye Hurst of Tri-County Nursing Home, Marie Coletti of North Florida Holsteins, and Scott Fortner and Barbara Richardson of Suwanee Area Health Education Center all participated in a panel discussion dedicated to enhancing the role of the business partner. Not only the presenters, but the audience as well, were excited to have representatives from private industry at the conference. The input they gave was invaluable to those listening. Both Ms. Hurst, and Ms. Slaughter recounted how students from the health academy had proven their skills repeatedly, Ms. Hurst recounting their excellent performance during a fire drill at Tri-County Nursing Home.

No doubt the honor of presenting at such a prestigious conference increased the visibility and stature of Gilchrist County Schools, and illustrated the effort that local business is investing in our schools. Already the presenters are looking forward to next year when they will have new accomplishments to present, and new business partners to highlight.

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