CALHOUN CI T Y SCHOOLS grade. Usually, you see four C’s, but we added the fifth which is community. So, five things that we focus on are collaboration, critical thinking, communication, community, and creativity.” Early Exposure to Careers The focus on the future starts early, with students as young as two and three years old being exposed to college and career options. Dr. Hayes elaborates, “We realized we were very fortunate with all of the resources that we have, and the people that care about our school system. So, we have taken the opportunity to build awareness for our students by putting up logos of universities, technical colleges, military options, etc. in all of our media centers. We want our students to start thinking about the opportunities they will have following high school.” They also focus on different program areas each month, such as education, healthcare, and agriculture and bring in speakers related to each theme. Moreover, they are considering organizing career pathway fairs for students as early as 2 to 5-year-olds to introduce them to high school students and community businesses involved in various career fields. “It’s very important to expose and bring awareness to students at an early age so they can see what opportunities are available to them,” she says. The district recognizes the importance of exposing students to opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings. To achieve this, they have introduced career classes in elementary and middle schools, providing students with hands-on experiences. They have also established career program areas and pathways, particularly focusing on STEM fields. Aptitude testing is another key component, helping students discover their strengths and potential career paths from a young age. This approach aims to broaden students’ horizons and introduce them to a wider range of possibilities beyond what they may have encountered in their homes and communities. “It’s opened our teachers’ eyes to see just how many things they can relate to career opportunities so that students can start connecting what they’re passionate about, and what they’re skilled in to identify a particular career pathway as early as middle school,” describes Dr. Taylor. “I think that’s helped transform the minds of our teachers and students and how we need to be making education relevant to everything that we do. We need to be talking with students about how they can apply and use those skills in their life moving forward.” Redefining Future Opportunities Working with school counselors, Calhoun City Schools is striving to make parents aware of all of the future opportunities available. “We want to prepare students for high-skill, high-wage opportunities. Sometimes parents don’t know that welding can be a phenomenal career option for their students who might
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