Grossmont Students Model
Career Readiness
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| Superintendent Swenson conducts a mock interview with student Ranya Gorgees |
On Wednesday, January
21, I joined more than 20 local business professionals who took time out of
their busy schedules to assist Grossmont Business teacher Nicole Thren’s mock
interview program. For more than 17 years, the mock interview is the
culminating final project for the first semester in Grossmont’s English for
Business class.
Many local companies and
District personnel have assisted in the effort year after year, lending their
knowledge and expertise to our students as they prepare for real-life job
interviews. The process helps students refine their job-seeking skills and
provides them with valuable feedback concerning their appearance, verbal and
nonverbal communication skills, documentation, and the overall content of their
answers.
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| Grossmont students prep for their interviews |
For this activity,
students were required to select a job that they are qualified for presently,
or will be qualified for upon graduation from high school. Next, they craft
professional resumes, cover letters, and reference pages that were emailed to
their prospective interviewers a week prior to the actual interviews. Upon
arriving at the library for their interviews, students check in, complete
applications, and wait to be called. Once called, they present their
interviewers with a clean copy of their resume, cover letter, reference page,
and their application. Following the interviews, students wrote follow-up thank
you notes that were immediately emailed to their interviewers.
The community members
that interview the students then grade the students using four “p’s” – presence
(appearance), preparation (documentation), presentation (communication skills),
and performance (body language). This
project constitutes 20% of the semester grade.
This year, Grossmont
High School has expanded the program and is offering six sections of the course
with the help of English teacher LeAnne Ginn. Together, Nicole and LeAnne
prepare the students to meet the challenges of the job market. Students are
using their documents they created in class to obtain real jobs within weeks of
beginning the unit.
The commitment by our
community volunteers, especially those who are willing to incorporate interviews
for open positions, is equipping our students with vital skills that will help
them outshine the competition in the pursuit of their goals.
Mount Miguel
Students Hone Industry Skills
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| Mount Miguel students present their travel destination projects to industry leaders |
On Tuesday, January 13,
sophomore students enrolled in Mount Miguel High School's Academy of
Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) presented in front of their HTM
Advisory Board. Several students outlined their experiences and the benefits
learned from their mentoring session with San Diego State University HTM
students. Activities in the mentoring sessions included goal-setting
strategies, college life lessons, and with the assistance of members of Sea
World's Human Resources staff, resume review and mock interviewing skills. Student also presented their "travel expert" projects, which included informational brochure design and promotional videos developed for countries they selected.
Key agenda items for the
meeting included plans to expand Mount Miguel High School's three-year academy
to a four-year academy by implementing a ninth-grade component. Additionally,
the Academy is "re-branding" to be more inclusive of other business
sectors without losing the hospitality focus. Beginning in 2015-2016, the Academy
will become the Matador Business Academy (MBA) with the tagline
"emphasizing hospitality and tourism management, marketing, sales and
service."
The meeting was
co-chaired by Luis Barrios, Director for the California Hotel and Lodging
Association, and Jim Greene, General Manager of the Bahia Resort. Representatives from Sea World, the Declan
Suites of San Diego, Hotel Indigo San Diego, and Viejas Enterprises were
present. Additionally, Anthony's Fish Grotto, the Multi-Cultural Convention
Services Network, SDSU School of HTM and the National Association of Minorities
in Hospitality were present. Their ongoing commitment to the success of this
program is vital to ensuring that the skills learned by our students translate
into careers.
Grossmont Health Occupations Center Holds Vocational
Nursing Graduation and Capping Ceremony
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| Members of the "Class 61" graduating class |
Over the past 50 years,
the Grossmont Union High School District has graduated more than 1,000
Vocational Nurses who are trained to work in our community. On Thursday,
January 15, 2015, the Grossmont Health Occupations Center celebrated the commencement
of its 61st graduating class. “Class 61” was comprised of 29 dedicated students
who have completed 18 months of rigorous classroom instruction, lab simulations,
and clinical rotations.
The event commemorated
their hard work and passion for entering the nursing field. The audience was
full of proud supporters as the students took their Nurse’s Oath. Many of these
students are planning to continue their journey as Registered Nurses while
others will find their special niche as Licensed Vocational Nurses. Whichever
road they choose, we know they will help many patients and touch many lives.
Before the graduating
class left, the festivities continued for “Class 62.” With family and friends
looking on, students of “Class 62” received their nursing caps. Each new
student was “capped” by a graduating Vocational Nursing student. The capping
ceremony is the traditional way to recognize students who have completed their
school work prior to beginning hospital training. “Class 62” students will now
begin 12 months of clinical training at hospitals around the county, while
continuing their classroom learning.
The evening graduation
of “Class 61” and the celebration of the milestone for “Class 62” at the Health
Occupations Center were full of promise, passion, and excitement for the road
ahead. Congratulations to all!
The GUHSD Honor Band and Honor Orchestra are performing at West Hills High School on Saturday, January 31, at 7:00 p.m. The ticket booth opens at 6:00 p.m.
The Honor Band and Orchestra are comprised of talented high school musicians from throughout the District. We are fortunate to have guest conductors working with these students. Emily Threinen, Director of Bands at Temple University, will be working with the Honor Band and Michael Gerdes, Director of Orchestras at San Diego State University, will be directing our Honor Orchestra.
Superintendent Ralf Swenson
