District Starting Students Early on Road to Workplace Success

Students in third through sixth grades are participating in grade-specific activities this school year that will help them be successful after high school -- whether in the work place or at college -- and learn about a variety of careers early on.

The College and Career Readiness Department has scheduled trips and activities for specific grade levels to support the district's mission of preparing career-ready graduates and the Fresno Unified Board of Education-adopted Goal 3: "All students will demonstrate the character and competencies for workplace success."

The College and Career Readiness staff is working with local business partners and community colleges and cultivating new partnerships to make each Goal 3 opportunity an exciting educational experience for students.

• Third-graders are participating in Bricks 4 Kidz, which specializes in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education using Lego models. Students will learn how to work cooperatively in teams, think critically, and explore career themes.
• Fourth-graders are visiting industry partners to learn career skills in a variety of sectors, including Bitwise, Cal Fire, Fresno Area Electricians Union, California Department of Fish and Game at the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation at Friant Dam and California Department of Parks and Recreation at the Friant Courthouse, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Fresno Unified Nutrition and Maintenance Centers, UC Agriculture Research Center, the city of Fresno Wastewater Management Department, and Young Chefs Academy.
• Fifth- and sixth- graders are continuing to explore the world of STEM with the Kids Invent! program from the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fresno State.
• Sixth-graders are visiting a community college campus in Fresno, Clovis and Reedley to explore educational opportunities after high school.

"These experiences offer our younger students an opportunity to experience the world of work and become a community-conscious member in our district and city," said Iain Patterson, a teacher on special assignment in the College and Career Readiness office who organizes the elementary experiences.

"Our goal is to help students acquire the workplace skills and competencies necessary for success after high school."