The Work-Based Learning Program at Oneonta High School incorporates a variety of career exploration opportunities to help students explore careers and learn about expectations in the workforce. These activities take place both within OHS and out in the Oneonta Community. Some aspects of the program are accessable to all students, while others are for students taking Work-Based Learning (WBL) classes. Below are ways in which students can participate in our program.
Field Trips: Several times a year, students have the opportunity to explore a career by taking a field trip to a local business. These field trips focus specifically on the types of careers available within that business, as well as the knowledge and skills necessary to work in that field. Employers in our area have welcomed small groups of students and love when they come with questions! Some field trips are for students in a WBL class or a specific content area class. Periodically, field trips are offered to all students as long as they sign up in the guidance office.
Speaker Series: The focus of the speaker series is to give students an opportunity to talk with people who are currently working in a particular field. Several times throughout the school year, people from the community come in to share their career experiences. They often bring "tools of the trade" with them, talk about activities they do on a daily basis, and share how they came to this point in their career. Speakers often give advice to students about work in general, as well as work specific to their career choice. All students have the option of attending these at lunch time.
Job Shadowing: A job shadow is a career exploration activity in which a student follows an employee at a workplace for a few hours to learn about an occupation or career pathway of interest. It offers an opportunity to spend time with a professional currently working in a person's career field of interest and a chance to see what it is actually like working in a specific job. For students in some WBL classes, this is a requirement. Job shadows are also set up for other high school students based on student interest and counselor or teacher recommendation.
Volunteer Opportunities: There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities at OHS. Those directly organized through the WBL program are based on student choice. One of the WBL classes has volunteered at Family Services and will be doing other volunteer projects as a group. These give the students an opportortunity to be a part of a team, recognize the value of service to others, and learn other "soft skills" necessary for success in the workplace.
School Based Enterprise: The Beehive Market is a school based enterprise that was started in 2018 to help students gain skills and knowledge necessary for success in the work place. Students work and make decisions about everything from the name of the store to merchandice we carry. We have been working with "Old School Baby" to make t-shirts and other Oneonta Yellowjacket apparel. The students are responsible for peeling negative images, cleaning lint off garments, measuring for proper logo placement, folding neatly and stocking the store. Come check us out in room 240 the next time the Beehive Market pops up!
Internships: Some students in WBL classes have the opportunity to participate in an internship within a business in the Oneonta community. Internships are based on student interest, skill, and ability. We look for businesses who are willing to work with our students to help them gain knowledge and skills specific to that type of business and the student.