BPW To Learn About School Career Center Programs

By Tanjua Damon

Understanding careers and the real world is something that Newtown High School students are interested in when they sign up for an internship or a career-shadowing experience. The Newtown Business and Professional Women’s Club will find out at their next meeting what they can do to provide opportunities for students.

Career Center Coordinator Jane McEvoy and School-to-Career Coordinator Peg Ragaini have been invited to speak to the BPW on October 1 at 6:30 pm at the Inn at Newtown.

BPW members will be told about the Newtown High School Career Center’s various services to high school students and what the business community can do to help expand the opportunities for students to explore various careers.

Ms Ragaini organizes senior projects and internships for students. She hopes that the professional community sees the importance of mentoring and reaching out to students who will also be professionals one day.

“Because I work with juniors and seniors mostly, I think it’s important for students to see the connection between high school and careers and post secondary education,” Ms Ragaini said. “It’s all linked to make it more integrated than separated, especially during their senior year. The less the walls are there, the better it is for upper level students.”

Ms McEvoy organizes career shadowing opportunities for students who want to experience careers that interest them before they begin college or so that they can see what a “real” job is like.

“It says a lot about the community that this is available. It’s the eighth year for career shadowing,” Ms McEvoy said. “People reach out. It’s really building a wonderful network of learning reality. It’s people helping people. This is what were all about. We think it’s a better school because of what these volunteers do.”

The Career Center hopes to build its professional placement options by speaking at the BPW meeting as well as help professionals see what the high school is doing to prepare students for careers.

“For girls it is nice to see and have a female point of view. This will enlarge our base of women to help the students at the high school,” Mrs McEvoy said. “Even though career shadowing is just a day, I’ve had many students come back and say it was the best experience of their life. Some students can’t believe that someone would take the time to spend one-on-one time with them. It’s very special.”

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Career Center and the programs it offers to students at Newtown High School should plan to attend the BPW meeting on October 1 at The Inn at Newtown beginning at 6:30 pm. Dinner costs $20; call Shelley Kappauff at 426-6362 for more information.