Newport News Public Schools update for October 2017

Newport News students gaining career experiences

What did you do over the summer? Tutor, computer repair, mentor, food service, photography, driver’s education and video production.

Those are some of the responses from 128 high school students in Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) who gained valuable career experiences through two paid internship programs. Designed to introduce students to work experiences while developing workplace readiness skills, the Career Pathways Summer Internship Program and the SPARK (Summer Program for Arts, Recreation and Knowledge) Internship Program paired students with NNPS employees in nine schools and 10 departments.

“Working as a photographer this past summer gave me the opportunity to learn more about capturing and using pictures in publications while doing something that I enjoy,” says Kendahl Bell, a junior in the communication arts program at Woodside High School. “I am considering a career in filmmaking or sports medicine, so the experience was great,” he adds.

Students applied for the internships during the school year and were selected to participate based on a written application and interview process. Orientations and onsite training prepared each intern for job specific responsibilities. NNPS employees served as mentors and supervisors.

“Career Pathways is an interactive initiative that connects students to career exploration and development. Students can investigate careers and participate in work-based learning experiences, giving them the opportunity to test-drive career options,” says Toinette Outland, Career Pathways and Career and Technical Education instructional supervisor. “Our mission is to prepare students to be successful employees, no matter what career pathway they choose.”

NNPS Named Young Audiences of Virginia 2017 Sunburst Education Partner of the Year

Newport News Public Schools was named Young Audiences of Virginia’s 2017 Sunburst Education Partner of the Year in recognition of its dynamic partnership to “engage and inspire students in and through the arts.”

Young Audiences Arts for Learning provides arts-in-education programming through an array of performances and workshops that inspire and engage students. The presentations encourage creativity and critical thinking and support the curriculum.

During the 2016–2017 school year, NNPS and Young Audiences expanded its partnership to provide additional arts programming to nearly 10,000 students in multiple extended learning programs, including the 21st Century Learning Centers; WE LEAP afterschool programs; Saturday Academies; and SPARK, the Summer Program for Arts, Recreation and Knowledge.