Student Internships at Little Falls Community High School
The LFCHS Senior Internship Program is an extended internship, offering seniors the opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to a career field they are considering pursuing after high school. Paired with committed industry participants from our local area, students are each assigned a mentor within the workplace to guide their internship experience. More than a job shadow, students are expected to contribute meaningful, relevant work, mirroring that of an authentic position in the field. The true "selling" point of the Senior Internship Program is that the young adults enrolled in the program will be provided a breadth of experiences in their field of interest that best exemplify the day-to-day work their desired career will entail. One goal of this program is the early discernment of career interests for the interns before investing time and money into the necessary formal training.
This real-world experience is offered for seniors who are currently on track to graduate and who have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Before students are accepted into the program, they are required to complete an application (including forms completed by two references) and participate in an interview with their prospective mentor.
A number of professionals monitor the Interns on a daily basis; mainly their mentor, ISD 482 district employee (curriculum coordinator), and Rural MN CEP career advisor. The district curriculum coordinator and career advisor prepare the exercises, feedback and monitoring of the Seminar (5th day) curriculum.
The Seminar curriculum runs through a variety of job-related development skill sessions involving guided self-reflection journal entries, self-assessment, and other academic exercises meant to enhance the experience. The Seminar curriculum also allows Interns an opportunity to create a digital portfolio documenting their experience. The portfolio houses evidences of their learning and experience, and as such, provides an avenue for the interns to use for their future education, internship opportunities and employment.
This real-world experience is offered for seniors who are currently on track to graduate and who have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Before students are accepted into the program, they are required to complete an application (including forms completed by two references) and participate in an interview with their prospective mentor.
A number of professionals monitor the Interns on a daily basis; mainly their mentor, ISD 482 district employee (curriculum coordinator), and Rural MN CEP career advisor. The district curriculum coordinator and career advisor prepare the exercises, feedback and monitoring of the Seminar (5th day) curriculum.
The Seminar curriculum runs through a variety of job-related development skill sessions involving guided self-reflection journal entries, self-assessment, and other academic exercises meant to enhance the experience. The Seminar curriculum also allows Interns an opportunity to create a digital portfolio documenting their experience. The portfolio houses evidences of their learning and experience, and as such, provides an avenue for the interns to use for their future education, internship opportunities and employment.
Katie Riitters, Chris Grams and Tim Bjorge sit down to talk about the Little Falls Community Schools High School Student Internship Program.
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