Career Connection 2019 Headlines Spring Events · 2019-11-05 · Newsletter of the HVRHS Career Experience Program Spring 2019 Career Connection 2019 Headlines Spring Events For o

 Newsletter of the HVRHS Career Experience Program 

Spring 2019 

Career Connection 2019 Headlines Spring Events  For one hour, 41 professionals from agriculture, the arts, veterinary science, business, building and trades, environment and wildlife, aviation, health and wellness, law and public safety, sports management, entrepreneurship, and education shared their expertise with nearly 200 juniors and seniors in 14 locations around the school during the Career Connection 2019 event on May 8.   Prior to the event, students were surveyed about their career interests and based upon their choice, spent the hour in dialogue with professionals in that field. The setting was intimate, the conversation rich, and the energy was all positive.   Sophomore class leaders served as Career Connection Ambassadors and greeted our visitors, whisked them to classrooms around the school, and photographed the event. Faculty and staff facilitated the 14 sessions. Dave Moran and his students in the 

Agricultural Program provided robustly blooming potted flowers as a token of gratitude for our guests as they departed the building.   Robin Beaujon and Cindy Fuller played critical roles in supporting the event. Patricia Mechare from the Region One Board of Education was able to attend on behalf of the board. Principal Ian Strever and Assistant Principal Steven Schibi provided leadership support for the event and created the space and time for it to occur. The morning was a true team effort.  The Career Experience Program and the entire school community are grateful to these professionals for spending their time with HVRHS students. The event highlighted all that is good about our community and its high school. Connections to caring professionals in the local community as mentors and role models are critical for our students. We are so fortunate in Region One to have an abundance of these individuals willing to engage with Housatonic Valley Regional High School. ◘  

Sophomore Class Career Connection Ambassadors ready to greet our panelists and escort them in the school. Guests remarked that they felt welcome and appreciated! Thank you, Sophomores!

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Some Scenes from Career Connection

Law and Public Safety panel with (L to R) Barrie Prinz, Andrea Downs, Keith Marks, Trooper Sorrell

Entrepreneur Christian Allyn speaking with students looking to start businesses in the future

Rafe Churchill and Joseph Schaeffer (L to R) sharing expertise in building and trades.

Education panel with (L to R) Ed Thorney, Amy Lake, and Kim McDowell

(L to R) Marisa Simmons, Dr. Katherine Kane, and Kristen Salmon talking animals

(L to R) Thorunn Kristjansdottir, Stephen Hicks, and Mitch Conroy covered marketing and sports management

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Environment and Natural Resources panel with (L to R) Jody Bronson, Michael Nadeau, Wendy Miller and Dr. Alan Tousignant.

Ken Lauber and Graham Stone hit the high notes of their love of music 

 Richard Solan and Dana Davidsen speaking with students about aviation and science.

Katie Baldwin, John Gruen, and Tory Jadow describing a life in visual arts and design

Cricket Jacquier, Tracy Hayhurst, and Dan Carr talking farming and food on the Agriculture panel.

For a full list of professional presenters, visit Career Connection Professional Presenters Directory 

Graduated and Summer’s Over--Now What? You’re a senior. It’s graduation time. Your eyes are on the door and your mind is on summer and perhaps not much else. August comes and friends are heading to further education or training you’re feeling unsure of the next step.  

Help is at hand. Come back to HVRHS. Make an appointment with Dr. O’Neill to help launch you toward a full- or part-time job or career. Email her at [email protected]  

Together, we can: 

● Make sure your resume is complete and write a compelling cover letter 

● Conduct a job search and make connections with local employers  

● Work on interview and soft skills you’ll need to make the best impression 

● Ease anxiety about the next step ◘ 

Sticky Note Tip:: Are you graduating? Creating a financial checklist is critical to your future. Check out this resource Financial Checklist for Graduating High School Seniors 

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HV @ NYC Hits the Streets for Careers in History For the second year, the Career Experience Program and the Social Studies department collaborated to explore the questions of what you can do with a history degree and what skills developed in the study of history can prepare you to be effective in any career?  

 Students travelled to New York City for conversations with professionals at the Tenement Museum and McGee Media and explored questions of: 

● history’s impact on the present ● historical events told through the 

unique voice of working class immigrants 

● the power of multiple narratives ● the responsibility of the historian to 

tell a well-researched story  ● the breadth of careers enhanced by 

knowledge and appreciation of history  ● the culinary glory of a good knish 

Students with McGee Media’s (L to R, top) Robert Yacyshyn, Executive in Charge of Production; Katherine Swiatek, Post Coordinator; Christine Fall, Archive Producer; Romila Karnick, Producer; Stacey Holman, Producer

What’s a trip to the Lower East Side without at knish!

Lindsey’s Story: A Student’s View of HV@NYC  The Tenement Museum was a truly moving place to visit, especially since it was the first place we saw upon arriving to the city.  

As a whole, the experience was unique and genuine. The fact that we were able to discuss the inner workings of a museum such as the Tenement with two key figures in the institution was very eye-opening.  

It was surprising to me that the museum is involved in so many more programs than just running tours, even helping to provide access to legal services for immigrants, refugees, or migrants in need. 

What was even more awe-inspiring, though, was the structure of the museum itself, and how each section of the building told its own real, distinctive story about people who had actually once lived in the complex.  

Just by looking around each room, whether it was staged or left completely alone since it 

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was found, I was touched—it was as though I was a part of the history itself. 

Our visit to McGee Media was an immersive experience that changed my perspective on the creation of documentaries. The rich discussions we were lucky enough to engage in with members of the company were full of valuable information regarding the industry.  

The McGee team also provided a behind-the-scenes look, showing how thoroughly history must be analyzed to achieve the films they create, and how important this analysis is when forming an end-product. 

I had no idea of the scope of making a historical documentary, and just how many different types of people were involved in this work. 

My previous understanding was that one had to become a film major and follow a more traditional path to even think of succeeding in any type of “movie” industry.  

Meeting with the McGee Media team changed this perception. I was reassured to find that various types of people, all with different strengths and a variety of backgrounds, can come together and create.◘  Career Experience Coordinator Mary O’Neill, Social Studies Chair and ECE United States History instructor Peter Vermilyea, and the history-loving students who participated in HV@NYC are grateful to the Tenement Museum (particularly Kevin Jennings and Alex Gaylord) and McGee Media (particularly Robert Yacyshyn) for coordinating the time we spent at their organizations; Jennifer Weigel, finance manager at McGee Media for facilitating our visit there; and McGee Media for underwriting lunches. 

Michelle Moon, Chief Programs Officer and Kat Lloyd, Director of Programs (L to R, above) and embarking on the Hard Times tour with our Museum Educator.

Sticky Note Tip:: A degree is history can be excellent training for careers in many fields. Check out all you can do and be with history American Historical Association: Why Study History

Career Experience Master Classes in Global Marketing Global Marketing benefited from several Master Classes this spring. Master Classes use the skill and experience of professionals to extend curricular goals of students’ classes.◘ 

Marketing consultant Kimberly Rock introduced students to basics of digital marketing, which is an integral part of marketing and brand recognition.

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Janet Carlson, Founder of One Eleven Group, spoke to students about getting to the “why” of an organization to develop effective marketing.

US Navy Captain Martin Lindenmayer (ret.) described how respecting and understanding cultures is a key to developing a global mindset. He should know--he’s spent time in over 130 countries!

Skip Barber, President of Lime Rock Park spoke with students from Global Marketing, Creative Writing, and Forensics about finding your lane and having the courage to make mistakes and learn from them.

Natalie Smith, founder of mavisBLUE.com explored Google analytics for marketing, how to research a product idea, and how to determine if a product is profitable to bring to market.

Students pitching products for the Lime Rock Park store with Marlane White. They brainstormed, researched and priced new swag ideas for LRP. Out in front is a fleece blanket with LRP logo. Their logic: increase in-park comfort and increase time and sales in the park.

Mindfulness in the Classroom--It Works Students in accounting and global marketing classes logged mindful minutes this year. 

They reported increased calm and looked forward to this time to unplug. Studies show that mindfulness, defined as paying attention to the present moment without judgment, can increase deep focus, decrease anxiety, and create a compassionate and grateful environment. Meditation and focus on the breath is one form of mindfulness. Workplaces and schools are increasingly offering mindfulness meditation to help employees and students manage stress. 

Sticky Note Tip:: Want to give meditation a try? The Headspace app is free and easy to follow.  

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Financial Reality Fair Simulates Real Life Decisions

 In April, 50 seniors attended the Financial Reality Fair at Torrington High School.   Students were engaged in financial decisions based on career choices, educational requirements and a randomized credit score.   The event emphasized the types of financial challenges a young person faces in establishing credit and maintaining a credit score, managing revenues and expenses, and critically examining wants vs. needs.  Career Experience is grateful to the Northwest HIlls Credit Union and the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce for coordinating the event and the Draper Foundation Fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, who provided transportation funding for all students.◘ 

HVHRS Seniors on their way to another station to calculate income and expenses, establish a budget. At the end students met with a financial advisor to review their choices.

For information about the Career Experience Program, visit Career Experience Program, updated regularly by Cindy Fuller. Thank you, Ms. Fuller!

Global Marketing students performed a marketing ethics case study analysis of Juul’s early marketing to a younger demographic.They examined the American Marketing Association (AMA) Statement of Ethics, resources about Juul’s marketing from respected sources, the Surgeon General’s information on the topic, and Juul’s own website. Their verdict: Juul violated AMA ethical standards by using marketing techniques aimed at a younger, first-time smoker demographic--not the target market of mature smokers seeking to quit.The students created anti-vaping posters for their peers using behavioral economics and the concept of “framing” to present factual information that appeals to teens. Thanks, Mr. Christinat for reproducing them! 

HVRHS Students Graduate from Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce Junior Leadership Program  

HVRHS students Calpurnia and Victor, along with Mr. Moran’s daughter, Mary were among students in NW CT who graduated from the program. Watch out for the announcement from Dr. O’Neill in the fall if you’d like to apply next year! (photo: NW CT Chamber of Commerce) 

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