BY SHLOMO KOZLOV
There may be a nationwide shortage of workers out there, but the Atidaynu workforce is booming. Our Employment Readiness curriculum has reached a new and exciting milestone as we finally moved from theory to practice. From the start of the year, we focused on foundational skills needed in any field such as good communication skills, problem-solving capabilities, and teamwork and now it’s time to put that knowledge to use.
We created many different school jobs which give students opportunities to learn and apply practical skills. These jobs creatively mimic the real responsibilities and tasks required in their fields while providing the oversight and support our students need to excel. Our potential workers need to go through the application and interview process just like they will in the future and even get paid with an official check made out to them. We all learn most from experience and Atidaynu has got an abundance to choose from. Below we have included a few examples:
Treasurer- oversees the financial planning, procurement, and distribution of funds for each class.
Waiter - Greets guests and takes drink and food orders. Attends to the needs of guests in the dining area and delivers food from the kitchen. Interior design assistant provides direct administrative support to interior designers. They may be tasked with running errands, answering phones, or even contacting clients to obtain important information.
Event planner- oversees the creation and development of small and/or large-scale events such as festivals, conferences, and ceremonies.
Supply Manager- Ensures that each teacher has needed daily supplies.
Animal Technician- Feeds and cleans the parakeet, rabbit, and turtle cages.
Attendance Officer- Takes and reports daily attendance to the administrative office.
We also had guest speakers (musicians, a nurse, a photographer, a singer, a school bus driver... ) that came to discuss their professions, as well as a schoolwide ‘Career Day’ project, both designed to give our students a wealth of practical information and get them thinking about the future. ‘Career Day’ ended up being a truly incredible event. Each upper-grade student chose or was assigned a career which they presented with the assistance of tri-boards which they each designed. They answered important questions and addressed key aspects of their professions which included:
• Description and responsibilities of their careers/occupations.
• Education/training required.
• Skills needed, i.e. good communication skills, hand-eye coordination, etc.
• Positive and negative aspects (e.g. working outdoors).
• Salary range/pay and benefits.
There is a lot going on in school, but it can never replace the unparalleled benefits of your interest and encouragement. Try to talk to your child about the jobs they have in school and share things about your own job as well. The more encouragement we show to their accomplishments, the more proud and motivated they will be. If you have any other ideas which you feel would benefit your children’s vocational achievements, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Up until now, we focused on the foundational skills needed in any field such as good communication skills and teamwork. Now it’s time to put that knowledge to use.