This picture is a bird’s nest, not your typical bird nest made of twigs and other forms of vegetation. Nope, this nest is made out of barbed wire. The bird that made it’s home from what was available with a level of grit and determination for shelter.
Did you know that only 13% of the American workforce feels engaged in their job, according to an annual survey from Gallup?
We should prepare students for a life beyond high school, and this includes a career our kids find engaging that gives them meaning. When more than 75% of jobs require some post-secondary degree or certification, part of that preparation includes something beyond a high school diploma.
In 2011, 50% of Wylie ISD graduates were pursuing post-secondary education. Today, more than 80% enroll in college or a trade school. We contribute this drastic improvement to our comprehensive, proactive, and intentional approach to preparing students for a life beyond high school, the Wylie Way.
Map Your Future Monday
In Wylie ISD, students learn about careers from parents and graduates during our weekly Map Your Future Monday experiences. With 20 career videos per year, a Wylie ISD student will experience hundreds of videos before they leave junior high. Knowing what careers match your strengths and passions early allows kids to test drive their future and make informed decisions about their future.
Check out our other videos here!
Think College Thursday
The simple act of wearing a college shirt fosters discussion about the importance of post-secondary education, builds awareness of what colleges are available, and sparks interest about a future goal of college.
College Knowledge
When a student in Wylie begins Intermediate school, our goal shifts from awareness to helping students become knowledgeable about college. What it takes and how to get there. We also include a rotation in their computer class called College Career Education. Students get serious about map their future during junior high. Each campus has a full-year elective that is open to 7th & 8th graders called College & Career Readiness.
Students learn about everything from relationship skills, college and career basics, to discovering their passion and planning their future! All seventh-grade students take part in a career research unit at the end of the year. All campuses participate in College Week the week before Spring Break, where they highlight the college experience.
The Achievement Profile
Starting with what is right with a kid builds their hope, well-being, and increases engagement at school. As part of the Wylie Way, students not only explore their career experiences, but also take strengths tests and interest surveys, and learning about a variety of courses offered WAY before they enter high school.
#IhaveaplanWISD
College is expensive, and 75% of college students change their major before they graduate. Helping students know more about a college major helps make better decisions. Test driving that career during high school can save thousands of dollars and help students make more informed decisions before they begin.
Wylie ISD students are required to select a career pathway as a part of their high school experience. In many cases, students start college work or gain valuable certifications that give them a big head start. Check out the increase in the number of students taking college dual credit classes since we started!
WISD’s #ihaveaplanwisd evening is an opportunity for incoming freshmen and their families to visit their feeder-pattern high school campus to learn more about the opportunities available. On February 3, both WEHS and WHS will host a #ihaveaplanwisd night from 6:00-8:00. High school teachers, counselors, and administrators will be on hand to answer questions that students and parents may have about the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Families will also be able to tour classrooms and hear from students currently enrolled in Career and Technology courses.
Check out the #ihaveaplanwisd Course Guide here.
In the days and weeks following, #ihaveaplanwisd counselors from WHS and WEHS will be on the junior high campuses to guide students in selecting their high school courses. McMillan Junior High will select classes February 5, followed by Cooper Junior High on February 6, and Burnett Junior High on February 14. Please take an active role in speaking with your child about his/her options in preparation for these dates. We are excited to welcome our new Pirates and Raiders as they enter high school!
How did you choose your career? The bird in the picture made its nest from the only resource available. Many of us began a career journey with a limited understanding of ourselves and what careers were available. When Wylie students get to explore their strengths and interests and test drive their future during high school, we are preparing students for a life beyond high school with an engaging career, the Wylie Way.
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