Life Long Learning Built Around Career & Academic Pathways

Children are growing up in a world that has changed dramatically since the days of old. Technology and other forces are rapidly transforming the ways we live and work. The forces of change are also reshaping what it means to have the knowledge and skills to lead a successful life now and in the 21st Century.

Although it sometimes seems that change is the only constant in the modern world, education must still begin by building a foundation of basic skills in reading, writing, communication, science and mathematics. The first job of school is to ensure that students fully master these basic skills as the tools to success in later learning, life and work. Neither business-as-usual in the schools, nor turning back the clock to a bygone era, will make all our students achieve at higher levels.

If students know that we expect more from them, we will get more from them. When our expectations are low, we deny our children something priceless-- the opportunity and encouragement to reach their full potential. As soon as we deliver a clear message that higher, more rigorous academic standards are being set, students will rise to the challenge.

To raise the academic standards for all students in Washington, the Washington State Commission on Student Learning has developed four goals:

• GOAL 1 Read with comprehension, write with skill, and communicate effectively and responsibly in a variety of ways and settings.
• GOAL 2 Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history; geography; arts; and health and fitness.
• GOAL 3 Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and integrate experience and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems.
• GOAL 4 Understand the importance of work and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect career and educational opportunities.

North Mason High School has already been working on achieving the first three goals. We are now implementing Goal 4. We call this "SCHOOL TO CAREER" which includes "Career Pathways."

North Mason High School's Career & Academic Pathway Program is a process for restructuring both what and how we teach and how we assess learning. Designed to help students see the connection between education and their personal lives, pathways motivate students to learn. Academic and technical courses are combined with relevant and practical learning activities.

In the Counseling office or the Career Center you will find suggested courses to consider taking related to the career pathway area which most closely matches your interests and the amount of education you are willing to complete. These include elective choices at North Mason and training at the West Sound Technical Skills Center. Many courses fall into more than one pathway area, as do many career choices. Very few entry level jobs can provide a suitable living wage; we recommend that every student have a plan for continuing their education beyond high school. Options include military training, apprenticeships, and technical training in addition to traditional college and university education. More information about all career options can be found in the Career Center.

  The curriculum is organized into five academic & career pathways:

1. Arts and Communication

2. Business and Marketing

3. Health and Social Services

4. Science and Natural Resources

5. Technology, Trades and Engineering

Each pathway is designed to improve communication skills, academic success, and thinking skills while increasing career awareness and opportunities. Personalized educational plans and reliable assessment measures are key components. Pathways are designed with a common core of classes and skills with specialized recommendations for electives. Students can move between pathways as their interests develop or change.

Many people choose a career because it is convenient, it pays well, or they were influenced by a friend or relative. But, thousands of surveys have shown that people who can match their personal interests with a career choice enjoy the most job satisfaction.

Students and parents can use the pathway information to guide course selections and develop future plans. The system is flexible, and students may change pathway as their interests change. Many career choices overlap in more than one pathway area. It is intended to be a guide. Try putting a check on the lines in front of the items that most interest you. If you find yourself putting more checks under one pathway than another, you too, may find greater job satisfaction within this career pathway. A brief explanation of each pathway is listed below:

Arts and Communications

This pathway is for students who are creative and prefer working with IDEAS.

• Enjoy creative, musical, or artistic activities
• Can easily come up with new ideas or ways of doing things
• Enjoy exploring the use of language
• Have been told you are creative
• Look at a drawing and imagine it from other angles
• Prefer change and variety over routine tasks
  

Business and Marketing

This pathway is for students who are persuaders and organizers--people who prefer working with DATA and PEOPLE.

• Like to plan and direct activities of organizations
• Are organized, efficient and comfortable with numbers or words
• Are ambitious & achievement oriented
• Are seen as a leader by your peers
• Find it easy to talk to new people
• Prefer structured work with clear guidelines
• Are disciplined and hard working
• Are able to work under pressure
• Have the ability to think logically and make decisions

Health and Social Services

This pathway is for students who are helpers and enjoy working with PEOPLE.

• Have a concern for people and their problems
• Write and speak clearly
• Get along with a variety of people
• Enjoy helping others learn new things
• Inspire trust and confidence in others
• Are empathetic and patient
• Enjoy sharing ideas with others
  

Science and Natural Resources

This pathway is for students who are thinkers and prefer working with IDEAS and THINGS.

• Like solving problems using facts and judgment
• Have the ability to apply math in formulas and word problems
• Understand scientific principles
• Recognize correct and incorrect use of English
• Like developing solutions to scientific problems
• Like working with ideas and things
• Like working precisely with creativity
• Have ever created or invented complex devices or things
  
  

Technology, Trades and Engineering

This pathway is for students who are doers and prefer working with THINGS and enjoy ACTION.

• Like to tinker with objects and figure out how they work
• Have good hand-eye coordination
• Enjoy solving problems using facts and judgment
• Have the ability to work accurately and precisely
• Are comfortable with machines or equipment
• Prefer working with your hands
• Enjoy assembling, building, or repairing things
• Have the ability to work as a team