Career Connections

Welcome to Career Connections

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Our students' careers will begin after high school whether they choose to continue career preparation through two- and four-year colleges, trade or technical schools, apprenticeships, on-the-job training or military service or enter the workforce directly after high school.  The Wesbrook High School Career Connections initiative aims to provide students with opportunities to apply academic learning through workplace experiences and help them focus on realistic career choices and preparation for those future careers.  

Westbrook High School invites parents, industry, business and community partners to assist the school in building the talent pipeline and preparing students for their future careers.   Scroll down for a list of our current partners.

Leslie Carson

Career/College Readiness Coordinator

lcarson@westbrookctschools.org  

860.399.6214

 

 

Newsworthy

  • Resume Feedback Opportunity

    Creating a compelling resume that grabs the attention of hiring managers is an important career-readiness skill and a component of building a student's professional brand.  It is also an important college-readiness skill since many colleges want students to submit a resume as a part of their application process.  

    We want to help students develop a compelling resume with two supports:

    1.  'Developing Compelling Resumes" is a student resource that provides students with steps and important tips for writing a resume.  This document is located as a resource under the Student Resources and the Community Resources sections of the Career Connections page.  

    2.  Student Resume Feedback Opportunity.  Beginning today and through May 22, Westbrook High Schools students in Grades 9 through 12 are invited to submit their resumes for feedback from business/industry partners.  Our school's partners want to help our students and are excited to lend their human resources expertise.  Resume submissions guidelines can also be found under the Student Resources section of the Career Connections page.  

    Career Connections

  • Westbrook HS Students Participate in Mock Interviews with Business/Industry Partners

    On March 11, 2020, Westbrook HS students participated in an interview workshop led by Joshua Kelly from Junior Achievement.  Mr. Kelly discussed the STAR method for answering interview questions (Describe a Situation you were in, the Task or goal you were working toward in the situation, the Actions you took and the Result of the actions taken.  He also spoke with students about appropriate dress and mannerisms for interviewing as well as the right attitude.  On March 12, ten business/industry partners were on hand to practice interviewing with students.  Each student completed two 25-minute interviews with professionals who conduct interviews as a part of their work.   Students received feedback for improvement.  A special thank you to our industry partners:

    Julie Armstrong, Junior Achievement

    Laura Asbury, S.A.R.A.H. Inc.

    Lauren Bernacchia, Middlesex Health Hospital

    Cara Bernard,  The Full Circle Real Estate Group

    Andrea DeJesus, Whelen Engineering

    Ashley Dupre, Whelen Engineering

    Josh Kelly, Junior Achievement

    Patrick Mahoney, retired 

    Bill Neale, Radiall USA

    Chris Pallatto, Valley Shore YMCA

    Laura Pedersen, Mazzotta Employment

    Scott Wilderman, Career Resources

    Lynn Giroux, Essex Savings Bank

     

    Career Connections

  • Hospitality & Tourism Industry Panel February 6, 2020

    Special thanks to Joshua Kelly from Junior Achievement for bringing together a Career Connections industry panel featuring occupations in the Hospitality and Tourism career cluster.   Students and Westbrook High School faculty and staff learned what it takes to be successful in the industry, qualities employers look for in employees and even some tips for building a professional brand and network while in high school.   

    A very special thanks to our panelists and moderator who took time out of their work days to support the students of Westbrook High School:

    Bo Bradstreet, Vice President, Bohan & Bradstreet, Board Member at Junior Achievement

    Marcia Simon, APR, CTA, Travel Advisor, FriendlyGroupTravel.com

    Chris Pallatto, Executive Director/CEO, Valley Shore YMCA

    Stephen Jarzabek, Hotel Manager, Water's Edge Resort & Spa  

    Career Connections
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Westbrook High School Career Connections Framework

  Career Connections experiences are aligned to the three components of the Westbrook High School Career Connections Framework:

1.  Alignment of Classroom and Workplace Learning.  Industry and higher education partners assist teachers in integrating employability skills and All Aspects of An Industry into academic learning activities through:

  • Teacher externships
  • Assistance from industry professionals in development of project-based learning and curriculum.

2. Support from Classroom or Workplace Mentors.  Industry and high education partners visit classrooms so students can begin early to build a professional network and learn from experts in career fields through:

  • Senior project industry mentors and judges
  • Science Fair industry mentors
  • Classroom guest speakers
  • Facilitated industry-specific panel discussions for students (and parents) focused on learning about occupations within the industry, education requirements, jobs outlook and efforts  students should take while in high school to prepare for career success

3. Application of Academic, Technical and Employability Skills in the Work Setting.  Students explore industries and careers through:

  • Credit-bearing internships for Grade 12
  • Half-day structured job shadowing for Grades 9 through 11
  • Industry-led workshops on creating quality resumes and successful interviewing
  • Class field trips

 

THANK YOU BUSINESS, INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

The Westbrook High School students, parents and staff would like to thank for the following business, industry and community partners for supporting the Career Connections initiative.   These partners are providing leadership and advise on implementation in addition to opportunities for our students to participate in a large variety of Career Connections activities.  

Aerospace Components Manufacturers

Alta Vision Systems LLC

AT&T

Back Stage Dance Center LLC

Beach Club Fitness

Blackkat Leather

Bushy Hill Nature Center

Andrew Calderoni, retired engineer

Career Resources

Central Area Health Education Center, Inc.

Civil Air Patrol

CT Department of Labor, Manufacturing Apprenticeships

CT River Area Health District

CT Students for a Dream

Essex Asset Advisors

Essex Meadows

Essex Savings Bank

The Full Circle Real Estate Group

Ivoryton Alliance

Julie's Cup of Joe

Junior Achievement

Elizabeth Kressley, M.D.

Lincoln Technical Institute

Mazzotta Employment 

Middlesex Chamber of Commerce

Middlesex Community Foundation

Middlesex Health Hospital and Shoreline Clinic

MSE Public Relations

OceanArt Studio

Old Saybrook High School

Oxford Academy

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals

Proctor Architects LLC

Project Courage LLC

Radiall USA

Region #4, Valley Regional High School

Safety Matters LLC

SARAH Inc.

Six Summit Gallery

Soroptomist International

The Lee Company

Valley Shore Community Television

Valley Shore YMCA

Water's Edge Resort and Spa

Webster Bank

Westbrook Economic Action Initiative

Westbrook Honda

Westbrook Inn

Westbrook Public Library

Westbrook Youth and Family

Whelen Engineering

Workforce Alliance

Yale New Haven Health