November 11th, 2017
21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM
Local experts examine economic issues with students
By JOAN CAVALLO
St. Albans City School
ST. ALBANS — This week St. Albans City School hosted several assemblies that helped us learn about the various components of businesses and economics. Tim Smith, executive director of the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation and a parent of students at our School, brought together two panels accessing local business leaders. One panel focused on environmental impacts and the other on the job market and what employers look for when hiring.
Tuesday morning we started with a panel presentation on the environmental impacts of manufacturing. The panel included: Celia Riechel from the State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Agency of Natural Resources, John Leddy the executive director of the Northwest Solid Waste District, Eric Ciemniewski the plant manager for Teknor Apex, and Tim Smith. They each answered many questions on how manufacturing companies today reduce, reuse and recycle.
Riechel explained that reduce, reuse, recycle is an order of preference. The first priority is to reduce. All of our panelists explained that businesses are realizing it makes sense to reduce waste and that in Vermont we are reusing a great deal. One good example that was shared is that grocery stores are not throwing food away, but sending it to food shelves, animal feed or compost.
The panel that discussed environmental impacts spoke to fourth through sixth grade teams.
In addition to sharing their knowledge, they also learned a little bit about each Learning Community as the students shared their business projects and how they were reducing, reusing and recycling.
Wednesday afternoon the seventh and eighth grade students were addressed by a panel of local experts on the topic of what employers are looking for when hiring employees.
The panel included; Kathy Lavoie the executive director of the Workforce Investment Board, Erica Hubbard the Director of Human Resources at Superior Technical Ceramics, Jim Naylor the co-op coordinator at the Northwest Technical Center and Tim Smith.
Students heard from each member of the panel that the transferable skills of communication and collaboration are critical to success in the workplace. They were encouraged to be in charge of the direction their life takes and build the skill set for the job they want. Panelists helped students connect their current world with their future in the workplace, and understand the importance of integrity and responsibility. There was humor in the presentation, as Smith showed what to do and not to do when dressing for an interview.
Each year students create a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) that explores options for their future career. The panel was able to help students think about themselves and what they should be doing now to prepare for a future job. The Economics Theme this year fit well with the PLP work.
St. Albans City School is grateful to Tim Smith and all of the panelists for sharing their knowledge and experience with our students. Having schoolwork link to real life helps to make it very meaningful. -- Joan Cavallo is the principal at St. Albans City School.
Local experts examine economic issues with students
By JOAN CAVALLO
St. Albans City School
ST. ALBANS — This week St. Albans City School hosted several assemblies that helped us learn about the various components of businesses and economics. Tim Smith, executive director of the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation and a parent of students at our School, brought together two panels accessing local business leaders. One panel focused on environmental impacts and the other on the job market and what employers look for when hiring.
Tuesday morning we started with a panel presentation on the environmental impacts of manufacturing. The panel included: Celia Riechel from the State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Agency of Natural Resources, John Leddy the executive director of the Northwest Solid Waste District, Eric Ciemniewski the plant manager for Teknor Apex, and Tim Smith. They each answered many questions on how manufacturing companies today reduce, reuse and recycle.
Riechel explained that reduce, reuse, recycle is an order of preference. The first priority is to reduce. All of our panelists explained that businesses are realizing it makes sense to reduce waste and that in Vermont we are reusing a great deal. One good example that was shared is that grocery stores are not throwing food away, but sending it to food shelves, animal feed or compost.
The panel that discussed environmental impacts spoke to fourth through sixth grade teams.
In addition to sharing their knowledge, they also learned a little bit about each Learning Community as the students shared their business projects and how they were reducing, reusing and recycling.
Wednesday afternoon the seventh and eighth grade students were addressed by a panel of local experts on the topic of what employers are looking for when hiring employees.
The panel included; Kathy Lavoie the executive director of the Workforce Investment Board, Erica Hubbard the Director of Human Resources at Superior Technical Ceramics, Jim Naylor the co-op coordinator at the Northwest Technical Center and Tim Smith.
Students heard from each member of the panel that the transferable skills of communication and collaboration are critical to success in the workplace. They were encouraged to be in charge of the direction their life takes and build the skill set for the job they want. Panelists helped students connect their current world with their future in the workplace, and understand the importance of integrity and responsibility. There was humor in the presentation, as Smith showed what to do and not to do when dressing for an interview.
Each year students create a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) that explores options for their future career. The panel was able to help students think about themselves and what they should be doing now to prepare for a future job. The Economics Theme this year fit well with the PLP work.
St. Albans City School is grateful to Tim Smith and all of the panelists for sharing their knowledge and experience with our students. Having schoolwork link to real life helps to make it very meaningful. -- Joan Cavallo is the principal at St. Albans City School.