Viking Voice
Set a Course for Success on Your Vocational Voyage
Spring 2018 Edition
Counselor Chat
- Have you considered what you will do during summer vacation?
- What activities will you participate in and/or what interests would you like to explore this summer?
- Are there summer camps, community service projects or extracurricular activities you would like to explore?
- What skills do you want to improve or need to continue to work on?
- In what ways can you gain knowledge about yourself, potential careers and pathways to those careers?
Summer Activities List
6th Grade
- Continue to improve your reading, writing & math skills by reading books, working on math problems and writing letters or journaling and by using Khan Academy to practice and develop academic skills during summer vacation.
- Get involved in an extracurricular activity, engage in a volunteer activity or community service project or attend a summer camp to explore your interests and build your skills (See resources below.).
- Continue to build a Growth Mindset and look at your mistakes and failures as opportunities to learn and grow your skills. (If you have not already done so, parents & students grab some popcorn and watch this brief video, Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUWn_TJTrnU. For additional information on a growth mindset, parents watch Carol Dweck's Power of YET TED Talk and students learn the power of "YET" by watching Katie Discovers the Incredible Power of YET! found on YouTube.
- Begin to explore careers and generate a list of possible options at https://www.mynextmove.org/ or by career cluster at https://www.onetonline.org/find/career.
- Learn more about the types of skills required for your future occupation at https://www.onetonline.org/skills/ and identify what work values are important to you by reviewing different work values at https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/Work_Values/.
- Read and complete activities in the Learn More Magazine. Go to: http://www.learnmoreindiana.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/LearnMore-6-8-082117.pdf to access this magazine.
7th Grade
- Work to improve your reading, writing, and math skills by using Khan Academy to practice and develop academic skills .
- Get involved in extracurricular activities, engage in volunteer activities and community service projects and/or look into summer camps that build on your interests, skills and abilities (See resources below.).
- Explore careers and generate a list of possible options at https://www.mynextmove.org/ or by career cluster at https://www.onetonline.org/find/career.
- Learn more about the types of skills required for your future occupations at https://www.onetonline.org/skills/ and identify what work values are important to you by reviewing different work values at https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/Work_Values/.
- Start to talk to people who engage in occupations of interest to you to learn more about them or job shadow someone who is engaged in the occupation of interest to you. For job shadow tips, go to https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/job-shadowing-tips. For a list of questions to ask when you job shadow, go to: https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/job-shadowing-questions.
- Search for scholarships you can apply for (See resources below.).
- Read and complete activities in the Learn More Magazine. Go to: http://www.learnmoreindiana.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/LearnMore-6-8-082117.pdf to access this magazine.
- Learn if you are eligible and apply for 21st Century Scholars program at http://scholars.in.gov/.
8th Grade
- Work to improve your reading, writing, and math skills by using Khan Academy to practice and develop academic skills and prepare for the PSAT 9.
- Get involved in extracurricular activities and engage in volunteer activities and community service projects and/or look into summer camps that build on your interests, skills and abilities (See resources below.).
- Begin to think about your high school plan of study and courses you would like to take and review diploma requirements to allow you to set your diploma goal. Check out courses offered at VHS by going to: http://valparaisohigh.ss10.sharpschool.com/academics.
- Attend scheduled high school orientation and course scheduling meetings.
- Continue to explore careers and generate a list of possible options at https://www.mynextmove.org/ or by career cluster at https://www.onetonline.org/find/career.
- Learn more about the types of skills required for your future occupations at https://www.onetonline.org/skills/ and identify what work values are important to you by reviewing different work values at https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/Work_Values/.
- Complete a job shadow of someone who is engaged in an occupation of interest to you. For job shadow tips, go to https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/job-shadowing-tips. For a list of questions to ask when you job shadow, go to https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/job-shadowing-questions.
- Search for scholarships you can apply for (See resources below.) and learn if you are eligible and apply for the 21st Century Scholars program at http://scholars.in.gov/. The application deadline is June 30, 2018 for current 8th graders.
Summer Camps & Activities**
Valparaiso Public Library
http://pcpls.org/services/kids/#learn
http://pcpls.org/services/reading-programs/summer-reading/
https://www.pnw.edu/educational-opportunity-programs/ets/summer-programs/
PNW Engineering Camp
https://academics.pnw.edu/engineering/engineering-summer-camp/
Purdue Cyber Security Camp
https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/camps/gencyber
PNW Sports Camps
http://www.pnwathletics.com/fanzone/camps/
IUN Summer Camps
http://www.iun.edu/kids-college/index.htm
Valparaiso University Summer Camps
https://www.valpo.edu/youth-camp/
Valparaiso University Summer Camps for Girls
https://www.valpo.edu/college-of-engineering/egear-summer-camp/
Porter County Parks Programs
https://www.porterco.org/index.aspx?NID=724
Valparaiso Parks Programs
http://www.valpoparks.org/271/Summer-Camps
Dunes Learning Center Programs
https://duneslearningcenter.org/summer/
**Valparaiso Community Schools do not endorse or limt itself to these resources.
Post-Secondary Education Funding Information & Scholarships Search**
https://www.savingforcollege.com/intro-to-529s/what-is-a-529-plan
CollegeChoice 529 Savings Plan
https://www.collegechoicedirect.com/
What College Scholarships Can Middle School Students Apply For?
Search for following websites for more information:
- http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/parent-child/college-scholarships-middle-school
- http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/8-12.htm
- https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/money/college-scholarships-middle-schooler
- https://www.unigo.com/pay-for-college/scholarships/you-re-never-too-young-for-scholarships
- http://collegebound.org/resources/middle-school-scholarships/
**Valparaiso Community Schools do not endorse or limit itself to these resources.
Resources for Parents
Study Skills for Middle School and Beyond
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/study-skills-for-middle-school-and-beyond/
A Middle School Parent's College Prep Guide
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/middle-school-parents-college-prep-guide/
Sign-up for Trip to College Alerts
**Fees may apply based on your phone service plan.
Important Dates:
21st Century Scholar Information & Application Night for Parents
TJMS - Thursday, May 3 at 5:30 PM in the Flex Room
BFMS - Friday, May 4 at 11:30 AM in the LGI Room
- Questions regarding the 21st Century Scholar Program will be answered.
- 7th & 8th Grade students are welcome to attend along with their parents.
- Assistance will be available to help you enter application information online. Complete the application worksheet available at http://scholars.in.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017-2018-Enrollment-Application-Worksheet-English.pdf https://tinyurl.com/yd7nfh2m and bring it with you.
Usted puede encontrar la forma al enlace: http://scholars.in.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017-2018-Enrollment-Application-Worksheet-Spanish.pdf https://tinyurl.com/yah9uvgz
Complete la forma y tráigala con usted para entregar a la reunion.
21st Century Scholar Application Deadline for 8th Graders
June 30. 2018
- Learn if you are eligible and apply for the 21st Century Scholars Program at https://scholars.in.gov/. The deadline for current 8th graders is June 30th, 2018.
Vocational Skill of the Quarter
Essential 21st Century Skills
As you prepare for the world of work, you need to be aware of some basic skills that employers are looking for to enable you to practice and develop the skills you will need to be successful. Basic skills are defined as those skills that help us develop our capacity to learn and provide us the ability to more rapidly acquire knowledge. Here is a list of valuable basic skills outlined by O*Net Online (2018) that will assist you when entering the work force:
- Active Learning — Active learning is the ability to understand implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening — Active listening is the ability to give your full attention to what others are saying, taking time to understand the information they are sharing, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking — Critical thinking is the ability to use logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Learning Strategies — The ability to select and use effective methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning new things.
- Math Skills — The ability to use math to solve problems.
- Monitoring — The ability to monitor and assess your performance and/or that of others, in order to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension Skills — The ability to understand written sentences and paragraphs in documents, manuals and books.
- Science Skills — The ability to use scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Speaking/Communication Skills — The ability to talk to others to convey information effectively.
- Writing Skills — Communicating effectively in written form and in a manner that meets the needs of the audience.
- Time Management — The ability to manage your time efficiently and effectively.
O*Net Online (2017) also provides this list of other beneficial work-related skills:
- Complex Problem Solving Skills - Complex problem solving skills involve developing the capacity to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings. They involve the ability to identify problems, review related information, evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Resource Management Skills - Resource management skills involve developing the capacity to allocate resources efficiently, such as determining how much money will be spent, accounting for expenditures, obtaining appropriate equipment, facilities and materials, motivating others, helping others develop skills needed, directing others work and managing the time of others along with your own in order to complete work to be done.
- Social Skills - Social skills involve our capacity to work with others to achieve goals and accomplish tasks. This includes the ability to coordinate activities and people, train and help others, collaborate, negotiate, and persuade others, be aware of others' reactions and understand why people react the way they do.
- Systems Skills - Systems skills involve the capacity to understand, monitor, and improve interactions between people and technological systems. This requires the ability to complete cost versus benefit analysis of potential courses of action and then choose the most appropriate course of action. It also involves determining how systems work, understanding the impact of changes on outcomes and identifying indicators of performance and actions needed to improve performance to meet goals to be met by the system.
- Technical Skills - Technical skills involve the capacity to design, set-up, operate, and correct malfunctions and involve selecting, installing, programming, operating, controlling, monitoring and inspecting equipment, as well as, equipment maintenance, quality assurance, and repairing, troubleshooting and adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs (O*Net Online, 2018).
Many of the above skills can be developed and enhanced through participation in extracurricular activities or community service projects or completing jobs for family members or neighbors such as snow shoveling, lawn mowing or babysitting. Therefore, I encourage you to get involved in an activity of interest to you.
Finally, I want to provide you with a list of the top 10 skills employers seek in employees, which are:
- Collaboration/Teamwork
- Creativity/Imagination
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
- Oral & Written Communication Skills
- Flexibility & Adaptability
- Global & Cultural Awareness
- Leadership
- Initiative
- Information Literacy
- Technology Literacy
(Envision, 2017).
References
Envision. (2017). 13 essential 21st century skills for today's students. Retrieved from https://www.envisionexperience.com/blog/13-essential-21st-century-skills-for-todays-students.
O*Net Online. (2018, March 13). Skills search. Retrieved from
Career Cluster of the Quarter
Business Management & Administration Career Cluster
Is a Business Management & Administration Career right for me?
- Do you like to plan and organize activities?
- Do you enjoy working with other people?
- Can you function well as a part of a team?
- Are you willing to work in an office environment?
- Would you like running your own business?
- Do you have good oral and written communication skills?
https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/business.html
As a middle school student, you can explore activities related to this career cluster by engaging in the following types of extracurricular activities:
- Join Business Professionals of America (BPA).
- Join DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America).
- Participate in Speech & Debate.
- Be a part of Student Council.
- Be a Boy or Girl Scout.
- Run for and become a class officer.
- Captain a sports team.
- Manage a school fundraiser or event.
- Lead a volunteer activity or community service project.
- Join a committee to plan an event.
- Job shadow a local business person.
- Read business newspapers or magazines for current economic trends and business practices.
- Volunteer in a local business office, nonprofit agency or for the Chamber of Commerce.
- Start your own business.
Reference
MINNESOTA STATE CAREERwise Education. (2018). Business, management and administration. Retrieved from https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/business.html.
Career Connection Corner
Post-Secondary Option: 2 Year & 4 Year Colleges & Universities
A college tends to be smaller and offer a smaller range of academic programs/majors. It may not offer graduate level programs. Professors are more likely to teach the classes and offer greater personal attention to their students. Classes sizes also tend to be smaller.
A university has a broader range of academic programs available and offers graduate programs as there are multiple schools within its system. For example, a university may have a School of Education, School of Business and School of Engineering and Sciences within its system of education. At a university, there are generally more extensive resources available to students. Introductory classes tend to be taught in a large lecture format and may be taught by a teaching assistant (TA) instead of a professor. Therefore, less personal attention may be offered to students by professors due to the large number of students served.
How do I choose a college or university?
Here are some questions to ask as you look at your options:
- How far do I want to be from home?
- What type of school am I looking for? Certificate/Trade/2-yr./4-yr./Graduate Level Program
- What housing options does the school offer? Does the school require that I live on campus? What are the costs involved?
- What is the size of the school's campus?
- What is the size of the student body? What is the student-to-professor ratio?
- Where is the school located? Do I prefer a rural or an urban setting?
- What are the demographics of the school? Male-to-female ratio? Racial/ethnic backgrounds of the student body and staff? Commuter-to-on-campus resident ratio?
- What academic majors does the school offer? What programs am I looking for? Are the programs accredited? (Accredited means that the program is officially authorized or approved of by some governing body. For example, is the dental program accredited by the American Dental Association.)
- What campus activities are offered? What kinds of extracurricular activities are available?
- What is the school's graduation rate?
- What is the school's job placement rate for its graduates?
Videos - College vs. University:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoptGA4XkTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvUt57e80Yo
2-year vs. 4-year degree
A 2-year degree involves completing approximately 60 credit hours to earn what is called an associate's degree. This degree is offered at community colleges and vocational schools, along with a few 4-year colleges and universities. These programs are also offered online. In order to complete an associate's degree, you are required to complete general education, elective, and major courses. A 2-year degree option works well for those needing to work in order to pursue a career while completing a college degree. A 2-year degree option allows flexibility of time due to the smaller number of courses required to be completed allowing you to attend full- or part-time to complete this degree. You can use credits earned for an associate's degree as a stepping stone toward a bachelor's degree at a 4-year college or university but you must check with the college/university you want to transfer credits to. It can also allow you to experiment if you are uncertain that pursuing a college degree is right for you. By 2020, 30% of jobs will require a associate's degree.
A 4-year degree requires approximately 120-128 credit hours to earn what is called a bachelor’s degree. It generally takes about 4 years, but sometimes 5 years, to complete unless you have credits earned from an associate’s degree that can be applied toward a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree requires students to complete "core" general education courses, electives, and major courses. At most colleges, only 30 to 36 credits (approximately 10 to 12 courses) are included in the major area of study. This degree is commonly referred to as a "college degree" as a bachelor's degree is the entry-level requirement for many careers. Before earning a bachelor's degree, students should have a good idea of the career they want to pursue following graduation. Some careers and graduate schools require that you earn a bachelor's degree in specific field of study. Earning a bachelor's degree is a prerequisite for admittance to graduate schools or professional programs in law, medicine, teacher education or engineering. A bachelor's degree provides greater career flexibility and options. By 2020, only 35% of jobs will require a bachelor's degree or higher.
How do I know if a 2-year or 4-year degree is right for me?
Here are some questions to ask yourself in determining which track to pursue at a college or university:
- What degree does the career I am pursuing require?
- Am I able to afford a 4-year degree? If not, can I get a 2-year degree to allow me to get a job more quickly, which will assist me with paying for the rest of the education I need?
- If I get a 2-year degree, will my employer help me pay for the remaining education required for my career?
Videos - 2-yr. vs. 4-yr. degrees:
College & Career Websites & Resources
Connect with Melissa Valtierra
Email: mvaltierra@valpo.k12.in.us
Phone: 219-531-3140