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As educators we must teach our school students that their futures are now \u2013 everything they do in school is in preparation for what lies ahead.\u00a0At Niagara Falls High School, the Post-Secondary Success Program (PS2) has been an excellent career and college-readiness resource and learning experience for our students. I am proud to share this program update.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Niagara Falls City School District PS2 program prepares students to transfer between high school and college or the workforce successfully. Starting in ninth grade, the PS2 curriculum offers three-pronged career skills training that focuses on academics, employability, and technical skills used in a specific occupation. Students can even earn over two dozen college credits through Early College in partnership with Niagara County Community College.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The three tracks PS2 offers are:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2022 Building Trades\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 coursework, internships, and job shadowing for careers in\u00a0construction, masonry, carpentry, electricity, operators, and engineers. Students in this path can earn OSHA safety credits in\u00a0asbestos removal, hazardous materials abatement, paving, pipe installation, and bridge and building construction.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Pathways to Employment<\/strong> \u2014 the\u00a0coursework is for students planning to attend college to explore careers including education, hospitality\/tourism, law enforcement, and performing arts.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Business, Finance,\u00a0and Marketing<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0this track focuses on instruction and job shadowing in accounting, marketing, and entrepreneurship.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Local celebrity Chef Bobby Anderson runs the district\u2019s F-Bites program. The program re-enacts all aspects of running a restaurant. Students are the employees who take the reigns and fill jobs from server to ma\u00eetre d\u2019.<\/p>\n Part of the district\u2019s F-Bites Culinary curriculum, The Starbucks Barista Program at Niagara Falls High School, is the first of its kind in the nation. Utilizing an actual Starbucks kiosk constructed inside the high school, the program trains students to be employable, leaders, and effective team members.<\/p>\n PS2 would not be possible without the cooperation of local businesses and organizations that have partnered with the NFCSD to provide job shadowing, training, and internships for our youth.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Job shadowing for our students is ongoing with the following companies:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Durez Corporation\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Confer Plastics\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 TAM Ceramics\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Sheraton At The Falls\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 NYS Parks\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Lakeside Quarter Horses\u00a0<\/p>\n Job shadowing opportunities are in progress with:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Olin Corporation\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 GreenPac Mill\u00a0\/ summer 2022<\/p>\n \u2022 Thermal Fisher Scientific<\/p>\n \u2022 Borderworx, LLC\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Iron Workers Local 9<\/p>\n \u2022 Cement Masons Local 111<\/p>\n \u2022 IBEW Local 237<\/p>\n \u2022 Laborers’ Local 91<\/p>\n \u2022 North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters<\/p>\n Job training \/ apprenticeships (upcoming):\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Jr. Law Enforcement Academy<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Beginning January 31, 2022, students will take Intro to CRJ100 (Introduction to Criminal Justice) and will receive course credit paid for by the District. Approximately 10-15 students have already signed up. \/ January 31, 2022 \u2013 June 9, 2022\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Local Food Network<\/strong> (TreC) will offer a 12-week program at TreC\u00a0\u00a0\/ January 2022\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority<\/strong> (NFTA) \/ summer 2022\u00a0<\/p>\n OSHA training \/ construction education:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Laborers\u2019 Local\u00a091 Union will\u00a0complete OSHA 10 training for twelfth-grade students. OSHA 10 students will receive\u00a0safety certifications in\u00a0asbestos removal, hazardous materials abatement, paving, pipe installation, and bridge and building construction \/ December 2021\u00a0and on-going<\/p>\n \u2022 OSHA will a construction industry outreach training program. The program will provide specific skills training in the electrical and building trades for entry-level construction workers. The training program covers recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site \/ spring 2022\u00a0<\/p>\n Upcoming spring field trips:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Northland WTC\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 BOCES Adult Education\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Worksourceone Trott Access\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Niagara Frontier Transportation Association\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Summer 2022 opportunities:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Pyrotek (employment & possible job shadows)\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 NYS Parks (potential summer employment & internships)\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Greenpac Mill (possible paid summer internships & apprenticeships)\u00a0<\/p>\n NFTA\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Niagara University\/Sheraton field trip \u2013 hospitality, sports management, tourism, business \/ ongoing\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 NFCSD teacher shadows – GJ Mann Elementary, Maple Avenue Elementary, Hyde Park Elementary\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 NCCC offering micro-credentials in education classes\u00a0<\/p>\n Our PS2 partners in business and organizations make so many parts of this program happen. The District is thrilled to acknowledge them in this article. If you read this and want to become a partner, please contact me at mlaurrie@nfschools.net<\/a><\/p>\n PS2 is a force in keeping our kids in school. It teaches our students that the path to their employment dreams runs directly through graduation.<\/p>\n Mark Laurrie is the superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n