Elizabeth High School

Options for career exploration at EHS

At EHS, there are currently 66 students taking literature courses for college credit via concurrent enrollment taught by Elizabeth teachers. Ten students are taking a business class at EHS, and 14 students are taking community college classes online or on the Arapahoe Community College campus in art, literature, psychology and math.

Several students are receiving workforce opportunities as well, 25 of them – the biggest group – in welding and automotive. Meanwhile other students are taking classes in which they can receive official certification for Adobe software usage, cybersecurity and certified nursing assistant training. Students gain skills that could land them employment right out of high school.

Students who take concurrent enrollment classes in composition and literature at EHS could start college with as many as 12 credits – a full semester’s worth – thanks to partnerships with ACC. Likewise, certain business classes offered here are tailored to have the same curriculum, quizzes and tests as what first-year students at Metro State University receive on campus.

All of that work feeds into the idea of giving EHS students the opportunities to choose specific career pathways to prepare them for life after high school. Pathways provide defined lists and groupings of classes that can best set students up for success whether they choose pathways that offer direct employment after graduation or pathways that require further training in college.

EHS’ new Certifed Nursing Assistant training program will launch at the beginning of the second semester. Interviews for a program director are set to begin soon, and a standalone modular building will be placed on the grounds of EHS later this fall.

Homegrown Talent Initiative open house draws a crowd

Elizabeth High School was bustling inside and out on Thursday, Sept. 30, as the Homegrown Talent Initiative open house drew a crowd. 

With lines at the five food trucks parked in front of the school as well as at tables of multiple presenters inside the gym, the community clearly was interested in learning about workplace education, character development and career exploration programs at every school level.

Internships

Two seniors, Gracie Bohler and Masen Loeks, had a table to share their internship experiences. Check out the video below to hear more about their perspective. 

Dr. Jesha Marcy-Quay represented Iron Horse Equine, which is currently hosting Masen and three other interns from EHS. “We really like having them,” she enthused. “They ask great questions. They really add to our practice, and our clients really like having them along and helping educate and further a future.”

The interns experience every facet of veterinary practice, from routine care all the way to high-quality sports medicine, diagnostics, and even emergency medicine.

“Part of what I think this program is about is finding things that you may or may not like to do. If they come and say ‘This really isn’t for me,’ I’m OK with that,” Marcy-Quay said. “I’d rather they do that than not have spent time doing it, and suddenly come around and be like ‘Oh, gosh, I spent years thinking I wanted to do this, and I’m this far into school and I don’t.’ 

“Find out now.”

Career Exploration

Another important aspect is preparing younger students to think about life after high school. A critical aspect added at EHS this year is called Cardinal Ground School.

The ninth-grade class is divided among five educators who all teach the same career prep curriculum -- with a new theme each week. Science teacher Lilyann Lambert is one of those five teachers and was on site at the open house to speak with students and parents about Cardinal Ground School. 

She explained that the main focus is helping students learn what it takes to be a good employee “so they’re more prepared for life after high school, whether it’s going to college or whether it’s going into the workforce.

Each week’s focus is on different hard skills and soft skills, including good communication, dressing appropriately for a particular job, career aptitude tests, coping with conflict, knowing one’s own personality, setting oneself apart, networking, public speaking, different types of work, workplace etiquette and more.

Workforce Training During and After High School

Several post-secondary institutions were represented as well, including some that focus on workforce readiness. 

Jenise Rosa of Pickens Technical College and Brian Treesh of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology each had lines of students and parents for the entire evening. They explained how students with a variety of aptitudes can find a career path that fits them. Students can acquire state-of-the-art skills and important work habits that will help them succeed in the workforce.