(Photo Caption: Centennial Academy Eighth Graders Kiera Randall, Kennedy-Ryan Jackson and Karissa Ferrell-Hinkle at Georgia Charter Schools Association on Tuesday, May 2)
Centennial Academy eighth graders began visiting a number of businesses in the Atlanta area this week as part of a new job shadowing program recently created by the school. The program is officially called YMCA Youth Achievers @ Centennial Academy.
Currently, more than 12 businesses and nonprofit organizations are participating in the program. They include: Toshiba, Arthur M. Blank YMCA, Kaiser Permanente, Goodwill of North Georgia, Home Depot, Lineur Consulting, APS Tech Support, Georgia Charter Schools Association, Southern Education Foundation, Moeller Purcell Construction, Integral Real Estate, Country Financial, Bibliotheca and Centennial Place Apartments.
Centennial Academy administrators say the job shadowing program provides a unique opportunity for career exploration that allows the school’s scholars to learn first-hand what it is like to work as a professional in a particular field. As part of the program, students spend at least two days immersed in the daily activities of the businesses and nonprofits taking part in the program. While off-site, they learn about the responsibilities, skill requirements, and future outlook of a career field to help them prepare for college and career.
During the site visits, students tour the business or nonprofit; document their observations; interview employees; sit down for a resume review and collect business cards and other organization documents. They can also be asked to perform small tasks.
