College and Career Readiness Week at RHS
With seniors making final decisions about which college to attend and hoards of students beginning their search for summer jobs, Ramona High School caught the wave of excitement and anticipation by hosting College and Career Readiness Night for its students and parents.
The weeklong events began with a Career Night on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Wing.
From 5:30 to 5:55 p.m., students participated in the first of two interactive informational career sessions with professionals from several different fields. The second session ran from 6 to 6:25 p.m.
Next, there was a snack and time to mingle, and the night ended with a chance for students and parents to visit as many career booths—-including trade schools—as interested them.
Students and parents could arrive at any time in the evening.
If students wished to delve deeper into learning more specifically about any one career, professionals hosted the informational classroom sessions before the Career Fair to talk about the benefits of being involved in a specific career, the skill sets it takes to be successful in that line of work, and they answered any questions students had, said co-coordinator and Bulldogs CONNECT Grant Facilitator Jessica Dodson.
On Tuesday, students in grades 10-12 were invited to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, a career assessment test.
“Traditionally, this assessment was given to individuals interested in joining the military; however the assessment is now available to all high school students,” said co-coordinator and College and Career Counselor Toccara Maytrott. “Many students go through high school, and even college, without the slightest idea as to what they want to do upon completion. The ASVAB results can help steer a student in the right direction and allow them to focus on possible careers that would be a good fit for them, based on their personal skills and interests.”
Students who are interested in the test should contact Maytrott as soon as possible as seating is limited. She may be reached via e-mail at tmaytrott@ramonausd.net or by phone at 760-787-4028.
Wednesday night was College Night starting at 6:30, also in the Performing Arts Wing. Parents and students were invited to receive information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the first step in all scholarship quests, as well as speak with college representatives while visiting their booths.
Thursday is “Wear Your Favorite College Shirt to School Day.”
“RHS faculty and staff will be wearing shirts from where they went to college, seniors will be wearing shirts to the college they have been accepted to and plan on attending next year, and underclassmen are encouraged to wear a shirt from the college they hope to one day attend,” said Maytrott. “If a student doesn’t have a shirt from a particular college or university, they are encouraged to wear that school’s colors.
“Students who plan on attending a trade or technical school are also urged to wear a shirt from that institution.”
The final event of the week will be a field trip, sponsored by Bulldogs CONNECT, to California State University San Marcos on Friday. It’s free to all students. They simply need to pick up a permission slip from Dodson.
For more information on the week of festivities, contact Ramona High School at 760-787-4093 or visit the RHS Web site at www.ramonausd.net/rhs.