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Welcome to Parkwood Middle School's Career Readiness Program

Our Mission Statement for our CTE Program

To provide Parkwood Middle School students with rigorous and relevant courses and programs that emphasize applications of theory, problem solving and critical thinking and to provide leadership in developing an educated, prepared and competitive workforce by preparing middle students for post-secondary and careers by giving them the 21st century skills that they need to help them become life-long learners.

Middle School Career Development Coordinator Responsibilities

Middle School Career Development Coordinator responsibilities incorporate the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, National Career Development Guidelines, the National Model for School Counseling Programs and Future-Ready Students For the 21st Century.

Specific Career Development Coordinator responsibilities include:

Leading Career Development Initiatives for middle school students (Individual, Small Group and Co-Teaching).
Delivering Preparatory Services for middle school students to be successful in the high school environment.
Delivering Transition Services for middle school students to high school environment.
Implementing School Marketing, Community Outreach and Partnership Strategies for middle school environment in collaboration with school administration team(s).
Designing and Delivering Professional Development Services such as Professional Coaching in the area of Experiential Learning Instructional Strategies and Cross Curricular Collaboration for middle school teachers and support staff (Individual, Small Group, Grade-Level, Content Area, School wide and District).
Parkwood Middle School Counselor's Page

Parkwood Middle School Career Readiness Program Highlights

student winners

1st Annual PWMS Mobile Application Competition Winners in 2017-18

MIT

MIT visits Parkwood female students to expose them to non-traditional careers in STEM.

Parkwood Middle 7th graders visits UNC-Charlotte as part of UCPS Strategic Initiative.

Robotics competition

PWMS Robotics Club in the competition with Team Overdrive taking home the bronze for 3^rd place overall in the Middle School Division. Our Faculty Advisor is Ms. Rothrock.

As a participant in the UCPS Middle Grades Career Development Program, students will:
• Explore self-awareness.
• Use computers and technology.
• Learn sources of up-to-date career information.
• Complete career interest inventories, a learning styles assessment, and other
assessments relating to career decisions.
• Participate in hands-on career exploration activities.
• Be aware of career pathway opportunities available in and beyond high school.
• Be familiar with employment opportunities available in Union County and surrounding
geographic areas.
• Develop a four-year plan outlining tentative courses to take in high school.

** Note: Excerpt from the 2017-2018 UCPS Middle School Curriculum Guide

Career Readiness MS Instructional Tools for Core/Related Arts Teachers:

PWMS Naviance Family Connections

College Board

American College Test (ACT)

May/June STEAM/PBL Teachers of the Month

Interest Inventories and College & Career Readiness Tools for Students:

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Centralina Career Headlight career search
Career Interest Inventory
Career Searches
Career Tests
Career Assessments
Careers in the Health Care Field
Career Resources for Minorities and Special Populations
College Foundation of NC - a wealth of information on career and school searches in N.C.
Career interest inventories and planning
Mynextmove.org - learn more about career options

Personality tests for Staff and Students

Find out more about yourself
Personality Profiling - additional personality profiling

Improving Your Grades

Study guides and strategies available in over 30 different languages

Learning Style Inventories for Students

The VARK Questionnaire: How do I Learn Best?
NC State Learning Style Questionnaire
Learning Channel Preference
Learning Styles Quiz

Additional Federal Career Readiness Websites

U.S. Department of Labor resources for teens
The U.S. Safety and Health Administration’s site for young people

STEM Pathway Matriculation in Parkwood Cluster (Middle to High School)

The Class of 2022 (rising freshmen) have an unique opportunity to take part in a STEM pathway while in high school. Students will be able to choose between Computer Science or Renewable Energy. Students who apply and are accepted into a requested pathway will take courses that are uniquely designed for those students.

To learn more about the STEM program at PWHS and the courses that will be included, click on the links below:

Computer Science Pathway at PWHS
Renewable Energy Engineering at PWHS
STEM Pathway Brochure
STEM Pathway Application - (Closed for 2018-19 School Year)

Local & State Career Readiness Department Links

UCPS Career Readiness Website

UCPS College Readiness Website

UCPS Local/NC State CTE Plan

NCDPI CTE Website

2018-2019 School Year STEAM Advisory Board

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Click here for Spring 2018 STEAM Advisory Board Minutes

Click here for Winter 2018 STEAM Advisory Board Minutes

Click here for 2017-2018 STEAM Program Online Evaluation

Click here for NCDPI Middle School STEM Program Rubric

ADVISORY BOARD OFFICERS

Principal: Jeff Kraftson

Board Chairperson: Brian Elliott

Board Secretary: Pamela Johnson

Parkwood Middle School awarded $500 STEM Grant from UCPS Chamber of Commerce along with a matching $1000 Grant monies from a private community donor in 2017- 18 school year.

STEAM GRADE LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES

6^th - Ms. Cummins

7^th - Ms. Thayer

8^th - Ms. Johnson

Related Arts – Ms. Rothrock

STEAM Continuous Improvement Committee

Ms. Rothrock - Chairperson
Ms. Howie (New Visual Arts Teacher)
Ms. Robinson

Link to NC STEM Program Attributes: Guidelines

STEAM Community Outreach, Grants and Compliance Committee

Mr. Elliott - Chairperson
Ms. Johnson
Ms. Wendling (Thayer )
Dr. Kraftson

Link to Guidelines for STEM Community Engagement: Do it Yourself STEM NC

STEAM Curriculum and Instruction Committee

Ms. Cummins– Chairperson
Mr. Adeglass
Ms. Baker
Ms. Frunzi

Link for Curriculum Alignment: NC STEM Center

Wizard of Oz Cast

PWMS Science Olympiad Team PWMS Theatre Company

Lead Coach: Mr. Marmara Faculty Advisor: Ms. DePietro

Pictured above are PWMS STEAM Student Organizations (Science Olympiad and PWMS Theater Company) for 2017-2018 school year.

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In compliance with federal law, Union County Public Schools administers all educational programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of gender, race color, religion, national origin, age, or disability. All CTE courses are open to students regardless of race, ethnic origin, gender, disadvantaging or handicapping condition, socio- economic status, or other special population status. Students are advised and assisted in the selection of courses and participation in CTE activities on the basis of student interest and self- determination.

PWMS CTE