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Blue Jays Mic'd Up
School District of Washington Superintendent Dr. Cassandra Suggs gives updates on happenings around the District including chats with students, staff, and community leaders.
Blue Jays Mic'd Up
Diploma Plus
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Students from Washington High School join Dr. Kephart to discuss their Diploma Plus Assets.
The Kaphart Communications Podcast is hosted by School District of Washington's superintendent Dr. Jennifer Kephart. With help from our team in the Washington High School CAPS program, Dr. Kephart and her guests share information ranging from district happenings, current events, and student experiences to keep listeners informed about the School District of Washington. If you are a parent, district employee, or community member, this podcast is for you. Let's welcome Jack Gerderman, Isaac Lowe, Megan Bivens, Gillian Hellinghoff, Ella Lousey, and Mia Nara from Washington High School.
SPEAKER_03Thank you, CAPS team, for the introduction, and we have a full podcast studio today. I'm going to let each of them introduce themselves, but we have six of our seniors, and we are so excited to be able to highlight Connect Washington and the experiences that they have received this year over a variety of our business and industry partners. We look forward to having each of them in the studio to be able to share the opportunities they have gained, the experiences that have also helped them explore their career passion and interest prior to graduation from Washington High School. So welcome to the podcast studio today. For all of you, we're excited to have you. I'm going to let each of you share your name and the school that you attended before Washington High School. So I'm going to let you start us out, Jack.
SPEAKER_01Hello, I'm Jack Gerdman and I attended Augusta Elementary. My name is Isaac Lell and I attended Clearview Elementary.
SPEAKER_05My name is Megan Bivens and I attended Washington West. My name is Gillian Hellinghoff and I attended Campbleton Elementary.
SPEAKER_04My name's Ella Lazy and I attended Augusta Elementary.
SPEAKER_07My name is Mia Narup and I attended Clearview Elementary and then transferred to Washington West.
SPEAKER_03So I didn't even realize that each of you are Blue Jays starting from elementary school. So I knew to ask you that, but I didn't even think that all of you would be Blue Jays. So we're so excited that you get a chance not only to share your experiences currently, but also to be able to highlight that for our elementary students that get a chance to have these experiences as they go forth with middle school and high school. So we're going to start today and we're going to talk a little bit about Connect Washington and your experiences and diploma plus assets. But for our listeners, I want to be able to share just a little bit of background with Connect Washington because this is our first year with Connect Washington and our implementation for our students. So ultimately, our goal is that every student that graduates Washington High School is able to experience their workforce, passion, and interest in our community before graduating high school. While that is, for our students in the podcast studio, while that is a junior-senior experience and senior in this case, we know that career connections happen very early on. So as a district, we have implemented our 10 essential skills that have been woven throughout the curriculum, pre-K through 12. And we are also looking at additional career connections with our community through speaking sessions in our classrooms, through career opportunities, just ways that our students, again, pre-K through 12, get a chance to see the various careers that we have. So when students are in their junior senior level, they get a chance to know what is out there that they can go truly have impact on in our community. So with that, let's hear a little bit from our students because each of the six students that are in the studio today have been able to have a career-connected opportunity to participate to participate in. So I'm going to start on the other side of the room. Mia, would you like to tell us just a little bit about the career-connected opportunity you have been involved with and what you plan on doing with that potentially as a diploma plus asset next year?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, so this year I've been working with Mr. King and Miss Miller Wood on the Four Rivers Career Center newsletter. So that's been really fun because I've gotten to hear from other teachers and other students about what they're doing in the classroom and just kind of how they're getting ready for their workforce. And additionally, I participated in a program called the Supreme Court in my hometown, which was in St. Louis. And I got to work with local lawyers to St. Louis, and they kind of mentored us through a program at the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse, which is nice because in the future I want to be a lawyer.
SPEAKER_03So wonderful. So as our listeners, as we talk about our diploma plus assets, that's a great opportunity to share a client-connected project. And we, as the School District of Washington, are great clients. So even the podcast for Ket Hart Communications Insider, it Ket Hart Communications Podcast is a client-connected project. So we appreciate you partnering with us as well as other opportunities. And Ella, what about for you?
SPEAKER_04I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of businesses in the local area doing graphic design work for them. Some of those include Washington Skin Solutions and the Washington Care Clinic in town. And I've gotten to do multiple things for them, whether it be brochures or social media posts. And then I've also worked with our football team and baseball team and creating game day graphics for them. And then I've also done the back of the scoreboard at Washington High School.
SPEAKER_03So anytime you drive by the back of the scorecard on 47, that's Ella's work. So some really good examples of client-connected projects outside of the district, but also inside the district. Thank you for that. Jillian, what about for you?
SPEAKER_05So last year was my first year in the CAPS business program. And at the beginning of the year, one of our like client-connected projects was working with downtown Washington. And I actually, as a result of that like project that we did, got to run their TikTok startup and run their TikTok for the year. And that client connected project kind of was a big role in me this year. Securing I got an apprenticeship and I work at Exit 11 Coffee.
SPEAKER_03Well, and you're not a newbie to the podcast studio because I know that the CAPS program out of the Kansas City area has highlighted you and your work with Exit 11 too. So we are super appreciated, appreciative of your experiences, but moving that client-connected project into an apprenticeship. So that's a really good example of some of our students will also graduate with more than one diploma plus asset. So that's great. Thank you.
SPEAKER_06And Megan, what about for you? So at the beginning of this school year, I was pulled into the office with Dr. Dirks and I was asked if I want to do an internship. And I said yes. And uh they asked for my interests, things that I wanted to pursue in the future. I said that I was interested in photography. So they sent me up with photogenics downtown with uh Dana Marcourt. And ever since then, I've been in a couple times a week watching your sessions. I've seen like cake smashes, a lot of senior photos, a lot of family portraits.
SPEAKER_03And you have been one of the stories that we hear of, and as we talk about Connect Washington, because you have not only enjoyed your 20 hours, but you have put in much more than 20 hours because you have enjoyed your opportunity so much. So what a great experience for you. Isaac, can you share a little bit more about your client connected project?
SPEAKER_08I am in an apprenticeship at Bug Eye Technologies, um, where we make military grade flight simulators. Um I have worked on multiple engineering projects for them, whether it be a C17 build or some shelves that they need built. Um they put me on a project and I build it up and I've learned to draft and order parts and make POs for everything from start to finish.
SPEAKER_03So, really the whole aspect of the position and the job as well. So we appreciate that, and and I know we have shared it before, but Isaac also had a chance to be recognized by the governor during his state of state address for his apprenticeship program. Four Rivers Career Center is one of the largest apprenticeship programs throughout the state of Missouri and the number of students we have. So he was absolutely highlighted, got a chance to meet the governor, take some pictures, and then be recognized during the state of the state address. So thank you for that. I know that you've enjoyed your time at Bug Eye. And Jack, what about for you?
SPEAKER_01Well, I had the opportunity to do an apprenticeship this year through Four Rivers, and it was at Holland Sons Grading where I was working on heavy equipment and trying to keep it running, and I plan to keep doing that after high school and potentially running it or staying as the mechanic.
SPEAKER_03So, this entire room of seniors, well, we just have six. Think about the impact that that is making on over 320 seniors that we have, not just our students as they get ready for life after high school, but also for our community because each of you, I've talked with those that you've been working with, and they so appreciate you, the professionalism that you exhibit when you are in their businesses. And it's just it's it's an honor to be able to have others talk about what great kids we have because I know you're great kids. It's wonderful when others get a chance to say that too. So let's talk a little bit about your experience, and you all can just, I won't go through each of you, just kind of jump in on whatever question. So, can you share a little bit about the skills or the knowledge that you have gained as you have participated in some of the opportunities that you just got done sharing?
SPEAKER_04One of the skills I've learned while doing client-connected projects is being very independent in problem solving. Because when we're brought up with these tasks with different businesses, it's all on us to talk with them and communicate with them. So I've learned a lot of independency and learning how to solve problems on all on my own.
SPEAKER_03Well, and I would guess in some of that is some organization. Probably not that you weren't organized before, but the organization looks different as well because it's not just yours, but it's how the client organizes themselves. Right. So great experiences. Other skills or knowledge that you've gained.
SPEAKER_01One of the big skills or knowledges that I've gained is you don't know what your day is going to be like and you really can't plan ahead because something might break and it might be more important than something else. So you just gotta fix that one first and then go to your next important thing.
SPEAKER_03And that is a good life skill because that happens in any job that you have. So great example.
SPEAKER_05Maybe one more. Um, this is a little bit more of like a technical skill that I've gained, but at the beginning of my apprenticeship, um, I exit 11 didn't really have somebody on their social media beforehand, so I had to look into a few different um social media scheduling platforms. Um so kind of learning how to compare them and then learning about like different features that they all have was one skill that was really important that I gained.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's a great skill, and they have several now that are employed doing social media, is that correct? Um, yeah, there's they're definitely building on their marketing team constantly. That's wonderful.
SPEAKER_03Well, and some of that is because of you, so thank you for that. So let's talk a little bit about networking. You you have shared a little, and and Megan, I think you had shared a little bit also about the mentorship, those that you have worked with. So, can you can you give our listeners a little bit about the professionals that you have worked with in the field or how they have helped you grow, maybe through their mentorship or some advice that they have given you beyond that skill and knowledge that you've gained?
SPEAKER_06Well, she always reminded me to take things lightly because these I we get a lot of like three-year-old, one-year-old, younger kids. So she says to ease the parents into it because they're out or they're trying to keep their kids under control. Like last night we were doing like family portraits. It was gonna be a case match, but they went uh family portraits first, and the three-year-old just really wasn't cooperating. So she kept taking breaks, asking admitted, switching to other people to uh photograph, things like that. So she said just to take everything lightly, uh slide everybody into it, don't like come out front with we're doing this right now. Make sure that they have approval, ask if they have different outfits they want to switch into.
SPEAKER_03Some great life lessons too. So I appreciate that. And I don't know that I ever thought of cake smashing being a thing, but I can see now cake smashing is a thing. So how fun to be able to capture the capture that cake smashing moment. Any others want to be able to share about the mentorship that you have gained?
SPEAKER_07Um, I'll talk a little bit about uh the lawyers I got to speak with in St. Louis. I just think the biggest thing that they helped us with was just kind of trying to ease some of the anxiety when it comes to school. I think, especially for like lawyers and doctors, there's a big kind of like lots of stress when it comes to graduate school. So I think getting to talk to them about like it is hard, but if you do have the passion and the determination, you can get through it.
SPEAKER_03Well, and that's part of as we talk about Connect Washington, that's really part of the goal is finding that passion and interest because if you love what you do, it makes it much easier every day to go to work and do the thing that you love. So, how do you find the a career that you love to do day in and day out? Because some days are much harder than others, and some days are amazing. So that's nice that they were able to teach you that too. Great, great life lesson. All right, well, let's jump into a question about your impact on future goals. So we have lawyers, photographers, engineers, uh, there's several of different careers in the room. What do each of you plan to do life after high school with the experiences that you have gained through the client-connected projects, the apprenticeship, and the opportunities that you've had this year?
SPEAKER_08For me being at Bug Eye Technologies, I have multiple engineers above me and um some manufacturers above me who help me learn what it means to be an engineer and what to think of. Um, so I can take that going into college and apply it in my engineering classes and any internships I get in college or any co-ops that I get.
SPEAKER_03Wonderful. So you're going directly to college from Life After High School. And Rahla, is that correct? Yes. Okay. Alright. So that was Isaac. What are the rest of you doing?
SPEAKER_07Um, I'm attending the University of Missouri, Columbia, and then I'm gonna major in political science, um, and then kind of go like the pre-law route, and then after that, I'll probably attend law school.
SPEAKER_03So both of you, both for Isaac um and for Mia, exact moving into the the projects that you've had, the experiences that you've had moving into those careers life after high school. What about the rest of you?
SPEAKER_05I'm also planning to attend the University of Missouri Columbia. Um I'm not a hundred percent my major yet, but I know that a lot of the skills and stuff that I've gained from having my apprenticeship will directly correlate and be applicable into um other internship opportunities that I get in college.
SPEAKER_03Wonderful. And marketing is always a good thing to have, so that's a basis and a foundation that you can use in whatever skill. Jack, you want to share what you're planning to do?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, after high school, I plan on joining the 513 Operators Union and going straight into the workforce and being a heavy equipment operator.
SPEAKER_03That's wonderful. We appreciate that. And again, great experience that you've already had. Will you stay with the same business or looking at a different business?
SPEAKER_01I plan on staying with the same business right now.
SPEAKER_03Okay. And continuing to get apprenticeship hours.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Wonderful. What about for you, Megan?
SPEAKER_06I plan on attending St. Charles Community College. I want to do something with filmography, cinematography, things of that nature. Um I want to have like a minor in like creative writing, journalism, something along those lines. Just uh kickstart what I want to do.
SPEAKER_03Well, and again, starting the foundation of your internship gave you some good experiences for that. Wonderful. Okay, and last but not least, Ella, what about for you?
SPEAKER_04I will also be attending St. Charles Community College and I'll be on the softball team there. Um, I plan to pursue a route in graphic design and then see where that goes after that.
SPEAKER_03Great experiences. So I I appreciate you each sharing that. As you have gone through your uh projects and your connections with different businesses, have there been some challenges? And you don't each have to answer this, but have there been some challenges that you've experienced that would be good for others to be able to know of what what are some things that kind of get in the way or barriers from being a high school student and then stepping into the workforce?
SPEAKER_08For me, being a high school student with not a whole lot of knowledge about engineering or drafting, you don't touch on it a whole lot in school. So about a week ago they put me on a project and I had to get some 14-gauge tubing and figure out how to put it together, and I sent it off to I sent off a drawing, a design to a welder to ask if he could do it, and he was like, You don't have anything on here. What do you mean? The design's right there, and he was like, You don't have any welding symbols, and I was like, What are those? I had to go ask the engineers above me what welding symbols are and how to use them, and they gave me a little um laminated sheet, like fold-out sheet, that had everything you needed to know about welding symbols. So it's safe to say I know a lot about welding symbols.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, yes, yes, experience is is what you have when you need it. So, yep, what you gain when you need it. What about a couple of the others of you that have maybe had some challenges?
SPEAKER_07I'll say confidence for me. It's kind of hard, like uh entering a field where you don't have a lot of experience in, like Isaac said, kind of, and then like you have obviously a lot of people that are above you who are very experienced and you're kind of working with them and you're like a little unsure of your position, and it's just hard to be like confident in the work that you're producing, but I think once you get over that hump, it's like it's kind of it's a good thing.
SPEAKER_03That's a great great example as well. Anyone else want to share?
SPEAKER_04Kind of what he was saying, like learning stuff that you don't learn in high school, you learn through the projects that you're doing. I kind of had to learn that each color has a code. Fun fact. Um, and so when businesses would send me their logos and their color palette or whatever, I would have to figure out each code and everything. And that's just something I'd never tapped into before. So something cool to learn about, and yeah.
SPEAKER_03Great, great, another great example. So as you look back on your participation in Connect Washington, well, you may or may not have known that term before, but as you look back on your participation with Connect Washington, are there any big takeaways or memories or or even let's loop in those of that are juniors, maybe even freshmen or sophomores, as they're getting ready to think about what might their experience be as a senior? What are some thoughts that you might have for our future participants in Connect Washington or the Diploma Plus assets?
SPEAKER_05Um, I would definitely recommend just taking advantage of every opportunity that you're given. Um, even if you're given the opportunity to pursue something in maybe a field you never even thought about, all experience is good experience to have, um, no matter if it leads you to a future career or it doesn't lead you to a future career, it's still going to build on your experience in the workforce.
SPEAKER_03Well, and Jillian, that's a really good point. One of the things we talk about with parents is parents saying, Well, is this pigeonholing my child into an opportunity or into a career? And and it really isn't. In fact, we would much rather have you try some things that you thought you might like and you get in there and you don't like it at all. Wow, I'd much rather have you know that as high school students versus already in the workforce or that you're in college and paying for college when when really there's money on the line, when there's a little bit more adult stress on the line. Find that early, find what you don't want to do, and really take advantage of those experiences. So that's a great suggestion. Others of you that might have suggestions for those that are are coming after you.
SPEAKER_01My biggest suggestion would be don't be afraid to ask someone about something new. And if you do jump into it, don't be scared to try the new things. Always be optimistic and look out for your future.
SPEAKER_03Jack, that's great advice. I appreciate that. One more.
SPEAKER_06I say um don't take things too seriously and go on with an open mind. Because I can guarantee the person like you're interning for is just as stressed as you are having a new person around. Because I know photography is pretty much a solo job unless you're actually like engaging and asking for help. So she was adjusting just as much as I was.
SPEAKER_03And I think really appreciates having you now and will miss you tremendously. I do think that's one for all of you, as you've worked with the businesses that you've that you have talked about today, they're going to miss you. And we have, I have had our employers and our business partners come up to me and say, So do they really have to go away? First of all, during the school year, they really want you to stay more hours, and we have to remind them that you do need to get hours to graduate. We do get to keep you until you graduate. But after that, I know that they're going to miss all of the hard work that you have had. So we're gonna do our five and fifteen. You get to all jump in on the microphone. So we have two per microphone today, so we'll jump in. So here's our I'd say a new segment, but as we are wrapping up, this is our last um episode for this school year, so it's not a new segment any longer. So our five and fifteen here are your five questions. Would you rather be a bird or a horse? Horse.
SPEAKER_01Bird, bird, bird, bird, bird.
SPEAKER_03There you go. Sorry. Uh, your favorite type of chocolate bar, or it could be a candy bar. I mean candy.
SPEAKER_05Reese's peanut butter cups, Kit Kat.
SPEAKER_03Twigs, kit cat, snickers.
SPEAKER_04I don't like chocolate.
SPEAKER_03So are you Skittles then? Maybe okay. Would you rather fly in a plane or a helicopter?
SPEAKER_01Plane. Helicopter.
SPEAKER_03Plane. Plane. Plane.
SPEAKER_05Helicopter. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_03All right. Would you rather eat pizza for every meal for an entire week or eat ice cream every meal for an entire week?
SPEAKER_05Ice cream. Ice cream 100%.
SPEAKER_01Pizza.
SPEAKER_03Pizza.
SPEAKER_01Pizza.
SPEAKER_03Ice cream. Alright, last one. Would you rather listen to music or actually play music? Listen. Listen. So listen.
SPEAKER_08Listen. Listen, I guess. Listen.
SPEAKER_03Okay. All right. So five and fifteen. So thank you again for all of our students who are joining us today. We have Megan Vivens, we have Gillian Helenhoff, Jack Gerterman, Isaac Lowe, Ella Lousey, and Mia Narup today in our podcast studio. And a big thank you to our fabulous broadcasting team. We also want to thank our listeners for partnering with us as we live out the School District of Washington mission to inspire achievement, character, and personal growth in all students as they pursue and succeed in college careers and life. We have appreciated our listeners this year, and we look forward to a new CAPS broadcasting team for next school year. We wish Frankie, Reese, Lily, and all of our CAPS students who have played a role in this Diploma Plus Client Connected project. We look forward to seeing each of you back for more Cap Heart Communications podcast during the next school year.
SPEAKER_00And don't forget, you can connect with the district on Facebook, Twitter at SD of Washington, and the website Washington.