Real World Learning

NEWSLETTER - November 2024

We are incredibly grateful for the support of our business community in helping us provide real-world learning opportunities for our students. Your partnership plays a vital role in preparing them for future success. THANK YOU!

During this month's Mock Interview event, over 100 students had the invaluable opportunity to participate in a practice interview with an industry professional. We extend our heartfelt thanks to those who generously shared their time and expertise.

For many students, this was their first experience creating a resume and sitting for an interview. The authentic feedback provided during these sessions will equip them with the tools they need to succeed in future endeavors.

Your support makes a lasting impact—thank you for helping our students prepare for the world ahead!

We are excited to share that SHS Warrior Print is partnering with Jean's Flowers & Gifts! A huge THANK YOU to Haley for giving our student-run business the opportunity to display and sell their products in the store. Students were excited to learn about vendor contracts and sales while promoting their unique designs. Check out their booth at 117 E Main Street in downtown Smithville.

November 1st marked 1 year of service to the Smithville community and beyond! In just 365 days, students rolled out a hosted local music show, added 2 dozen other music-related programs, continue to add music to our playlist of over 5,000 songs, and produced a weekly podcast.

AND... Coming soon to an App Store near you... The Warrior Radio app developed by broadcasting and supervised marketing students! Find the app on the Apple Store by the end of November and Google Play some time later.

When: Thursday, March 13, 8am-11am

Where: Smithville High School

What: RWL Showcase and Entrepreneurial Pitches

Our parent volunteers and business community are the backbone of this event. Your participation enriches our students’ learning and provides authentic experience that helps prepare them for life after high school. We appreciate you!

Our 8th graders students have spent the last few weeks collaborating with industry partners and community members to design and build these mini hearts. Each heart is customized to the client's specifications, so students practiced their empathy and communication skills while working on the project.

Join us on Monday, November 25 at Smithville Middle School to see the final products!

Thank you to Mrs. Hough for her dedication in providing Maple Elementary students with fun and educational career day events. Check it out!

Did you know that we have an internship program at Smithville High School? Along with our Cadet Teachers and Child Development Interns, I have been working to place students with industry professionals in their area of interest. In addition, students are encouraged to schedule a job shadow day (2-8 hours) to get a quick look at specific careers.

First semester student interns had the following to say:

"It's nice to work by yourself and it makes me proud I'm chasing my dream."

"It has been my lifelong dream to actually open a restaurant and I can tell that this will help a lot."

"I feel like I'm learning something new every day and continuing to get more and more out of my comfort zone."

SEEKING INTERNSHIPS FOR FALL 2025 & SPRING 2026

We are currently looking for placements for second semester. Interns typically spend about 2.5 hours at their internship 2-3 days per week.

Students have expressed interest in the following areas:

Law Enforcement

Environmental Science

Audio Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Dental Hygienist

Take a look at the Intern Host Handbook for more information. Click below if you'd be willing to work with an intern.

Follow @SSD Real World Learning on Facebook or @ssdrwl on Instagram for updates about student opportunities for experiential learning. We'll also share how our business partners can get more involved.

Best regards,

K-12 Real World Learning Coordinator

Smithville School District

Email: noeckerc@smithville.k12.mo.us
Website: https://www.smithvilleschooldistrict.net/page/real-world-learning
Location: 655 South Commercial Avenue, Smithville, MO, USA
Phone: 816-532-0406

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"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin

We are committed to providing students in the district with experiential learning opportunities to better prepare them for life after high school. These experiences include Work Experience (internships and client projects), college credit, Industry Recognized Credentials, and Entrepreneurial Experiences. The intent of this RWL newsletter is to keep you informed about how we're impacting students and sharing ways for our local business community to get involved in shaping our future workforce.

Would you like to partner with us in our real world learning efforts? Sign up HERE to provide opportunities such as job shadowing, internships, client projects, or classroom visits.