News from the
COLLEGE & CAREER ACADEMIES
OF PROVISO WEST
Future-focused. Confident. Prepared.
VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | SEPTEMBER 2019
WELCOME BACK, PANTHERS!
What are the College & Career Academies of Proviso West?
With every new school year comes a rush of excitement as we welcome a new class of students to the Proviso West family. This year, we also have the honor of shepherding our first Academy cohort, the Class of 2022, through the inaugural year of coursework in their programs of study! As we embark on another sensational school year, our mission remains the same: the College & Career Academies of Proviso West endeavor to prepare students to confidently pursue the post-secondary training and career path of their choosing in a globally competitive society. Driven by student interest and workforce projections, our Academies provide access to authentic, hands-on learning experiences that cultivate social and emotional well-being through teamwork, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. 

Within our three College & Career Academies, all students choose a program of study comprised of academically rigorous core subjects and specialized courses in their career area of interest. Students will progress through their Academy with peers who share similar interests and a common team of teachers, which builds camaraderie and a culture of belonging. 
 
In summary, The College & Career Academies of Proviso West provide students access to: 
  • Relevant and rigorous curriculum and instruction
  • Increased community and business engagement 
  • Opportunities for professional certifications 
  • 21st century skills such as leadership, civic literacy, social responsibility, global and cultural awareness, communication, problem solving, and technological literacy 
  • Opportunities to form closer relationships with teachers and advisors 
  • Practical work experience through job shadowing and internships 
  • Opportunities to learn in the context of an industry or subject theme 
  • Preparation for career success through both formal education and life experience 

The College & Career Academies at Proviso West include the Freshman Success Academy (FSA) and the three college and career academies beginning in the sophomore year:

Wellness & Society Academy (WSA)

Technology & Innovation Academy (TIA)

Global Business Academy (GBA)

For additional information about each Academy, click 'Learn More' below.
Scenes from Freshman Success Academy Orientation!
August 16, 2019
Freshmen come into the Main Gym for the Welcome meeting!
Future PWHS athletes hear encouraging words from a Coach
A friendly faculty vs freshman game of Human Hungry Hungry Hippos at the Pep Rally!
Proviso West Hosts Employability Skills Workshop
Awesome hands-on welding workshop at Triton College!
Practicing handshakes, introductions, and interviewing skills while bonding as a team.
On August 5 th through 8 th , students in the Advanced Manufacturing Cohort participated in the first of a multi-part Employability Skills Workshop prior to beginning their training in precision machining this fall at the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA). This workshop guided students to explore their career aptitudes through YouScience, engage in teambuilding activities to create a collegial, cooperative atmosphere among the cohort members, develop the employability skills necessary for success in the workplace, and participate in a number of field experiences connected to their program.

A highlight of the week was a visit to Triton College for a hands-on welding workshop where students were taught shop safety, the importance of wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, and an introduction to welding. Student used a grinding tool and a MIG welder in the creation of avant garde art using scrap metal. Students also enjoyed a visit to PWHS Industry Council member company A1 Tool for a tour and networking, and participated in orientation at TMA. Throughout the fall, students will be continuing to practice the workplace readiness skills our industry experts are seeking and will also review and update the SMART goals they created as they finalize their post-secondary plans.

The TMA cohort is a new opportunity offered through the College & Career Academies of Proviso West. As space is renovated at Proviso West to create an Advanced Manufacturing lab, Proviso Township is investing in offering hands-on, vocational programs to upperclassmen who will graduate prior to the completion of the new lab. This cohort of future machinists will begin their CNC training program at TMA on August 26 th and continue through early January. Our goal is that all the students participating will earn industry-recognized NIMS mill and lathe credentials by January in order to help them expand their career opportunities in the future. Congratulations goes to our Panthers for completing this first important step!

Our Precision Machining Cohort on their first day of class at TMA!


Have a great semester!
WE NEED YOU THIS YEAR!
As our sophomores embark of the first year of coursework in their program of study, The College & Career Academies of Proviso West would like to thank everyone who participated in the planning and activities for the inaugural year of our Academies in 2018-2019! We appreciate those who attended an Industry Council meeting, assisted with the planning of an event, shared your expertise with our students, served as consultant or thought partner, gave your feedback on a logo, a document, or a grant application, and most importantly - LOVED the Proviso West Panthers we serve on a daily basis!

We are gearing up for an AWESOME year of activities and need your help! Are you interested in volunteering as a career speaker, participating in our Career Expo, teaching students employability skills through an interview workshop, joining an Industry Council, or offering your expertise in a variety of ways?
Please click the button below to share your interest.
Alumni Profile: Jerluane Jenkins
Gra duated from West: 2015
College Attended: Started at Triton as a Trustee Honors Scholar and graduated from UIC in May of 2019
College Major: Major - Theatre and Performance
Celebrated College Graduation: 2019
Greek life & College Activities: Theatre
What she is proud of: I am most proud of writing a full length play that was recently produced as part of MPAACT Theatre's Summer Jams play festival
Encouraging Words: I want all students of color who don't feel as if they belong to know they do. Colleges, especially those that are predominantly white, can be a new environment. People don't always understand our circumstances and that doesn't make us any less valid. Your thoughts, feelings, and situations - even those that others can't relate to - are valid.
How she successfully navigated college: As a Black woman attending a PWI (predominantly white institution), I took a special interest in challenging the environment around me. I've written two plays about the intricacies of being a person of color in a "diverse" college and used them to create a community at UIC. We, the students, made and shared this art by self-producing in and outside of school as we worked to petition to change the school to better suit our needs.
Coolest thing she did while in college: Developed her skills as a playwright with Broadway's Lydia Diamond
Plans for the future: I plan to continue writing and acting in Chicago while working with a group of close friends to start our own theatre company.

Congratulations, Jerluane!
Follow us on social media!
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Kate Foster | College & Career Academy Coordinator
Direct: 708.202.6501 | Cell: 708.616.4276 | katefoster@pths209.org