Date post: | 22-Jul-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | holy-family-academy |
View: | 213 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Holy Family Academy Corporate Work Study Annual Report | 2014-15
H O L Y F A M I L Y A C A D E M Y
http://hfa-pgh.org
1 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WELCOME MESSAGE 2
PROGRAM OVERVIEW 3
Introduction 3
Sanctioned work study program 3
Schedule 4
Work assignments 5
PROGRAM OVERSIGHT 6
SPONSOR PARTICIPATION 7
STUDENT TRAINING 8
Work Study Orientation 8
Assignments and Projects 10
STUDENT PERFORMANCE 10
St. Joseph the Worker Scholarship 13
ISSUE REPORTING AND RESOLUTION 14
Student illness 14
Request for student to go off-site 14
Incident requiring investigation 15
Behavior needing to be improved 15
APPENDIX A: ORGANIZATION PARTICIPANTS 16
Work-Study Employers 16
Funding Contributors 17
APPENDIX B: PERMISSION FOR OFFSITE WORK DAY FIELD TRIP FORM 18
APPENDIX C: STUDENT BEHAVIOR REPORTS 19
HFA Work Study – Incident Report 19
HFA Work Study – Opportunity For Improvement (OFI) Report 20
HFA Work Study – Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) 21
APPENDIX D: SAMPLE ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION LETTERS 23
2 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
WELCOME MESSAGE
Dear Friends of Holy Family Academy,
Education is a crucial factor in life and the means by which we gain meaningful work and financial
stability, realize the dignity of our lives, and build a good society.
Quality education can lead to a career that provides challenge, recognition, responsibility, and
creates value for one’s family and society. Our Catholic faith teaches us, in the words of St.
Thomas Aquinas, “To live well is to work well.” Work is a form of continuing participation in
God’s creation. The dignity of work is the hallmark of the Holy Family Academy, and the words
of St. Thomas are its motto.
Holy Family Academy’s mission is to prepare students of all faiths and of limited economic means
to succeed in school, work, and life, and to contribute to the civic, religious, business, and cultural
life of society.
The primary goal of the school is to prepare students to succeed in post-secondary education:
college, technical schools, or apprenticeship programs. By providing a rigorous, relevant, real
world, 21st century curriculum and in-depth work experience, students will be prepared for a
diverse array of jobs and careers after high school.
In this exciting inaugural year, we launched this innovative school with an energy and optimism
that was equaled only by the wonderful fulfillment we experienced seeing our 9th
-grade students
grow. They learned to work with each other as well as to excel in their work-study placements.
And we are so very grateful to the sponsors from our business, non-profit, university, and
government partners. They contributed time, energy, care, and funding toward the wonderful
success of our first year. We owe each of them a debt of gratitude.
Please join us in celebrating the 2014-15 school year and work-study achievements!
Sister Linda Yankoski Deborah Sadowski
President Director of Corporate Work Study
3 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Introduction
Holy Family Academy’s Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) partners with Pittsburgh’s
top employers to provide real-world work experience to students. This partnership
engages students early on to help build the next
generation of professionals. Every student takes
a full course load for four years, and also
participates one day each week in a four-year
work-study program to fund the majority of
his/her tuition.
Students perform a range of work typical of an
entry-level position, from administrative to
research. The CWSP is an innovative means of
providing students with crucial hands-on, business
work experience, while simultaneously
empowering them to assume an active role in
financing a major portion of their education. As a
result of working in a business environment,
students acquire valuable job experience and marketable skills, develop a network of
business contacts, gain exposure to a wide range of career opportunities, develop a
strong work ethic, and increase self-esteem.
Sanctioned work study program
Holy Family Academy (HFA) operates this work study program with the approval of the
U.S. Department of Labor as one not interfering with the schooling or with the health and
well-being of the students involved. This includes adhering to the provisions contained in
CFR section 570.37 of the U.S. Labor Law regarding
employment of minors 14 and 15 years of age who
are enrolled in school-supervised and school-
administered work-study programs. The 2014-15
program was designed and executed to follow the
criteria in this section of the labor law, and there
were no findings of violations of workplace
compliance.
“I really like how <student>
is very meticulous when it
comes to the presentation of
her work. Her soft skills are
remarkable, and she is so
comfortable communicating
around the organization.”
~ Work Study Supervisor
4 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Schedule
During the 2014-15 school year, students
worked one day each week at their assigned
employer’s office. Each student was assigned
a work day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
or Thursday) and attended classes on the
other four days of the week. Work study
assignments began on September 2, 2014
and completed on May 28, 2015. For this
work study, students received one credit and
were graded by job supervisors and the HFA
CWSP teacher-coordinator. The school
calendar was designed such that the hours of
classroom instruction required by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education were
delivered for all courses.
On a student’s work day, s/he reported to school and homeroom, just as on other days of
the week. Following homeroom, students briefly gathered for any announcements
regarding work study and to be given a boxed lunch to
take to work.
Students were transported by HFA buses/vans to their
work offices, arriving generally between 8:45 and 9:30
am. During the work day, students were given a 30-45
minute lunch at a time that aligned with the office
schedule. In the afternoon, HFA vehicles picked up
students generally between 2:00 and 2:50 pm and
transported them back to Holy Family Academy, where they boarded their standard
transportation home. The length of a student’s work day was
typically between 5 and 5-1/2 hours.
Throughout the school year, students did not report to school or
work on school holidays or snow days. On days with a 2-hour
snow delay, students were transported to work two hours later
than the regular schedule and were picked up in the afternoon
at the normal time. On occasions where a student’s assigned
office was closed on a work day, the student remained at HFA
for supervised in-service work training activities.
“I had a ton of fun working
during my 9th grade year. Every
week I would go into work and
be greeted by tons of really
friendly, fun coworkers. I would
have an assignment ready for
me that I could do at my own
reasonable pace.”
~ HFA Student
5 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
“<Student> continues to do a
great job at our company. He
isn't afraid to ask questions or
take on any assignments. He
fits in well with the agency
culture / atmosphere and we're
happy to have him on our team.”
~ Work Study Supervisor
Work assignments
Each student was assigned to an employing organization at a specific location with an
identified primary supervisor. Organizations determined the department(s) within the
office that would oversee student tasks. In some cases, students worked in the same
department each week throughout the year; other organizations rotated students among
departments. The primary supervisor was responsible for establishing the schedule,
ensuring that students were informed of
their assigned departments/building
locations, and seeing to it that
department supervisors adhered to HFA
work-study guidelines. Primary
supervisors communicated with HFA
regarding student performance and any
questions/issues (e.g., student illness).
The nature of the assignments differed among employers and varied throughout the
year. Supervisors were instructed to seek tasks for the students that would be of value to
the organization and to provide learning and growth opportunities for HFA students in
both needed hard skills (e.g., office equipment, technology, alphabetizing/filing) and
critical soft skills (e.g., communications, time management, organization). Sample tasks
performed by students throughout the year
included:
Administrative/clerical support: copying,
scanning, shredding, creating files, filing
documents, preparing mailings, separating
returned mail, sorting/delivering mail
Preparation for events
Creation of business letters, running mail
merge
Internet research
Data entry (Excel®, custom databases)
Flyer design/creation (PowerPoint®,
Publisher®)
Printing of certificates, name badges
Posting announcements in building
Maintaining bulletin boards
Tallying and summarizing survey results
Reception duties: answer phones, greet and direct visitors
IT assistance – test computers, review training materials, conduct inventories
6 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
PROGRAM OVERSIGHT
Holy Family Academy’s work study program was designed and implemented by the CWSP
program staff and assisted by members of the HFA staff. The Director of Corporate Work
Study coordinated planning of all aspects of the program and was accountable for results.
All transportation of students to/from work-study sites was coordinated by the Director of
Transportation. Students rode in school buses and vans, driven by HFA staff who were
certified to transport students.
Three Student Success Associates (SSA) worked for the
CWSP program – one through the Change-A-Heart
program, two others through post-Peace Corps university
fellowships. The SSAs each were assigned a set of work-
study organizations and the students working at those sites.
Throughout the year, they worked one-on-one with
students regarding skills and competency improvements,
trained groups of students on areas needing improvement,
visited work-study sites, and supervised students
before/after work study and those who were assigned to
in-service days. The SSAs also aided HFA staff with student-related activities.
The HFA Office Manager assisted in morning
and afternoon transportation supervision and
served as a backup for the Director Corporate
Work Study regarding communications among
stakeholders.
Work sites were visited regularly by the
Director of Corporate Work Study and
assigned HFA staff to confirm that
requirements related to employing minors
were understood and followed, to answer
questions from supervisors, and to reinforce to
students the collaboration between work
supervisors and HFA staff.
“I’ve learned many things from
the work-study assignment. I
was lucky enough to work with
people who wanted to see me
succeed, who actually cared
about me on a personal level. ”
~ HFA Student
7 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
SPONSOR PARTICIPATION
The Holy Family Academy model is successful in great part due to help from our
corporate partners, who provide financial sponsorship and/or entry-level positions for our
students. Support in the Pittsburgh region
has been wonderful and inspiring, and we
thank these fine organizations.
The Corporate Work Study Program
engaged with Pittsburgh-area
organizations in one of three models:
Funding Work-Study Employers –
organizations that sponsor work-study jobs for students and contribute funds to the
HFA CWSP through foundations, business donations, or Pennsylvania tax credit
programs (EITC/OSTC).
Non-Funding Work-Study Employers – non-profit organizations such as charities,
universities, and government offices that sponsor work-study jobs but do not
contribute funding to HFA; these organizations provide in-kind services when possible
to support the HFA CWSP mission.
Financial Supporters – organizations contributing funds to the HFA CWSP in
support of students working at non-funding employers.
Both funding and non-funding employers adhered to the same participation expectations
in operation of the work-study program.
Appendix A lists the organizations that participated in the 2014-15 CWSP.
Work-Study Employers participated in
on-boarding training and refresher
sessions throughout the year.
Training was conducted through a
combination of group meetings, in-
person sessions, and conference
calls.
8 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
The agenda included:
Overview of Holy Family Academy students, curriculum, schedule
Requirements for employing minors
Student dress code
Transportation policies
Expectations for student performance feedback
Grading system
Workplace safety
Supervisory guidelines
Digital policies
Tips for supervising teenagers
Sample department assignments and tasks
STUDENT TRAINING
Work Study Orientation
Before Holy Family Academy students began their work-study assignments, they received
training for their entry-level positions. Sessions were conducted during the summer of
2014 in a 10-day orientation program held on the HFA campus, delivered by HFA CWSP
staff, teachers, and work-study supervisors. Topics were reinforced and augmented in
two full day in-service programs conducted during the first two weeks of school, prior to
students beginning their work-study assignments. Students who did not attend summer
orientation received this training during fall in-service days and did not begin their work-
study jobs until the training was completed.
The objectives of these orientation sessions were to provide orientation to the work study
program, including why it is part of HFA, how it works, types of work assignments
students can expect, benefits to students, and
grading/assessment criteria. Sessions also
introduced students to different types of businesses
(e.g., for-profit, non-profit), major common
departments in business organizations (e.g.,
finance, human resources, information technology,
marketing), and common business lingo. They also
educated students on workplace safety, treatment
of work documents (regarding confidentiality, non-
disclosures, HIPPA, etc.), and other considerations
related to working in office environments.
9 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
The orientation also was designed to begin developing within the students the core
competencies (“soft skills”) needed to succeed in a career and the work study placement,
including:
Communications – eye contact, shaking hands, paying attention,
asking questions of adults, listening attentively, accepting feedback,
reporting status on task progress and completion
Managing time – staying on task, being on time at end of breaks
Organization – planning an activity, having proper materials,
cleaning up afterwards
Appearance and deportment – looking, acting, and speaking like
a professional
Patience – persevering through difficult tasks, listening to and
understanding directions
Self-awareness – understanding strengths and areas to grow, how student relates to
others and how that may matter
Teamwork – being able to work effectively with others
Business meetings and dining etiquette
Activities also exposed students to common office skills and equipment, including:
Copying
Scanning
Printing to a network (shared) printer
Alphabetizing
Filing
Phone – how office phones work, making
calls, leaving voicemails, receiving and
transferring calls
Mail – sorting incoming mail, preparing
mailings (labeling, postage)
Computing and business software
During orientation sessions, the HFA staff
conducted assessments and collected
observations of student skills, maturity,
interests, and personalities as input for work-
study placements.
“Our student has completed every
job or task that we have thrown
her way with ease. Her attitude is
excellent and she seems to enjoy
working with us and we enjoy
working with her. I have been
very impressed with her!”
~ Work Study Supervisor
10 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Assignments and Projects
During the school year, students were given assignments and projects that contributed to
their work-study grades. In the first and second quarters, the assignments focused on
learning about businesses and other organizations, and exploring work competencies.
Typing was introduced in the third quarter.
The capstone project for the year was assigned in the third quarter. Students conducted
interviews with work supervisors, learning about their early-life ambitions, what education
they’ve pursued, how their career brought them to their
current positions, and what it takes to be successful at
work. They incorporated this supervisor profile into a
capstone PowerPoint presentation, which also included
sections profiling their work-study organization and
their job assignment. In the fourth quarter, students
delivered their capstone presentations to a small set of
classmates under the direction of the Student Success
Associates, and gave peer feedback on the
presentations. Finally, they presented their capstone at
work to their supervisor and a group of 2-5 colleagues!
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
HFA CWSP student performance was evaluated by work-study supervisors using six core
competencies:
Listening - Attentive, respectful when being given
information or instructions
Patience - Persevered in performing tasks, understands
instructions
Organization - Approached and executed work tasks
methodically
Quality - Delivered high-quality results
Time Management - Worked hard, stayed on task, sought
assistance when needed
Communications- Demonstrated effective two-way
communication with supervisor(s), colleagues(s)
11 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Scoring of the students in each of these competencies used the following scale:
5 = Excellent
4 = Very Good
3 = Adequate
2 = Needs Improvement
1 = Unacceptable
Supervisors were introduced to the HFA CWSP six core competencies of student
performance during orientation sessions. They were asked to submit ongoing feedback
throughout the year, scoring students in these six competencies and providing comments
on student strengths/commendable work, opportunities for improvement in soft/hard
skills, and other comments related to the work study program.
Link to online form: http://goo.gl/forms/sKd7pSBICW
HFA received an average of over 10 responses for each student throughout the year
(close to 700 in total). This allowed the CWSP staff to identify students who needed one-
on-one attention in areas to improve, celebrate excellent performance and notable
improvements, and target themes for additional group training.
The average scores across the six competencies for each quarter (Q1 through Q4) are
shown in the following figure.
Our class ended the year scoring a 4.39 – between “Very Good (4)” and “Excellent (5).”
Scores also consistently improved throughout the year. This improvement is attributable
12 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
to the increasing comfort and maturity of students in their work assignments,
improvements in supervisors’ understanding of how to best help students, and attention
from the HFA CWSP team to individual and broader needs.
Supervisor scores for each of the six competencies are shown in the following table.
Listening Patience Org’z’n Quality Time Mgt Comm’ns
Avg. 4.30 4.25 4.18 4.17 4.11 3.97
Q1 4.15 4.10 4.03 4.02 4.07 3.72
Q2 4.27 4.24 4.14 4.10 4.04 3.94
Q3 4.44 4.37 4.29 4.34 4.19 4.12
Q4 4.47 4.45 4.42 4.35 4.27 4.38
Notable observations:
Communications was the lowest-scoring competency in the first three quarters, and
started off particularly low compared with other competencies
in Q1, with a score of 3.72 – between “Adequate (3)” and “Very
Good (4).” HFA’s CWSP staff conducted sessions with
individuals and student groups to work on improving in areas
often noted by supervisors: asking questions, reporting status
of work (particularly when tasks were completed), and
integrating more comfortably into informal/social conversations
with colleagues. Scores improved substantially in the second
half of the year and ended with a very strong score of 4.38.
Organization, Quality, and Time Management showed little improvement from
Q1 to Q2, but were overall “Very Good (4+).” In the fall supervisor conference call,
CWSP staff highlighted approaches for supervisors to
help students in these areas, and at the winter
supervisor meeting conducted breakout sessions for
supervisors to share experiences and brainstorm on
tactics. These were shared with all supervisors, and were
commented on as being helpful; the increase in Q3 and
Q4 scores indicates solid progress in improving student
performance.
While technology skills were not directly measured via the six core competencies,
the CWSP staff noticed that many comments identified opportunities for improvement
related to typing and familiarity with business software. During Q3 and Q4, students
were provided with instruction and assignments in typing, Windows, and Microsoft
Office.
13 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Supervisors were required to submit quarterly feedback for student report cards,
including the following information:
Overall quarterly score for each of the six competencies
Recommended letter grade, based on student competencies
Comments to be sent home on report cards: strengths and admirable work,
opportunities for improvement in competencies and work-related tasks, and additional
comments
In the fourth quarter, 93% of students received A or B grades, and the remaining 7%
received C grades, mirroring the strong performance recorded by the ongoing
competency scores and supervisor comments.
St. Joseph the Worker Scholarship
Each year, Holy Family Academy will issue scholarships to outstanding student workers.
In this inaugural year, three 9th-grade students
each were awarded $5,000 scholarships, to be
used toward costs of post-high school education
or training upon their successful graduation from
Holy Family Academy.
Students with outstanding grades and attendance
at work study, and with solid academic grades and
no severe disciplinary infractions in school were
invited to apply for the scholarship. The
application included the capstone work-study
presentation that students prepared during the
second half of the school year and supervisor
feedback. To apply, students also were instructed
to submit a letter to a hypothetical 8th-grade
student addressing the following:
What your work study assignment was (organization, general duties)
What you learned through your work study assignment
How you’ll apply skills and competencies developed through work study in school and
life
Why you would recommend Holy Family Academy and its work study to the student
Advice for how the student could get the most from the work study experience if s/he
comes to Holy Family Academy
Sixteen students applied, and three were awarded scholarships at a formal luncheon
attended by all students, HFA staff, and over 50 work study supervisors and other guests.
14 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Dr. Charles Dougherty, President of Duquesne University and of the Holy Family
Foundation board hosted the event at the Duquesne University Power Ballroom. Mr.
Morgan O’Brien, President and CEO of Peoples Natural Gas delivered the keynote
presentation, and Father Tom Schaefer of LaRoche College led the benediction.
Excerpts from some of the student letters are included in Appendix D and capture the
wonderful experiences and perspectives that HFA students gained through the work-
study program.
ISSUE REPORTING AND RESOLUTION
On occasion throughout the year, circumstances arose related to students while at the
work-study office requiring assistance from the CWSP staff. These generally fell into one
of the areas in the following sections.
Student illness
When a student reported feeling ill while at
work, the supervisor called the HFA office.
HFA staff talked with the student and
determined a course of action, ranging from
students remaining at work to immediate pick-
up by HFA transportation. Parents/guardians
were notified if the student requested or if the
student was being picked up. In cases where
the student was picked up, the CWSP staff
consulted the parent/guardian regarding
whether to take the student home or back to
school.
Request for student to go off-site
If a supervisor desired to have a work-study student report to a different location for
work or to be transported to a second location during the work day, a Permission for
Offsite Work Day Field Trip form was completed (see Appendix B). These forms were
signed by supervisors, parents, students, and HFA CWSP staff. In some cases, forms
approving a ‘blanket permission’ for repeated offsite work were completed.
“To get the most out of the
work-study program, the most
important thing to do is to ask
questions. Asking questions in
any situation is the best way
to learn. Also give your work
the best that you have got,
because you won’t regret it.”
~ HFA Student
15 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Incident requiring investigation
When an incident occurred in the work place requiring investigation, the Director of
Corporate Work Study led the process in collaboration with the supervisor. A Student
Incident Report was completed (see Appendix C) and communicated to the student. If
appropriate, the Director of CWSP visited the work-study office to explore the incident.
During the 2014-15 school year, three incidents occurred triggering this process. Two
were resolved without further action. One was escalated to the Principal’s attention and
resulted in students being suspended from work-study and from school. The students
were reinstated to school and work study with follow-up reviews; no subsequent related
incidents occurred.
Behavior needing to be improved
In cases where a student’s behavior was deficient, the CWSP staff discussed remediation
approaches with work supervisors, related improvement needs and tactics with the
student, and followed up to ensure compliance.
If the supervisor approved that the deficiency
was suitably addressed, no further record was
completed. However, if the student did not
adequately improve or sustain improvement,
the issue was escalated either to an
Opportunity for Improvement (OFI) process or
Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). See
Appendix C for these forms.
Two OFIs were initiated during the 2014-15
school year. In each case, the student
remedied the behaviors to the satisfaction of
the work supervisor and the CWSP staff, and
no further actions were required.
Four PIPs were initiated this year, resulting in some students being removed from the
work-study assignments following the joint judgment of the work supervisor and Director
of Corporate Work. Those students were placed in supervised in-service training following
removal from the work placements. They were placed in new job assignments, where
they were successful, receiving at least Adequate (3) scores in all competencies from the
new supervisors throughout the rest of the school year.
“I’ve only been working on the
HFA work study for a school
year and I can say I’ve had
more than one business tell
me to apply for a job when
they heard I was involved
with this program.”
~ HFA Student
16 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
APPENDIX A: ORGANIZATION
PARTICIPANTS
Work-Study Employers
Organization Type #
Jobs
Carnegie Science Center Funding Employer 3
Catholic Charities Non-Funding Employer 2
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Non-Funding Employer 1
Children’s Museum Non-Funding Employer 2
Community Kitchen Pittsburgh Non-Funding Employer 2
Department of Human Services, Allegheny County Non-Funding Employer 1
Duquesne Light CAP Program Funding Employer 4
Duquesne University Non-Funding Employer 2
Eaton Corporation Funding Employer 4
FedEx Ground Funding Employer 2
Franco Associates (Cost Company) Funding Employer 2
Giant Eagle Funding Employer 4
Hefren-Tillotson Funding Employer 2
Highmark Funding Employer 3
Holy Family Manor Non-Funding Employer 1
Jones Lang Lasalle Funding Employer 2
Junior Achievement Funding Employer 1
K&L Gates Funding Employer 4
LaRoche College Non-Funding Employer 2
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Non-Funding Employer 2
Make-A-Wish Non-Funding Employer 1
Marc USA Funding Employer 1
NAACP Non-Funding Employer 1
NEED Non-Funding Employer 1
Peoples Natural Gas Funding Employer 2
Phipps Conservatory Non-Funding Employer 2
Pittsburgh Steelers Funding Employer 2
Point Park University Non-Funding Employer 4
17 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Organization Type #
Jobs
Pressley Ridge Non-Funding Employer 1
Providence Connections Non-Funding Employer 1
Robert Morris University Non-Funding Employer 4
Rosedale Technical College Non-Funding Employer 2
Schneider Downs Funding Employer 1
St. Vincent de Paul Society Non-Funding Employer 3
Superior Petroleum Funding Employer 1
United Way of Allegheny County Non-Funding Employer 2
UPMC Funding Employer 4
The Wilson Group Funding Employer 1
Funding Contributors
Allegheny Technologies
Bayer
Bridges & Co
Bryn Mawr Trust
Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney
Data Science Automation
Dollar Bank
Duquesne Light
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Federated Investors
Huntington Bank
IBEW
Mars National Bank
Northwest Savings Bank
Peak Performance Management
PNC Bank
US Steel
Waste Management
“<Students> helped to scan two
file rooms on our legal floors.
They scanned over 2000! This is
great! Because of this effort, we
are now ahead of schedule on
our 23 day scan-plan!”
~ Work Study Supervisor
18 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
APPENDIX B: PERMISSION FOR OFFSITE
WORK DAY FIELD TRIP FORM
Holy Family Academy Corporate Work Study Program
Permission for Offsite Work Day Field Trip
As part of the work study program, Holy Family Academy encourages employers to seek opportunities
for our students to experience offices and events outside of the main work place. When these
opportunities arise, we require that the employer submit an Offsite Field Trip request form, so that we
can obtain permission from the student’s parent/guardian.
Parent/guardian – please review the request below. If you approve, sign the form and have it turned
in to the homeroom teacher. If you have any questions, please contact Deb Sadowski, Director of
Corporate Work Study, at 412-307-0234 or [email protected].
Student Name:
Employer:
Job Supervisor:
Location (address) of offsite visit:
Brief description of purpose:
Date of offsite visit:
Approximate starting and ending times (leaving/returning to main work location):
Method of transportation to/from offsite location:
Name and job title of chaperone to offsite location:
Parent signature: ______________________________________________________
Student signature: _____________________________________________________
Work Supervisor: ______________________________________________________
HFA Corporate Work Study: ______________________________________________
19 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
APPENDIX C: STUDENT BEHAVIOR
REPORTS
HFA Work Study – Incident Report
Student Name:
Date of Incident:
Date of Incident Report:
Work Assignment:
Work Supervisor:
Summary of Incident (employer perspective)
Student’s Description of Incident
Write a description of what led up to the incident, what your actions were, and what you
should have done differently. Continue on the back of this page if desired.
Signatures
Student: _______________________________________________________________
HFA Work Study Staff: ____________________________________________________
Parent (optional): ________________________________________________________
Work Supervisor: ________________________________________________________
20 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
HFA Work Study – Opportunity For Improvement (OFI)
Report
Student Name:
Date of Feedback:
Work Assignment:
Primary Supervisor:
Opportunities for Improvement
1.
2. Expected Changes in Performance
1.
2.
Date of Next Review:
Signed
Student: _________________________________________________________________
HFA Work Study Staff: ______________________________________________________
Parent (optional): _________________________________________________________
Work Supervisor: _________________________________________________________
21 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
HFA Work Study – Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
This PIP process is being initiated because of deficient performance of the student in the work study
assignment. It follows corrective directions provided at the workplace. This document lists the
deficient behaviors and the required behaviors for the student to demonstrate in order to remain in
the work assignment.
At the Date of Continued Employment Decision meeting, the Primary Work Supervisor and HFA
Director of Corporate Work Study will review the student’s work performance in the period between
this notification and the decision date.
If the student exhibits excellent work behaviors, the work assignment will be continued, with periodic
reviews to ascertain whether the changes are sustained.
If the student does not exhibit excellent work behaviors, addressing the items listed here as well as
other expectations of work study students, the student will be removed from this work assignment.
This will be reflected in the student’s quarterly Corporate Work Study grade. The student will
undergo corrective in-service activities at Holy Family Academy until s/he is deemed prepared to re-
enter a work study assignment, at which time a new work assignment will be provided. If the student
fails to improve such that a new work assignment would be expected to be successful, s/he may be
expelled from Holy Family Academy.
Questions about this process should be directed to Deb Sadowski, Director of Corporate Work Study.
Student Name:
Date of Feedback:
Work Assignment:
Primary Supervisor:
Observed Behaviors Needing Improvement
Date of Next Review:
Date of Continued Employment Decision:
22 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Requirements at Next Review to Retain Assignment
1.
2.
Acknowledged
Student: _______________________________________________ Date: _________________
Work Supervisor: ________________________________________ Date: _________________
Parent: ________________________________________________ Date: _________________
HFA Work Study Director: _________________________________ Date: _________________
HFA Principal: ___________________________________________ Date: _________________
Review Notes
Employer Participants:
HFA Participants:
Date:
Summary of Observed Behavior
23 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
APPENDIX D: SAMPLE ST. JOSEPH THE
WORKER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
LETTERS
Dear current 8th grader,
My name is <<Student>> and I had a ton of fun working at <<Company>> during
my 9th grade year for my work-study. Every week I would go into work and be
greeted by tons of really friendly, fun coworkers. I would have an assignment ready
for me that I could do at my own reasonable pace, such as filing, scanning, working
with Excel, organizing, taking notes at meetings, and editing files.
Before I began I wasn’t sure that I would like that area of work, but it has introduced
me to work that I have come to love. I have learned so much at work that I don’t
think I would have learned otherwise. The main thing that I feel very accomplished
upon is learning to better communicate with people. I came in as a very shy person
and I am now way more comfortable with speaking, even outside my workplace. I
have also learned the many aspects of scanning and filing, which I thought I knew
before -- but I actually did not.
The things that I have learned at work are already being put to use by me. I have
been asked favors by people that are not sure what to do, and I can say “Hey I
learned that at work!” and help them out. By being given the chance to work at a
young age I am now more knowledgeable than others my age which will help me with
a future job.
I would recommend Holy Family Academy and their work-study program over any
school in Pittsburgh because the students are getting the greatest opportunity that
any school has to offer and also having so much fun with it. To get the most out of
the work-study program, the most important thing to do is to ask questions. Asking
questions in any situation is the best way to learn. Also give your work the best that
you have got, because you won’t regret it -- and giving anything the best you have
got is only going to benefit you and bring on good things.
I am so thankful to be given the opportunity to be part of the work-study program and
the chance to learn so much more, it’s going to be a great four years.
Sincerely,
<<Student>> (Current 9th Grader)
24 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Letter to Future Holy Family Academy Student
Being a part of the first attending class at Holy Family Academy I was assigned at
<<Company>>.The general duties of our company are producing superior financial
returns, providing services to our customers. The company strives to develop mutually
rewarding relationships with its employees, partners, and suppliers.
At my work study I learned hard and soft skills. The hard skills learned included
copying, shredding, filing, creating spreadsheets, creating power points, and setting
up projectors. The soft skills learned were time management, organization,
responsibility, respect, and friendliness. I have also learned what the corporate
business atmosphere is like and how every part of a corporation or business plays an
important role.
There are many ways the skills I have developed can be transferred to my educational
and personal life. Having good organizational and time management skills
demonstrates my ability to complete task on time, my dependability, efficiency, and a
good work ethic. Having good communication skills such as being responsible and
friendly demonstrate that I can understand and clarify tasks given, talk to adults
respectfully, be trusted by adults.
The reasons I would recommend Holy Family Academy and its work study to other
students are because it helps build essential skills, good work ethic, networking, and is
a great resume builder. The competitive advantage you will gain is incredible because
it gives you a great boost at colleges and jobs. Another great thing is the transferrable
skills. Having the transferrable skills means that you can take these skills anywhere
you go such as work, school, and home … and when you’re out with friends these
skills can show your character and abilities.
My advice for the student is to have a good work ethic, be on time, be dressed
appropriately, ask questions, follow rules, and always make a good first impression. Be
open for learning and willing to accept feedback on what you do well and you can
improve. It’s that simple to make your experience at Holy Family Academy full and
successful.
Sincerely,
<<Student>>
25 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Dear Incoming Freshman,
Congratulation! You’ve made it so far! These next four years may be the best ones of
your life.
My name is <<Student>> and by the time you read this, I will be a sophomore.
Freshman year was a crazy year for me. I came from a small Catholic grade school
and everyone knew me. Coming to Holy Family Academy is a new and different
experience for me. I go to school four days a week and work at a company called
<<Company>> on the other day.
My main responsibilities were filing, scanning, making sure the computers were on the
proper domain, doing projects using Microsoft Office applications like Word, etc. I
learned how to work with others, follow supervisor instructions, completed tasks in a
timely manner, be part of a team, communicate with coworkers as needed, act
responsible and represent my school in a mature way. This created the basis of a
good work ethic and the foundation of a good education for me to succeed in any
future opportunity.
The work study program helps you to be more confident talking to recruiters,
department heads, and others responsible for hiring employees. Holy Family Academy
provides us with the tools necessary for multiple paths to a future career whether it be
a four or two year college, apprenticeship program, or other technical training
programs.
The jobs set you apart from every other person because you can put that you have
worked at a big company like I did at <<Company>> on your applications or resume.
No one else our age can do that. Holy Family Academy really does have some great
opportunities available -- you just have to take advantage of them.
I wish you the best of luck and hope that you have a great first year at Holy Family
Academy.
Sincerely,
<<Student>>
26 HFA Corporate Work Study Annual Report 2014-15
Dear Future HFA Student,
Holy Family Academy is the best school I’ve ever experienced. It offers so many things, like a
corporate work study program, religious education, and the amazing food!
The job I was assigned for the CWSP (Corporate Work Study Program), was <<Company>> as a
marketing intern. I did many things like mail out whatever needed to be mailed, answer phones,
check voicemails, enter documents in Excel (such as waivers). Sometimes I even went into the
marketing warehouse and got items they needed to mail out. I know it doesn’t sound all that fun,
but surprisingly it is. The fact that I got to work in <<Company office>> was such an amazing
experience.
I learned so many things, like how to print, mail, laminate papers, and much more, but I’m just
going to talk about the most important things I learned. First of all, I learned the basics like
printing, mailing, answering phones, checking voicemails, and using Excel, which is all mandatory
for a job like mine. I learned what it was like to work in an office setting, and it definitely wasn’t as
bad as I thought. I was so intimidated to work an actual job in such a big office, but at the end of
it all I realized work isn’t nearly as bad as everyone makes it sound.
What I learned is going to help me so much in life, and even just the fact that I have experience
doing these things is going to look great on a college application or a job resume. Anyway, just
learning the basics is important -- in most jobs you need to know how to print, mail, etc. Not even
just at the workplace but at home it’s useful to know how to use these things too. Also, just the
entire experience of working is awesome because it gives me an idea of what it’s like to work in an
office, gives me an idea of what most co-workers will be like (I thought work was like the TV
shows, with drama, romance, things like that but it’s definitely nothing like that), and what it’s like
having stricter rules than I’m used to. I know I’m making this sound boring, but trust me it’s really
not, and it’s going to help you with your future so much.
I would recommend this school to everyone -- its opportunities are just amazing. I am truly
blessed to have been able to come here, and if you’re able to come here, you are too. It truly is an
amazing school, from the food to the students, just everything about it. You won’t find it anywhere
else. A usual menu for the dining hall is something like chicken, soup, salad, fruit, and sides to go
with the meal. It’s so much better than regular cafeteria food. The classes are small so you
connect with your classmates easily -- also your teachers have more opportunity to focus on your
needs since there’s not many other students to focus on. After so many of months of being with
my classmates I feel like we’re one little family. Seriously. I usually have terrible stage fright, but
around them I feel so comfortable.
My advice to you is just to pay attention as much as you can, ask questions when you need to,
and just make the best out of the CWSP because it’s going to help you so much in the future. I
hope this helped you!
Sincerely A Very Pleased Student,
<<Student>>