BRISTOL – Superintendent Ana C. Riley and Principal Michelle King would like to highlight the business and finance path of Mt. High School. Hope as part of Technical Education and Career Month.
A total of 98 students are currently enrolled in the program. Students can take an “Intro to Business” course during their first year. This course exposes students to a range of topics including marketing, finance, entrepreneurship and management. After completing the class, students can choose whether they are interested in pursuing a path in marketing or finance.
The pathway is designed to prepare students for the real world and provide skills that can be used if they choose to go to college or straight into the workforce after graduation. Topics learned in the classroom are applied to real projects through internships, DECA and community projects with local companies and more. Additionally, students can earn 3 college credits at the University of Rhode Island through the Accounting track course.
“Our business and finance pathway is a great way for students who are interested in learning about business to gain knowledge in many different areas before they leave high school,” said Superintendent Riley. “Students engage in hands-on projects supported by instructors and community partners, which allows them to develop skills that can be applied to many different aspects of life and career.”
Sydney DiChiappari, a junior, applied the marketing skills she learned in her General Management class to create a logo for a Think Tank event hosted by the Warren Chamber of Commerce last school year. DiChiappari and her group worked with local businesses to design a logo for the event, which featured a lamp and a bridge. She also attended the event and was able to network and network with local professionals.
“I joined this path because I wanted to learn skills that I could use in the real world,” DiChiappari said. “This is a great program and I have benefited so much from it, developing team building skills that will help me be successful in whatever path I choose.”
Junior Olivia Labonte used the skills she learned in her General Management class to create and design a trio for the Town of Warren’s summer student mentoring program. Tripali was placed in public spaces in the city. Olivia and her group identified the target market, which included parents and students of various ages. They designed the treble to resonate with each group.
“Business is a broad degree and I’m not sure what field I want to go into, but this program was a great place to start,” Olivia said. “I love the classes on this track because they are interesting, practical and give me a taste of the business world.”
Junior Siena Sousa was offered a social media internship by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island after working on a community project in collaboration with the organization. Sousa encourages eighth-graders to consider joining the trail because of the many opportunities it offers.
“I tell eighth graders to join because it’s fun, you get to experience the real world, it expands your mind and you get involved in hands-on learning,” Sousa said.
To learn more about the pathways offered at the high school, click here. Prospective students and families are invited to a CTE Open House on March 1 from 6-8 p.m.
About CTE month
CTE Month is an annual campaign by the Association for Career and Technical Education that aims to bring national awareness to the value of career and technical education and the benefits it brings to young people seeking to gain knowledge, experience and skills in various industries.
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