Yorkville High School principal David Travis

Yorkville High School principal David Travis knows that a well-rounded education happens beyond the four walls of a classroom.

“High school is a means to an end, not an end itself,” Travis said. “How do we help our kids when they do move on to that next step?”

This was a question Travis and YHS teacher Melissa Wojowski began contemplating about a year ago, and today, the duo thinks it’s found a solution.

The answer comes in the form of the school’s new Field Experience Program, which matches YHS juniors and seniors with outside organizations and businesses to help foster growth both inside and outside the classroom.

“Students don’t always know what they want to do and what interests them,” Travis said. “We wanted to bring the real-world experience into the educational realm.”

Next school year, Travis and Wojowski will match-up YHS students with local business in hopes that the work they do together will foster new passions and relationships.

Students will spend a minimum of five hours a week working outside the classroom and inside local businesses.

“We want students to learn what interests them, and to know what career field or area of focus they should be pursuing,” Travis said.

According to Wojowski, The Field Experience will provide students with the opportunity to prepare for career success outside high school through personalized, realistic learning experiences. Students will gain valuable work experience in an area of their interest, create a network of contacts, and learn valuable, transferable, self-management, and job-related skills while earning school credit towards graduation.

“The students have thoughts or ideas about what they want to do,” she said. “Now, they’ll be able to explore that in the real world and not just talk about it in a business class.”

Yorkville High School offers students The Field Experience, a program that provides the opportunity to prepare for success outside high school real practical learning experiences. (Photo courtesy of YHS Facebook)

Wojowski has called upon local businesses to participate in the Field Experience Program by taking-on YHS students who are selected for the class.

A complimentary Career Connection breakfast will be held on Dec. 15 at YHS in order to educate local businesses about the program, ignite some curiosity and help create new connections.

So far, the list of participating businesses is vast and long.

Realtors, bankers, drywall companies, hotel workers, foot and ankle specialists and others have already committed to attending.

Wojowski said about 30 students have also expressed interest in the program so far.

“In January, we’ll have our pool of candidates and students who have expressed interest and we will try to find the appropriate matches,” she said.

Principal Travis said the program has received support from the Board of Education, the district Superintendent, students and businesses alike.

“It really shows you that when everybody gets wrapped around a common goal of trying to serve our kids, it’s really cool what can be accomplished. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and that’s really refreshing,” Travis said.

Local businesses interested in participating in the Field Experience Program can contact Wojowski at mwojowski@y115.org for more information. Her web site www.wojowskibusiness.weebly.com/

“Education doesn’t just happen inside the four walls of a classroom anymore,” Travis said. “Outside experience is just as beneficial as what happens inside a classroom itself.”

–Yorkville H.S. students gain career experience —