In the school year recently concluded, thirteen Canton High School students took part in the "School To Work" program.
The students worked at thirteen different businesses, at least once per week. The work schedule is arranged so that the students do not miss tests or fall behind on projects. Students are responsible for completing missed classes and homework.
The students worked at thirteen different businesses, at least once per week. The work schedule is arranged so that the students do not miss tests or fall behind on projects. Students are responsible for completing missed classes and homework.
A weekly schedule is prepared and students are responsible for checking to see when they are scheduled to work.
Mrs. Cole (in the morning) and Mrs. Kilbourn (in the afternoon) transport the students to the job site, using the Driver Education car, and then supervise the work assigned.
The goal of the program is to have the students work independently after they are given directions.
The students can earn "Stroupy Money", which, even though it is not real, teaches them about receiving money for work, how a check is written, endorsed and cashed. Mrs. Stroup has a "Stroupy Store" where the "money" can be used.
These businesses participate in the School To Work program:
• Canton Building Supply - students clean and organize shelves.
• Green Free Library - Students put books away, dust shelves and furniture and run the vacuum cleaner
• Landon's Farm Market - Students help gather apples and make cider
• Pump & Pantry - students stock shelves and keep them neat and organized
• American Rescue Workers - students hang clothes on racks by size and color, organize book and video shelves, clean glass counter and shelves, place clothes on hangers, straighten bags to be used by customers.
• D & H Market - students face the shelves
• Doc's Irish Inn - Students learned to make different sauces, portion meat, fill condiment containers, prepare salads, wrap silverware and clean tables.
• Schoonover's -students do filing, clean shelves, organize bins, help check orders, put merchandise away, run vacuum cleaner, break down boxes for recycling and place stamps and labels on postcards for mailing.
• Canton Borough Authority - students place address labels on envelopes, fold letters, stuff envelopes, stamp and seal envelopes; separate bills for end of the month mailing.
• Troy American Legion - students do table settings, stock refrigerator with soda, fill salt & pepper shakers and place them on tables, fill condiment containers
• Baldwin's Hardware - student helps put orders away, vacuums, cleans and dusts and mops the floor.
* Dandy Mini Mart - Students stock shelves, fill coolers, face shelves, clean shelves.
• Endless Mountains pregnancy Care Center - students assemble baby bottles for fundraiser, check expiration dates on formula, sort, fold and hang clothes.
The School- To-Work program has been very successful, and has saved the district a substantial amount of money.
The students have learned work ethics, the importance of good hygiene and caring about their appearance, the importance of keeping things confidential, and have improved their social skills.
They have been introduced to job opportunities. The businesses and managers have been pleased with the program and have asked for the program to return. Two students were offered part-time jobs at the end of last school year.
Mrs. Kilbourn told the school board, "We are very proud of the students and the success the program has had in the community. The businesses have been awesome to work with and so good to the students