Bourne High School Students Explore Future College and Career Opportunities

BOURNE — On a recent crisp and cool October Thursday, Bourne High School students engaged in their Second Annual Career and College Exploration Day. Funded by the Nye Foundation, and supported by a number of local businesses including National Grid and CapeCod Five, approximately  310 BHS students explored a variety of college and career opportunities awaiting them post-graduation.

Prior to their career and college explorations, Assistant Superintendent Barbara Starkie met with BHS students and presented the 17 different college and career options from which students could select.

The opportunities for students included:

College Hop

Students toured the campuses of Stonehill College, UMASS Dartmouth, Bridgewater State University, and Bristol Community College to learn about campus life, admissions, academic programs and more.

Take Flight with 4C

Students toured the campus of Cape Cod Community College to learn about campus life, admissions, Associate Degree and Certificate programs, and more, and then visited the college’s Aviation Maintenance Technology Program at the Plymouth Municipal Airport.

Boat, Bridge and Canal

Students and members of the Zephyr Education Foundation took a boat trip out on the Vineyard Sound to participate in field activities including oceanography and marine biology while observing technology used in marine research. Afterward, students visited the Army Corps of Engineers’ Cape Cod Field Office at the Cape Cod Canal to hear about recent projects & careers in engineering with the Army Corps.

Culinary Delights

Students toured the Lobster Trap Restaurant accompanied by owner David Delancey to learn about the restaurant and culinary industry from the kitchen to the dining room. Students then took a tour of Fedele’s Chocolates in Pembroke with owner and candyman Ron Fedele for some first-hand experience with careers in the confectionery industry.

Lights, Camera, Action…

Students interested in a journalism or communications career visited the Bourne Enterprise where they learned the ins and outs of gathering the news on deadline. The second stop was FUN 107 where students toured the radio station and engaged with on-air DJs. Their final stop was at BHS, where students talked with Emmy Award winning newscaster Jackie Bruno about television news and the life of a journalist.

Art and Theater Anyone?

This trip included a tour of the Cahoon Museum of American Art. While at the Cahoon Museum, students were treated to a tour and engaged in the three stages of museum life – exhibition, deconstruction and planning. Students learned about museum careers and curation. After the museum, students visited the Cotuit Center for the Performing Arts. They toured the grounds and performance facilities and met with Associate Director of Programming and Production Jason Mellin for a career conversation.

Take to the Seas
Stops on this trip included a visit to the Steamship Authority, where students learned about careers with the largest ferry service available to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Afterward, students visited the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to learn about the different aspects of maritime career training. Students learned about admissions, academic programming, campus and vessel experiences and more.

Blue Light, Red Light
Students considering a career in either law enforcement, firefighting or emergency medicine had the chance to tour the Bourne Police Department and Bourne Fire Department headquarters and speak to first responders who serve and protect the community.

More than Monkey Business

Students toured Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo and heard from an Educational Programming Specialist all about the careers available to those interested in protecting, caring for and celebrating animals.

Planting Seeds for Tomorrow

Students interested in a farming and agriculture career visited and toured Coonamessett Farm in East Falmouth and explored the careers associated with a membership-based farm that provides locally grown food for homes and businesses across the Cape. Students also toured the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association bog in Carver to learn about the history, as well as the contemporary processes, associated with cranberries.

From Stethoscopes to Microscopes

Students interested in the medical field were able to spend the day at Southcoast’s Tobey Hospital in Wareham and visit a variety of areas in the hospital including the new Baldwin Makepeace Emergency Center. Students engaged with a panel of experts in healthcare careers including representatives from nursing, surgery and diagnostics.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Students interested in starting and running a small business visited and toured the Cape Cod Beach Chair Company. Students met with owner Justin Labdon to learn about his unique path to his custom furniture business. Afterward, students went to the Cape Cod Lifestyle Brand Co. in Chatham where they met with owner Jonathan Pratt to learn more about the apparel business and tour his store.

Suits and Swag

Students with a passion for manufacturing from design to production were able to tour the factory floor of Joseph Abboud. Students learned about the clothing design process, from pencil drawing, to stitching to sales and marketing from an industry expert.

Afterward, students visited the Lighthouse Cape Cod to hear from owner David Clifford about his experiences in the screen printing, embroidery, and graphics industry – as well as his experiences recruiting sales and marketing professionals for medical device and pharmaceutical clients.

A Time to Give and Serve

Students visited Cape Kid Meals where they were able to join the volunteers unpacking, stocking and packing the week’s food supply for children across Cape Cod.  Then, students visited the Barnstable County Department of Human Services to learn about a variety of career opportunities in service to others.

Internship Day
Students engaged in their already-established internships for the day.

BHS Showcase Volunteer
Showcase volunteers assisted BHS teachers during BHS’s Showcase by leading demonstrations, engaging with the visiting seventh and eighth grade students, and answering questions about their experiences at BHS.

After the introductory assembly, students selected their top three choices. Once assignments were made, students prepared for their field experiences by generating questions and setting goals for their individual day’s adventures.

On the day of the trip, students visited their assigned sites. Eager students heard from industry professionals, watched demonstrations, and, in many cases, got into the action.

For example, students made chocolate at Fidele’s in Pembroke, handled sea creatures with Zephyr Education, and packed to-go meals at Cape Kids Meals. Both hosts and students alike reported having a learning-filled day that will, no doubt, shape the futures of BHS students.

Dr. Starkie, who organized the day, noted, “As time advances, the information imparted by the many generous local business owners and employers will inspire our students to select relevant courses, consider internship opportunities, engage in job shadow experiences, and spend their days pursuing meaningful interests and careers.” 

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to explore college and career interests and to connect with community partners who continue to support Bourne High School’s vision to expand student thinking around all the doors that will open post-high school,” said High School Principal Dr. Lisa Maguire. “We are grateful to all our friends in the community who hosted and allowed for BHS students to see relevance and purpose outside the high school classroom.”

The Bourne Public Schools would like to thank everyone involved in the Second Annual Career and College Exploration day for their time, energy, and support of their students.

 ###