Camden Academy Charter High School Seeks Job Partners

CAMDEN, NJ – In conjunction with the Student Internship Program, Camden Academy Charter High School (CACHS) is actively seeking professional businesses and organizations within Camden’s downtown district to host Academy senior interns for the 2014-2015 school year.

“Our goal this coming year is to increase work-based learning opportunities available to students during the course of the school year by enlisting companies in Camden City and surrounding communities to provide these rewarding experiences,” said CACHS Program Coordinator Sharon Patton.

The objective of the program is to offer students a real-world experience that will build industry knowledge and provide them exposure to careers related to their areas of study. These experiences may be as simple as shadowing practitioners at their work place or being involved in supervised, in-depth learning. The internship can be a paid or voluntary experience.

In preparation for any internship, students participate in a weekly training course aimed at reinforcing the value of positive character traits and interpersonal skills. The training also offers them greater insight into norms of office culture, such as learning to communicate professionally, working as part of a team and building networks and mentoring relationships.

As expectations for the 21st century workforce increase, the work-based-learning experience is an important component in the development of the skills needed for success. Whatever their ultimate goals, students in internships benefit from: real-world experience for inclusion on resumes and college applications, future employment opportunities and the chance to gain life-long workplace skills.

“Employers benefit from the program by having available a year round source of highly motivated, academically successful students for temporary or seasonal positions and projects. Creating an internship for any organization is a cost-effective way to give back. The image of a business or organization in the community is enhanced as they contribute expertise to the educational enterprise. Hiring interns not only helps students in the community get started; it enhances the local workforce as a whole,” said Patton.

“The work-based learning experience is a smart way for companies and non-profits to invest in the economic vitality of Camden by shaping the quality of its future workforce”.

Current job partners of CACHS include, Urban Promise, Student Conservation Association, Almost Home Animal Shelter, Cooper University Hospital, Rutgers-Camden and Adventure Aquarium.

For more information on how to become a CACHS job partner, please email Sharon Patton at spatton@promiseacademycharter.org or call 856-365-1000 ext 160.

About Camden Academy: Camden Academy Charter High School (CACHS) is a public, non-denominational, coeducational, independent day school of choice for more than four hundred students in grades nine through twelve. CACHS was recently awarded a bronze medal for the second time as part of the U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 Best High School Rankings. Camden’s Academy Charter High School is one of four schools that operate under Camden’s Charter School Network (CCSN), a charter management organization whose membership is dedicated to providing viable educational opportunities for students and their families. For more information, please visit www.promiseacademycharter.org.