Frankenmuth

14 WORK BASED LEARNING It's no secret that Frankenmuth High School strives to offer exceptional educational opportunities for students, but what, exactly, does that mean in 2021? It means providing a variety of paths and programs to help students explore their interests and gain experiences to help them consider their options and make plans for their futures beyond high school. In order to accomplish this task, FHS provides a number of options both on site and off campus. FHS partners with Career & Technical Education programs at Saginaw Career Complex, Bay Arenac Career Center, and The Frankenmuth Insurance Leadership Academy through the Tuscola Technology Center. The high school is also home to a number of programs that allow students to personalize their learning, including our Work-Based Learning options. Initiated in the Frankenmuth School District in 1956 by Mr. Louie Weiss, this program has provided over 2,000 Frankenmuth students with experiential learning opportunities through Co-Ops, Internships, and Cadet placements. Today, Mr. Ryan Ford is the school's Cooperative Education Director. One of this year's internships was undertaken by senior Maggie Guinther under the supervision of Michelle Vanderhaar, a Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Maggie has always loved science, and she first became interested in the field of ecology after realizing that her childhood aspiration of becoming a veterinarian may not be the right path for her. With further learning, she also developed a love for the relationships between living organisms and their physical environment. When her schedule for the 20-21 school year had an open hour to fill, she decided to turn this interest into high school credit. Maggie had one hour dedicated to her internship in her schedule each day. She spent numerous hours outside of school, exploring this field of study, growing native plants that will be integrated into the landscape behind the baseball/softball fields, and sharing her love of science and conservation with younger students who are involved in Ecology Club at E.F. Rittmueller Middle School. Maggie is eager to further develop her learning in this field as she heads off to Michigan Technological University next year to study Wildlife, Ecology, and Conservation; she plans to minor in German. Maggie says she greatly appreciates the independence this internship opportunity has given her and credits her mentor with helping guide her, but also letting her set the direction of this experience and foster her independence. Mr. Ford and the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce have collaborated to develop a catalog of opportunities in the area for students considering work-based- learning opportunities. Go online to tinyurl.com/FHS-WBL-Catalog to view this document. Frankenmuth High School invites employers and individuals interested in employing a co-op student or mentoring an intern to share their contact information with us by calling (989) 652-9955 and speaking to Mr. Ford, or filling out a short form at tinyurl.com/FHSWBL. FHS also provides a short-term mentoring opportunity for employers and individuals who wish to assist with FHS Senior Project Hours. Each senior completes approximately 12 hours of experiential learning under the supervision of a mentor in an area of the student's potential career interest. These hours and the resulting presentation at the annual Senior Symposium are a component of Frankenmuth High School's English 12 course. Students may seek mentors to interview, job shadow, provide tour access, and more. If you are interested in potentially working with an FHS senior as a mentor, you can complete the form at tinyurl.com/FHS-SrProjectMentor or contact FHS English 12 instructor, Mr. Aaron Toth at 989-652-9955 or atoth@fmuthschools.com. Frankenmuth High School invites employers and individuals interested in employing a co-op student or mentoring an intern to share their contact information with us by calling (989) 652-9955 and speaking to Mr. Ford. 12 Frankenmuth High School Senior, Maggie Guinther

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