October Newsletter - CHS Career Exploration Experience

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I wanted to give you an update on how the first month of school has been, and give you some highlights for what we're going to accomplish in October.

Looking back at September:

We have had some amazing classes and learning opportunities. The students seem to be getting settled into their classroom routines and my expectations in the classroom. We're working on building a community among all students in class and reflecting on our past as a way to decide where we need to grow and what we want to achieve in the future.

Over the past month we have:

• Set a baseline for what career pathways students are interested in

• Read about educational opportunities and challenges within Bridgeport and the surrounding area

• Talked about what beliefs students have coming into the school year, and wrote thesis statements

• Set academic, emotional, and behavioral goals for this school year

• Wrote Praise Poems in which students praise themselves and acknowledge their strengths

• Worked on 6 Word Memoir Projects and other ways of visually and textually representing their sense of self

• Studied what "Grit" is (passion and perseverance for very long term goals, working hard, and not giving up) and how they can use it to overcome obstacles in their lives, school, and their futures.

• If you are interested in finding out more about grit, watch psychologist Angela Duckworth's Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance?language=en

Over the next several weeks, students will be working on:

• Formally establishing their year long goals

• Writing a "This I Believe" Essay exploring a significant life experience and what it led them to believe about the world

• Looking into what learning styles are best for them to succeed

• Exploring career pathways and taking a career aptitude test

• Continuing to use the idea of "Grit" to push through when things become difficult and find ways to succeed even when it is not easy.

I just wanted to say that I am thrilled by the work that students have been accomplishing so far this year, and I am so proud to watch your teenagers grow into young adults.

Please contact me if you have any questions!

Charlotte Pecquex

cpecquex@bridgeportedu.net