Job Shadow Day

Feb 2, 2017
2 min read

International Academy student Sadilka Lopez shadowed bakers at Katalina's Bakery today for Job Shadow Day. She is interested in a career in culinary arts and was able to learn from Kathy, the owner of the bake shop, how she learned to bake and started her own business in New Haven. See some of her delicious creations below this post!

11th grade students from Wilbur Cross participated in National Job Shadow Day today. This day is celebrated each year in connection with Groundhog Day—the groundhog sees its shadow and students “shadow” jobs they’re interested in.

The goal of Job Shadow Day is for students to explore a career they want to learn more about, and maybe someday pursue. The event is targeted at our 11th grade students, and it is our hope that the experience will help to clarify their career interests, provide ideas for post-secondary education and training programs, and get them excited to finish high school. They will hear about the personal and professional experiences that have influenced and guided these individuals in their career paths, and hopefully start framing their futures as well.

This year, 18 Wilbur Cross High School juniors shadowed at the following businesses and organizations in New Haven (and surrounding cities) to explore career fields like architecture, medicine, cosmetology, counseling, law enforcement, art, anthropology, sports, politics, and more:

• 101 Art Threads • Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center • Cumulus Radio/WEBE 108 • Divas on the Go Mobile Salon • Happy Family Clinical Services • Katalina’s Bakery • New Haven Police Department • New Haven YMCA Youth Center • Shoreline Dental • Svigals + Partners • Universal Health • Yale University’s Biological Anthropology Lab • Yale University’s Men’s Soccer

Job Shadow Day is run out of Wilbur Cross’ new College & Career Center (CCC; http://crosscollegecareer.wixsite.com/crossccc). In the CCC students can get help applying for college and trade schools, finding internship and career-training program opportunities, and much more! Sharon Sudusky (sharon.sudusky@nhboe.net) and Melanie Bauer (melanie.bauer@nhboe.net), who are Internship Coordinators at Wilbur Cross, support the career side of the CCC and organized this Job Shadow Day event.