A Note to Families 

Dear Families,

 

During 7th grade, students create an academic and career plan that helps establish their interests, map out related coursework, and provide direction and relevance as they move into high school. This plan will be revisited and adjusted throughout high school, laying the groundwork for continued education and career readiness.

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As a middle school student, your 7th grader will explore different career pathways to discover the many dynamic and exciting career opportunities that exist today. All 7th grade students from Augusta, Rockingham, Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro will have a chance to participate in a Worlds of Work Career Fair at the Augusta Expo. This event will feature hands-on career exploration simulations and highly engaging career-related activities. Many area businesses will participate in this event to help engage and expose our community's youth to the wide variety of rewarding job opportunities available right here in the Shenandoah Valley.

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We encourage the whole family to get involved! Please take some time to discuss the career fair experience together and explore the information in this booklet as a family. This resource shows the types of careers students experienced at the Worlds of Work event and will be an excellent tool as your student begins developing their career plan.

 

This workbook describes seventeen career clusters, provides examples of jobs within each pathway, outlines the training and education required for different careers, and presents associated average earnings. You'll discover that many careers require technical training rather than traditional four-year degrees. As you know, our world is changing quickly, and businesses are searching for workers who possess both technical and academic skills.

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Family conversations about careers matter! Whether you're parents, grandparents, siblings, or other caring family members, your input and support play a crucial role in helping students explore their interests and plan for their futures. Share your own career experiences, ask questions about what excites them, and help them see the connections between their current interests and future possibilities.

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Here in the Shenandoah Valley, our schools, businesses, and continuing education institutions are dedicated to ensuring that our students are prepared to be successful and productive adults. Please reach out to your student's guidance counselor if you have any questions or need additional information about the career fair, career planning, or the seventeen career clusters.

Thank you for being partners in your student's career exploration journey!

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Blue Ridge Career Pathway Consortium