Job Shadow Day E-Xtra

January 5, 2006

Happy New Year! Countdown to Job Shadow Day Begins!

Only days after counting down to the New Year, the countdown to Job Shadow Day has begun! February 2nd, Job Shadow Day, is now less than a month away. However, there is still time to download your free Job Shadow guide and other materials by visiting www.JobShadow.org!

Visit the Job Shadow Blog!

The Job Shadow Blog is back for 2006! This year the Blog is being written by Sondra Clark, a 16-year-old from Tennessee who has had dozens of Job Shadow experiences. Keep an eye out in the days and weeks ahead as Sondra gives tips to teens about how they can get involved in Job Shadow ing! Just visit jsdblog2006.blogspot.com/ or follow the “Blog” link on www.JobShadow.org.

Send Your Friends a Job Shadow E-Postcard!

Don’t forget to tell your friends about Job Shadow Day via the Job Shadow E-Postcard. Just visit www.jobshadow.org/postcard to begin telling everyone about Job Shadow Day!

Job Shadow Activities in the Works!

Plans are underway for Job Shadow Day in communities throughout the U.S., and even in the U.S. territories. Here are just a few examples!

Guam:

America’s Groundhog Job Shadow Day begins on Guam on February 2, 2006 as students from Guam High School, a Department of Defense school, become shadows to Andersen Air Force Base mentors. For the past six years, military and civilian personnel from the base have hosted students on Groundhog Day. Mentor participation on the base includes personnel from the Air Force Squadrons, as well as the Navy Helicopter Squadron, the Exchange and the Commissary.

California:

Redlands East Valley High School in California will once again have its seniors - 739 this year - Job Shadow as part of their second semester English 12 class requirements. The students write a letter requesting the Job Shadow, and they follow it up with a phone call to arrange the details. First semester they have completed a senior portfolio and a one-on-one interview with a business partner to prepare for the Job Shadow. Many of the mentors are chosen from the Career Day speakers that come to the school in April of each year and then volunteer to be Job Shadow mentors. The seniors complete a packet that includes questions to be asked, a student evaluation, and the employer completes an evaluation.

Washington, DC:

Once again, many of our nation’s leaders will be participating in Job Shadow Day as “career mentors.” Last year members of Congress and representatives from several Federal agencies had student shadows. Participants in 2005 included Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Mary Landrieu and Congressman Chris Van Hollen, to name a few. Expect more high profile participants in 2006!

Tell us about It

Do you have big plans for Job Shadow Day 2006? If so, we would love to share your story with others! Just e-mail us three or four sentences with details to info@jobshadow.org and we will be sure to post them on JobShadow.org.

A Word for Our Sponsors!

Job Shadow Day 2006 would not be possible without the support of national title sponsor ING. ING has renewed its commitment to provide the resources and support necessary to successfully deliver Job Shadow experiences to young people across the country. In addition, the Job Shadow Coalition thanks Valpak.com for its co-sponsorship of this year’s efforts! The support of these sponsors is truly invaluable!

About Job Shadow Day

Job Shadow is a yearlong effort to enrich the lives of students by acquainting them with the world of work through on-the-job experiences and a carefully crafted school curriculum that ties academics to the workplace. The effort helps young people understand how what they learn in the classroom leads to success in the workplace. National Job Shadow is a coordinated effort of Junior Achievement, America’s Promise - The Alliance for Youth, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor. For more information, visit www.JobShadow.org.