6th-8th Career Exploration

February is a powerful intersection for Muskegon County. As we celebrate both School Counseling Week and CTE Month, we are focusing on MCDM Target 4: Family Engagement—the vital work of connecting student dreams to their support networks at home.

The Counselor Connection

Our school counselors are the "architects" of this bridge. By guiding students through Xello and the Michigan Career Development Model, they ensure parents are active partners in the journey—whether a 6th grader is discovering robotics or a 8th grader is exploring the Career Tech Center (CTC).

Family Engagement (Target 4) in Action: Bringing the "Why" Home

When career conversations move to the dinner table, student motivation thrives. We thank our counselors for:

• Opening Doors: Introducing students to high-demand, high-tech, and high-wage careers.

• Building Roadmaps: Using EDPs (Educational Development Plans) to give students and families a clear vision.

• Empowering Families: Providing tools like Xello that turn "I don't know" into "I have a plan."

Career exploration is "lighting up" at NBC Middle School! Recently, students stepped into the world of skilled trades by diving into a hands-on electrical wiring lab. This wasn't just a solo mission—the event featured a powerful collaboration with the CTC Engineering - Design Thinking class, where high school students served as mentors, guiding their middle school peers through complex wiring challenges.

🔧 Real Skills, Real Careers

To deepen the experience, the classroom teacher coupled the hands-on lab with Learning Blade lessons on Electrical Engineering. Students didn't just wire circuits; they researched:

• Where to find Electrician and Electrical Engineering programs.

• Salary Information: Understanding the high-demand, high-wage potential of the electrical trades.

• Career Connections: Linking classroom math and science to professional success. Scroll down for more information on Learning Blade's curriculum.

Interested in using these Electrical Career Kits? Need a hand with the setup and curriculum? We’ve got you covered! We can help bring these materials to your room and provide support to make your career lab a success.

Reach out today to get on the schedule! 📩 tschuitema@muskegonisd.org

Students at Muskegon Heights are leveling up their business game by diving into the world of food truck entrepreneurship. These middle schoolers are getting hands-on experience with budgeting and marketing strategies to turn a mobile kitchen into a reality. They’re learning the art of balancing food costs and profit margins while crafting brand identities designed to grab the community’s attention. By blending financial literacy with creative outreach, these young innovators are proving that with the right plan, they can cook up some success for their future careers!

Reach out today to get these kits & lessons in your class! 📩 tschuitema@muskegonisd.org

The Michigan Career Development Model (MCDM) is a framework, guided by legislation, that engages school communities, students, and their support networks in intentional and meaningful career awareness, exploration, and preparation for all students.

The goal of this target is to provide Family Engagement opportunities to support career exploration.

In honor of School Counselor Week and CTE Month, we challenge every family to try one "Career Conversation". No right or wrong answers—just big ideas!

"If you could solve one big problem in the world—like fixing cars, helping sick people, making our city a better place to live, growing better food, or building a new app—which one sounds most exciting to you?", or

"What's the coolest career you've found in Xello lately?", or

"If you could pick up any new skill in an instant—like a professional chef, a master welder, or a graphic designer—what would it be and why?", or

"When you imagine your future 'dream office,' are you working outside in nature, in a high-tech lab, or in a busy studio with a big team?"

For five years, Middle Vision has been a county success story, bridging the gap between 6th-grade interests and future careers.

• The Impact: Up to 300 sixth grade students from Muskegon, Orchard View, and Muskegon Heights Academy.

• Format: Monthly after-school sessions held at the Career Tech Center (CTC). Each after school session is 2 hours and meets 6 times.

• Longevity: 5 years of evolving to match student interests and industry needs.

• 15 Hands-On Courses In the following career areas: Welding, Construction, Electrical, Automotive Tech, Collision Repair, Graphic Design, Video/Podcast Production, Healthcare, Criminal Justice, Cosmetology, Hospitality & Food Management, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Coding, and Engineering.

One of the most impressive "secret ingredients" of Middle Vision’s success is its commitment to family engagement. We believe career exploration shouldn't stop at the school doors; it’s a journey that involves the whole family.

The culmination of each three-week session is the Exhibition of Learning. On the final day, families are invited to the CTC to see exactly what their child has learned, created, and developed. The goal of the Exhibition of Learning is for the student to demonstrate their learning about the career. Many times it involves the student explaining their process to create the projects. This showcase does more than just show off a project—it empowers parents and guardians to have meaningful, informed conversations at home about their student's talents and future goals.

What makes Middle Vision special is its ability to make the "invisible" visible. By exposing students to diverse career pathways—ranging from technical skills to professional services—it helps them build a "vision" for their life after graduation before they even enter high school. One of the most special things is that students are interacting with the industry professionals and being physically present with the tools and expectations of the career. This is not "pretend" career, it is immersion in the real thing.

"Watching a student realize that their hobby can actually be a high-demand career is what Middle Vision is all about. It’s about creating that 'aha!' moment early enough to make a difference."

• Welcome to Xello Family - Xello is the online program students are using in school to help them prepare for the future. Parents/guardians will receive an email from Xello which will include a link to activate their account within 17 days of receiving it. To get started in Xello Family, parents/guardians will need to set a password and then begin career connection conversations with their child!
• Xello Administrators - Don't forget to send Xello Family invites every 3 weeks!
• Click on the image to share the Xello Family video and continue to encourage family participation!

• 💡 Xello Family Connect tip: Send home a small QR code that leads to a "Xello Family Log-in" guide to make it even easier for families to engage!

• February 2 - Distribute Deposit Day envelopes to 6th & 7th grade students/families.
• February 5 - Please have the students return their deposit envelopes to your office staff on Thursday, February 5!

• Send out announcement to your 6th grade students & families -

  February 6 - is our 100th day of school for 6th graders - celebrating 6th graders are halfway to graduation! As a reward for their dedication to savings and to motivate them to continue their financial journey, the Community Foundation is adding a $1 incentive into their KickStart to Career accounts!

• February 11 & 12, our KickStart to Career Coordinator will pick up all the Deposit Day Envelopes from your front office staff.

• On-going - continue to encourage your 6th & 7th grade students to complete their Xello activities for their KtC incentive deposit. I will run reports and Kari will get certificates to you for the students who have completed the incentive.

Are you planning to launch the Talent Portfolio with your students this month? To make your "New Year" transitions as smooth as possible, I have two ready-to-use resources available to assist your classroom lesson:

• Collaborative Slide Deck: Access a comprehensive Google Slides lesson designed in partnership with counselors Faith and Nichole from Mona Shores Middle School. This deck is classroom-tested, and easy to follow.

• Step-by-Step Video (8 Minutes): If you prefer a "press play" approach, I have a walk-through video that guides students through the entire process of creating their portfolio. This is a great tool for independent work!

Need a hand? Whether you just want the links to these resources or would like me to visit your classroom to help facilitate the launch, I am here to support you. Reach out to me and let’s get your students started on their portfolio journey!

To explore Learning Blades missions curriculum and expose more students to STEM, Computer Science and CTE, sign up for your FREE account here. Contact me to connect with other Muskegon County teachers already using the curriculum!

Battelle Teacher Academy (backed in part by the U.S. Navy to grow the Maritime Industrial Base across the country) is offering year-long hybrid professional learning for k-12 educators from any subject area to strengthen STEM instruction and connect classrooms to real-world workforce opportunities.

• $2,000 program fee waived for accepted participants, thanks to industry support. Click here for the application.

Click here for a career guide book with career descriptions and additional information for many careers in construction. Additionally, they offer $200 busing reimbursement.

Ready to Inspire Your Students? If your middle school is interested in exploring these high-tech healthcare pathways, Muskegon Community College is currently booking sessions for groups of 20–30 students. To schedule a tour or learn more about the Health Science and Sim Lab experience, please reach out to Sarah Luker (sarah.luker@muskegoncc.edu) or Tricia Schuitema (tschuitema@muskegonisd.org). Space is limited, so be sure to secure your date soon!

• Available Dates: Remaining open dates include:

  May 1st Morning only

  May 5th

  May 6th

Action: Complete this enrollment form to reserve your spot!

Calling all 6th–8th grade writers! The Muskegon County Law Day essay contest invites students to reflect on a powerful theme:

"What does the 'American Dream' mean to you, and how do laws help people try to reach that dream?"

Turn this contest into a Career Exploration Activity! To help students connect the concept of "laws" to real-world opportunities, we encourage you to bridge this contest with Xello. It’s the perfect time to explore how the professionals who uphold our laws also protect our dreams.

How to integrate this into your classroom:

1. Search the Cluster: Have students log into Xello and search the Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security career cluster.

2. Explore the 51 Careers: Students can dive into 51 different career profiles—from Judges and Lawyers to Forensic Scientists and Conservation Officers.

3. Analyze the Data: Encourage students to look at which careers are in high demand, the various career paths available, and the specific education or training required.

4. Connect the Dots: Lead a classroom discussion on how these specific careers act as "guardians" of the American Dream. How does a court reporter or a police officer help a citizen reach their dreams?

This research is the perfect "pre-writing" exercise to help students add depth and real-world context to their Law Day essays! For more information regarding Law Day 2026, see this link.

Plan an exciting field trip experience for your students at the MCC downtown campus to explore STEAM career pathways and hands-on activities.

Click here to get registered. Contact Jessica Sisco with any questions at (231) 777-0629 or jessica.sisco@muskegoncc.edu.

• Howmet Bus Grant available. Select "Yes" on the registration form.

Partner Opportunities

Consider pairing your field trip with a visit to another downtown Muskegon educational partner. Don't forget to include career exploration conversations throughout your visit!

Interested in checking out what is happening in K - 5th with Career Awareness? Click the image to view the K-5 monthly newsletters.

Interested in checking out what is happening in 9th -12th grade with Career Preparation? Click the image to view the 9-12 monthly newsletters.

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO LEARN MORE!

Have questions? Need resources? Please reach out! I am here to support you and your team!

Tricia Schuitema

Career Exploration Specialist, Grades 6-8

Muskegon Area ISD

tschuitema@muskegonisd.org

w: 231.767.3628, c: 231.767.5591

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