6th-8th Career Exploration

Happy New Year! As we step into 2026, we are hitting the ground running with a focus on student growth and tangible rewards. This month, our spotlight is on Target 5: Career Interests. We aren't just asking students what they want to be; we are helping them discover why through self-awareness and hands-on exploration.

The best part? In Muskegon County, career exploration literally pays off! As students complete their Xello lessons and hit their milestones this winter, they are actively growing their KickStart to Career savings accounts. I am so excited to see our students continue to connect their classroom efforts to their future dreams (and their bank balances!).

Thank you for your continued partnership in making career readiness a priority for our middle schoolers. Let’s make 2026 a year of discovery!

This school year, sixth graders have a few ways to earn $6 for their KickStart to Career (KtC) savings accounts.

Encourage families to check their email from Xello and activate their Xello Family account. All rewards will be deposited into student accounts by May. Families can track the progress of their child's KtC account directly in PowerSchool.

Seventh graders can earn money for their KickStart to Career savings account by using the Xello platform to explore their future.

• $5 incentive for a completed Talent Portfolio: An online "scrapbook" to document their skills, interests, and career ideas.

• $1 incentive for creating a plan for what's next after graduation.

• $1 incentive for setting a future goal to plan for their future.

This is a great opportunity for students to document their talents, interests, and future goals and plans while saving for their future at the same time!

• By the end of January - Launch KickStart to Career incentive opportunities through Xello and send home the flyers to 6th and 7th grade students.
• January 20 & 22 - our KickStart to Career Coordinator will deliver Deposit Day Envelopes to your school office to deliver to students on Feb. 2 (fingers crossed for good weather).

Deposit Day Envelopes: These are for our upcoming Deposit Day on February 5th (open to K-7th grade).

• 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!

• February 6 - is our 100th day of school for 6th graders - celebrating that they are halfway to graduation! As a reward for 6th graders' dedication to savings and to motivate them to continue their financial journey, we'll add a $1 incentive into their KtC accounts! Please announce this to the 6th grade students & families on Friday, February 6! We will send you a reminder on the 4th or 5th with a sample announcement to use with your students and families!

• 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 for your classroom:

• 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!

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.

This month, we are focusing on Target 5 of the Michigan Career Development Model: Career Interests. The goal of this target is to help students use inventories to generate self-awareness and identify personal motivations related to work, income, and lifestyle.

Holton’s 8th-grade students recently dived deep into their future possibilities using the Career Matchmaker in Xello. This wasn't just a simple quiz; students had to think critically about their personal interests and rank them on a scale from "Like very much" to "Dislike very much."

How it works: Student answers are weighted against specific aspects of hundreds of careers to determine a strength of match.

• The higher a student ranks an interest, and the more central that interest is to a specific career, the stronger the recommendation becomes.

• Students also encountered a critical filter question: “What would you like to do when you finish school or college?” This helps tailor the results. Of course, students can opt for "Not Sure Yet," embracing the exploration phase of their journey.

The most exciting part of this activity was seeing the "aha!" moments. Here is what Holton students had to say about what they liked or learned:

• Discovery: "I learned about jobs I didn't know existed."

• Validation: "I knew I wanted to be a Marine Biologist, but I'm glad it matched up with my interests."

• Self-Awareness: "I learned that I'm good with working with my hands" and "I learned I should be some sort of builder."

• Evolution: "I liked seeing how much my career interests have changed."

• Service-Oriented: "I liked that Doctor was a recommended route I could take, as I like helping people."

• Tech-Focused: "I learned I like a lot of jobs to do with software and electronics."

By identifying these interests early, students are doing more than just picking a job title—they are identifying their personal motivations. Whether it’s a passion for helping people, working with technology, or using their hands to build, these 8th graders are building the self-awareness necessary to make informed decisions about their future high school pathways and beyond.

Middle schoolers from Fruitport Middle School, Timberland Charter Academy, and Calvary Christian Middle School recently got a front-row seat to the world of medical careers at Muskegon Community College (MCC). Through interactive Health Science tours, students participated in hands-on Nursing demonstrations and explored the cutting-edge Simulation (Sim) Lab. These sessions, designed for groups of 20–30 students, provide a look at MCC’s health programs alongside an admissions presentation, helping students connect their classroom learning to high-demand healthcare pathways.

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 applications will be made available in January, and this year’s prompt 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!

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

Please forward this newsletter to teachers and staff in your buildings so fellow educators can "subscribe" to get monthly career exploration newsletter updates!