6th-8th Career Exploration

This fall, career kits are available for classroom use! The Electrical Wiring Kit, designed for up to 30 students, offers 13 hours of instruction across 3 lessons, teaching essential electrical wiring principles and techniques through real-world, hands-on tasks.

The Food Truck Design Kit offers students an interactive, hands-on experience in food service entrepreneurship. These kits allow up to 30 students to design, plan, and visualize their own food truck concepts using interactive tools like gridded whiteboards and furniture tiles. Through 18 hours of instruction across 5 lessons, students will develop practical business skills and explore the dynamic world of food truck ownership.

If you're interested in borrowing either of these kits for a few weeks during the school year, please reach out to Tricia Schuitema, tschuitema@muskegonisd.org, MAISD Career Exploration Specialist, 231-767-3628 - I will deliver them to your school!

MAISD Career Readiness Summary & Building Meetings

The MAISD Career & College Readiness team distributed a Xello & Career Readiness Summary to your district's superintendents, principals, and counselors last spring. The summary provided a K-12 framework for career development goals and showcases how Xello is being used.

Our Career Specialists are still scheduling meetings with all schools (elementary through high school) to discuss the summary, celebrate achievements, and plan for the new school year. We'll also share recent Xello updates during these meetings. I'll be in touch soon to schedule a meeting with your district if I haven't already.

• If you have students moving into or out of your district who have used Xello, please notify me so I can assist with transferring their accounts before using Xello this school year.

Xello offers two key features to help educators and students with their career exploration:

• For Teachers: Completion Standards lets you easily assign and monitor student progress on activities, from interactive lessons to skills assessments. This tool helps you set clear expectations and generate reports.

• For Students: The To-Do List provides an organized view of all assigned work, keeping them focused on their learning goals.

Please reach out with any questions.

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

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

• $1 for a graduation plan: Creating a plan for after graduation.

• $1 for a future goal: Setting a future goal in Xello.

This is a great opportunity for students to explore career options and save for their future at the same time!

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

All rewards will be deposited into student accounts in May. Families can track the progress of their child's KtC account directly in PowerSchool.

Get your students involved in the West Michigan Design Prize Challenge, a K-12 program that uses Design Thinking to solve a real community problem. Teachers can lead a team of students as a class or after-school activity.

Key Details:

• Who: K-12 students from Muskegon, Ottawa, and Kent Counties.

• What: Students will work with an industry partner and compete to be a "Change Maker."

• Support: Teachers are fully supported by the ISD, MiSTEM, KCAD, and a local industry partner.

• Next Steps: Teams will compete at a regional event, with the top teams advancing to the Grand Rapids Art Museum in January.

• Upper Elementary/Middle School Kick-off: September 16th at Tech Week.

Interested? Form a team of students and complete this Google Form. For questions, contact Jennifer Gwinnup at jgwinnup@muskegonisd.org.

Discover Manufacturing is continuing its mission to provide opportunities for 6th - 12th grade Muskegon area students and West Michigan manufacturers to connect through dynamic hands-on tours!

Discover Manufacturing Week Oct. 13 - Nov. 25, 2025

• Manufacturers host groups of students for a tour.
• Students and educators tour the facility of your choice for approximately 2 hours.
• Tours provide opportunities for manufacturers to showcase the wide range of high-skill and high-pay careers and dispels myths that may be associated with manufacturing jobs.
• Inspires students to pursue a career with opportunities for on-the-job training, apprenticeships, internships and scholarships.

To register for a tour, click here.

To access the Manufacturing Week Educator Toolkit, click here.

Questions? Contact Sasamon Parker, CTC Placement Specialist, 231.767.3607 sparker@muskegonisd.org

The Schools to Tools Mobile Field Trip is touring schools across Michigan and features engaging hands-on challenges alongside dynamic virtual experiences that lets your students step into the world of the skilled trades.

Click here to request a stop!

You are invited to join Kent ISD STEAM Connect—an exclusive day designed for educators. This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with fellow educators, industry partners, and experts in the STEM field, fostering valuable connections and insights. Click here to register: Cost is $35

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 - Muskegon Area CTC

tschuitema@muskegonisd.org

231.767.3628

Schedule a time to meet with me here!

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