Tell Me Something Good- Lyons USD 405

Lyons Middle School recently hosted its annual Portfolio / Artifact Night, showcasing the impressive career exploration work of students in grades 6-8. This initiative, supported by a Perkins Reserve Grant, provided students with valuable insights into their future career paths.

Clelia McCrory, ESSDACK CTE consultant, assisted Lyons USD 405 in securing the grant, which funded the purchase of welding simulators and facilitated the development of engaging career exploration resources. Clelia spent multiple days at LMS,  collaborating with school staff to integrate career exploration activities into the daily curriculum.

"All middle school students have participated in career exploration activities 2-3 times a week during an Individual Plan of Study (IPS) class," shared Clelia. "They've explored their strengths and areas of interest and learned about the employability skills that will help them now and in the future."

The Artifact Night showcased the culmination of these efforts. Sixth graders presented posters highlighting the seven career fields and their personal interests. Seventh graders created booklets exploring three career clusters, while eighth graders shared tri-fold presentation boards detailing specific occupations and the high school pathways required to achieve them.

"Students did a great job of explaining what they learned through this project," commented Clelia. "This initiative has not only fostered student interest in various career fields but also equipped them with valuable knowledge and skills they will need in the future."

The success of the program is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire LMS team, including counselor Christi Reid (counselor), IPS teacher Alicia Carlton, and  the entire LMS staff.