Sandra MacLachlan

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• Sandra MacLachlan
• Transition Coordinator

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COOL Week

• COOL Week is a week-long, work-based experience
  for all 12th graders.
• Students must apply to participate.
• Students are matched to work sites by career
  preference.
• Students are assigned to work sites in teams of
  2-3.

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• Students will experience
• Job application process/resume critique
• Interview and critique
• Teamwork and problem solving
• Job shadowing
• Formal business presentation
• Interaction with adults in career field of
  interest

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Goals

• Students will see how what they are learning in
  school is used in the work place.
• Students apply skills, such as teamwork, critical
  thinking, problem solving, and communication
  through the weeks activities.

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Goals

• Students will learn how specific occupations are
  performed and become aware of the aptitudes,
  education, and training needed to be successful
  in those occupations.
• Students will be able to make better informed
  career decisions based on actual work experience.

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Sample Business Projects

• Software/Technology
• Fusion Learning Systems
• Design and implement software for training
  module.
• Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
• Create/update website for Core Comp group.

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Sample Business Projects

• Customer Service
• Five Star Interiors
• Installation and development of new show room.
• Newsstand.com
• Develop plan to improve training program for new
  call center customer service representatives.

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Sample Business Projects

• Marketing/Communication
• Capital Area Training Foundation
• Assist in planning Career Fair (a major event),
  including marketing aspects.
• Leander Police Department
• Survey/study community needs/programs. Develop
  implementation plan.

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Sample Business Projects

• Marketing/Communications (cont.)
• Hill Country News
• Coverage of COOL Week for special issue.
• Emmis Radio Group
• Give input on development of marketing plan to
  teenage listeners.

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• Sample Business Projects
• Education COOL School
• Teacher Observations, student interaction/observat
  ion, Lesson plan development
• Lago Vista Elementary
• Texas School for the Deaf
• Grisham Middle School

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Student Preparation Activities

• Completion of coursework related to work site
  experience
• Preparation of resume
• Interview practice
• Instruction practice with basic tools in
  problem-solving process
• Instruction in presentation skills
• Familiarization with site expectations

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Benefits to Business Partners

• Acknowledged community service participation
• Partnership with schools
• Involvement in memorable school event
• Identification of students for future
  internships/employment
• Program evaluation

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History

• COOL Week was started in 1995 with 21 students
  from Leander High School. Since then, hundreds of
  Leander ISD students have participated in COOL
  Week activities.
• Approximately 200 different work sites across
  Austin and Central Texas, including
• Architectural and Engineering Firms
• Police and Fire Departments
• State Agencies
• High Tech Companies
• Health Care Providers
• Schools and Departments
• Media

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Interested?

• Step 1 is to complete the application Ms.
  MacLachlan, Transition Coordinator, will provide
  these to seniors

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• To see a 9 minute QuickTime movie of the COOL
  Week experience created by the students in CPHS
  Multimedia class, go to the LHS COOL Week website
  under Information for Business Partners

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Then what?
Step 2 is to turn in the application to Ms.
MacLachlan in the Guidance Office Please note
that incomplete applications will not be
processed. Applications are time and date-stamped
as they are received. If there are more students
interested in a particular position than are
available, the applications will be processed on
a first come first served basis.
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And?
Watch for signs and listen for announcements. Ms.
MacLachlan will call you in to discuss your COOL
Week assignment.
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But..
Once you have turned in the application, and find
you are NOT able to participate, you must let Ms.
MacLachlan know immediately! The companies have
been planning for your arrival. They need to know
you are not coming!
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And.
If you come across an employer that you believe
would enjoy this experience, let Ms. MacLachlan
know that, too! It doesnt have to be a company
where YOU want to go someone else will be
thrilled by the opportunity of a new contact!
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• College is an expensive place to find out what
  you want to be when you grow up.
• Try on a job with COOL Week!