DAY ON THE JOB Set for February 2nd

HAGERSTOWN, MD (January 26, 2005) - The annual eighth graders’ “Day-on-the-Job” activity, co-sponsored by the Washington County Board of Education and the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for Wednesday, February 2, 2005. Day on the Job is a business-education partnership program that gives eighth grade students in Washington County a chance to spend a work day “on the job” with their parents or an interested relative or other adult.

“Our Eighth Grade Day on the Job activity is modeled after Maryland’s Ground Hog Job Shadow Day,” said Sharon Chirgott, Career Technology Education Resource Teacher. “Locally, we targeted eighth graders for this activity because students chose career clusters as seventh graders and are now making scheduling decisions for high school, based on their career interests.”

School officials hope that the Day on the Job activities are not be adversely affected by possible inclement weather. “A two-hour delay for inclement weather should not affect Day on the Job,” said Chirgott. “Students are encouraged to accompany their parents on whatever the parents’ work schedule would be. The same is true in the event that schools are closed.” Chirgott noted that there is no make-up date for inclement weather.

Maryland’s Ground Hog Job Shadow Day is part of a national movement that involves America’s Promise, American Society of Association Executives, and Junior Achievement. According to Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools, job shadowing helps students connect classrooms to the workplace and provides a good understanding of training and education required for career advancement.

In Washington County, approximately 1,600 students will be involved in the Eighth GradeDay on the Job activity. Nationally, over a million students are expected to participate in a job shadowing experience. For more information, contact Chirgott by calling 301-766-2956 or by emailing chirgsha@wcps.k12.md.us.