Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools



Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Internship Program

Definition:

A student internship is an extensive educational experience to which the student devotes a period of time learning in an occupation directly related to his/her anticipated career choice. The internship position may be paid or unpaid and course credit may be awarded upon successful completion of the internship.

A minimum of eighty hours of on-the-job internship experience will be required for a student to earn one-half unit of elective credit. A maximum of two half-units of credit may be awarded per student. The internship experience may occur after the school day, on weekends, and on student holidays. A student may be released one period early, with the approval of the principal, if graduation/college entrance requirements are not adversely affected by the early release.

Purpose:

The primary purpose of an internship is to allow the student to explore his/her chosen career and ultimately be able to make more informed decisions about post-high school plans. A training plan will be developed which will state competencies to be achieved and tasks that the student will complete to demonstrate mastery gained from the internship experience. General objectives include:

The student will:

1. narrow and/or confirm occupational interest areas,

2. develop improved work habits,

3. improve communications and interpersonal skills,

4. develop an awareness of the community’s resources and occupations in the world of work, and

5. set realistic goals based on first-hand experiences.

Benefits for Students:

Through participating in an internship, students will benefit in these ways:

1. Students will have the opportunity to learn useful employment skills through first-hand on-the-job experiences.

2. Seeing the application of academic concepts to job situations and environments can stimulate students’ interest in classroom work.

3. Students will develop a better understanding, appreciation, and respect for work and workers.

4. Students will practice the essential skills for getting and keeping jobs while in a safe, controlled learning environment.

5. Students will transition more smoothly from the school setting to the world of work.

6. Students’ post-high school planning will be enhanced through linking their on-the-job experiences with their educational and career plans.

Benefits for Employers/Community:

Besides the benefits to students, employers and the total community will benefit in these ways:

1. Employers play a significant role in helping prepare students for success in the world of work.

2. Employers can promote their companies’ career opportunities.

3. Employers can “grow” their future employees by helping high school students with work-based learning.

4. Employers are under no obligation to pay wages; students seek to gain first-hand employment experiences that will help them make better post-high school choices.

Internship Components:

Essential Forms:

1. Student application to be completed prior to placement as an intern.

2. Three completed recommendations from teachers knowledgeable about the student’s performance and attitudes.

3. Completed Internship Program Agreement.

4. Completed Student Learning Agreement and Training/Learning Plan.

5. Monthly time sheets to be completed by interns and submitted each month to the school-based coordinator.

Internship Program

Questions and Answers

Q: What exactly is the internship program?

A: The internship program is designed to provide students with an extensive educational experience where the student devotes a period of time working in an occupation directly related to the student’s anticipated career choice. The student reports to a sponsoring company to observe, participate in daily operations, develop direct contact with personnel, ask questions about particular jobs and functions, and perform certain tasks for the employer. The student may or may not receive wages but will receive one-half unit of elective credit per semester of interning, with a maximum of one elective credit.

Q: When do students report to the job site?

A: Students will intern after school, on weekends, on teacher workdays, and on student holidays. With approval from the principal, a student may be released one period early if graduation/college entrance requirements are not adversely affected.

Q: Who is eligible to sign up for the internship course?

A: Students who are at least sixteen years old and have reliable transportation to and from the job site may register for the internship course. Selection criteria are in place and students must comply with employers’ policies concerning employment (ex. dress codes, drug testing, etc.). Students should consider the internship option as an integral part of their educational and career planning; ideally, the internship experience should support the students’ educational plans and career goals.

Q: How much time is required to do the internship?

A: The amount of time on-the-job will vary depending on the area of training and company requirements. Students must intern a minimum of eighty hours at a jobsite during one semester, one-half unit of elective credit will be awarded based on successful completion of the internship Training/Learning Plan.

Q: How is the internship graded?

A: The internship grade will be awarded on and A – F basis. The internship sponsor will complete evaluations on the intern’s progress. Interns will be required to keep and submit journals that detail their learning experiences at the jobsite; these journals will be turned in and be included as part of the grade. Finally, students will be evaluated on maintaining their time sheets and other required documents. If successful evaluations are received and interns submit the required documents, they will earn a passing grade and receive one-half unit of elective credit.

Internship Program

Other Elements

Grading System

Students will earn a grade of A – F in the internship. The grade will count in the calculation of GPA. A passing grade (A – D) will earn the student one-half elective credit.

Passing grades will be based on:

1. Evaluations from internship coordinator.

2. Evaluations from employers.

3. Keep and submit an internship learning journal.

4. Completion of all required internship documents and submitting them by prescribed due dates.

5. Adhere to all internship guidelines.

Internship Learning Journal

Each student will keep an internship journal that details internship experiences and learning. Students will make entries for each time they report to the jobsite. The length of each entry will depend on how many hours the students spent that day at the jobsite as well as by the learning that took place.

Journal entries should include the following elements:

1. the date

2. the hours at the jobsite that day

3. the different experiences or exposures of the day

4. new skills observed or learned

5. opinions of what you did or learned

6. learning links noting how academic concepts apply at the jobsite

Time Sheets

Student interns will keep an Internship Time Sheet for each month of the internship; this time sheet should be signed by the employer and submitted to the internship coordinator at the end of each month.

Internship Training Plan

To insure that the internship placement is a valuable learning experience for the student, a training plan will be created that details what each intern hopes to gain through participating as an intern. The employer sponsor, the internship coordinator, and the student intern will develop the plan jointly.

Handouts and Forms

The following pages contain handouts and forms that may be used with the internship program. In some cases, electronic versions of the forms are available in a format that may be read and completed using Adobe Reader.

Internship Program - FAQ

Q: What exactly is the internship program?

A: The internship program is designed to provide students with an extensive educational experience where the student devotes a period of time working in an occupation directly related to the student’s anticipated career choice. The student reports to a sponsoring company to observe, participate in daily operations, develop direct contact with personnel, ask questions about particular jobs and functions, and perform certain tasks for the employer. The student may or may not receive wages but will receive one-half unit of elective credit per semester of interning, with a maximum of one elective credit.

Q: When do students report to the job site?

A: Students will intern after school, on weekends, on teacher workdays, and on student holidays. With approval from the principal, a student may be released one period early if graduation/college entrance requirements are not adversely affected.

Q: Who is eligible to sign up for the internship course?

A: Students who are at least sixteen years old and have reliable transportation to and from the job site may register for the internship course. Selection criteria are in place and students must comply with employers’ policies concerning employment (ex. dress codes, drug testing, etc.). Students should consider the internship option as an integral part of their educational and career planning; ideally, the internship experience should support the students’ educational plans and career goals.

Q: How much time is required to do the internship?

A: The amount of time on-the-job will vary depending on the area of training and company requirements. Students must intern a minimum of eighty hours at a jobsite during one semester, one-half unit of elective credit will be awarded based on successful completion of the internship Training/Learning Plan.

Q: How is the internship graded?

A: The internship grade will be awarded on an A – F basis. The internship sponsor will complete evaluations on the intern’s progress. Interns will be required to keep and submit journals that detail their learning experiences at the jobsite; these journals will be turned in and be included as part of the grade. Finally, students will be evaluated on maintaining their time sheets and other required documents. If successful evaluations are received and interns submit the required documents, they will earn a passing grade and receive one-half unit of elective credit.

Selection Criteria for Internship Program

To be eligible for placement as an intern, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least sixteen years old

• Have a 2.5 or higher overall GPA and on schedule to graduate on time

• Have passing grades in all course work

• Be in compliance with school attendance policies

• Have no out-of-school suspensions

• Have a documented educational and career plan on file stating how the internship furthers the student’s career objective

• Be recommended by three teachers (at least one academic and one elective teacher)

• Provide reliable transportation to and from the jobsite

• Adhere to all company policies related to employees (dress codes, attendance, drug screening, etc.)

Internship Program Selection Process

To be selected for the internship program, a student must:

• Meet all selection criteria

• Attend an Orientation Session with parent(s) or guardian(s)

• Complete all application materials

• Participate in an interview with the employer

• Be offered a position as an intern by the employer

• Accept the employer’s offer

• Adhere to all internship guidelines, procedures and policies and fulfill all responsibilities of an intern

The following list of responsibilities is found in the Internship Program Agreement.

The Student Intern Agrees:

A. To follow the guidelines established for the Internship Program;

B. To comply with all rules, regulations and procedures of the Internship Sponsor especially those rules established for the safety of visitors and employees;

C. To behave with honesty and integrity;

D. To behave in a responsible manner;

E. To visit the Internship Sponsor's work place in accordance with the schedule established by the Intern Coordinator and Sponsor, shadow the mentor assigned to the intern, and engage in work experience/training activities under the supervision of the mentor assigned by the Internship Sponsor;

F. To complete the required journal and monthly time sheets;

G. To maintain a 2.5 or better overall grade point average;

H. To satisfactorily complete the tasks listed on the Internship Training Plan;

I. To meet with the Intern Coordinator when scheduled for a conference and to notify the Intern Coordinator should any problems or concerns arise regarding the internship;

J. To respect and maintain the confidentiality of any confidential or privileged information of the Internship Sponsor received by the Intern during the internship experience;

K. To not terminate the internship without first notifying and discussing the matter with the Internship Sponsor and the Intern Coordinator (Interns may not drop the program without the prior permission of the Intern Coordinator); and

L. That interns may be removed from the program at the will and pleasure of the Internship Sponsor and the Intern Coordinator for any cause; including, but not necessarily limited to: dishonesty, inefficiency, lack of interest, poor attendance, or failure to comply with school or Internship Sponsor regulations and that if removed from the program, the student may be given a failing grade for the internship experience.

The following list of responsibilities is found in the Internship Program Agreement.

The Student’s Parent/Guardian Agrees:

A. To participate in an Orientation Session with the student and Internship Coordinator;

B. To work cooperatively with the Internship Coordinator and Internship Sponsor to provide guidance and support for the student in all work experiences related to the Internship Program;

C. To accept responsibility for providing the student with a means of transportation to and from his/her internship site;

D. To acknowledge that neither the school nor the Internship Sponsor assumes responsibility for any loss or personal injury to the student or the student's property that may occur in route between the internship site and school or home;

E. To acknowledge that participation in the Internship Program involves a degree of risk of injury or harm which will vary depending upon the specific training experience selected by the student which risks have been explained to us and that we and our student are willing to assume that risk and to release and hold the Internship Sponsor and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools free, harmless and indemnified from and against any loss, injury, claim, suit or cause of action arising from or out of the Internship Experience other than those caused by willful or wanton negligence.

F. To acknowledge that the student intern is not an employee of the Intern Sponsor and will not be covered by the North Carolina Worker's Compensation Act; (slight wording change in Paid Intern Agreement)

G. To acknowledge that the student intern will not receive any wages or other compensation from the Internship Sponsor and that the Intern Program is not work as defined in the Fair Labor Standards Act; and (slight wording change in Paid Intern Agreement)

H. To purchase and/or maintain in force and effect during the student's participation in the Internship Program accident, medical and/or hospitalization insurance coverage for the student and to assume and agree to pay any medical and hospital bills or expenses due to an injury suffered by the student arising from or in any way out the student's participation in the Internship Program, other than injuries caused by the willful or wanton negligence of the Internship Sponsor, its agents or employees.

• Name of Insurance Company: ____________________________________

• Policy Number: ________________________________________________

The following list of responsibilities is found in the Internship Program Agreement.

The Sponsor/Mentor Agrees:

A. To provide an internship experience that will introduce the intern to specific job competencies/tasks.

B. To discuss with the Intern Coordinator the specific places, tasks and methods of observation and/or training to be used by the student intern and to assist the Internship Coordinator in the development of an observation and training plan for the Intern.

C. To ensure that provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act are not violated and the student intern doesn't go into any prohibited, hazardous situations nor become involved in close observation of any prohibited or hazardous work. (For example, allowing a student to observe closely or take part in the manufacture or storage of explosives, power-driven woodworking machines, roofing or excavation operations or exposure to radioactive substances might subject the sponsoring employer/mentor to sanctions from the Department of Labor);

D. To ensure that the student's internship activity will be supervised by experienced and qualified persons and that any training experiences will be performed with appropriate safety instructions;

E. To ensure that the intern experience does not involve performing any work for the benefit of the sponsoring employer or any work that displaces any regular employees which would require the payment of wages to the intern under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act; (this bullet is not in Paid Internship Agreement)

F. To ensure that the student intern receives the same consideration given employees with respect to all safety, health, general employment, and any other federal or state rules, regulations and procedures in the work place enacted for the safety, health and welfare of employees and to provide the student with safety instructions concerning any aspect of the internship experience for which such instruction would be appropriate;

G. To notify the Internship Coordinator if difficulties arise or changes are necessary in the intern's plan;

H. To not pay wages to the intern or give the student intern compensation in any other form, including, but not necessarily limited to: free product samples or discounts on purchases. (this bullet is not in Paid Internship Agreement)

I. To sign and verify the Internship Student Time Record form at the end of each month;

J. To complete an intern evaluation form each grading period;

K. To not discriminate against any applicant or intern on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability with respect to any term or condition of the internship experience;

L. To purchase and maintain a general comprehensive liability insurance policy providing coverage for losses or personal injuries suffered by licensees or persons visiting the sponsoring employer's premises which arise from or out of the negligent acts or omissions of the sponsor employer, its agents or employees;

M. That the internship placement is a part of the student's total educational program; therefore, if the student withdraws from school, is suspended or excluded from school, or earns a grade-point average below 2.5, the student participation in the internship program may be terminated by the school system.

The following list of responsibilities is found in the Internship Program Agreement.

The School Agrees:

A. To perform its duties and responsibilities as described in the Internship Program description;

B. To coordinate the activities of the student intern and Internship Sponsor/mentor as may be necessary to the successful implementation of the Internship Program;

C. To arrange an orientation session about the Internship Program for the student and parent(s) which may be conducted at the internship site;

D. To prepare with the assistance of the Internship Sponsor/mentor an internship training plan which shall be used as a basis for evaluating the student's performance in the program;

E. To communicate with the student Intern and the Internship Sponsor and to visit the internship site in order to evaluate the student's performance;

F. To monitor the student's progress in school and keep up-to-date files on the student's internship experience, including hours spent on the internship site, internship evaluations, etc.;

G. To work out or attempt to solve any difficulties that may arise which relate to the internship experience;

H. To evaluate the student's performance and, if necessary or appropriate, to terminate a student's participation in the Internship Program; and

I. To not provide any accident, health or hospitalization insurance coverage for students who participate in the Internship Program.

Internship Application

_________________________________

(Name of High School)

Student Name __________________________________ Current Grade_____________

Address___________________________________________________________________

(Street/Apartment)

_____________________________________ Telephone #__________________

(City/State/Zip)

Social Security # ____________________________Student ID # __________________

Date of Birth _______________________________ (MM/DD/YYYY)

Mother/Guardian’s Name ___________________________________________________

Place of Employment ____________________________________ Work # ____________

Father/Guardian’s Name ____________________________________________________

Place of Employment ____________________________________ Work # ____________

School Schedule

Period Course Teacher

1st _________________________________________ _________________

2nd _________________________________________ _________________

3rd _________________________________________ _________________

4th _________________________________________ _________________

5th _________________________________________ _________________

6th _________________________________________ _________________

7th _________________________________________ _________________

Please describe the type of internship you are interested in obtaining and/or name of the company (if known).

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Describe your career objective at this time. What are your post-high school graduation plans? (Include both post-secondary educational plans and career goals.)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

List all employment and/or volunteer experience:

Employed by Supervisor Job Title

(Company)

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

List times (hours, days or time of year) when you would be UNABLE to work:

Hours, Day, Time of Year Reason

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Describe your transportation to and from the jobsite:

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Student Signature ___________________________________________Date____________

Parent/Guardian Signature ___________________________________Date____________

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools offers a free and appropriate education to all students without regard to race, sex, religion, ethnic origin or handicapping condition.

Internship Training Plan

_____________________________

(Name of High School)

Student’s Name __________________________________________________________

Sponsoring Company _____________________________________________________

Company Address ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Company Contact Person __________________________________________________

Phone Number ____________________________________________________________

Internship Dates __________________________________________________________

TASKS TO BE PERFORMED

(Use separate sheet if needed)

The student intern will:

_____________________________________ ____________________________________

Company Sponsor Signature Student Intern Signature

_____________________________________ ____________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature Internship Coordinator Signature

STUDENT INTERN TIME SHEET

_________________________________

(Name of High School)

Directions: Keep this monthly record at your internship site as a sign-in and sign-out time sheet. Bring a copy at the end of each month to your school-based internship coordinator. You will start a new sheet each month.

Student Name: ________________________________________________

Internship Site: ________________________________________________

Month of ___________________________________ Year _____________________

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__________________________________ ______________________________________

Student Signature Employer Signature

STUDENT INTERN SELF-EVALUTION FORM

_____________________________________________

(Name of High School)

Personal Effects of the Experience (To be completed at the conclusion of your internship): Evaluate your experiences; check the appropriate response to each statement:

HAVE YOU GAINED: YES NO

Realistic attitudes toward other people? _____ _____

Self-motivation to learn, participate, achieve? _____ _____

Self-concept (sense of confidence, competence, self-awareness)? _____ _____

Openness to new experiences? _____ _____

Sense of usefulness in relation to community? _____ _____

Assertiveness and independence? _____ _____

Ability to accept consequences of own actions? _____ _____

Knowledge of community organizations? _____ _____

Responsibility for own decisions, choices? _____ _____

Awareness of community problems? _____ _____

Awareness of community resources? _____ _____

Realistic ideas about the world of work? _____ _____

Knowledge about a variety of careers? _____ _____

Better time management skills? _____ _____

Ability to narrow career choices? _____ _____

Would you recommend this internship experience to another student? Explain.

On the basis of your internship experience, are you still interested in this career? Explain.

Please make any suggestions or recommendations on how the internship could be improved.

Student Intern Signature ______________________________________ Date _________________

EMPLOYER/SPONSOR EVALUATION OF INTERNSHIP

Intern ___________________________________ Internship Location______________________

Place a check in the appropriate box for each statement.

|The intern: |Excellent |Above Average |Average |Below Average |NA |

| | |85 - 92 | |70 - 76 | |

| |93 - 100 | |77 - 84 | | |

|Accepts & fulfills responsibilities | | | | | |

|Exercises good judgment | | | | | |

|Is friendly and courteous | | | | | |

|Accepts and understands needs, feelings, faults of others | | | | | |

|Is accepted well by other employees | | | | | |

|Is dependable | | | | | |

|Is willing to accept suggestions | | | | | |

|Is conscientious in fulfilling assignments | | | | | |

|Follows directions | | | | | |

|Produces neat and accurate work | | | | | |

|Is honest and sincere | | | | | |

|Asks appropriate questions | | | | | |

|Reports to work on time | | | | | |

|Calls ahead of time if unable to attend | | | | | |

|Is cooperative and industrious | | | | | |

|Is creative | | | | | |

|Displays enthusiasm and initiative | | | | | |

|Is flexible | | | | | |

|Communicates effectively (written and oral) | | | | | |

|Please evaluate intern’s overall performance | | | | | |

Comments and/or recommendations:

Sponsor Signature: ____________________________________ Date: ___________________

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Internship Recommendation Form

Full Name of Applicant: _______________________________________________

The student named above is being considered for a high school internship placement. Please take a few moments to complete this recommendation form. Return this form in an envelop to your school’s Career Development Coordinator _____________________________. Thank you for your help.

How would you rate the student in the following areas? Please check one line per category.

| |Below Average |Average |Above Average |

|Demonstrates ability to work with others | | | |

|Uses good judgment | | | |

|Maintains good attendance | | | |

|Demonstrates honesty and integrity | | | |

|Maintains interest and enthusiasm | | | |

|Demonstrates initiative | | | |

|Accepts responsibility | | | |

|Demonstrates dependability | | | |

|Maintains positive attitude | | | |

|Uses feedback constructively | | | |

|Produces quality work | | | |

Please feel free to write whatever you think is important about this student, including a description of academic and personal characteristics. We are particularly interested in the applicant’s relative maturity, integrity, independence, initiative, capacity for growth, ability to change, and emotional maturity/stability. We welcome any information that will help us determine the appropriateness of placing this student as an intern. Please use the back of this form for these additional comments.

Based on your knowledge of the student, do you:

_____ Highly recommend ______ Recommend with reservations

_____ Recommend ______ Prefer not to make a recommendation

Name of person completing this form: __________________________________________________________

Position: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Work Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

Work Phone: ______________________________________ FAX: ______________________________________

Signature:____________________________________________ Date: ___________________________________

I, _____________________________________, the student named above (_____)do or (_____) do not waive my right to inspect and review this recommendation.

Date: ________________________________ Signature: ___________________________________________

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Internship Program

Directions for Completion of Internship Journal

You will begin your journal at the beginning of your internship. At the conclusion of your internship, the completed journal should be given to your Internship Coordinator. This journal is used to as part of your final grade.

Your journal should be kept in a neat and chronological order. You should use proper writing techniques when journalizing each day’s/week’s activities. A loose-leaf notebook would be suitable for this process.

One useful way of keeping track of what you’re learning is to keep a journal or log of your activities. A journal causes you to think about your experiences and can help give you insight into what you are experiencing and how you are feeling about it. It can also give you a useful record of your learning.

To be most effective for you, the journal should not be merely a log of events. It should be a means for you to analyze the activities you are performing and the new things you are learning.

Each day, make an entry in your journal describing:

• What you did at the site that day.

• What you learned at the site. If you didn’t learn anything that day, the next day you should ask more questions, be more observant and learn from noticing what is going on around you.

• How you felt about your experience at the site that day. Were you frustrated, proud, fascinated, overwhelmed, bored?

The following are suggestions to include in your journal:

• Describe the work atmosphere at your internship site. How are decisions made? Is it a cooperative or competitive atmosphere?

• What was the best thing that happened today at your site? How did it make you feel?

• What thing(s) did you like least about today at your site?

• What compliments did you receive today, and how did they make you feel?

• What criticisms, if any, have you received? How did you react to them?

• How have you changed or grown since you began your internship at this site? What have you learned about yourself and the people you work with?

• What kinds of skills have you learned while at this site? How might they help you in your future job searches?

• What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of working at this occupation?

• If you were in charge of the organization, what changes would you make at your site? How would those changes improve the organization?

• How do people you work with treat you? How does it make you feel?

• Has your experience been a rewarding one for you?

• Has this experience made you think about a possible career in this field? Why or why not?

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Internship Journal

Name _________________________________________

School _________________________________________

Site Supervisor _________________________________

Journal Entry Date: _____________________________

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