For the past 25 years, local businesses have partnered with Rangeley Lakes Regional School to provide programming for students who have an interest or aptitude to work in specific fields. These Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) were put on hold four years ago due to the pandemic. Now, the RLRS Work Experience program has been revived and there are four high school students who are job shadowing or working as apprentices in the community.
Building and construction, plumbing and heating, and small engine mechanics are the fields in which the four students are actively working and able to receive high school credit based on the number of hours worked. “While some students are focused on a specific field, others are looking to gain experience and help drive their post-secondary education interests in a direction,” says Heidi Deery, RLRS School Counselor Consultant who helped augment this program.
In previous years, students have worked in the fields of automotive, real estate and rental, personal fitness, caretaking, resort management, earthwork, and the culinary and restaurant industries. RLRS is now looking for partnership from other businesses who would like to be part of the Extended Learning Opportunity database. “Meeting with business owners helps us learn more about their business and the skills students could gain from working in that field,” adds Deery. If you are interested in joining the database, please contact Heidi Deery at hdeery@rangeleyschool.org and stay tuned for coverage of the students enrolled in this program in the coming months.