Hopedale’s Junior-Senior High School’s Career Center is working hard to provide hands-on, real-world learning experiences that prepare students for both college and career. Our programs have expanded significantly in recent years, offering students a wide range of opportunities to develop skills, explore career paths, and engage in meaningful, authentic learning.

Here are some recent examples of these real-world learning opportunities:

Last semester, 16 students completed off-campus internships. Our 11th- and 12th-grade students are working across a wide range of industries, including the Milford District Court House, Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford Regional Sports Rehab, Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Memorial Elementary School, Bright Beginnings Center, and Bancroft Memorial Library.  Also three HJSHS students completed internships at Children's Hospital and Milford Regional Hospital last summer. These are highly competitive internships and we are proud to say our students were selected for these opportunities. 

In addition, 23 students are pursuing capstone projects.  Capstone students have chosen to design an independent project or complete a Leadership or DECA project. Current project examples include a HOSA project on brain development, HJSHS Media Relations, Video Game Design, and Tri-M Leadership.

Students completing Internal Internships and Capstone projects have recently selected an Industry Expert to mentor and guide them throughout the rest of the school year along with their current Faculty Mentor. Our partnership with the One8 Foundation has played a key role in helping us match students with professionals in their chosen fields.

Submitted by Hopedale Public Schools