DiscoverU Week Was a Success!

Over 22,000 FWPS students explored colleges and careers during DiscoverU Week

This week, PreK to 12^th grade FWPS scholars participated in DiscoverU Week! Each day offered a different theme to allow scholars to explore college and career opportunities in our region and beyond!

Monday: Discover Local Jobs

The week kicked off on Monday with the theme: Discover Local Jobs. Scholars learned about career options in our region.

 For example, scholars in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Principles of Biomedical Science course at Todd Beamer High School taught by Cody Burton were investigating a fictional crime scene and learning about jobs in the biomedical fields. Through the course, scholars engage in several mini-labs and activities that teach core biomedical concepts, including crime scene investigation, blood analysis, DNA fingerprinting, and more.

Then at Federal Way High School, scholars visited informational booths to learn about the Pre-Apprenticeship Program, a course offered at FWHS that gives 10^th to 12^th grade scholars a chance to develop trade skills and earn industry certifications. Scholars also completed the MaiaLearning Career Interest Profiler, part of their High School and Beyond Plan. This activity helped them brainstorm careers aligned with their interests.

Tuesday: Lead Your Community

On Tuesday, scholars engaged in activities around the theme, Lead Your Community.

At Lakota Middle School’s IGNITE panel discussion, two inspiring women of color, Marcella Huang and Vanessa Cuanan shared their career journeys with a room full of 6^th-8^th grade girls. Marcella, a UW Computer Science graduate with an internship at CodeStream and Microsoft, shared how IGNITE helped her discover her passion for STEM. Vanessa, an IT Specialist at Herrera Environmental Consultants, offered her industry insights. Their stories resonated with the engaged audience, sparking thoughtful questions and inspiring scholars!

Olympic View K-8 scholars learned about the impact of agriculture. They explored different stations in their school garden to learn about agriculture careers and their vital role in the economy. They also participated in a lesson about herbs, plants, and vegetables in their garden. Vegetables from Olympic View’s garden will soon be on the lunch menu, through the Garden to Cafeteria program.

Wednesday: Classroom to Careers

On Wednesday, scholars explored the theme: Classroom to Careers. Scholars at Brigadoon Elementary and Twin Lakes Elementary connected how their learning transfers to careers. Whether that was an airplane pilot, software developer, warehouse worker, security, construction worker, singer, in medical work or police, or the superintendent at FWPS, students were treated to full experiences from each of the guest professionals. They had the opportunity to fly an airplane simulator, look at software code, hold model trucks and gear for warehouse work, get their heartbeat checked, and try their hand at construction skills. Scholars expanded their knowledge of what goes into a career and got a glimpse of their possible future!

Thursday: College Gear Day

Thursday was College Gear Day! FWPS scholars and staff expressed their school pride by wearing college gear during DiscoverU WA week! Scholars and staff dressed in college gear at Camelot Elementary School, and central office staff also participated in the day, sporting gear representing the college they attended!

Friday: Flash Forward Friday

Even without class in session on Friday, schools found a way to incorporate Friday’s theme, Flash Forward Friday, into the week’s activities. Throughout the week, students arrived at school as their future selves. At Adelaide Elementary, scholars were judges and firefighters, and Camelot Elementary had upcoming doctors, professors, athletes, and marines walking their halls. At Sunnycrest Elementary, students were framed as future scientists, lawyers, engineers, and artists. The students wore their excitement on their sleeves, stethoscopes, and outfits!

This was an incredible week of college and career exploration, and it was a joy to see our scholars learn how to impact their community, find careers of interest, and plan for their futures.

DiscoverU Week supports Goal 5 of our strategic plan, Persistence to Graduation. We are committed to helping scholars navigate the critical transitions in their schooling, and graduate from high school ready for college, career, and post-secondary experiences.