SOUTHWICK – During the 2017-18 school year a number of Southwick Regional High School seniors have experienced job internships through the school’s DLE (Diversified Learning Experience) Program.
Beginning in the 1990’s, the DLE Program provides high school seniors at Southwick Regional School the opportunity to have an internship in a career-field that they may want to pursue in college and beyond. The semester-long opportunity that provides high school credit gives students the ability to learn effective skills in the workplace and also gain knowledge on how to be successful with job applications, interviews, and more.
Of the 122 graduating seniors at the school this year, 32 of them participated in the program. Maryanne Margiotta, the Career Facilitator for the past 18 years, is pleased with the number of students in the program, but she’s not completely satisfied.
“We’re trying to expand that (number),” said Margiotta. “Kids don’t realize the kinds of skills that they get.”
This year, students have completed internships ranging from a variety of fields, including in the industries of health, sports, and criminal justice.
Chris Fontaine did a civil engineering internship with the Southwick Public Works Department as part of the job placement program. (Photo from Maryanne Margiotta)
Chris Fontaine took an internship in the Civil Engineering Department at the Southwick Department of Public Works.
Dick Grannells, who works in the Civil Engineering Department, has been Fontaine’s supervisor and allowed Fontaine to begin creating mock drainage projects. Fontaine would find out a road in town where there is flooding and make a plan that includes drawing and calculations. Thus far, Fontaine has completed three drainage projects and is grateful for the opportunities that Grannells and the rest of the department gave him.
“They really accepted me, they were willing to help,” said Fontaine. “It was awesome, I got to learn a lot.”
Fontaine has about three weeks left of his internship and is pursuing a degree in civil engineering at Western New England University in the fall of 2018.
Fontaine hopes that the seniors next year will join the program and take advantage of the opportunities that it provides.
“Definitely go ahead and try it, you will benefit from it, said Fontaine. “I’m just so glad that I did, I do not regret it at all.”
McKenna Leary is another senior in the program who did her internship at Holyoke Community College, in their Health Education Simulation Lab. In the lab, Leary was part of simulating a hospital scene, doing everything from trauma, birthing, and Prenatal.
McKenna Leary did her internship in the Health Simulation Lab at Holyoke Community College. (Photo from Maryanne Margiotta)
Using robots in the simulation lab, it helped Leary learn to do simple tasks in a hospital including putting in an IV and checking blood pressure.
“You can pretty much do anything with them,” said Leary. “It gives students a realistic meaning.”
The experience has only benefitted Leary for the future.
“It definitely has helped me throughout my medical career,” said Leary. “I understand different situations now.”
Planning on studying to be either a physician’s assistant or emergency assistant at Hartwick College, Leary encourages future seniors to join the program.
“I totally think it was worth it,” said Leary. “You do have to put in hard work, you do have to make sure that you know what you’re doing.”
Margiotta has already reached out to the juniors who will be graduating in 2019 that have shown an interest in the program and have discussed their career interests and goals.
If upcoming seniors at Southwick Regional School are interested in the DLE Program, contact Margiotta at [email protected] or 413-896-8163.
