Horizons letter to Parents click to see this item.

Peoria Public Schools Foundation’s Horizons Club is an after school educational opportunity for middle school students in Reservoir Gifted Academy. The intent of the program is for students to investigate various industry and occupational possibilities, which will allow them to make more informed choices in middle school, high school class selection, and beyond. Piloted in the second semester of the 2014-2015 school year, more than 75 middle school students from HB Dawson, Rolling Acres and Von Steuben have been positively impacted each week by mentor speakers, skill lessons, and independent research. Following are some of the program highlights and activities:

• Horizons Club has welcomed 23 professionals between the three schools, in such diverse industries as healthcare, law, cosmetology, retail, media and journalism, architecture, construction trades, education, law enforcement, military, counseling, and nonprofit/development work.

• On weeks that we do not have a scheduled speaker, the students have been working on goal setting strategies, study skills and soft skills. We have also spent time researching the future job outlook in the United States and the types of education it would take to get various positions.

• The students have been investigating various types of educational opportunities, including Woodruff Career & Technical Center, and college.

Horizons Club offers an environment that encourages the students to relate to the world in a new way. The program is helping to create a solid bridge between their dreams and an action plan to make the dream a reality.

For more information: Program details: Trish O’Shaughnessy, Career Tech Advocate Email Trish O’Shaughnessy

Financial donations: Cindy Morris, President Email Cindy Morris office: 672.6738