Independence (LCS 2) - Bath Iron Works

Morse High School JMG UpdateMorse High School in Bath initiatedits own Jobs for Maine Graduates(JMG) Program in the fall of2008. JMG is a national program whichwas introduced in Maine in 1993 when theMaine Legislature established it as an independent,statewide, non profit corporationwith the mandate to provide Maine’s at-riskstudents with a comprehensive dropoutprevention and school-to-work transition.In 16 years, JMG has evolved into anorganization that helps young peopleachieve their full potential. JMG’s missionis to identify students who face barriers toeducation and guide each to a successfulpath toward continued education, a meaningfulcareer and productive adulthood.Starting a JMG program requires astrong commitment on the part of a schooland its administration, but it also requiresadditional funding which is often a majorobstacle. BIW got involved in 2008 with acommitment to get the program started.Maria Morris, the Morse JMGCoordinator and teacher recently took timeto update us about the program, now enteringits second year with 41 students fromall four grades, 10 of whom are continuingfrom the previous year. Maria said,“Because it is our second year, we enrolledour students late last spring and over thesummer so that the program began rightaway this fall. Installation of students willtake place in early December at a formal,public ceremony where students committo the goals of the program and parents,teachers, administration and communitysupporters commit to help supporting thestudents’ efforts.In addition to academics, JMG teaches37 life skills, or competencies. Maria said,“For example, we break down the stepsof getting a job into writing a resume,constructing a job search, developingan application, arranging an interview,completing application forms, and theninterviewing for the job. Students practiceeach step and then can look for a jobknowing what they have to do and with acertain confidence because they are notdoing it for the first time.”Moving to another category, Maria said,“In the area of personal skills, there is acompetency about making decisions basedon values and goals and another aboutJMG students at Spirit Pond in Phippsburg include, l to r: Cassandra Buitrago, Kendall Wallace,Caitlyn Hopkins, Arianna Malcolm, Nicole Mitchell, Ryan Moody, Gabriel Woody, Devon Green,Matthew Grover, Michael Alvarez and Anthony Alvarez. Photo courtesy of Maria Morris.assuming responsibility for your actionsand decisions. These are less tangible skillsthan getting a job but ones that we discussand practice and we hope that it sets studentson a lifelong journey to becomingthe best person that they can be.”Another aspect of JMG is communityservice. Already this fall, all studentshelped cut branches and open trails at theRidgewell and Spirit Pond Preserves inPhippsburg to benefit the Phippsburg LandTrust. In September, students assembledfirst aid kits for the school nurse, bundledthe school newsletter and painted a picnictable for the child care program. Oneclass assembled weatherization kits forHabitat for Humanity. In November, allwill support a project to collect cell phonesfor donation to the Triad and Elder AbuseTask Force. Each student has a minimalrequirement of community service work,yet most top that.Maria explained, “As a group, we havealready exceeded the total number of communityservice hours that we are requiredto spend in a school year but we will keep itup because students are learning the valueof helping others.”Another advantage to communityservice projects, according to Maria,is that “most involve the opportunityto work on a number of our competencies,such as understanding verbalcommunications or working as a team,or showing leadership and commitmentto an organization or school. Plus, itopens our students’ eyes to the worldoutside school, creates an awareness ofwhat goes on in the community andintroduces them to another sense ofpurpose.”JMG seems to have caught on atMorse. Maria Morris considers herself“one of the luckiest people in the world.”She said, “I love teaching, especially in avery authentic way where the subject isimmediately applicable to my students’lives. JMG is a fabulous program and itmakes a difference in kids’ lives and inthe community. We are always weavingin important life skills which, whenstudents start to think about and practice,are empowering and help themclimb to the next rung on the ladder.It’s a great job.”BIW NEWS | November 2009 | 9