Heritage High School 520 Evergreen Mill Road Leesburg, VA 20176 Phone (571) 252-2816 Fax (571) 252-2817 To: The Parents of all Heritage High School Students From: Bruce Holland, Counselor, Heritage High School Re: Apprenticeship Night, March 14, 2013, 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage High School auditorium We have all known and know students who are very capable but who, for a variety of reasons, are not well-suited for either a two- or four-year college. For some, they enjoy something hands-on where they can put their finger on what they have done, are filled with pride at their accomplishments, and cannot enjoy nearly as much working behind a computer, filling out reports, engaging in meeting after meeting, or spending most of their time on the phone. For others, they do not have the discipline to make themselves sit down and do what must be done academically to make it through college. And for others, they do not have the means (or willingness to borrow all the money they would need to borrow or have home responsibilities that preclude their attending college) to pay for college. And of course, there are students who really do not have the ability to do college level work. Nationally, 53 out of every 100 high school graduates do not graduate from a two year college within three years or from a four year college within six years. What are their prospects for earning a good salary and being able to provide for their families in a comfortable fashion? On March 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage High School auditorium, we will be exploring the apprenticeship route students, both male and female, can take to good paying jobs. Think students who follow an apprenticeship route instead of college cannot earn a good living? As the flier that follows shows, an apprentice who enters the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Apprenticeship Program as part of the Sheet Metal Workers union starts, right out of high school, at $43,000 and will receive regular pay raises throughout a five year apprenticeship program, culminating in earning $94,000 by the end of the five year apprenticeship program. Not all apprenticeship pay this much, but several do. And the kinds of trades that students can apprentice in are the type of businesses that often translate into owning a business for oneself, so the earnings are potentially significant even in those apprenticeships that pay less. As parents and teachers, we are always pushing students to attend college, and rightfully so. But now is an opportunity to show them that there is another route, even though they might not have heard of it, that can supply them with job satisfaction in working with their hands, fixing and building things, and possibly working for themselves eventually. And the jobs are in demand. There are articles in the paper
regularly about America losing its ability to make and fix things. Not everyone s best route to career happiness is through college. What kind of jobs can people apprentice in? Well, the flier that is included in this letter gives you a link to all the possible jobs students can apprentice in, including cosmetology and winemaker. On March 14th, we hope (once we finalize plans) to be concentrating on the following: A representative from the Sheet Metal Workers International Association will speak about the careers available by following the Architectural Metal route, the Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning route, the Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (ensuring clean, efficient indoor air quality) route, the Sign Industry (making plastic, sheet metal, and neon tubing signs) route, the Industrial Welding route, the Detailing (Computer Assisted Drafting) route, and the Service Refrigeration route. Another representative will be here from the Plumbers and Gasfitters Union to talk about occupations that deal with piping. Another representative will be here to talk about the Steamfitters Union. Another will talk about the Electricians and Telecommunications Technicians apprenticeship program. A representative from the Virginia State Department in charge of apprentices will be here talking about all the different kinds of jobs students could apprentice in and how a student would get started doing so. And, we will have a representative from MC Dean, a local, non-union company that specializes in complex power, communications, security, life safety, and automation systems world-wide talk about the apprenticeship routes students can take in the electrical and telecommunications tracks. We often think of just these jobs in terms of our residential settings, but hospitals, dams, governments buildings, and metro are just a few of the places these jobs are required. And they do not just exist in the United States. For students who want to travel, working for a company like MC Dean carries the opportunity to travel around the world as needed. For those of you who know your student is headed to college, this program would be nice to know about should your student decide that college is not for him or her. So there is value in coming to find out about apprenticeships so that you have a backup plan if college does not work out. Many of the apprenticeship programs report that some of their apprentices went to college, some dropped out and some graduated, and then applied for and went into the apprentice program. And in a few of these apprenticeship programs, it works the other way as well. A student goes through an apprenticeship program, and, as part of the program, also takes additional courses to earn a Bachelor s Degree from college. All this will be explained on March 14 th. The enclosed flier has a couple of YouTube videos you and your student can watch which support the need and demand for apprenticeships. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend this presentation: students and parents! If you have any questions, please call Bruce Holland, counselor, at (571 252-2816, then press 6 ) or contact him through e-mail (bruce.holland@lcps.org).
Apprenticeship Night at Heritage High School March 14th, 2013 7:00 PM If you are searching for a Career Pathway after high school, you may want to attend this event for parents and students. Are you Looking for a career with a specialized skill? Willing to serve a five year apprenticeship with a graduated wage and benefits package? Willing to learn a specialized skill that has numerous career opportunities in a dynamic industry that values high quality craftsmanship, and a focus on safety? Consider an Apprenticeship. As an Apprentice you will participate in a time-honored method for preparing workers to master a specialized skill to achieve career success. During your Apprenticeship you will receive on-the-job training and classroom instruction. As a union apprentice, Earn $35,000 or more the first year out of high school while learning on-thejob ; Earn up to $70,000/year or more after serving your four or five year apprenticeship; and Get paid while you are working as well as when you are learning in the classroom! Apprenticeship Possibilities (Go to http://www.doli.virginia.gov/apprenticeship/active_occupations.cfm for a complete list of careers in which a person can apprentice.) Check out these YouTube videos to learn more: Mike Rowe, moderator of Dirty Jobs talks about the value of the skilled craftsman and the demand for these people in our everyday lives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nwefvub-u0 CBS reports on students skipping the college route to fill apprenticeship opportunities training students for high paying jobs: http://youtu.be/uag5ckboc8y
Apprenticeships Nationally, out of every 100 students who graduate from high school: 29 students (29%) graduate from college within six years. 18 students (18%) graduate from community college within three years. 53 students (53%) do not graduate from a four year or community college. Hey! What about the rest of us the 53% or more nationally who do not graduate from a four year college within 6 years or a community college within 3 years? How can we earn a good living? Check out apprenticeships, and Come to Apprenticeship Night, March 14th, at 7:00 in the Heritage High School auditorium. All parents and students are welcome. Hear From: Apprenticeship Representatives representing: Sheet Metal Workers (including air pollution and solar energy systems workers) Electrical Trades (including telecommunications) Workers Plumbers and Gasfitters Steamfitters, and other Virginia State Career Apprenticeships. An apprenticeship employer (MC Dean) who hires high school graduates for their electrical commercial and telecommunications apprenticeship programs. MC Dean designs and builds complex power, communications, security, life safety, and automation systems world-wide. After graduating from high school: Student A Student B Enters the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Enters the Electrical Trades Apprenticeship Program as part of the Sheet Apprenticeship Program as part of the Metal Workers Local 100: IBEW-NECA Union: Starts at: $43,000 Starts at: @ $35,000 After 6 months: $46,000 After 1000 hours (@6 months): $37,211 After one year: $57,000 After one year of school: $38,854 After 18 months: $60,000 After 1500 hours: $41,350 After 2 years: $62,000 After 60% of program: $49,608 After 2 ½ years: $65,000 After 70% of program: $57,886 After 3 years: $73,000 After 80% of program: $66,144 After 3 ½ years: $77,000 After 100% of the five year At the end of the 5 year journeyman journeyman program: $82,680 Program: $94,000
Note: Not all apprenticeship programs earn as much as these two apprenticeship programs do, but there are many that do. Come learn about all the opportunities for students to learn a valued skill, earn a good living, and provide an excellent avenue to owning one s own business! Come March 14 th to Heritage High School and learn all about apprenticeships!