As power lunches go it was all about making connections for students at Noble Central School on Friday.
Students in Grade 11 and 12 in a career and life management class helped host the unique approach to promoting their school and themselves as potential employees to the local business sector. The school hosted a business lunch and invited community leaders and business people from Nobleford and the surrounding area.
Principal Broc Higginson said the goal of the lunch meeting was to highlight what is happening at the school and also what students have to offer to potential employers.
“We hope students feel it was worthwhile.”
He was impressed with how the students handled themselves throughout the lunch. Students directed participates in the parking lot, checked their coats, welcomed them at the door and even served lunch. Students projects were also on display to give lunch participants an opportunity to see first hand what the students have been working on over the past semester.
In all 70 different representatives of organizations and businesses in the region attended the luncheon, to learn more about what the school is doing to prepare students for the work place and how partnerships can be built between businesses and the school.
Higginson said there are opportunities for students to work with local businesses especially when it comes to using technology to promote their business. In one such case a student at the school has developed a website for Eddie’s Pizza and Donairs in Nobleford.
“Today’s market is looking for information online,” he said.
Grade 12 student Kale Dorchak provided a overview of the community through a video presentation and said it took more time to come up with a plan of action than it actually did to put the video together. He said he hopes the business lunch will open doors for him and employment opportunities.
Nobleford CAO Kirk Hofman also addressed the group and noted village council has talked about such a business meeting or establishing a chamber of commerce in the community for a few years.
“One talk with the principal and here we are today.”
He said the key to prosperity is creativity. He invited the business people in attendance to sit down with him at the village office to discuss the potential for business development in the community.
“What we don’t like in Nobleford in red tape.”
The students also presented a video clip promoting their school and what is has to offer students and the community.
“There are so many talented students here, we wanted to show you what we are capable of,” said Grade 12 student Kyrah Griffith.
Student Abe Wall also delivered a presentation on the advantages of hiring students. He said not only does it give students the opportunity to gain work experience but employers can tap into a work force that will accept lower wages and is often willing to work at times other full time employees like to be off such as evenings, weekends and holidays.
Student Kyle Livingston spoke on the benefits of hiring rural students who often already have experience operating machinery, working with tools and are comfortable working in all kinds of weather. Finding employment locally, he added, will also provide an incentive for students to stay in the community.
Griffith said the business lunch provided an opportunity to talk to different business owners and develop her people skills.
For Livingston the event was interesting and gave him an opportunity to do some public speaking. Wall welcomed the opportunity to showcase student skills. Dorchak said the lunch was a unique experience for the students who helped host the event.
For Grade 12 student John Neufeld the event will hopefully open doors to future career opportunities.
He will be graduating in the spring with his sights set on the welding trade. He said he hopes to apprentice locally this year and remain in Nobleford.
Principal Higginson said the lunch was also an opportunity for the school to express its appreciation to the organizations and businesses which support the school.