Join the BCCHS Career Academies

Join us as we prepare
the leaders of tomorrow.
BATTLE CREEK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL CAREER ACADEMIES
Every Bearcat Graduates Career, College & Community Ready.

WHAT ARE THE BCCHS CAREER ACADEMIES?
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The Battle Creek Central High School Career Academies are small learning communities within the
school that integrate traditional academic coursework with work-based opportunities. All Battle
Creek Central students will be part of the Career Academies, turning the high school into a “wall-towall,”
state of the art education experience. The Academies will bridge the gap between classroom
experiences and career expectations, empowering students to excel in school, the workforce, and
beyond. Every BCCHS Career Academies student will receive:
• Career exploration opportunities to help them identify their passions and set career goals
• Soft skills training that will translate to any career field
• Hands-on experience in a purposeful area of career focus
In addition to earning a high school diploma, every BCCHS Career Academies student will have the
opportunity to graduate with either an industry-recognized credential or college credit.

THE CAREER ACADEMIES VISION
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Every Bearcat Graduates Career,
College & Community Ready.
For Battle Creek to remain regionally competitive, the community must establish an educational
foundation that builds a strong and sustainable workforce.
By fostering collaborative partnerships between Battle Creek Central High School and the
local business community, every Bearcat will graduate career, college and community ready,
resulting in a workforce that is able to support industry expansion and continued economic and
business development.

CAREER PATHWAYS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY
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Battle Creek Central High School is comprised of two Career Academies, each of which will house
four career pathways for students to select from as their area of focus.
Academy of Business, Engineering and Industrial Technology
Information Technology
Finance
Business
Engineering & Skilled Trades
Academy of Health and Human Services
Nursing
Health Care
Public Safety
Education

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Each pathway was selected through a
collaborative community effort to reflect
current industry needs and economic
growth trends in Battle Creek.
As a result, Career Academies graduates will
be equipped for high-demand, high-wage job
opportunities right here in our own community.

ACADEMY PARTNERSHIPS: THE KEY TO SUCCESS
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An engaged community is the cornerstone of effective, powerful Career Academies at Battle
Creek Central High School. Community partners are essential to helping students connect the
academic world to careers available in their own community through an array of collaborative
services, such as:
• An increased understanding of workforce trends and needs in order to effectively shape the
structure of career academy offerings
• Co-teaching and teacher externships to ensure cohesive learning material
• Hands-on learning career exploration, such as career-fair and panel participation,
company tours, job shadows, and student internships
These deep-level interactions help BCCHS graduates allow employers to build a workforce that
has the competencies and credentials needed to successfully sustain and grow local businesses.
“Extensive employer engagement will create a better prepared workforce to assist in building the
local talent pipeline and fulfilling the immediate hiring needs of employers.”
Ashley Iovieno, Business Services Coordinator
Michigan Works! Southwest

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“[We] are excited about intentionally joining
the academic and local business communities to
offer career exploration and guidance to BCPS
students. This coupling of education and business
will provide a wonderful opportunity for students
to transition to life beyond school successfully.”
Kenneth C. Bauer, President / CEO
Goodwill Industries of Central Michigan’s
Heartland, Inc.
Our schools need to train our kids in
the skills that [local] companies need
to hire...basic life skills as well as job
specific skills for all levels. We, as
employers, need to do our part to ensure
the schools understand what we need
now and in the future.
“Battle Creek’s business leaders see today’s
students as the professionals and entrepreneurs
of the future. We are excited to have the Career
Academies to help get more young people
pursuing careers in Battle Creek and being part of
a bright economic future for our city.”
Shabaka Gibson, Vice President
Battle Creek Unlimited
As skills shift and new technologies are
introduced, we need to work together
as a community to ensure the supply of
talent and skills meets the demand. Being
involved ensures that Rosler and other
companies have the workforce available
to grow our businesses in Battle Creek.
Bernhard Kerschbaum, CEO
Rosler Metal Finishings

CAREER, COLLEGE & COMMUNITY READINESS
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BCCHS CAREER ACADEMIES STUDENT EXPERIENCES
• Career Exploration Fair:
Explore the opportunities
within different careers
pathways by interacting
with organizations and
business from Battle Creek
and beyond.
• Career Panels & Guest
Speakers: Learn from
professionals from a variety
of careers connected to the
BCCHS pathways.
• Industry Tours: Get a
firsthand look at a typical
working environment in the
career pathway chosen by
the student.
• Mock Interviews:
Students work directly with
potential employers in a
series of practice interviews
to develop the skills
necessary to demonstrate
their abilities.
• Job Shadowing: Learn
practical skills necessary to
succeed in a career on-site at
a pathway partner location.
• Project-Based Learning:
Teachers collaborate with
industry professionals on
learning experiences where
students solve real-world
problems using knowledge
from multiple content areas.
• Career / Certification
Mentors: Meet regularly
with a mentor from the
community to learn careerspecific
skills and prepare
for industry exams.
• Academy Internship:
Complete an internship
experience at a job
location in the community
• Capstone Experience:
Explore a career of
personal or professional
interest and address the
latest trends or issues
through focused study and
applied research.

EXPERIENCE THE BEARCAT ADVANTAGE
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Freshman Academy
BCCHS Freshman Academy offers a special, smaller learning environment to help students make
a smooth transition into high school, to bond with each other as a community and to begin their
journey in the Career Academies. In Freshman Academy, students receive instruction through a
core team of teachers who share students to provide supports for student achievement.
Athletics
• Bowling
• Football
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Wrestling
• Baseball
• Softball
• Track
• Cheerleading
Clubs & Programs
• Upward Bound
• Early Middle College
• 21st Century After School
Program (Robotics)
• National Honors Society
• Gay/Straight Alliance
• Red Cross Club
• Slam Poetry Club
• Art Ceramics Club
• Spanish Club
• Social Justice Club
• Dance Team
• And More!
Link Crew
The Link Crew freshman orientation and transition program is designed to both welcome and support
freshmen by assigning them a junior or senior Link Leader as a mentor during this first year. This Link
Leader is a responsible older student who was hand-selected from a large pool of applicants and
has met the qualifications of being a good role model and a positive leader on our campus.
HEALTH CENTER
Grace Health School-based Health Centers (SBHCs) are staffed with a nurse practitioner, social
worker and support staff. The Health Center’s nurse practitioner can be your child’s regular
provider or can support your child’s regular provider/pediatrician. Services include routine wellchild
exams with immunizations, school and sports physicals, preventative care, urgent care and
behavioral/mental health services.

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“WHAT STUDENTS
ARE SAYING:
The Career Academies taught me about my career
options and shed more light on the types of things that I do
and don't want to do.”
They are showing me
different opportunities
that I have and how I can
accomplish them.
The Career Academies are showing
me what it looks like to work in
the real world and how to be
responsible, like how to write
resumes and resignation letters.
It helped me think further, considering my interests to match up with my financial goals.
It helped
me find my
perfect
career.
WHAT FAMILIES
ARE SAYING:
My son is excited for his future goals.
The pathway my daughter chose has her taking
specific classes to make her college-ready and
once she graduates she will have experience in the
profession she chooses.
I think career academies are
excellent for the kids and it will
definitely help with their future.

Battle Creek Public Schools
Battle Creek, Michigan
BATTLE CREEK CENTRAL HIGH
SCHOOL CAREER ACADEMIES
Learn More:
battlecreekpublicschools.org/BCCHS
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facebook.com/BattleCreekCentralBearcats
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Enroll Online:
battlecreekpublicschools.org/Enroll