Do you have a part time job that you love? How would you like to get paid to work and earn school credit at the same time?

This will be an option available next year for Cal High juniors and seniors with part- time jobs  through the new work experience class.

The year-long class will be coordinated by Spanish 2 teacher Angela Bushard, who will serve as advisor.

“I can’t wait to bring this class to Cal High and share my experience from when I was working in high school,” Bushard said.

Many students are very excited for this class because it’s a new and different way to earn school credits.

“I have a job that I love and at school I wish I could be working,” said junior Billy Armenio, “Now this class is perfect for me and I can’t wait to sign up.

By taking this class, students can earn up to 20 elective credits for the year.  Students will be permitted to leave at lunch every other day to attend their jobs.

Students are expected to work at least 10-20 hours per week for their “hands-on” job training. The class will meet once a week on Wednesdays during A period

During class time, students are to turn in their hours and complete assignments on job and career related topics.

“I would be interested in this class because I have a job at Rockin’ Jump right now,” junior Claire Costelli said. “Instead of taking an elective that I’m not interested in at all but I am just taking it for the credits, this class would help me avoid doing that and give me a chance to make more money and have better hours at work.”

Many students, including Costelli, have expressed that the electives they choose are just based on credits they need in order to graduate and not a subject that actually interests them. Work experience allows students to be productive while doing something they love.

Bushard will visit students’ job sites each semester to provided them with feedback on their performances. While a summer job is not required, students in the class must have a job when school begins.

iQuest, a similar class at Cal, offers internships in the workplace rather than paid jobs. Students in this class are graded on their assignments completed, job performance, and hours turned in.