Work Based Learning
Work Based Learning gives students an opportunity to bring relevance to learning, explore career possibilities, and make informed decisions about their future career.
As part of the District Plan, all Hamilton students will graduate with career and life skills necessary to be informed consumers, skillful and productive workers, and active citizens.
Work Based Learning will develop and implement business partnerships offering Hamilton Community Schools students opportunities for real-world career explanation and skill building.
After approval from the Board of Education, 2027 Hamilton Community Schools graduates will be based on high school class credit and experiences. From fifth grade through senior year, all students will be exposed to Work Based Learning.
Additional information about Work Based Learning and answers to frequently asked questions.
A list of terms related to Work Based Learning and a description of what they mean.
Naviance is a platform that Hamilton uses for EDP completion, requesting transcripts, getting letters of recommendations, searching for colleges, applying to colleges, creating resumes, and completing reflections as it relates to Work Based Learning Experiences. An EDP is a series of tasks and activities, a portfolio of experiences, assessments, and goals related to a student's interests, abilities, and future plans.
An interactive list of all Work Based Learning opportunities for Hamilton Community Schools students.
A list of job opportunities for students listed by local employers.
Employers! We welcome you to post your job/internship opportunity for our students! Please email ameyer@hamiltonschools.us for the password and further information to our job posting website!
Work Based Learning Stories
Two Hamilton High School seniors are getting prepared for life through a brand new pilot program, believed to be the first of its kind in West Michigan. Max Brink and Gabe Mast have been attending daily classes at FCG Truck Driving School in Byron Center for the past three weeks, learning everything from the shift pattern, proper safety inspection, parts on the trucks, angles of the trailer, and of course, getting experience on the roadways.
“After numerous conversations with local business partners, the need for workers with a Commercial Drivers License became very apparent in our community,” said Hamilton Community Schools Work Based Learning coordinator, Ashley Meyer. “Upon completion of truck driving school and passing their tests next week, these students will not only graduate with a Hamilton High School diploma, but also their CDL.”
Bill Baareman, owner and president of FCG Truck Driving School says in his 24 years of experience in the industry, he hasn’t seen high school students get this opportunity.
“It is very rare to have two seniors still in school obtain their CDL prior to graduation,” Baareman added. “Most of our students don’t get to us until they’re at least 19 years of age because they find their career first and then realize they need to get their CDL and have to miss work to do that.”
Instead, this Hamilton Community Schools pilot program took two students who knew they were going right into the workforce and needed a CDL and afforded them the opportunity to get it done during the school day.
“I think this is really unique,” Brink said, “To get the opportunity to actually work towards our career while we’re still in high school is awesome.”
Baareman says not only are the two students succeeding on the road, the instructors have had conversations with each of them about testing out early. After completing their 160 hours of drive time and various other trainings over the past few weeks, they are both scheduled to take their road test on Tuesday, May 7.
“This is a big help and it’s definitely nice to have this done with getting out of high school,” Mast said, “We’re working towards our careers now instead of taking a month off of work after graduation. In our community, there are some kids who aren’t interested in college or can’t go to college. The Work Based Learning program allows us to work and do the things we love, I think that’s great for the community and the students enjoy that.”
Thank you to all of our community partners and FCG Truck Driving School for making this awesome opportunity possible!
Work Based Learning Contacts
Ashley Meyer
Work Based Learning/Experiential Learning Coordinator
ameyer@hamiltonschools.us
Mrs. Meyer can answer questions about business and community partnerships, district Work Based Learning opportunities and WBL curriculum.
Madeline Gentile
Business Department Teacher & Work Based Learning Advisor
mgentile@hamiltonschools.us
Mrs. Gentile can answer questions about Co-op, high school Work Based Learning opportunities, and Work Based Learning graduation requirements.
Mat Rehkopf
Director of Teaching and Learning
mlrehkop@hamiltonschools.us
Mr. Rehkopf can answer questions about curriculum.
New Pilot Program allows Hamilton High School seniors to graduate with their CDL
May 2, 2024
Gabe Mast and Max Brink to put their Commercial Drivers License to use after graduation
A look inside the 7th & 8th grade job shadow workplace tours
April 25, 2024
Thank you to HES, GreenMark Equipment, GHSP, Walters Gardens & MSU Food Lab for providing these experiences!
Mr. Meiste's Business Development class presents at Bradford Company in Holland
April 24, 2024
Hamilton High School students assist company with three driving questions
'Prep4Success' Days give Hamilton High School students employability skills
April 10, 2024
Students learn how to get a job and keep a job from 30+ local business professionals
