Southern High’s Signature Program to Launch with Gala

Southern High School will celebrate the launch of their Signature Program, “Design: Preservation and Innovation,” from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday (Oct 11) at Greenstreet Gardens in Lothian. The Harwood School is inviting students from the six feeder schools, along with civic groups, businesses and other members of the public to stop by and learn about the new program being offered to students at Southern.

Southern’s mascot

A “Signature Program,” exists at all 12 Anne Arundel County public high schools. These programs are designed to help students develop career and workforce skills by bringing business and other interests into the school through a curriculum that reflects the interests and values of the community.

In other words, local businesses will go into the school to help students think about their career paths and to practice practical skills necessary for success in today’s job market.

You’ve heard about the “bridge to 21st Century job skills”? Think of the Signature Program as that bridge. Here are the specifics of the Southern Program, designed with local businesses and the Signature Program coordinator, Marilyn Harmon. Here are her descriptors:

• Design means to have a vision and to create a plan. Design is the engine by which businesses, communities, and individuals grow.
• Preservation is necessary for survival and success. New practices and materials are introduced which require standards necessary to serve as yardsticks for quality assurance. Design achieves its promise when we are aware of what to preserve and where we want to go.
• Innovation allows people to create better ways to live or conduct business. They evaluate needs, available resources, values, and timelines, and often they need something new.

Students benefit by:

• completing high school as highly qualified for both workforce and higher education experiences;
• growing into informed citizens in their communities and the world;
• experiencing opportunities to complete high school with technical certifications and college credits;
• considering the importance of their rural heritage and preservation of the areas fragile environment.

Students will have the opportunity to work directly with businessmen and women, either through job shadowing or internships. In addition, students will seek after school and summer employment in the community that reflect a student’s interest and studies. Mentors from the community will help students with mock interviews, tutoring, resume help and more.

If you’d like to stop by to learn more about the program, visit Greenstreet Gardens on Thursday.