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School Without Walls2130 G Street, NWWashington, DC 20037202.645-9690FAX: 202.724-8536

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Richard Trogisch, Principalhttp://www.swwhs.org Sylvia Isaac, Assistant Principal

Shanna Young, Assistant Principal

Internship I HandbookFall 2014

Instructor: Ms. LaToya Grant, Room 223Email: [email protected]: 202.671.6497Course blog: swwinterns.blogspot.com

Section 1: Program OverviewIntroduction………………………………………………………………………………………………….... p. 2Overview of Course ........................................................................................................ p. 2Standards and Expectations ........................................................................................... p. 2Start and End Dates..……………………………………………………………………………………....... p. 2

Section 2: Internship InformationIntern Responsibilities .....................................................................................................

p. 3Supervisor Responsibilities ............................................................................................. p. 3 Instructor Responsibilities .............................................................................................. p. 3Finding an Internship ...................................................................................................... p. 4Attendance ..................................................................................................................... p. 4

Section 3: CourseworkAssignments ................................................................................................................... p. 5-6

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http://www.swwhs.org/

Due Dates .......................................................................................................................

p. 7Grading........................................................................................................................... p. 7

Section 4: ResourcesInternship Time Sheet ..................................................................................................... p. 8Internship Contact Information ....................................................................................... p. 9Permission and Agreement Forms……….......................................................................... p. 10-12Sample Thank You Letter ............................................................................................... p. 13Supervisor Evaluation Form ………………………………………………………………………………. p. 14-15

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IntroductionStudents at School Without Walls Senior High School are required to complete 60 hours of an internship and corresponding internship course prior to graduation. In this course, students will obtain job readiness skills, including resume writing, appropriate dress in the workplace, money management and conflict management. Students are required to obtain an internship in the community to strengthen their job skills, expose them to the world of work, and build professional relationships. As an intern, students will explore areas of interest to gain experience with networking, following deadlines, and improving written and spoken communication in a professional setting. Students’ abilities to plan ahead, multitask, and show flexibility and creativity will be huge assets during the Internship course.

Overview of CourseStudents will complete and document at least 60 (sixty) hours for Internship I (W16), including related activities. Internships vary greatly in the tasks that are assigned to interns. You may be asked to help primarily with office work, such as creating spreadsheets, filing, faxing, and answering the phone. However, you may also be expected to do more in-depth research on a particular topic. You may be assigned to work on a company newsletter or website. You may interact with clients, customers, or participants, depending on the needs of your internship site. No two internships are expected to be exactly the same. In addition to your time spent at the internship site, you will also be expected to complete relevant coursework based on your experience in the field.

Standards and ExpectationsYou are representing School Without Walls SHS

1. Communication and accountability-You must be on time and ready to work during your scheduled internship and inform Ms. Grant and your site supervisor when you are not.

2. Attendance at Friday workshops.3. Remember to sign out at the school front desk every day in the internship

binder.4. Show initiative—you are in charge of making the most of this experience.5. Be respectful, helpful, and work to your best capabilities.6. You should present yourself neatly and professionally at your internship at all

times. (Dress as if you were giving a presentation or going to a program. No clothing with holes.)

7. Course assignments must be high quality, complete, and turned in by the due date.

8. Students will adhere to all SWW policies on Academic Integrity.9. All students must carry their School Without Walls class schedule when off-

campus for internship.

Failure to comply with these and other School Without Walls

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policies will result in detentions and academic referrals. If problems continue, the administration has the right to reconsider of the intern’s participation in the program. This is a graduation requirement that will need to be made up.

Start and End DatesIn-School Orientation- August 25-August 29First day of Internship- September 3, 2014 (M/W) or September 2, 2014 (T/Th) or sooner. The latest date to start internship is September 8, 2014 (M/W) or September 9, 2014 (T/Th).Last day of Internship- Week of January 12th

Intern Responsibilities• Read and understand information and policies stated in the handbook• Find an internship that fits your goals and interests• Make contact with a supervisor and secondary supervisor• Log 60 hours and complete tasks that are assigned throughout the Internship course• Discuss questions and concerns with supervisor and/or instructor on a regular basis• Take initiative in asking questions, searching out resources, inviting feedback, and creating opportunities to learn• In case of absence, inform everyone affected on the same business day• Dress professionally and comply with conduct/attendance policy• Fill out time logs on a daily basis and turn them in each week• Attend the mandatory in-school orientation at the beginning of the program• Complete class assignments and contribute to the course blog

Supervisor Responsibilities• Read and understand information and policies stated in the handbook• Communicate with both intern and instructor about progress and concerns• Observe intern’s work and help provide appropriate learning opportunities through the semester• Provide interns with oral and written feedback about their work• In case of absence, inform your intern and the instructor promptly• Complete and sign time logs• Notify the instructor by email if the intern fails to arrive at their placement• Complete evaluations throughout the internship program• Help interns think about their careers

Instructor Responsibilities• Make sure that interns and supervisors clearly understand expectations and

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standards of the program• Offer support in finding an internship• Communicate regularly with each intern and supervisor, at least every other week to answer questions and concerns• Conduct in-school orientation for students at the beginning of the program• Provide accountability by checking up on attendance and punctuality• Provide an explanation of all course assignments• Provide detailed and timely feedback regarding coursework and the quality of work that was performed at the internshipFinding an InternshipAt School Without Walls, we believe that students can best select an internship that aligns with their interests, career goals, and personalities. For that reason, we encourage students to use the Internet to research local businesses, corporations, and nonprofit organizations to find a good match. We encourage you to make a good choice about your supervisor—he or she should have a four-year degree and should not be a direct relative. He/she should be available for regular communication with Ms. Grant. Please note that you are not able to intern in the home residence of your supervisor. There are several locations that request interns from SWW. Please see Ms. Grant or your counselor if you need assistance in this process.

Step 1: Brainstorm - Think of your personal interests, talents, career interests, or senior project topic.Step 2: Research and Network- Talk to your family, teachers, friends, etc. for possible internships. You can also look at the list of potential internship sites from past Walls students and use the Internet to find different organizations that match your areas of interest. (Keep in mind travel time from school to site.) Step 3: Get in Contact-Use email, phone, or go directly to the site. Introduce yourself and where you go to school. Express your interests in the organization and request an interview. Explain your schedule (Example: Monday & Wednesday, or Tuesday & Thursday from 1-3PM), start date and end date, as well as expectations for your internship. Tell them to get in contact with Ms. Grant for any clarifications or questions.If you cannot get in contact with the site, follow up one week later.

Attendance All students need to log 60 hours in order to earn credit for Internship. You must have an internship that you can report to during your scheduled Internship period. If you get a late start with your internship, you must make up time lost. Also, if you miss days, you must schedule with your supervisor to make up time lost.

1. Signing Out. You will be responsible for signing out in the internship binder at the security desk before leaving school grounds for your Internship, until otherwise noted. Students will arrive at their internship on time and ready to work. If you forget to sign out, you will be marked absent until Ms. Grant receives

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confirmation of your attendance from your supervisor.

2. Excused Absences. Interns who must be absent from school due to illness or emergency must notify the front office. Students must also email their supervisor and cc' Ms. Grant. (This is a common business practice.) If you leave school because you are sick, you must turn in a note from Nurse Lee to Ms. Grant. If your supervisors (both primary and secondary) are unavailable, you must report to Ms. Grant during your scheduled internship. You are responsible for arranging the time to make up any missing hours. Failure to comply with this policy will affect your course evaluation grades.

3. Unexcused Absences. Ms. Grant calls your internship sites to spot-check your attendance. Skipping is not tolerated. This will affect your course evaluation grade (-10% for each day you skipped) and result in a disciplinary referral with the school administration.

4. Time Sheets. You are responsible for keeping track of your hours on a monthly time sheet. You need to earn 12-15 hours per month in order to receive full credit. Time sheets need to be filled out on a daily basis, signed by your supervisor, and turned into Ms. Grant at the end of the month. These will serve as your attendance grades. Ms. Grant will keep a master Excel sheet to track your hours throughout the semester. It is also advised for all interns to keep track of their hours using Excel. If there is any question of falsifying these documents, the school will be in direct contact with your supervisor, counselor, and parent/guardians. Your safety is our number one priority—we need to know where you are and are responsible for you during school hours.

5. Friday Workshops. Internship classes take place Monday/Wednesday afternoon (1-5) or Tuesday/Thursday afternoon (2-5) as well as every other Friday morning. Students will leave campus for Internship on M-W/T-Th, but they MUST report to the common area on their scheduled Friday morning Internship class. On Friday mornings, students will participate in various professional workshops (dressing for success, resume, professional presentations). Please see Ms. Grant if any accommodations need to be made.

More than five (5) absences from the placement during a semester may jeopardize an intern’s recommendation for continuation in the program. Interns who are repeatedly absent or late will be required to make up time before the end of the semester.

Assignments: Letter of Intent

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Submit a one-page typed letter of intent addressed to Ms. Grant. Pay close attention to spelling, grammar, punctuation and format. This letter will outline:

The name of your organization/company and its goals The name and role of your supervisor (and secondary supervisor for

scheduling conflicts) Your specific duties as well as your schedule The reason for which you chose this particular internship site and what you

expect to get out of the experience

Friday WorkshopsYour attendance at Friday 1-5 or 2-5 workshops are mandatory. Special circumstances will be made for those students in jeopardy of not being able to finish your 60 hours within the semester. Please see Ms. Grant to make this accommodation.

Blog Posts500-word minimum. When you are blogging, feel free to include pictures of internship site, supervisor, co-workers, yourself, documentation of projects that you have worked on, or documentation of other related activities. Make sure that you have permission first! If you are having trouble writing a reflection along these guidelines please contact Ms. Grant in advance to discuss an alternative solution.

Blog 1: Give a summary of your experience up to this point. In your summary be sure to discuss your observations and experiences with professional relationships—What are good leadership qualities in your supervisor? What are your relationships with colleagues or other interns? How have you demonstrated teamwork? How could you improve these relationships? Give at least one specific example for each question.

Blog 2: Give a summary of your experience up to this point. In your summary be sure to discuss any challenges that you have observed or experienced—What has been challenging in your internship so far? Have you experienced any limitations or frustrations? Can challenges carry a positive connotation in the workplace? How can you overcome these challenges and learn from them? If there are no challenges- what is the reasoning for this? Give at least one specific example for each question.

Blog 3: Give a summary of your experience up to this point. In your summary be sure to discuss any ways that you have been able to show initiative—What are some of your job strengths? How have you gone beyond what is expected from you? How does this correspond with the professional goals of the course? If you have not been able to show initiative, discuss the reason

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why? Give at least one specific example for each question.

Blog 4: Looking back—Rate your overall experience as an intern? Did it meet your expectations? Why or why not? What was the main lesson that you learned? Highlight your 2 favorite tasks and your 2 least favorite tasks that you completed at your internship in detail. How can you apply what you learned to a future job or internship? What advice do you have for future interns at SWW and for your instructor?

Thank You Letter As a common work practice, you will write a professional thank you letter to your internship supervisor. Please submit a printed copy of this letter to me so it can be mailed to your supervisor. Pay close attention to spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format. Use the provided sample as your guide.

Supervisor Evaluation Forms Your supervisor is responsible for completing an evaluation of your performance two times over the course of the semester. You and your supervisor will conference about your evaluation and discuss your strengths and weaknesses. You are responsible for submitting the evaluation form completed by your supervisor on the date that it is due. Make sure to schedule your evaluation conferences with your supervisor in advance! Due DatesOrientation Friday Workshop Assignments

Internship OrientationFriday WorkshopsStudent Intern AgreementSyllabus QuizInternship ContactSupervisor Agreement Letter of Intent

5 points10 points5 points5 points5 points5 points5 points

August 25th/26th Each Friday your class meetsAugust 25th/26th August 25th/26th September 3rd/4th

September 3rd/4th

During Internship Assignments

Blog 1Blog 2Supervisor Evaluation IBlog 3Blog 4Monthly Attendance Logs

5 points5 points20 points5 points5 points20 points

September 26th

October 24th

November 3rd

December 12th

January 16th

Last day of each month

Post Internship Assignments

Thank You Letter 5 points January 21st/22nd

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Supervisor Evaluation II 20 points January 21st/22nd Additional assignments may be given at the

teacher’s discretion

GradingYour grade in internship is determined by the quality of work that you complete at your site, turning in timesheets, attendance at Friday workshops and completing coursework assignments. All assignments must reflect good grammar and usage. By creating a blog, students should reflect on their work and demonstrate a “learning stretch”, by going above and beyond what they already know. The evaluations are completed by the intern’s site supervisor and will be based on the behaviors outlined in this packet. Attendance at Friday Workshops are factored into your grade.

Written work will be uploaded to the blog on the day that it is due or before. Time sheets will be turned into Ms. Grant’s office on the day that it is due. ALL LATE WORK WILL BE PENALIZED BY TEN PERCENTAGE POINTS FOR EACH MISSING DAY, including internship attendance logs. Plan ahead!!

93-100 A 87-89 B+ 77-79 C+ 67-69 D+ 0-63 F90-92 A- 83-86 B 73-76 C 64-66 D

80-82 B- 70-72 C-




Internship Attendance Log

Fill out on a daily basis. Turn in at the end of the MONTH to Ms. Grant’s office (Room 223).

MONTH _______________ NAME _____________________

INTERNSHIP PERIOD ___________________

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10

Date Arrival Time

Departure Time

Total Hours

Sponsor Initials

Total Hours:




Internship Contact Information

Internship Site ________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Supervisor: ______________________________________________________________Phone: (______) ___________________________________*Email: ____________________________________________

Secondary Supervisor: _____________________________________________________Phone: (______) ____________________________________*Email: ____________________________________________

Internship Schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Beginning Dates: __________________________________________________________

Evaluation Conferences Scheduled for: ____________________________________

By signing below, I confirm that this information is correct.

Student signature ____________________________________________

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Supervisor signature __________________________________________




INTERNSHIP SUPERVISOR AGREEMENT

Student Name: _____________________

Internship Supervisor Name: ________________________

Internship Site: ___________________________________

As an internship supervisor for ________________________, a student at School Without Walls, I understand and agree to adhere to the following guidelines:

Review Internship Handbook, which outlines the indicators of career development on which students are assessed. Please discuss these with the intern and be clear about expectations.

Internships are to be completed during the scheduled time period. Students may supplement their hours by working after school or on weekends, but students must work during their scheduled period.

Students occasionally will have valid excuses for missing their internship, such as a change in the school’s schedule or illness. These must be communicated to the supervisor by the student either via email or phone with as much advance notice as possible.

Supervisors occasionally will not be able to host student interns, due to events such as meetings or travel. Whenever possible, please arrange for the students to work with a colleague or assign work that can be completed at school. These circumstances MUST be communicated via email to the student with advance notice. Please also copy Internship Coordinator LaToya Grant ([email protected]) on your email.

Please contact the school immediately if a student intern does not show for his or her shifts.

Students are responsible for having supervisors sign their internship attendance log. Please help your intern by signing their log regularly.

School Without Walls will contact you to spot-check student attendance.

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mailto:[email protected]


By signing below, I indicate that I will adhere to the above guidelines.

Supervisor Signature______________________ Date______

Supervisor Initials __________




Parent Permission Form

I have reviewed the Internship Handbook and give my son/daughter _________________________ full permission to participate in the school and workplace activities associated with the Internship program at School Without Walls.

Additionally, after reading the Internship Handbook, I understand that it is my student’s responsibility to:

- Find an internship that aligns with his/her interests and goals.- Notify Ms. Grant and supervisor if he/she will be absent.- Sign out at the front desk every day.- Make up any missing hours.- Turn in all course work on the day that is due.- Submit work via the Internet. (If there are any problems please contact teacher.)- Follow up with Ms. Grant regarding missing assignments.- Adhere to the SWW policies of Academic Integrity.

I understand that my student’s failure to comply with the rules in the handbook will impact his or her grade in the course. If I have questions or concerns I know that I can contact Ms. Grant at (202) 671-6497 or via email [email protected].

______________________________________ _______________________________Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature

_____________________________________ ________________________________Email Home Telephone

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mailto:[email protected]


_________________________________________ ____________________________________Work Telephone Date




Student Intern Agreement

I, _______________________________________________ (Print Name), have read the Internship Handbook understand the full expectations of the course. I agree to:

1. Complete sixty (60) hours at my internship site.

2. Attend my internship regularly and on time for the entire length of time.

3. Conform to the practices and regulations of the business or organization in which I am working with regard to dress, behavior and work.

4. Email my supervisor and internship coordinator in advance if I must be absent or late.

5. Make up any missed days.

6. Notify the internship coordinator if any problems arise.

7. Complete the attendance log daily and turn it in at the end of the month.

8. Complete all required assignments in the Internship Handbook.

9. Follow up with teacher regarding missing assignments in a timely manner.

10. Follow SWW policy of Academic Integrity.

I understand that failure to comply with these and other School Without Walls policies will result in the reconsideration of my participation as an Intern. This is a graduation requirement that I will need to make up.

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Intern Signature __________________________________ Date ___________________

Intern Email ______________________________




Sample Thank You Letter

Use the model below to write a thank you letter to your sponsor.

Mr. Larry Jones, General ManagerABC Company123 Main StreetSuite 402, Second FloorAnywhere, TX 55555

September 28, 2009

Dear Mr. Jones,

Paragraph 1 – Thank your supervisor for the opportunity to work as an intern.

Paragraph 2 – Describe some of the things you learned as a result of the internship.

Paragraph 3 – Add any additional comments that you may have.

Sincerely,

Sign your name

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Evaluation of Student Intern

Intern: ______________________________________Organization: ________________________________

Note to supervisor- Please evaluate your high school intern based on his or her performance. When you have completed your evaluation, review this document with your intern, sign and date, and have your intern return it to me in a sealed envelope. Thank you.

4 Above acceptable standard Show positive behaviors all the time3 Acceptable standard Shows positive behaviors most of the time2 Below acceptable standard Needs to show more positive than negative

behaviors; needs some personal development

1 Significantly below acceptable standard

Show significant negative behaviors; strong development is needed on addressing negative behaviors and broadening positive behaviors

N/E No Evidence No evidence of either positive or negative behaviors

A. Communication1. Informs supervisor in advance about program policies/updates

4 3 2 1 N/E

2. Listens to others 4 3 2 1 N/E3. Asks questions for clarifications and to gain information

4 3 2 1 N/E

B. Accountability and Personal Awareness1. Arrives on time and ready to work 4 3 2 1 N/E2. Presents self and organization in a consistently helpful and positive way

4 3 2 1 N/E

3. Able to complete a range of tasks and shows initiative

4 3 2 1 N/E

C. Professionalism1. Appropriate dress and behavior 4 3 2 1 N/E2. Looks for ways to build working relationships as a 4 3 2 1 N/E

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member of a team3. Accepts feedback and looks for ways to improve 4 3 2 1 N/E

D. Quality of Work1. Manages own time to complete tasks efficiently 4 3 2 1 N/E2. Takes pride in a job well done 4 3 2 1 N/E3. Works to best capabilities Pays attention to detail, ties up loose ends, sticks to relevant procedures

4 3 2 1 N/E




Additional Comments:

Overall Performance:

Above Acceptable StandardAcceptable StandardBelow the acceptable standardSignificantly below acceptable standard

Supervisor Printed Name ____________________________

Supervisor Signature _______________________________ Date _______________

Intern Printed Name ___________________________

Intern Signature _______________________________ Date _______________

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