Partnership Rapid City Marks Third Anniversary

Science and technology had a future in the Black Hills in 2006. Efforts to win the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) were gaining momentum. The community was engaged in a growing conversation about 21st century work skills. The Rapid City Area Schools wanted to hear from business and the community about how to prepare our youth for the high-tech future to come.

“Make it real” the community responded in a series of workshops. “Help students apply what they learn in school to real-life situations. Connect the community to the classroom.” The business community also made it clear that it was willing to help if the District would create a one-stop shop for a host of real-life opportunities, including internships, apprenticeships, mentors, speakers, field trips and projects. In response, the District launched Partnership Rapid City that fall.

Partnership Rapid City will celebrate its third anniversary on November 18 at 7:30 a.m. at a breakfast summit at the Dahl Fine Arts Center. Participants will include many of the folks who participated in the original community forums. They will be introduced to the many real life learning opportunities that are now available to students and offer ideas for Partnership Rapid City’s future.

The program will highlight Partnership RC’s accomplishments and ongoing initiatives including:

• Learn and Service America Program – places students with businesses and non-profits to work with professionals and get on-the-job experience;
• Apprenticeship Program - students with a strong interest in a particular field spend 150 hours or more on the job, complete a related independent study curriculum and develop their work portfolio;
• Career Launch Workshops – skills training for health care, collision repair, construction, animal science, culinary arts and other fields provided to high school students through various institutions of higher education in Rapid City;
• Treasure Chest Program – business sponsorships that provide supplies and student incentives directly to classrooms;
• Career Daze - a variety of exciting opportunities for students and parents to explore opportunities in today’s economy;
• Building Partnership Coordinators – designated staff at each school to facilitate interaction with the community and business to provide real life learning opportunities tied to the curriculum.

Partnership Rapid City’s efforts have been supported by the District, the Chamber of Commerce, and the John T. Vucurevich Foundation along with many businesses and individuals in the community and the Rapid City Public School Foundation. For more information about Partnership Rapid City or to offer a real life learning opportunity to a student, contact Julie Ward or Liz Hamburg at 394-6986.