Academic and Career Planning

What is Academic and Career Planning?

Academic and Career Planning, or ACP, is a student-driven, adult-supported process in which students create and cultivate their own unique and information-based visions for post secondary success obtained through self exploration, career exploration and the development of career management and planning skills. The term ACP refers to both a process that helps students engage in academic and career development activities and a product that is created and maintained for the student’s academic, career, personal advancement. Students in our district will take part in a variety of activities that help them discover their strengths and how they can be used after graduation. ACP is not a resume or a portfolio; it is a process of exploration where students can learn more about themselves and post-secondary opportunities. Through our ACP program every graduate will develop an Individual Learning Plan and be college and career ready no matter what they choose to do upon graduation.

Through our ACP process students are exposed to a variety of opportunities and assessments that help them understand and appreciate the relevance of education. Having a realistic career plan in place is an essential part of our personal growth and development. Without goals to strive for, students stray from the relevance of education and not be empowered. The Guidance Department feels that by providing a variety of engaging activities students will become active participants in their education and have the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding post-secondary options. As students mature more opportunities are available and students are always allowed to revisit any opportunities.

ACP is a school-wide initiative where teachers, parents, and community members can guide students through a process that deepens their knowledge of themselves. This process does not require a student to pick a career for the rest of their lives; instead, it develops the skills of self-awareness and planning.  Academic and Career Planning (ACP) is a collaboratively developed, student-driven process for planning for success in middle school, secondary school, and post-secondary academics and career development. ACP will ultimately provide opportunities for students to learn to their full potential.

To aid in the academic and career planning process the district is always evaluating local workforce profiles to examine trends in career placement and to determine additional exposure and training activities for our students. (View the 2021 Lincoln County Workforce Profile.)

To assist students on the ACP journey students and staff are utilizing Xello. Xello is an engaging online program that helps students build the skills, knowledge and plans to be future ready. The program uses an investigative, discovery-based learning process. Students better understand themselves, their future career options, and the 21st century skills they’ll need to succeed.

The Student Experience with Xello

• Build Self-knowledge
  • Define their interests, skills, preferences, and aspirations so they can explore the opportunities right for them.
• Create a Plan
  • Your child can create dynamic actionable plans that outline the steps needed to achieve school, career, and life goals.
• Explore Options
  • Learn about career possibilities and educational pathways by exploring rich, engaging content and lessons
• Learn & Reassess
  • Interactive lessons help your child develop age appropriate skills and knowledge for success in school and beyond.

• Improvement in academics (attendance, test scores, participation, behavior)
• Students’ exploration of academics, social/ emotional skills and career readiness
• Community support and partnerships
• Parent support/communication
• Goals/objectives

Academic and Career Planning Opportunities

Welcome to Academic & Career Planning at Tomahawk.

It is an exciting time as students discover the many educational and extra-curricular opportunities available to them. Students will explore career options that match their personalities, skills, interests, and values.  They will identify goals to determine the education pathway that can lead to success in middle school, high school, and beyond.

Students will:

• Start thinking about future career possibilities.
• Explore different occupations that match their interests.
• Start exploring high school classes that match their desired career
• Explore post-secondary options to obtain their goals.
• Learn more about themselves through interest inventories on Xello
• Communicate with parents about future career goals.

Within each grade level the students will complete the following ACP activities to assist in the career exploration process.

6th

• Xello assessments and assignments
• Xello Journal Entries
• Tour of NTC programs (every other year when MindTrekkers is not at NTC)
• MindTrekkers (every other year)
• UWSP-Wausau Field Trip

7th

• Xello assessments and assignments
• Xello Journal Entries
• UWSP Career Exploration Field Trip
• Mini-Business World
• Nicolet College Career Fair

8th

• Xello assessments and assignments
• Xello Journal Entries
• Heavy Metal Tour
• Resume Building
• Soft Skills and Job Skills guest speakers
• Manufacturing Field trip to Lincoln County Businesses

9th grade

During Freshman year students will continue to use Xello to explore and research different post-secondary options. Students are encouraged to enroll in a variety of classes to help them explore their interests. Some of the ACP activities they will be exposed to will include co-curricular activities, career research projects, scheduling conferences,continued Xello assessments and reassessments.

10th grade

Sophomore year students will begin to have the opportunity to take more advanced classes in their own areas of interests. Our more advanced related arts and academic classes are available as well as those classes they may have missed Freshman year.

Sophomores will revisit assessments completed on Xello, participate in assessments to determine academic abilities and begin to determine their career pathway.

11th grade

Junior year is when students can really begin to realize the possibilities. They and their families will meet with school counselors for a junior conference where we discuss their plan and all the options that wait for them after high school.  Students will then start exploring possibilities through job shadows, career research, college visits and trade externships.

12th grade

Senior year is the time for students to solidify their plans. Through rigorous academic and related arts classes, students will discover more about themselves. Students are all in different spots on their career pathway, and senior year is when they can go back and re-experience different opportunities and maybe even pursue new ones. 

Students can look forward to different opportunities, some they select and some that are selected for them, throughout high school. Below are some of the things students may participate in:

9th

• Xello assessments and assignments
• Career Conference
• Freshman Orientation
• Scheduling Presentation
• ACT assessments

10th

• Xello assessments and assignments
• Scheduling Presentation
• ACT assessments
• AP Classes

11th

• PSAT 
• Practice ACT 
• ACT
• Junior Academic and Career Planning Meeting
• ASVAB 
• College Tours and Events
• Wisconsin Education Fair
• Youth Apprenticeships
• Mock Job Interviews
• Certified Nursing Course
• Start College Now 

12th

• ACT retake
• Federal Application for student aid
• Scholarship meeting
• Senior Interview

Throughout high school students can take advantage of an ever changing list of experiences that can help them determine their pathway. These include observing live heart surgery via a webcam, wood technologies day at an area technical college, logging worksite visit, Case heavy equipment tour, Operating Engineer Externship day and a host of other off-site learning opportunities.

Finally, students can meet with area professionals at the high school throughout the year during resource hour. We are fortunate to live in a community where a variety of individuals take time from their jobs to talk to kids about what they do for a living. If you would ever be interested in sharing your career pathway with high school students please contact the guidance office.