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Monterey High School has been in partnership with
the Walt Disney Company for nine years. This partnership was begun as an outgrowth
of a community art project that was sponsored by the company. Employees showed an
interest in our school and we were very interested in how we could blend our student needs
with the community service needs that Disney wanted to fulfill. The outgrowth of
those initial meetings is an exemplary partnership. Of course, not everyone can
partner with this high profile company; however, the foundation on which the partnership
is built can be replicated with many companies and schools because the partnership taps
into activities which the company is already creating for their employees. First,
the company hosts several activities for their employees that they are able to invite our
students to attend. These activities include a health and fitness fair, a Christmas
boutique, a transportation exposition. Second, the Disney company provides
activities that are "convenient" for them - they fiscally support Cal-Arts and
they have a transportation system on the studio lot, so they can arrange a field trip for
our art students annually to that campus. Third, the company annually participates
in a career day where their employees present workshops to the entire student body on
entry level jobs and the careers they can begin. Additionally, every year they have
many departments participate in a "job shadowing" program where our students are
on the studio lot for several hours a week for four weeks. Fourth, the company
fiscally supports some of our activities including funding two scholarships for our
graduates, hosting our annual graduation ceremonies and from time to time meeting our
"special needs." Our students help the company as well, providing extra
workers for their Operation Christmas, assistance with Chamber of Commerce activities and
volunteering with special projects. Our partnership has received national
recognition and both representatives from the company and the school have presented
material at conferences.
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