The Arc hosts Job Shadow Day for students

The Arc hosts Job Shadow Day for students
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The Work Opportunity Center (WOC) in Long Branch hosted a group of high school students for a day of exploring career options last week.

Above: Monmouth Regional High School students tour the Work Opportunity Center (WOC) in Long Branch during a Job Shadow Day at the facility on Feb. 9. Below: Monmouth Regional student Hassan Mehdaoui (center) watches Robert Smith (l-r), Diana Donato and David Weynberg work at their stations at the center, which is operated by The Arc of Monmouth. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Above: Monmouth Regional High School students tour the Work Opportunity Center (WOC) in Long Branch during a Job Shadow Day at the facility on Feb. 9. Below: Monmouth Regional student Hassan Mehdaoui (center) watches Robert Smith (l-r), Diana Donato and David Weynberg work at their stations at the center, which is operated by The Arc of Monmouth. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Twelve students from Monmouth Regional High School were able to shadow employees working at The Arc of Monmouth County’s WOC on Feb. 9.

“Job Shadow Day is a yearround effort to introduce young people to the world of work,” a press release from the Tinton-Fallsbased Arc stated.

Camile Celentano, human resources director at The Arc, explained how job shadowing benefits the students and the agency.

“The Arc feels that it is important to inform high school students about career opportunities in this field and become more familiar with our agency,” said

In addition to shadowing employees who work at the WOC, the students assisted clients who work at the center, helping them with their job tasks, and observed groups at work.

“Students were welcomed by Linda Porter, director of the WOC, and given an overview of The Arc,” Celentano said. “A tour of the facility followed, and then students connected with the employees they were to shadow.”

Prior to the day of their visit, students were given the opportunity to select which position they wanted to shadow. Students also shared break times and lunch with employees and trainees, and ended the day with a question-and-answer session and refreshments.

Celentano listed some of the jobs the students observed.

“Students shadowed counselors, production coaches, the administrative assistant, the [information technology] manager, and the facilities manager,” she said.

Celentano also explained some of the jobs that are done at the WOC on a daily basis.

“The over 165 trainees with disabilities at the WOC perform jobs for many businesses throughout the state, such as packaging, processing and assembly, among others, and earn a paycheck for the work,” she said.

Celentano said Job Shadow Day is not the only event the WOC provides for young students.

“The Arc offers high school students volunteer opportunities through our recreation department, fundraising events and thrift shops,” she said. “We offer students service learning and internship opportunities as well.

“The Arc offers the Dorothy B. Hersh High School, a fully accredited private school that provides academic and vocational training for students with developmental disabilities,” she added.