Relevant Employment Apprenticeships Designed for Youth! OUHSD continues to expand meaningful career-connected learning opportunities for students through the R.E.A.D.Y! Apprenticeship Program, which provides paid, hands-on work experience while students explore future career pathways.

Students participating in the program are gaining real-world experience by working directly with school-aged children in authentic educational settings. Through their paid, on-the-job training, apprentices are learning what it takes to work in education-related careers while building professional skills such as communication, responsibility, and teamwork.

As part of the program, students are also enrolled in college coursework through Oxnard College. These courses focus on child development and developmental stages, helping students better understand how children learn, grow, and communicate. This academic foundation strengthens students’ ability to apply classroom learning directly to their work experience.

Students report that participation in the R.E.A.D.Y! Apprenticeship Program has helped them grow personally and professionally. Many have shared that they are becoming more confident in their abilities, more comfortable working with children, and more aware of career options they may want to pursue in the future.

One of the most impactful aspects of the program is that students are paid while they learn, gaining valuable work experience and building skills that will support future employment. The combination of paid training, college coursework, and real-world experience allows students to explore career interests while preparing for college and career success.

This summer, 26 students successfully completed the Summer at City Hall program, a long-standing partnership between the City of Oxnard and the Oxnard Union High School District. Through this program, students completed 60 hours of paid internship experience across a variety of city departments, including the City Manager’s Office, Human Resources, Public Works, Environmental Services, Recreation, and others.

The program provides students with valuable real-world experience in public service while helping them develop professional skills and explore potential career pathways. As a result of this strong collaboration, 10 students were hired by the City of Oxnard following their participation in the program.

Students represented multiple OUHSD campuses, including Oxnard High School, Oxnard Middle College, Pacifica High School, and Rancho Campana High School. Their success reflects the impact of meaningful partnerships that connect students to career opportunities beyond the classroom.

These students were formally recognized by the Board at the November 19 board meeting, celebrating their achievements and highlighting the continued investment by the City of Oxnard and OUHSD in preparing students for future career success.

From Classroom to Kitchen: Pacifica Culinary Students Sharpen Industry Skills

The Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) invited 11th and 12th-grade students in the Pacifica High School Culinary Arts Academy to participate in the Malibu and Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festivals. During these events, students were paired with celebrity chefs to prepare and serve food to guests, giving them real-world experience in high-level culinary environments. Several students even received job offers as a result of their participation.

The academy will also continue its partnership with the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) by competing in the organization’s annual cooking competition. This opportunity allows students to showcase their culinary skills while competing for college scholarships, further supporting their postsecondary and career goals.

Culinary Arts Academy seniors also participated in Foodservice Industry Training (F.I.T.) job readiness training, sponsored by ProStart and the National Restaurant Association. Industry representatives from Urbane Cafe and The Cheesecake Factory worked directly with students to build essential employability skills.

Through this training, students learned to create compelling elevator pitches, navigate online versus in-person job applications, develop resumes, and prepare for job interviews. Students practiced mock interviews and professional handshakes, helping them gain the confidence to begin applying for jobs in the foodservice industry.

The Pacifica High School Culinary Arts Academy continues to provide students with meaningful industry experiences that connect classroom instruction to real-world culinary careers, preparing students for success in both college and the workforce