Holiday Cheer
The Kenston Instrumental and Vocal Music Department will deliver holiday cher this holiday season.
Concerts begin with the Kenston Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade band concert on Dec. 7 and seventh- and eighth-grade choir concert on Dec. 11. The sixth-grade band concert is on Dec. 14. All the middle school concerts will be held at 7 p.m. in the Kenston High School, Robert A. Lee Auditorium.
The annual Kenston High School’s holiday concert featuring the high school choir, band and varsity jazz will take place on Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m. in the high school, auditorium.
The concerts are produced under the direction of Mrs. Julia Green, Mr. Jeff Link and Mr. Scott Sell.
Interviewing for the Future
As students prepare for their futures, one of the skills that they need to master is the interview. The interview can open the door to new opportunities whether for a summer job, college admission, scholarships or future career.
Forty-eight seniors in Mrs. Jeanette DiBernardo’s senior seminar class had the chance to participate in an interviewing and soft skills clinic with Mr. Tim McDonough, vice president of global brand marketing at Moen, and Ms. Danielle Hart, human resources at Moen, before each having a 10 to 15 minute interview with one of 10 local human resource professionals. Advice offered in the clinic included creating and showcasing a personal brand by: preparing (research the company and interviewer); mastering the first impression (firm handshake, direct look in the eyes); dressing the part; preparing a 30 second elevator speech; giving examples; displaying one’s unique personality; being prepared to ask questions; being memorable; and following up immediately (personal notes make an impact).
For many of the students, it was their first opportunity to have a formal interview.
Grace Cannon said, “It was not as intimidating as I was expecting. By smiling and being genuine, I felt successful and appreciated the feedback that was shared with me. A good tip was the importance of following up with a personal note, not just an email to stand out from others.”
While daunting at first, it was a great introduction to a skill that all students need in the future. Kenston recognizes the importance of soft skills and college and career readiness as we work to incorporate more career connections in the school day.