The Wakefield Business Alliance sponsors or participates in numerous projects at Wakefield High and Wakefield Middle School. Members participate and also recruit others from the business community who can contribute to these efforts. Business Alliance projects include:

Career College
Each March, Wakefield Middle School's Career College event gives students a chance to think about what they might want to do when they join the workforce. In 2006, 60 businesses participated and 1,500 students took part!

Friday Fairs
Wakefield High School's Friday Fairs are a series of informal lunchtime meet-and-greet events in which members of the business community talk to students about their career plans. Conducted over several weeks each spring, the Friday Fairs give students a chance for face-to-face interaction with professionals from numerour career pathways. During Spring 2006 more than 100 businesses participated, and over 2,000 students benefitted.

Great Explorations Career Fair - November 2, 2007
Dozens of Wakefield students join teens from across the region for the Triangle Town Center Career Fair. Over 125 business representatives spend the day talking to students about their career plans.

Hand-to-Hand
The ability to shake hands and make eye contact is one of the most fundamental skills needed for success in the adult world - yet many teenagers lack the confidence or the awareness to do it consistently. The Hand-to-Hand program teaches and reinforces these basic communications skills.

Internships
Each year scores of Wakefield High School students get a jump start on experiencing the work world through internships. During 2005-06, 130 students completed internships with 80 companies. These real world opportunities help them decide whether their potential career choice is right for them, and what they need to do to prepare for a successful career start.

Mock Interviews
To address classroom curricula, teachers request alliance participation in development of resumes and mock interviews.

Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is a national competition that engages students in all areas of science, including biology, chemistry, physics, earath and engineering. Students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real situations. Wakefield High School students are building a reputation as strong competitors at the regional level, and setting their sites on state and nationals. Teachers leading this program need help from mentors who have expertise in the various areas of competition

For more information, please email .

Speaker's Bureau
The Speaker's Bureau is an ongoing program through which students hear from business and industry professionals. More than 1,300 WMS and WHS students were positively impacted last year. Increasing participation in this program will be a focus for the Business Alliance this school year.

Strategic Plan
The strategic plan outlines the goals and tasks for the year.

Take Your Child to Work Day/Job Shadow Day
This February program gives students an opportunity to see parents, neighbors, or other adults in their community at work. In 2006, 600 students and 200 businesses took part - an astounding 200 percent increase over 2005!

Teachers' Breakfast
Each year the Business Alliance hosts a joint breakfast to welcome more than Wakefield Middle and Wakefield High School teachers and staff back for the fall. During August 2007, 22 alliance members provided breakfast for 250+ educators. Teachers and alliance members discussed goals for the year and helped to develop the strategic plan.

TeenFest Auditions
TeenFest auditions are March 8, 2008.

Think First, React Second
All freshmen will be participating in a presentation by the Poe Center.

Xtreme Beginnings
Xtreme Beginnings is April 16, 2008.
To find out about participating in Xtreme Beginnings, email Barbara Wiggins.

NEW for 2007-08
This year the Wakefield Business Alliance will expand its reach by initiating new projects including:

• Freshman Career Event - Wake County's on-time graduation rate of 82% of students is well ahead of the statewide (66%) and national (69%) average. Between 75 and 90% of Wake County have the intention to seek post-secondary education. But 9th grade is a critical year for students who are unsure of their future. Keeping them interested in school during that transitional year is vital, and the Wakefield Business Alliance will work with teachers to address that need in 2007-08.
• Preparation for Graduation Projects - Business Alliance members will work to help students prepare for their Graduation Projects, which is a new graduation requirement.
  • Create a mentor database
  • Develop materials for use with mentors and judges
  • Train sophomores in networking skills prior to participation in Friday Fairs
  • Train alliance members in judging skills