Elk Grove High School Public Safety Practicum

This past school year, the Elk Grove Village Fire, Police, and Public Works Departments had the opportunity to interact with Elk Grove High School sophomore students as part of a Public Safety Practicum program. The practicum program provides the students with exposure and knowledge about hands-on career opportunities in various workplaces.

The program started in the fall of 2018, and students alternated each Friday between the Fire Department and Police Department, where they learned different career opportunities. Students also had the chance to spend a few days with the Public Works Department.

Students were first introduced to the Fire Department to learn about careers that included fire inspector, public education instructor, fire alarm system designer and installer, and 911-telecommunicator. During the program, students visited new Elk Grove Village Fire Station 8 while it was under construction to learn about all the different trades involved with the construction of a building from design concept to completion.

During their time with the Police Department, students learned about the process of becoming a police officer and the various levels of rankings, the tasks of record technicians, and overall responsibilities of careers in law enforcement. Students also the opportunity to learn about careers in the Public Works field including street & sign maintenance, land & forestry, water & sewer and more.

Throughout the practicum, students learned the critical importance of honesty, integrity, values and public trust. The different instructors reinforced critical skills including: reading, mathematics, writing, chemistry, communications, and good health. To celebrate the success of the program, the students showed their appreciation by making banners for the Elk Grove Police and Fire departments signed by EGHS students.