A selection of students from the Thomas County Central High School Work-Based Learning program recently had the opportunity to inhale both the sweet smell of success and the aroma of freshly baked goods. The group toured Flowers Baking Co. of Thomasville, LLC Thursday, Sept. 27.
TCCHS WBL Coordinator Brandi Miranda always wanted to tour Flowers’ Thomasville bakery and thought it would be a neat experience for her students as well.
“It is important for our students to see our local opportunities and successes,” she said.
Students who took part in this tour were Brandon Clark, Dylan Smith, Shekinah Dasher, Amare' Dismuke, Nathaniel Bellamy, Coleman Hollis and Ka'Marri Samuel. Miranda selected these students based on their conscientious involvement in the TCCHS WBL program.
“The students who went represent the WBL program well and possess all the characteristics a WBL student should have,” she said.
Senior Coleman Hollis, 17, joined the WBL program because he wanted to learn skills he could use in the workplace. He attended the tour because he thought it would be interesting to see how various bakery items are made. But he was most looking forward to the bakery’s smell.
“It always smells so good when you ride by Flowers,” he said.
Students toured the production bakery and had an opportunity to see how various baked goods are made.
“The trip went great,” Miranda said. “The students had a wonderful time. When we returned to TCCHS, they shared all the information they learned and were truly excited about it. The students loved to hear about how successful Flowers is and that it’s located in their hometown.”
Hollis found the tour to be very educational. For example, he learned how important it is to follow the dress code employers set.
“I learned a lot of neat facts,” he said. “My favorite part was the end of the tour because we got fresh doughnuts and honey buns.”
Miranda hopes this tour helped students gain a better understanding of soft skills and how they are important in any job. For example, one important soft skill is following a dress code, she said. During the tour, students learned why closed toe shoes, long pants and hair nets were bakery employee requirements.
Industry tours like this one are important to the WBL program, Miranda says, because students, with their own eyes, can see how businesses are run.
“It allows hands on learning opportunities beyond the classroom in order to prepare students for post-secondary and career opportunities,” she said. “Industry tours give students a glimpse of what is required in different career options so they can better understand if this is the career they want to pursue.”
The TCCHS WBL program is seeking more student job and industry tour opportunities. Any local business interested in partnering with the program should contact Miranda by email to bmiranda@tcjackets.net.