Future Partners
Ready to make a real impact? Partner with us to host a Professional Work-Study team and help transform students’ lives through meaningful work experiences. Discover below how your company can support our students and strengthen the community!
How it Works
A team of 4 students fills one full-time work-study position. The workday will be approximately 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., although those times may vary depending on the needs of your business and the proximity of your business to the high school.
All of our students participate in our work-study program, working five days per month during the school year at their assigned local business. At their jobs, students engage in various entry-level activities, from customer service, to social media strategy and execution, to IT support.
The PWSP is the employer of record and handles employment services, which saves you administrative overhead. Students are employees of the PWSP, not your company. That means the PWSP handles all payroll, W-4, I-9, Workers’ Compensation, FICA, and other aspects of employment associated with the student workers.
The PWSP will provide you with a fee-for-service contract to be paid annually, tri-annually, or monthly. These contract fees are applied directly toward the cost of the student’s education at Cristo Rey Columbus High School. You may deduct these fees as business expenses and not as charitable donations.
The PWSP prepares our students for college by developing project- and time-management skills, leadership abilities, and personal accountability. By working with you, their adult colleagues, in a professional setting, our students consistently see and experience how these skills can benefi t them in their future career.
The PWSP prepares our students for college by developing project- and time-management skills, leadership abilities, and personal accountability. By working with you, their adult colleagues, in a professional setting, our students consistently see and experience how these skills can benefit them in their future career.
For more information on becoming a work-study partner, please contact Sonia Sprayberry, Director of Operations
614-223-9261 ext. 035 ssprayberry@crchsworks.org
For more information on underwriting a work-study job, please contact Jen Koma, Chief Advancement Officer
614-223-9261 ext. 011 jkoma@crchsworks.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the student’s work schedule interfere with his or her classroom schedule?
No. Students will not miss any classes while working because their curriculum is structured so that all of their course work is covered during the days of the week when they are not at the work site. Our class days are longer than other high schools, and the school year is longer as well. Following the proven success of other Cristo Rey schools throughout the country, students at Cristo Rey Columbus will fulfill all the requirements of a college preparatory high school and will be well-positioned when applying to college.
Do all students go to work?
Yes! All students must participate in the Professional Work-Study Program (PWSP). This program is part of the curriculum and finances a significant portion of the cost of the student’s private high school education. A team of 4 students fill the entry-level functions of one full-time work-study position. Each member of the student team will work one full day each week (approximately 7-8 hours per day) and an extra day every four weeks of the school year, excluding school holidays. The workday will be approximately 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., although those times may vary depending on the needs of the business and the proximity of the business to the high school. (Students may be available to work during school breaks if there is a mutual agreement with the company, our PWSP Director, and the student.)
Will students get to choose where they work?
All students will complete a summer training program prior to the start of school. At this time, the Work-Study staff will begin to explore with students their interests and preferences for work experiences. The Work-Study Director will make the final determination as to where each student will be placed.
Who supervises the students at work?
Each company is asked to designate an on-site supervisor who will help guide and support the student in this challenging but rewarding experience. Both the supervisors and the Work-Study Staff will provide overall guidance, education, and support. That way, all students will feel successful at work, and the company’s work needs are met.
Can parents contact the company where their child works?
No. All communications to and from our work-study partners must be made through the Work-Study staff at Cristo Rey Columbus High School.
How does the student get to work each week?
The Work-Study Program will make arrangements with transportation companies to take the students from the high school to their workplace in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day to return them to school.
What kind of work will students do?
A team of 4 students will fill the entry-level functions of one full-time work-study position. At their jobs, students engage in various entry-level activities, from customer service, to social media strategy and execution, to IT support. A student’s job description may evolve over time with experience and grow to include more technical and difficult tasks. The purpose of the work experience is to expose students to a professional culture and expand their dreams for their futures.