Poly Students Make Real-Life Ad Pitches

Students from Poly High School’s Media, Entertainment and Technology Systems small learning community made a unique presentation recently to the nonprofit Children’s Institute, Inc.’s communications staff.

The meeting was the culmination of a public/private partnership to provide training to teens in a professional work environment.

Poly collaborated with global advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi and another nonprofit, Pasadena-based Light Bringer, which provides arts and learning activities for youth.  The aim was to provide Poly students real-life experiences and mentoring in the field of advertising.

First the students met their client, the Children’s Institute, which specializes in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect.  Then students developed a campaign to boost public awareness of CII’s services for vulnerable children and families.

The process placed students in real-life scenarios, working as a creative team to meet their client’s needs.  Campaign ideas included billboard ads and public service announcements as well as marketing materials and a radio jingle.

“The students walked away with valuable professional experience,” states a recent CII newsletter, “while the project partners were amazed and gratified by the students’ work and enthusiasm.”

Such real-life experience is part of the Linked Learning approach at high schools.  The approach combines strong academics, demanding technical education and real-world experience in a pathway centered on an industry theme.