OCS CTAE News
March 2022
Welcome to the Oconee County Schools CTAE Newsletter!
Beth Parks
Oconee County Schools
Director of CTAE
February CTAE Business Partner of the Month
Oconee County Schools greatly appreciates all the local businesses that continually support our CTAE Programs. Business partnerships are critical to helping our schools develop and maintain strong CTAE programs that prepare our students for life after high school! Each month OCS CTAE selects a Business Partner of the Month to recognize those that go above and beyond to support CTAE!
The February CTAE Business Partner of the Month is Landmark Hospital! Landmark is a strong partner for the Health Science Program at North Oconee High School. Landmark has consistently allowed students in the Allied Health and Medicine class to come for clinicals and work-based learning placements in their facility. The leadership and staff at Landmark Hospital are eager to have students and see the benefits of preparing future healthcare workers. They see the value for students interested in a career in healthcare to gain employability skills that can only be experienced in the workplace setting.
March CTAE Business Partner of the Month
OCS CTAE Appreciates our School Counselors!
Held at the Athens campus of Athens Technical College, counselors were treated to a gourmet breakfast prepared by the the ATC Culinary program and served by the ATC Hospitality program. Following breakfast, counselors were welcomed by the President of Athens Technical College, Dr. Andrea Daniel. They then heard from the Vice President of Student Affairs, Director of Admissions, Director of Student Activities, and the High School Coordinator. From the Deans and Programs Chairs, counselors had the opportunity to learn more about their respective program areas and the many options available to students. The event concluded with a tour of the Automotive, Cosmetology, Healthcare, and Cosmetology.
We appreciate Athens Technical College and their generous hospitality!
February is CTAE Month!
Oconee County CTAE programs spent the month celebrating with various activities throughout their school buildings! Door decorating contests, trivia contests, dress up days, CTSO days were among many of the activities occurring in the middle and high schools. CTSOs also sponsored activities to show appreciation of their members as well as the faculty and staff in the building. These activities ranged from goody bags, to small gifts, to breakfast or lunch served to staff members.
OCHS DECA Region Competition
On December 10th, OCHS DECA members traveled to Flowery Branch, Georgia to compete in Region Competition for Georgia DECA. Eighteen students participated in a competition field of their choice including events such as Entrepreneurship, Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Business Finance, Marketing Communication, and many others. OCHS DECA was excited to have 8 of their students place in the top three of the region and 2 students that placed as alternates in their events. These students will advance to the State Competition at the end of January.
Congratulations to the following students:
Walker Alberty - Accounting Applications
Brady Hawkins - Principles of Marketing Yana Himani - Theme Speech
Rose Johnson - Human Resource Management
Kensley McConnell - Apparel and Accessories Marketing
Samantha Roberts - Marketing Communication
Kinsey Russell - Sports and Entertainment Marketing
Gabe Valdez - Business Finance
Ava Kooistra - Business Service Marketing
Emma Baxter - Entrepreneurship
ECE Practicum Students Gain Real Classroom Experience!
Students who take the Early Childhood Education pathway at NOHS and OCHS have the opportunity to participate in a three day a week practicum internship during the 3rd level ECE class. Many Oconee County elementary schools host students as well as some local daycare centers. From OCHS, 22 students will be participating this year working hands-on with students and their teachers. From NOHS, 26 students will complete the program this year and earn approximately 72 hours of practicum experience. While not at their internships, students work towards creating a professional teaching portfolio.
Students in this program make lasting connections with students and teachers in the community. Sherie Fancher, Media Specialist at OCES, said the following: "I have Makayla with me in the OCES Media Center. She is doing an amazing job. She is precious, and I can't thank you enough for allowing her to work with me."
Morgan Carden, a teacher at HSES, had the following to say regarding her intern student; "I am a first grade teacher at High Shoals Elementary School, and my intern, Callie, has been invaluable to my classroom this year. She came in willing to do anything I needed, and she now leads small groups, helps students learn to read and write, and is by far the favorite "teacher" in our class! Students run to hug her the second she walks in the door, and I can trust her to help them grow and learn new skills to the best of their abilities. I am so thankful to have a student intern this year and I know my students are as well!”
Most of the students in the ECE Practicum class plan to pursue a career in early childhood education or fields that work with young children. This experience provides them the opportunity to get a true feeling for working in that career field and the skills needed to be successful. McKinsey, a student at NOHS, stated that "The hands-on experience working with children in an early childhood setting are valuable skills that have helped shape my career choices. My favorite part is the connections I make with students and watching them grow."
GATFACS Teacher of the Year!
We are so proud to have Mrs. Erin Just, Early Childhood Education Teacher at OCHS, recognized as the GATFACS Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Just is well-deserving of this honor for all of the hard work she puts into her ECE program and students as well as advising her FCCLA members! Congratulations, Mrs. Just!!
HOSA Students Teach Kindergarteners about Healthcare!
OCHS HOSA students are delivering valuable health education to Kindergarteners at Oconee Primary School. These students have selected Health Education as their competitive event for the upcoming HOSA State Leadership Conference. To prepare for this event, they taught topics focused on germs and proper hand hygiene. The primary school students enjoyed learning about ways to control infection and the spread of germs! The OCHS HOSA Seniors look forward to sharing their work at March State HOSA Conference!
NOHS Graphic Design Program
Great things are happening in the Graphic Design Program at North Oconee High School! Led by instructor, Mr. Jamie Lucas, students are using their creativity skills to create and design many fun projects! Student in the 3rd level class are using their advanced skills to customize shoes and make license plates. In the Graphic Design & Production course, students are working to advertise products they create. They are currently designing and producing their own brand of cereal boxes. Additional projects include restoring old and damaged black and white photographs and creating typography posters.
MBMS FBLA Competes at Region
Congratulations to the following members for place in the top 5 in their competition and advancing to the state competition in March!
Business Concepts
1st Place - Sam Seward
Business Etiquette
4th Place - Morgan King
Career Exploration
1st Place - Smith Larrison
2nd Place - Kevin Joy
Exploring Computer Science
1st Place - Sam Seward
3rd Place - Gabriel Gemao
4th Place - Yug Patel
Critical Thinking
1st Place Team - Viren Shah, Wilson Joy, Gabriel and Gemao
2nd Place Team - Farris Jones and Larrison Smith
Public Speaking
1st Place - Lincoln Vonk
Social Media Concepts
5th Place - Yug Patel
NOHS HOSA Region Success!
Congratulations to the following students!
1st Place in Biomedical Debate
Isa David
Michael Im
Lena Cai
Kylie Skrzypinski
1st Place Biomedical Laboratory Science
Alexis Coscia
3rd Place Biomedical Laboratory Science
Melissa Lel
1st Place Clinical Nursing
V. Foster Earnhart
8th Place Health Career Display
Princess Gemao
Priscilla Hoang
1st Place Human Growth & Development
Ankit Pokharel
3rd Place Human Growth & Development
Jerica Hargrove
1st Place Medical Assisting
Sasha Phillips
2nd Place Medical Assisting
Alexandra Rozentsvet
3rd Place Medical Assisting
Ava Murren
1st Place Medical Math
Sebastian Paragras
1st Place Medical Reading
Mattie Thomason
3rd Place Medical Spelling
Shriya Sharma
4th Place Medical Terminology
Ramsha Khalid
5th Place Medical Terminology
Lucas Steadham
1st Place Nutrition
Sami Udwadia
2nd Place Nutrition
Emma Steger
2nd Place Physical Therapy
Lara Lel
3rd Place Veterinary Science
Simone Phillips