December Newsletter
Career Center

Remote Learning Resources
Career Center Remote Learning
Career Center Remote Learning Mod/Class times
Mod 1: 8:00 AM-8:50 AM
Mod 2: 9:00 AM-9:50 AM
Mod 3: 2:00 PM-2:50 PM
Instructor Conference Availability Times:
10:00 Am-12:00 Pm
1:00 Pm-2:00 Pm
3:00 Pm-3:30 Pm
As Needed By Appointment. Please Contact Your Instructor.
Career Center Main Office Line 970-254-6000
For questions on Remote Learning/Access/Login:

Happy Holidays!
The Holiday Season is a time for celebration and a lot has come our way in 2020. We need to celebrate the hard work being done by students and staff as we continue to improve our remote learning processes. Students are doing a good job with daily check-ins, engagement in online activities and completing assignments. Teachers have raised the bar with quality lessons while still focusing on the student centered learning model. Parents, hats off to you for reinforcing the importance of being engaged and staying on top of your child’s progress. The “chromebook for every student” program has improved our overall disposition and will become a common tool in the face to face classroom as well. Remember, if ever there is a question or concern please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or myself and together as a team we can “work it out”.
Career Center Celebration-
Career Center continues to promote “hands on learning” during this time of Covid-19 restrictions and remote learning. We have received permission to explore face to face instruction of individual (1) and small groups (3-5 students) on a limited basis in an effort to address performance assessments associated with student/project needs and program assurances. Our goal is to continue to focus on student achievement while compiling with Covid-19 protocols. The limited face to face instruction will be by invite only via communication from instructor and parent permission.
Valley School Celebration-
The new Valley School building is approaching completion on the Career Center Campus. The new building will have four classrooms, a counselor’s center, a kitchenette (snack prep area) and a “meet and greet” front office area. The building’s design was heavily influenced by the Valley staff with student’s needs in mind and it has BATHROOMS AND RUNNING WATER. Though it is not a huge building, it is just the right size to allow us to continue to do “student centered learning” that Valley School is known for. Valley School will start the transition over to the Career Center Campus mid-December with student occupancy of the new building by the first of February. We are finalizing our plan to provide a hybrid (blended) face to face and remote learning model during this transition time. And yes! - Mrs. Lori Starr (Valley Counselor) will continue to be with us as we make the move, so stay tuned for updates as we workout the final details.
The Future-
2020 has been a trying year in so many ways. Yet, what we all have learned or are learning is …“together we will overcome and be better for it.” There is no better time than now to support those around us and pay it forward. By doing so, we have a reason for being and purpose greater than ourselves. Tolerance and understanding are the foundation to an appreciation of the human condition and making of “good people” in bad times.
Please continue to take care of yourself and those around you as 2021 promises new beginnings for ALL OF US.
Cam Wyatt
Principal
Career Center/Valley School
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St. Mary's Blood Mobile Blood Drive Success
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to everyone who took the time out of their day and donated blood on Monday Nov. 2nd to help others in need. We had a total of 13 donators (YAY!) and appreciate each and every one of you! Special Thanks to InSTEPS Kelly Weeks for coordinating this event.
Please consider continuing to donate throughout the year.
It's truly the gift of life!
Thank you!
https://donor.stmarysbloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/8539

Rockstar Recognition Winners for November

Career Center November Staff Spotlight
Anna Popp Career Center Staff Spotlight. Companion Animal Paraprofessional Anna Popp joined the CC Crew this year with her ever present and snuggly side kick, Charlie. You can often find the two of them sitting on the bench outside, welcoming Mod 3 students to campus. Anna (pronounced Aw-nah), graduated with her bachelor's in biology and exercise science this past Spring. In her spare time, she says she is a big nerd and often listens to science podcasts. She also loves to read; mostly fantasy and horror novels, she plays Dungeons and Dragons and bakes a lot too. When she has time, she also enjoys taking her horse out on local trails. Fun Fact: Anna volunteers at a local equine therapy clinic a few times a week as well and she loves it. She is an animal lover at heart. Glad to have Anna in Companion Animals! | Carol Cooper Career Center Staff Spotlight. One of the best perks of Career Center are these two adorable service dogs from Companion Animal Care, Hope & Lana. Oh, and let's not forget their hooman, Carol Cooper who has been a teacher at CC for 17 years! If you're not sure you would recognize Carol in the hallways, just look for her signature mask with whiskers. Outside of CC, Carol enjoys being around animals including her dogs, horses, trail riding, gardening and traveling. She says anytime is a good time for an adventure! | Erica Davis Career Center Staff Spotlight. Teacher # 3 in Construction Technology is Erica Davis. Erica has been teaching for 7 years, but this is her 1st year in Grand Junction at Career Center. She has a Masters in Technology Education and a Minor in Art. She has moved all over the US while her husband was in the military and taught Construction and Engineering courses in four different states before landing in Grand Junction at CC. She has her AutoCAD certification and is excited to be a part of a school that teaches students useful skills through hands on learning. CC is lucky to have Erica on board! |
Anna Popp
Carol Cooper
Erica Davis
Michelle Spence Career Center Spotlight. We are ending this first week in November Spotlighting Construction Technology Paraprofessional Michelle Spence. Michelle has been a Para at CC in Construction Technology for four years. She has worked right alongside Mike Wells learning the insight of the Construction Industry working on the House crew that the students build and sell to the public. Michelle says one of the favorite aspects of her job is watching the students grow in their professionalism on the job site and helping them create their path in the ever growing Construction Industry. In her spare time she has three awesome children that she enjoy spending time with. She also enjoys camping, outdoor activities, riding horses, watching her kids play sports; such as baseball, run cross country/track and motocross. Kudos Michelle! | Casey Jones Career Center Spotlight. Say Hello to Casey Jones, one of CC's awesome Paraprofessionals in Construction Technology. Casey has been on the CC Team for 2+ years and enjoys the hands on aspect of helping students learn what it takes to build a project from scratch. Before his employment at CC, Casey operated a successful welding business for many years. When Casey is not working, he spends his free time welding, traveling and fishing. Thank you Casey for being a valuable member of the Construction Technology Team! | Mike Wells Career Center Spotlight. Mike Wells from Construction Technology is a well known face here at CC, even with his mask on! He has been a Construction Technology instructor for school district 51 for over 23 years. Mike has several certifications, including Licensed General Contractor and continues to utilize those skills outside of his teaching career in the local community. Mike's class participates with house builds off campus and are getting the real deal working/building/construction experience. Mike says "As a Construction Technology Instructor at Career Center it will always be my mission to create a realistic learning environment in which every student is provided with the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in todays ever changing and challenging construction industry." Inspiring words from a seasoned teacher which Career Center definitely benefits from. |