Career Academy Newsletter
Sioux City, Iowa
February 2020
Newsletter: Now Available in 100+ Languages
If you prefer to read the newsletter in a language other than English, please scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to select your preferred language. Simply select the "Translate" button on the lower right, select your language from the drop-down menu, and click "Close." The entire newsletter will then be translated into the language you have selected. Over 100 languages are available for selection.
Si prefiere leer el boletín en un idioma que no sea inglés, desplácese hasta la parte inferior de este boletín para seleccionar su idioma. Simplemente seleccione el botón "Traducir" en la esquina inferior derecha, seleccione su idioma en el menú y haga clic en "Cerrar". El boletín completo se traducirá al idioma que haya seleccionado. Más de 100 idiomas están disponibles para su selección.
A message from Career Academy Principal, Mrs. Katie Towler
Registration season is in full swing. As your students are considering courses for next year we hope they are branching out and trying new things. The offerings at the Sioux City Career Academy are intended to help students explore the world around them, focus in on the things they love, and solidify a plan for their future.
Among our new course offerings for the 2020-2021 school year are:
Introduction to AFNR, a beginning agriculture class where students can start to explore agriculture, farming, and natural resources. This class is ideal for 9th or 10th graders who have an interest in nature.
Engineering Essentials, a beginning engineering class where students can learn about the engineering process, and the different branches of engineering. This class is ideal for 9th and 10th graders who want to learn more about engineering in general.
Plumbing, we are now offering an entire pathway in plumbing. Juniors or seniors who think this might be a good fit for them can take classes every morning on the WIT campus in the plumbing pathway. We provide transportation from each high school. The courses are free of charge to our students, and if they complete both years of the pathway they will earn a plumbing diploma as they graduate with a high school diploma. This is an excellent opportunity for our kids.
These are just a few of the exciting things happening at the Career Academy next year. For a full list of course offerings please reference the Sioux City Schools Course Guide https://www.siouxcityschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Course-Guide-2020-2021_Final.pdf
If you have questions please don't hesitate to give us a call. As always, thank you for partnering with us!
Katie Towler
A message from Career Academy Guidance Counselor, Mr. Jeff Lucas
***Students are currently registering for classes for the 2020-21 school year. It is important to make certain that what students submit for the next academic year is accurate. All requests must be submitted Friday, February 14th. There are no exceptions to this deadline. Students will have an opportunity to meet with their home high school counselor or Mr. Lucas at the Career Academy to assist with the process. By the end of the week from February 3rd thru February 7th, all students will have received their registration materials. If you have not received your registration materials by February 7th, please see your counselor right away.
***Seniors, there is still time to complete your FAFSA to assist with financial aid for the fall 2020 term of college. Info to help with submitting your FAFSA from Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) is below.
It’s not too late to complete your child’s FAFSA (for Financial Aid) for the 2020-2021 School Year. Free help is available through ICAN at Mary Joan Dougherty’s offices in Sioux City, Orange City, and Sheldon. Schedule your own appointment at https://www.schedulicity.com/scheduling/ICARUB Or you can call Mary Joan directly at 515-402-4211 OR call the ICAN state-wide number at 877-272-4692. The main NW Iowa Office is in Sioux City on the WIT campus.
*** Seniors remember to be checking the scholarship database in the District High School Advisory course found in Canvas. This is the busy season for scholarships. February, March and April have will have many opportunities for seniors.
Thanks!
Pathway of the Month, Graphic Design - Mrs. Jamie Bell
Graphic Design Pathway
Love technology? Love art?
Graphic designers combine art and technology to communicate ideas through images and the layout of web screens and printed pages. They may use a variety of design elements to achieve artistic or decorative effects. Graphic Designers develop the overall layout and production design for online and print advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports.
This fall, students were able to enroll in Digital Imaging 1 – This class is an introduction to the Adobe Photoshop software, which is used to manipulate images used in digital and printed media. Topics include: software interface, tools, photo retouching, collage, corrective filters and more! And Digital Photography – an introduction to the digital camera. Students study and practice the varied artistic applications of digital images as enhanced with computer software.
The Digital Imaging 1 classes were invited to tour Blue Earth Marketing, located in the Ho Chunk Building. The students had the opportunity to learn about what it would be like to work for and what positions are commonly found at an advertising agency. The creative director, Kent McCuddin then gave a presentation on what graphic design means to him, how he works through a creative project and where he sees the future of graphic design heading. The students were excited to hear that graphic design skills are the base of many possible positions in the advertising and marketing industry.
The Orpheum Theater opened its doors to 94 aspiring digital photographers in November. The students explored everything from the industrial basement to the ornate lobby and theater. They were able to practice their photography skills taking shots in low light, using the rule of thirds for composition, taking candid shots of their peers and so much more!
At the end of the semester, both the Digital Imaging 1 and Digital Photography classes participated in a Portfolio Night. Students chose their best work to put out on display for an open house style event. Hundreds of parents, families, friends and community members came out to celebrate where creativity and technology meet!
Three student interns spent the semester working at the vinyl printshop housed at the Career Academy. They spent their time creating a business model that included a company name for the print shop, a logo for their shop as well as a website. They brainstormed products they could produce and sell in their shop, learned to maintain the vinyl printer and produce work from the printer. The interns worked with district staff as well as members of the community to create vinyl banners, t-shirt designs, vinyl signs, large scale art prints, and even custom wrapping paper!
This spring semester students will be working in Adobe Illustrator in the Vector Drawing course. Adobe Illustrator is a versatile program used by traditional artists, print and web designers, animators and architects to draw, paint and edit graphics.
Important Dates to Remember
February 26, 2020 - MS/HS Conferences - 3:05 pm - 5:45 pm
February 27, 2020 - MS/HS Conferemces - 8 am - 8 pm - NO SCHOOL for MS/HS Students
February 28, 2020 - Exchange Day - NO SCHOOL
District and School Climate Survey: Coming Soon
How to take the survey:
· A link will be sent to parents/guardians by email, text message, and voicemail.
· If you do not receive a link, please contact 712-224-7471 to request a link.
· Paper surveys are available for pick up at your child’s school.
· Take the survey online at your child’s school while at conferences.
The survey asks for feedback on student and academic support, safety and behavior, school leadership, and family involvement. We will use the results to better understand our students’ needs, determine our strengths, and identify opportunities for improvement.
All survey responses are strictly confidential. The District has partnered with an independent research and communications firm, K12 Insight, to administer the survey and compile the results. District employees will not know who participates or see individual responses.
If you have questions, please contact Mandie Mayo, Director of Communications, at mayoa@live.siouxcityschools.com.
La Encuesta del Ambiente Escolar y del Distrito Próximamente
Cada voz importa en las Escuelas de la Comunidad de Sioux City. Es por eso que necesitamos escuchar de todos los padres y guardianes. Proporcione sus comentarios utilizando nuestra Encuesta del Ambiente Escolar y del Distrito, que estará abierta del 4 de febrero – 13 de marzo. La encuesta está disponible en inglés y español.
Como tomar la encuesta:
· Se enviará un enlace a los padres/guardianes por correo electrónico, mensaje de texto y correo de voz
· Si no recibe un enlace, comuníquese al 712-224-7471 para solicitar el enlace.
· Las encuestas en papel están disponibles y las puede recoger en la escuela de su hijo.
· Tome la encuesta en línea en la escuela de su hijo durante las conferencias.
La encuesta solicita comentarios sobre el apoyo académico y estudiantil, la seguridad y el comportamiento, el liderazgo escolar y la participación familiar. Utilizaremos los resultados para comprender mejor las necesidades de nuestros estudiantes, determinar nuestras fortalezas e identificar oportunidades de mejoría.
Todas las respuestas de la encuesta son estrictamente confidenciales. El Distrito se ha asociado con una compañía independiente de investigaciones y comunicaciones, K12 Insight, para administrar la encuesta y recopilar los resultados. Los empleados del distrito no sabrán quién participa ni verán respuestas individuales.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con Mandie Mayo, Directora de Comunicaciones, a mayoa@live.siouxcityschools.com.
Let's Talk
An engaged community makes our District stronger. That is why we have made it easy for you to connect with us whenever it is convenient for you. We encourage you to take advantage of Let’s Talk!, our 24/7 online submission site. Reach out with your ideas, questions, concerns, and praise. To make a submission, please visit http://www.siouxcityschools.org/lets-talk/.
Communication and Preparedness
Student and staff safety is of paramount importance in the Sioux City Community School District. For this reason, the District exercises a host of crisis prevention and planning tactics. Should an emergency occur, the school notifies you through our Blackboard phone system. In an emergency, the system calls every phone number associated with your child in order to reach you. The message will give you details about the emergency and provide directions on when/where to pick up your child if the normal school day is altered. Learn more about school safety.
Focus 2022 Strategic Plan
Non-Discrimination Statement
The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.
The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices.
Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.
Sioux City Career Academy
Principal: Katie Towler
Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/sioux-city-career-academy/
Location: 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6668
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxCityCareerAcademy/
Twitter: @SCCareerAcademy