CATEC May 2022 Newsletter
Stay Up-to-Date on All the Things Happening at CATEC
Keep In Touch
There are lots of ways to know what is happening at CATEC. Keep in touch with us to know what our students are doing and all the ways we are working to improve our local workforce.
High School
- Call us (434) 973-4461
- Visit us www.catec.org
- Download our app CATEC, VA
- Follow us at CATECHighSchool (Facebook), CATEC High School (YouTube), @CATEChs (Twitter), @catechighschool (Instagram), @catechighschool (TikTok)
Adult Education and Apprenticeship
Are you an adult interested in continuing your education? CATEC's Adult Education and Apprenticeship Program offers +100 in-person and online classes. Scholarships are available. The new fall 2022 schedule is up! Keep in touch with this program to learn more:
- Call us (434) 973-1945
- Visit us: https://www.catec.org/page/adult-education-and-apprenticeship-programs
- Follow us at CATEC Adult Education and Apprenticeships (Facebook), @CATEC_Adult (Twitter), @catec_adult_education (Instagram)
- Read through Fall 2022 Schedule Options
Director's Message
Wrapping Up the School Year
Hello, CATEC Families!
May is a very busy time around the CATEC building. We kicked off the month with our Interview Week May 2-6, where businesses interviewed CATEC students, both for real jobs and as mock interview experiences. 27 local employers interviewed our students. Not only was this a great experience for our students to hone their interview skills, but some students were offered employment! Then, on May 17th, CATEC celebrated 22 students who signed employment commitments with local businesses or the military as part of our School-to-Work Singing Day Event. The CATEC Foundation provided all 22 students with $150 worth of industry gear and Red Wing Shoes provided each student with gift cards for shoes or accessories at $175 each. This event was a wonderful example of CATEC's commitment to providing job opportunities for students and building relationships with businesses. In addition to these large events, CATEC students also spent May preparing for their various state and industry tests. To all our students still waiting to test or awaiting their results, good luck!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Carter
CATEC Director
Schoolwide Information
CATEC Adult Education and Apprenticeships Program Collaboration with UVA Health
CATEC is excited to announce it's partnering with UVA Health to offer CNA training to UVA Health employees. Their Earn While You Learn program gets you hired at UVA Health and trained at CATEC. View our commercial to learn more. Classes begin June 21 so don't miss out!
2022 School-to-Work Signing Day Event
School Counseling Services
Ms. Wilson, CATEC's School Counselor, is on-site daily to assist students with scheduling issues, college dual-enrollment registration, and individual needs. Ms. Wilson can be reached at mwilson7@k12albemarle.org and 434-973-4461.
CATEC Students are Professional: Workplace Readiness
CATEC Academics
CATEC offers academic courses that are both embedded in trade curricula and offered as stand-alone courses. Taking trade and academic courses at CATEC allows students more flexibility with their scheduling as well as learning class materials in authentic ways.
English 10 & 11 embedded in Culinary 1 and Cosmetology I: Megan Panek
In English 11 students met the standards of learning through the exploration of both the Culinary Arts and Cosmetology trades. They researched real controversies affecting the food and beauty industries and brainstormed solutions. They also did a lot of exploration around their personalities and values and matched those to possible future career paths. They wrote blogs for our blog sites that reached an audience beyond our classroom. Finally, they read and discussed good books in book clubs.
English 12 & Government: Megan Panek and David Topper
In US Government and English 12 students first and foremost focused on what it is to be a good citizen: be engaged, be responsible, think POSITIVE, be open-minded, be persistent, be thankful for the opportunities they have to educate themselves about complex issues and VOTE to make the government do what’s necessary for the good of society – not solely for themselves.
Economics and Personal Finance: David Topper
In Economics and Personal Finance, Mr. Topper found that students like talking about money and that nobody should take financial basics for granted. While Economics is hard from some students (and adults), the budgeting and awareness will help all of them prepare for achieving their dream and overcoming future economic hardships!
Geometry embedded in Building Trades: Jake Sills
In Geometry, over the last month, students have started to learn about the basic foundations of trigonometry. They dove deeper into the Pythagorean Theorem, Trigonometric Ratios (SOH CAH TOA), and the Law of Sines & Cosines. Students are using this information to help guide them in their Building Brides Project mentioned last time. Their goal is to have the Bridges completed next week and test them out. They are to going to see how much weight they can actually hold. With that said, it has been a blast teaching these students Geometry and getting them to think critically through the use of Proofs, Theorems, and Projects! We are happy to have had your students in our classes this year and hope for their success in whatever their future holds for them.
Profile of a CATEC Student
Derek Pixton, Fire Science
Albemarle High School sophomore Derek Pixton is a Fire Science student with who loves adventure. Originally, he wanted to take CATEC's EMT class this year, but he didn't meet the age requirement. Instead he started off with Fire Science That has let to him passing his Fire I and II exams and HAZMAT and FEMA certifications. He also decided to start volunteering at Stony Point Fire Department this year. At 13, he saved his own money to become SCUBA certified. He has an Advanced Open Water Diver certification through PADI. Derek's dream job is to become a SCUBA safety diver for astronauts. In the meantime, he will return to CATEC next year to take the EMT class.
Austin Marshall, Building Trades
Austin Marshall is a junior at Albemarle High School whose job interview through CATEC landed him summer employment and an internship for next school year. Austin decided to take Building Trades this year because he knew the class would prepare him for a future in real estate as a house flipper. Understanding how buildings are made is an important part of reaching his career goals. Through his Building Trades interview event, he met the owners of Uhler and Company, a local design and build firm. After two meetings, Austin was offered full-time summer employment with Uhler and he will continue working next school year as an intern.
May Highlight: Fire Science and EMT Programs
Caleb and Erik practice taking vital signs in EMT.
EMT students joined in in cutting the ribbon for the newly-donated UVA Health Ambulance
EMT students get to practice using an emergency simulation manakin.
Learn More about CATEC's EMT Program
May 15th-21st is National Emergency Medical Services Week. EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's "front line." Now, more than ever, CATEC thanks all of our emergency first responders for their public service and celebrates its Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students who will enter the industry in the service of others.
EMT Curriculum
As part of CATEC’s Health and Medical Sciences Academy, the EMT program (housed at Western Albemarle High School and the CATEC campus) gives students the opportunity to learn the basics of emergency medical care. Students learn about anatomy and physiology, initial patient survey and triage, airway management, oxygen therapy, treatment of bleeding, shock, cardiac arrest, fractures, spinal injuries, and other medical emergencies. Students can become certified in American Red Cross Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, the Virginia Workplace Readiness Skills Assessment, and the National Registry EMT- Basic certification.
Duel-Enrollment and Clinicals
CATEC’s EMT program is dual-enrolled with Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). Students successfully completing the program may receive college credits for the course. Students participate in a required 30-hour clinical experience at local emergency locations, including local rescue squads and the University of Virginia University Hospital. Student experiences are thoroughly documented, determining whether students can sit for their Virginia Emergency Medical Technician-Basic exam.
New Equipment
New equipment is making for an even more realistic EMT programs thanks to an ambulance donation and grant funding. UVA Health donated a retired ambulance this spring, allowing students the opportunity now to practice loading and unloading patients. It also allows them to understand the physical space needed to operate inside an ambulance. Earlier this month, CATEC was also awarded a $37,500 CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment grant from the VDOE. The grant allows us to purchase a CAE Ares emergency care manikin that has life-like features and a responsive physiology. It simulates 6 clinical experiences right in the classroom.
Projected Job Growth
There are many career pathways for emergency medical professionals. Most often, students can train to become an EMT/Paramedic who assesses injuries, administers emergency medical care, and extricates trapped individuals. They can also transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities. The projected job growth for EMT/Paramedics in Virginia is 20%. Professionals can also become Medical Assistants. Medical Assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of physicians. They can schedule appointments, maintain medical records, take and record vital signs and medical histories, prepare patients for examination, draw blood, and administer medications. On average, Virginia’s Medical Assistants earn more than the national average and can expect 35% job growth.
Meet the Instructor: Cat Gardner, EMT
Carter and Victor work on gear and equipment.
Students participate in two live burns each year.
Ky works on a fire hydrant.
Learn More about CATEC's Fire Science Program
May 4th is International Firefighters Day. CATEC is celebrating its Fire Service program and our community of career and volunteer firefighters who help keep us safe. CATEC’s Fire Service program has spent the last 19 years introducing students to the importance of fire safety and public service.
Fire Science Curriculum
CATEC’s Fire Service program introduces students to the equipment and procedures necessary to fight live fires, operate in simulated hazardous materials incidents, and conduct search-and-rescue operations. Students react to multi-faceted situations such as accidents, natural disasters, and simulated terrorism as part of an emergency response team. They become familiar with emerging technologies like communications dispatch, geographic information systems mapping, incident reporting, and simulation programs. Each year, students participate in two live burns at the Charlottesville Albemarle Training Ground. Throughout the year, students gain valuable workplace skills necessary to become successful firefighters, including teamwork, critical thinking, public service, research, report writing, and incident management skills. This course challenges students academically, mentally, and physically.
Duel-Enrollment and Certifications
The Fire Service program has dual enrolled agreements with Central Virginia Community College and Piedmont Virginia Community College. Students who successfully complete the program receive college credits towards an Associates Degree in Fire Service Technology, transferrable to many schools in the Virginia Community College System. Students receive college credit in classes that cover principles of fire and emergency services, fire prevention, strategy and tactics, and First Aid and CPR. Additionally, many students undertake junior volunteer firefighter experiences at area fire stations, earning on-the-job training and exposure to the industry outside of the classroom setting.
Students in the Fire Service program earn up to 18 industry credentials that make graduates very marketable. Students sit for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs Firefighter I and II exam, and can earn certifications in Hazardous Materials Operations, Agency Overview, Active Gun Shooter for First Responders, and Introduction to Technical Rescue. Students can also earn Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) certifications in Introduction to Incident Command, National Incident management System, and National Response Framework and Introduction.
New Equipment
Earlier in the year the program received a retired fire truck from the Faber Volunteer Fire Department. Students will now be able to work on a truck, learning about various equipment. Fire Science collaborated with Electricity students to upgrade the equipment and work on a variety of projects together.
Projected Job Growth
Graduates have many career pathways related to the Fire Service or positions in public service. They can become firefighters who work to control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment are at risk. The projected job growth in Virginia for firefighters shows an 14% increase with higher earnings than the national average. Graduates can also become Arson Investigators who collect evidence, eyewitness accounts, and determine causes of fires. Or, graduates can work as Forestry Fire Prevention Specialists, inspecting forests for potential fire hazards and enforcing fire regulations. Instructor Captain Bobby Elliott estimates at least 30 former students have entered the industry as career or volunteer firefighters.
Additionally, many CATEC Fire Service program graduates enter the military. Captain Elliot estimates at least 18 former students have become service members and at least three alumni have become police offers. Similarly, students can continue their educations by combining their public service interests with academic pursuits outside of the Fire Service.
Meet the Instructor: Captain Bobby Elliott, Fire Science
CATEC
Email: scarter@k12albemarle.org
Website: www.catec.org
Location: 1000 Rio Road East, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Phone: 434-973-4461
Facebook: facebook.com/CATECHighSchool
Twitter: @CATEChs