OCS CTAE News
January 2022
Welcome to the Oconee County Schools CTAE Newsletter!
Beth Parks
Oconee County Schools
Director of CTAE
January 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!
For the month of January, we are happy to recognize Oconee State Bank. Oconee State Bank partners with our school system in many ways to support our students and teachers. Specific to CTAE, Oconee State Bank employees serve on Advisory Committees for our CTAE programs, volunteer as classroom guest speakers, and participate in the annual 8th Grade Career Fair. Additionally, OSB consistently donates meeting space for our CTAE programs, food for CTAE meetings and sponsors an Industry Certification celebration each year to recognize the CTAE teachers who have completed the Industry Certification Process. Picture below is Vice President of Marketing, Deesha Hagwood, who serves on the District CTAE Executive Advisory Committee.
8th Grade Career Fair
OCHS Engineering Achieves Industry Certification
On Thursday, December 9th the Engineering program at Oconee County High School became Industry Certified through the standards set by the GaDOE, endorsed by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) and coordinated through the University of Georgia. Industry Certification is a process in which programs must demonstrate that they meet standards related to areas such as teacher certification, professional learning, curriculum, CTSO involvement, equipment and facilities, etc. The strenuous process culminates with a final visit in which all documentation and facilities are reviewed for compliance. Programs that meet the requirements are recognized as Industry Certified. We commend Mr. Bradley Sayers on completing Industry Certification and appreciate all he does to prepare our students for their post-secondary endeavors!
OCHS FFA Poultry Evaluation Team Places 6th in the Nation!
Winners of the National FFA Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE) were announced on Friday October 29th at the annual FFA awards banquet. The event was held in conjunction with the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Dr. Valerie Gunsaulis with Tyson Foods served as superintendent of this year's event. The National FFA Poultry Evaluation CDE is a competitive event that tests the participant's ability to select top quality poultry and poultry products needed for successful production and marketing. Event participants must complete a written exam on poultry management, evaluate classes of live birds for eggs and meat production, evaluate quality of eggs, and evaluate and identify parts and products. Each team competed at local and state levels for the privilege of representing their state at the National FFA Convention & Expo. This event, held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, is one of many educational activities at the national convention in which FFA members apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations.
This competition was the culmination of four years of practice and preparation. Team members practiced throughout the school year and the summer. The team began competitions in this event in middle school and continued participation as they transitioned into the high school level. The team placed 6th in the National Competition and team members include Brenna Pursley, Emma Champer, Lexi Pritchard, and Annie McCarley.
The team is coached by OCMS Agriculture Teacher, Dr. David Chapman, and OCHS Agriculture Teacher, Mrs. Chelsea Begnaud.
NOHS FBLA Attends Fall Leadership Conference
Engineering Students Teach 2nd & 4th Grade Lessons
8th Grade Students Tour Athens Technical College
Each 9 weeks, students from the 8th Grade Careers classes at both OCMS and MBMS participate in a tour of Athens Technical College. Students have the opportunity to walk through the labs of some of the programs offered at the Athens campus and hear from the instructors about the opportunities available through their programs. On the most recent visit to ATC, students toured the Automotive Building, where they were able to see the inside of the automotive shop and see the technology and tools used to learn how to become an automechanic, and the Cosmetology Building, where they were able to see how students participate in hands-on learning to prepare for careers in hair, make-up and nails. Students also toured the Health/Life Science Building where students were able to see the EMC, Dental and Healthcare/Nursing programs each with labs that are designed to simulate real-world situations. Finally, students toured the admissions and main building of ATC where they saw Registration, Financial Aid, Student Activities, and the Book Store.
NOHS FCCLA
NOHS FCCLA students had the opportunity to attend the Fall Leadership Conference in November at the GA FCCLA/FFA Center in Covington, GA. Students competed in the Knowledge Bowl competition, and NOHS had four students advance to the next level to compete again in the spring!!
The NOHS FCCLA chapter has also been busy participating in community service events this fall! They adopted a child for Secret Santa and had a great time shopping for him! They also assisted the Oconee Area Resource Council by wrapping birthday mug treats!
Birthday Mug Treats!
Assisting OARC with Wrapping!
Knowledge Bowl Winners!
HOSA Fall Leadership Conference & Community Service
NOHS HOSA students have also taken the fall semester to serve the members of our community! The chapter made 160 thank you cards and candy bags for the Piedmont Oconee Health Campus workers to thank them for helping keep our community healthy, gave away pink lemonade to the NOHS staff and students during October in honor of breast cancer awareness and sponsored the Synovus and Oconee Area Resource Council's Spread the Love PB&J Drive in September at NOHS and raised $1316!