SCC CAPS Technology Solutions
Fall Semester Newsletter
Engaging Educational Endeavors
December is upon us, marking the near completion of our Fall semester journey since the impactful CAPS Kick-off event in August. The Tech Solutions strand has been a hub of rich learning experiences, striving to provide our CAPS associates with career explorations and vital professional soft skills. In this edition, join us in celebrating our strands engaging educational endeavors.
CAPS Associates Soft Skills Development
Understanding why it's crucial to learn and develop professional soft skills is like unlocking the secrets to success in high school and beyond. Think of these skills as your superpowers: communication (talking and listening well), collaboration and teamwork (working great with others), creativity and innovation (thinking up cool ideas), critical thinking and problem-solving (solving tricky puzzles), time and project management (keeping everything organized), and integrity and trust (being honest and reliable). Mastering these skills isn't just about getting good grades – it's about being awesome in everything you do and setting yourself up for an amazing future!
Team Building Golf Outing
Guest Speakers -Career Explorations
Commerce Bank
Working Technology
Essential Marketing Group
Mike Winslow Photography
Thanks to Mike Winslow for sharing his portrait photography expertise with students and capturing professional headshots for their LinkedIn profiles. What a fun day of learning!
Graybar Internal Audit Team
Damaris Powers, Nicole Robbins and Megan Hill shared invaluable insights on developing essential professional soft skills that are key to success in the workplace. Topics include communication, active listening, dressing for success, time management, pay compensation and dealing with criticism.
Francis Howell Communications Department
Jeanie Smith shared the following concepts with students:
🚀 We had an AMAZING lesson on crafting engaging social media
🎯 Understand their audience better
🗣️ Maintain a consistent voice
🤖 Utilize Chat GPT for post ideas
🙏 Gratitude to Don Harvey, Gregory Poole, and Jordan Hensiek with Harvin AR for an inspiring & fun day of learning! In the corporate world, AR/VR isn't just about training. It's a powerful tool for product marketing, too. Imagine showcasing your product in 3D, allowing customers to interact with it before buying. But it doesn't stop there. The students exploring Game Design as a career discovered something incredible - these skills are highly transferable to diverse business applications. Creativity, problem-solving, and digital design are in demand everywhere.
SCC CAPS Cross Strand Team-Building Event
Thrilled to spend the day with the US Army National Guard, uniting all strands of the St. Charles County CAPS through engaging team-building activities! 🇺🇸Beyond fostering camaraderie, team building activities promote:
1. Improved Communication 🗣️2. Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills 🧠
3. Boosted Productivity 📈
4. Increased Creativity 💡
5. Strengthened Trust 🤝
Harvin AR
Story Point Films
Andy & Becky shared their invaluable expertise on crafting compelling visual stories that resonate. They emphasized the pivotal importance of:
👂 Listening to the client's vision
🎯 Understanding the target audience
📜 Deciding the best storytelling approach
Charter HR Team
Mastercard
One key takeaway: Personal projects and leveraging GitHub to showcase sample work are pivotal for career development. 💼
Clifton Strengths Themes
Dan Vincent, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach enabled our associates to dive deep into their CliftonStrengths themes, helping them not only name these strengths but also claim & aim them for their personal and professional growth. 🚀Dan introduced associates to the four domains of team strength: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking.
Tackling Difficult Conversations
Kelly Dunkle, PHR, SHRM-CP with the Cottleville Fire Protection District engaged students on "How to Have Tough Conversations." 🗣️The session was an eye-opener, teaching our future leaders the critical art of listening for understanding, making conversations about others and not themselves, not equating their experiences with others, and the pivotal skill of building meaningful relationships. 🌟
True Colors Personality Assessment & Unconscious Bias
🙏 Grateful to Scott Raether 🦉 CPCC - CPRW for an enlightening workshop! 🌟During the workshop, students completed the True Colors Assessment, a tool that helps individuals understand their personality traits and preferences. It's like a mirror that reflects your true self! 🎨 He explained the concept of unconscious bias, shedding light on how our perceptions can be shaped by our personalities.
Site Visits
OCCSI - STL
🚀 Had an incredible visit to OCCSI - STL! During our visit, students delved into the heart of how technology drives modern businesses. Thanks to Ann & William Dickherber for their unwavering support!
Medline Industries
Grateful to Medline Industries, LP for an enriching site visit! Exploring transportation and logistics firsthand was invaluable. Medline supplies over 300,000 medical products meeting the needs of the entire continuum of care.
Mastercard
Exciting visit to Mastercard where students explored their Fusion Center, Security Operations Center, Digital Forensics Lab, and Mission Control & Operations Center, gaining insights into diverse career paths.
Switch
During our visit, students had the unique opportunity to engage with several of Switch’s creative geniuses, gaining profound insights into their career journeys and the magic they weave in connecting ideas with tangible results through experiential, traditional, and digital marketing.
Lindenwood GIS Day
Had an amazing day at Lindenwood University GIS Day! 🌐 Students from St. Charles County CAPS and other schools delved into the world of GIS, discovering its vast applications and career opportunities. Special thanks to all the organizations that set up booths to educate and inspire
National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC)
Didion Orf Recycling
Huge thanks to Didion Orf Recycling for an outstanding site visit, educating students about metal recycling, E-scrap management, and responsible disposal of electronics.
Stauder Technologies
A big shoutout to Jerry Stauder, Greg Lorenz and Stauder Technologies for an incredible site visit! 🏢 We're truly thankful for their unwavering support of the St. Charles County CAPS program.
Masterclock, Inc.
Cosmos Corporation
🐾 Had a fantastic site visit to Cosmos Corporation in St. Peters, Missouri, a true leader in the pet industry! 🐶🐱
🌟 Our students had the privilege of delving into the company's rich history, exploring cutting-edge manufacturing facilities, and gaining insights into exciting career opportunities.
Craftsmen Industries, Inc.
🎉 Exciting Site Visit to Craftsmen Industries, Inc. 🎉
During the visit, students at had the opportunity to delve into the company’s core values, which are undoubtedly keys to their success. The emphasis on being the best, fostering understanding, exercising initiative, a commitment to continuous learning, and practicing discipline were prominently showcased throughout the organization.
Fierce Creative Agency
Fierce Creative is a powerhouse when it comes to graphic design, branding, and website development. Their dedication to visual communication is truly remarkable. 💼
During the visit, associates were treated to some great samples of their work - mind-blowing designs that truly capture the essence of creativity! 🎨
Cottleville Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce
We had an incredible morning at the Cottleville - Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee event hosted at Sara’s Boxes & Boards. ☕Students seized the chance to connect with local business owners and professionals, honing their networking skills and leaving a lasting impression.
The Community and Children's Resource Board-MINDREACH
Recently, our students had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the The Community and Children's Resource Board (CCRB) on a project that’s making a real impact in St. Charles County. 🏙️
Tasked by the CCRB, our talented students embarked on a mission to create an app that provided emergency mental support for youth. 🧠 The project was named “MINDREACH,” a powerful resource designed to make a difference in the lives of our community’s youth.
Dress for Success
Thankful for Connections to Success and Dress For Success Midwest for providing CAPS students with professional outfits for their Mock and Internship interviews. They realize the importance of accelerating one's career through fashion.
Classroom Experiences
Enterprise Holding
These young minds had the privilege of learning from experts like Travis Foley, Suli Abuazza, and Craig Arnett in the field of digital forensics. They also delved into the world of cyber security awareness, understanding the critical role it plays in our digital age.
HiTek LLC
Shawn Bright, Founder & CEO shared with students his passion for creative problem solving, which has been the driving force behind the innovation of products and systems that have led to the remarkable success of HiTek LLC.
Boeing
Boeing Immersive (VR/AR/MR) Development team showcased impressive samples of their work and immersing students in virtual training simulations of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kit assembly.
VIPER 100.7FM
Thrilled to have visited VIPER 100.7FM to experience the world of radio broadcasting up close! From sound design to podcasting, this site visit was a fantastic career exploration opportunity.
St. Charles County Police Department
👏 Kudos to the St. Charles County Police Department for an enlightening & informative site visit. Students engaged with the Forensics, Crime Lab, Cybercrime and K-9 Bomb units.
St. Charles Emergency Operation Center
🚨 During our visit, students got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the 911 call center, witnessing firsthand what happens when they dial 911 – a process that can be a lifeline in critical situations.
Charter Communication
Student Led Parent Teacher Conference Highlight
This short video goes over some of the content students covered during student led parent teacher conferences in October. Our Spring conference will be held on February 28, 2024
Business Client Projects
Mock Interview Day
On the Horizon...
Winter Cross Strand Event: All strands of CAPS will meet for networking and play time at Rec Hall STL, 800 S. Duchesne Dr. on Tuesday, December 19 at 8 am and 11:30 am.
Winter Break: December 22 - January 8. AM CAPS only on Thursday, December 21.