P-TECH East Campus @ Watervliet
Update - September 13, 2019
Welcome to P-TECH 2019-2020!
9th Grade P-TECH Course Update
We are thrilled to have our new class of 9th grade students join P-TECH! Students have been working hard in each of their classes and more information about their first projects will be coming soon.
So far....
This week in Living Environment, students acquainted themselves with the basics of lab safety and the scientific method, and designed their own experiments to determine whether the mysterious "Specimen X" was a living organism. Afterwards, they learned about life processes and the fundamentals of cell theory. Living Environment is a Regents science course and will culminate with a Regents Exam in June.
The students in Algebra 1 are learning basic rules for numbers. This includes classifying numbers and algebraic properties. Algebra 1 will lead to a Regents Exam in June.
P-TECH freshmen will be able to complete the 0.5 credit, HS graduation requirement, Participation in Government this year. This course, often called “PIG” or “Government” is a social studies class and is typically taken during a student’s senior year. By taking and passing the course this year, P-TECH students will have room for an additional college course during their 12th grade year. So far in PIG, students have been learning about the different types and functions of government.
10th Grade P-TECH Course Update
Our returning 10th grade students have had a busy start to the school year. They have had introductions to their new courses, including their first college class.
In English 11, students started their first unit, answering the question "How was the world created?" Using Creation Myths from five different cultures including Greek, Iroquois, Mayan, Judaeo-Christian, and Modern Science, students will analyze and compare how different cultures believe our world was formed. P-TECH 10th grade students will be taking the English Regents Exam in June.
This week in Earth Science, students reviewed lab procedure and research methodology, and began work on a literature review of a topic important to them. Additionally, the class began to identify weather variables and conduct a study on the reliability of weather forecasts.
The students in Math Analysis/Analytic Geometry are working with the foundations of Geometry. They have worked on identifying, classifying, and naming lines, points, planes, and angles.
Students in Global Studies have been learning about early man and our transition from a hunter-gatherer to an agricultural lifestyle in the Neolithic Revolution. Students are also learning about belief systems and the basic major world religions and are beginning to explore the foundations of classical civilizations. P-TECH 10th grade students are taking Global Studies I and II and preparing for the Regents Exam in June.
The P-TECH 10th grade students have started their first college course through HVCC. This fall they will be working on FORM 104 - College Forum. In the spring they will begin PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology. Good luck and make sure to keep up on your assignments!
Homework Reminder
P-TECH Freshmen - Summer Bridge
The students from Mohonasen, Schalmont, Watervliet, Cobleskill-Richmondville, Scotia-Glenville, Guilderland, Niskayuna, Shenendehowa, Middleburgh and Berne-Knox-Westerlo school districts are entering the innovative, high-tech school that allows them to earn a college degree for free while working extensively with high tech innovators and business partners.
During the week, students were introduced the school’s curriculum and worked with Stacy Robison of Albany Can Code to construct a website. Students also visted the Hudson Valley and SUNY Schenectady college campuses and the Capital Region Chamber.
The week was full of activities designed to help the students get to know one another, their teachers, and what to expect in the program. The culminating activity was the P-TECH induction ceremony, held on Friday, August 2nd, at Watervliet High School.
Returning Student Summer Experience
Thank-you to the HVCC staff for providing students with this great experience!
Important Dates
Monday, September 30 - Superintendent's Conference Day - No School for Students
Monday, October 14 - Columbus Day Holiday - No School
P-TECH Contact Information
To contact P-TECH staff, please use the email addresses below, or call (518)629-3331. Please note that this line is not always accessible to our staff. If it is an emergency, or you need immediate assistance, please call the Watervliet Jr./Sr. HS main line at (518)629-3300.
Kurt Redman kurt.redman@neric.org - P-TECH Principal
Tim Honsinger tim.honsinger@neric.org – School Counselor
Katherine Burke katherine.burke@neric.org – Social Studies Teacher
Kirsten Dunn kirsten.dunn@neric.org – English Teacher
Genevieve Balunis Genevieve.Balunis@neric.org – Science Teacher
Chelsea Abady Chelsea.Abady@neric.org – Math Teacher