CATEC October 2022 Newsletter

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. 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 Apprenticeship (Facebook), @CATEC_Adult (Twitter), @catec_adult_education (Instagram)
• Read through Course Catalog Options

I hope everyone is enjoying the refreshing fall weather! As we wind-up October and the first quarter, I am continually awe-struck by our students. Our students have engaged and embraced the opportunities in front of them.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, I would like to say I am very thankful for our students, families, and the most amazing staff and faculty. CATEC is a wonderful place full of opportunity not because of what it is, but who we serve. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Carter

November 7- No students, Teacher Professional Development Day

November 8- No students, Teacher Professional Development Day, ACPS Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 23-25- No students, Thanksgiving Holiday Break

CATEC celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month on October 14th. We had special treats for students from the Taqueria Chaparro food truck ad La Flor Michoacana

Additionally, our Nurse Assistant program hosted a Red Cross Blood Drive. Students, staff, and local community members donated 30 units of blood to our community. The class will host another blood drive this spring.

CATEC values making sure students graduate with the technical skills and workplace skills necessary for entering the workforce. CATEC has implemented a "CATEC Students Are Professional" mantra to ensure students understand what it takes to be successful in our building and in the workforce. Students are expected to act in accordance with industry standards and practice the 22 21st Century Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth.

In October, students practiced skills related to positive work ethic, initiative and self-direction, and integrity. Additionally, students participate in monthly Career Development sessions where they practice skills needed to get jobs and keep them to create a lasting career.

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 11 & English 12: Megan Panek

Students wrapped up their reading of The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom with a reflection and discussion about how the 5 life lessons the main character learns connect to their lives. In unit 2, they are splitting off, with English 11 focusing on the theme of the American Dream and English 12 focusing on the theme of historically marginalized stories. They will be watching films and reading poems and short stories to define the American dream as well as reflect on whose stories get told and why. The unit will culminate with research-based biographies of marginalized people who pursued their dreams despite the obstacles in front of them.

US Government and English 12: David Topper and Megan Panek

Students have wrapped their introductory unit on the core beliefs of our democracy laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. They will kick off unit 2 by watching and discussing the film Just Mercy, which depicts the real-life story of civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his fight for justice in a sometimes unjust legal and penal system. As they watch, students will learn the rights protected by the Bill of Rights and how the judicial system functions at both the state and federal level. The unit will culminate with a large research-based project that asks students to offer solutions to the issue of mass-incarceration in America.

Economics and Personal Finance: David Topper

Geometry: John Baran

Geometry students who are dually enrolled in Carpentry I have wrapped up their second NCCER module “Intro to Construction Math.” This module reviewed basic mathematical functions and explains their application to construction trades. Additionally, students used and read various length measurement tool, including standard and metric rulers, tape measures, and scales. Finally, students spent a lot of time on unit conversions using practical examples as well as basic geometry applied to common shapes and forms.

AFDA: John Baran

AFDA students have completed their basic algebra review and have moved into geometric concepts of parallel and perpendicular lines, including angle-pair relationships. They will use these relationships to explore constructions in geometry and apply them in some painting.

Each month, we introduce you to two current CATEC students. Here at CATEC, we know our student body is diverse and interesting and we want to share their stories with our community.

Liam Monaghan is taking his second year of construction trades classes at CATEC. Last year, the homeschooled student participated in the Building Trades program. This year he is taking Carpentry. What he likes most about CATEC is having access to equipment and tools and a designated time to pursue his hands-on interests. He has enjoyed building sheds this year because it takes all the knowledge needed for building but models it at a smaller scale. Liam hopes to work in HVAC or plumbing when he completes his program.

Thei Thei Aye is a Charlottesville High School Senior taking CATEC's Nurse Assistant class. She decided to attend CATEC to learn more about the medical field because she is interested in pursuing a career as a Pharmacy Technician at PVCC upon graduation. Thei enjoys art, having honed her craft since she was 6 years old. She enjoys digital artwork as well as drawing by hand. She created the Nurse Assistant class's Red Cross Blood Drive poster for it's October 25th drive.

Each month, we introduce you to one of CATEC's programs, including information about curriculum, academic integration, college credit, and career opportunities.

High-Demand Careers

Careers in Construction Month is celebrated each October as a month-long recognition of craft professionals and career opportunities in the construction industry. Sponsored by National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Build Your Future (BYF), the annual event brings together organizations from around the country to work together to raise awareness of the great career opportunities in the construction industry. Careers in Construction events highlight skilled men and women, provide information and resources for educators, and help youth interested in becoming a craft professional.

Skilled craftspeople are in demand nationwide. 70% of jobs do not require bachelor’s degrees and with nearly 1.5 million craft professionals needed by 2023, it is more important than ever to get high school students interested in the construction industry. Associated Builders and Contractors of Virginia estimates that the workforce will demand 177,748 workers in Virginia by the year 2021. The projected job growth in Virginia in the construction industry is up 21%.

Carpentry

CATEC’s Carpentry program prepares for achieving high-level construction industry skills that can result in an exciting and lucrative career. With an emphasis on safety, students are taught to use hand and power tools, cut stock, apply construction mathematics, interpret blueprints, and understand basic rigging.

Electricity

CATEC’s Electricity program provides students with skills to install, operate, maintain, and repair residential, commercial, and industrial electrical systems. Students study electrical theory and navigate the National Electrical Code Book.

Academic Integration

Students enrolled in Carpentry have the option of taking Geometry embedded into their class. Students use geometric concepts and formulas to solve practical programs related to carpentry.

Electricity students receive 9 college credits from Piedmont Virginia Community College. Students in both Carpentry and Electricity program become OSHA-10 certified and receive certifications in NCCER curriculum by the end of the school year.

Community Partnerships

Local businesses are constantly seeking out students to intern and hire for their companies. The construction industry is robust in the Charlottesville area and CATEC students are in high demand. Each May, Carpentry and Electrical students participate in CATEC’s School-to-Work Signing Day, an event that celebrates students who commit to entering the workforce with local companies. In 2022, four students from these programs participated in Signing Day, with work commitments to local HVAC, electrical, and construction companies. Students received a free pair of Red Wing Shoes and industry tools and equipment, sponsored by the CATEC Foundation Board.

NCCER

NCCER is an education foundation that offers training curricula, assessments, and credentials for more than 70 crafts, through 6,000 NCCER-accredited facilities. BIY is a recruitment initiative working to find the next generation of craft professionals and close the skills gap and labor shortage in the construction industry.

Did you know that CATEC has an adult education and apprenticeship program that offers adults opportunities to learn new skills, prepare for new careers, or increase job marketability? Serving more than 300 adult learners each semester, CATEC's Adult Education and Apprenticeship Program offers in-person and online classes with flexibility for adults who work.

Along with auto service, auto body, and health and medical sciences classes, the program offers adult courses in Carpentry, Electricity, HVAC, and Plumbing and works with local employers to ensure their employees are getting the best education to continue in the skilled trades. Many CATEC high school skilled trades graduates continue their educations in the Adult Apprenticeship program.

The spring course catalogue will be available soon. Scholarships are available through the CATEC Foundation Board. Additionally, Adult program is looking to hire qualified instructors to teach their evening programs. If you are interested or know someone who might be, please contact Shannon Tomlin, Adult Education and Apprenticeship Program Director, for more information.

Mr. Levasseur has worked as a Licensed Class "A" builder for 35 years. As a young man he built decks and patios and performed general carpentry in Richmond. He has extensive experience building and remodeling homes. He moved to Charlottesville in 2018 to continue his building career. He was active in his high school and looks forward to working with young people.

Mr. Farrer teaches the Electricity programs. He grew up in Charlottesville, graduating from Charlottesville High School. He attended CATEC as an Electricity I and II student. He was motivated to study electricity because he had family members who worked in the industry. Mr. Farrer credits his CATEC instructor for being a big influence on his career choices. As an employee of UVA, he returned to CATEC as an adult Apprenticeship student. He worked for UVA Facilities Management for more than 20 years. Today, he teaches for both the High School and Adult Education and Apprenticeship programs.

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