CATEC February 2024 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.

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Dear CATEC Students and Families,

As we wrap up February, we are looking forward to many exciting things at CATEC this spring. February is Career and Technical Education Month, a time to celebrate and advocate for the benefits of CTE programs. Here are just a few researched-based benefits of CTE:

• CTE is playing an increased role in our nation’s workforce future.
• 60% of companies report they have difficulty filling their job openings.
• There are more than 30 million jobs paying $55,000+ that don’t require a four-year college degree.
• 27% of young workers with professional certifications and licenses earn more than those with a college degree.

With these important facts in mind, please mark your family calendars for additional schoolwide events taking place this spring. More information to come regarding these events:

• April 22-30: Interview Week at CATEC
• May 14: School-to-Work Signing Day at CATEC
• May 22: Completers' Ceremony at Monticello High School

Thank you,

Dr. Stacey Heltz

March 5- Teacher Work Day, No School

March 29- Teacher Work Day, No School

April 1-5- Spring Break

April 22-30- Interview Week at CATEC

May 14- School-to-Work Signing Day at CATEC

May 22-Completers' Ceremony at Monticello High School

CATEC values making sure students leave our building 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 February, students worked on critical thinking skills, creativity and innovation, and mathematics. Additionally, students participate in monthly Career Development sessions where they practice skills needed to get jobs and keep them to create a lasting career.

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.

Auto Service Technology 1 student Von Goodwin loves to work with his hands. He helps his dad work on cars at home. The CHS 11th grader is using that love to create career opportunities for himself. With a passion for working tires, he hopes to land himself a job right out of high school working in a shop, launching a lucrative career without college debt. In his spare time he likes hanging out with his family.

Abel Nickerson decided on a whim that he thought firefighting would be a fun career. Six months into CATEC's Fire Science class, the homeschooled 11th grader knows he wants to be a career firefighter. He has enjoyed doing forcible entry drills and enjoyed the search and rescue process during his live burn experience. He volunteers at Stony Point Station No. 6 in his spare time.

Clinical Hours

CATEC is celebrating its Nurse Assistant program this month because students completed their clinical placements required for them to sit for their Virginia State Board of Nursing credentialing. Students spent 40 hours performing hands-on patient care at Our Lady of Peace. Students help provide personal care to patients, assist them with feeding, and take vital signs.

Curriculum

CATEC’s Nurse Assistant program is part of the school’s Health and Medical Services Academy. In this program, students develop skills for entry into the rewarding career of nurse assisting. Certified Nurse Aides provide patient care under the direction of nursing staff. Students learn technical knowledge about infection control, the body systems and its disorders, bed making and adjusting, positioning, measuring and recording vital signs, and assisting with patient personal care. Students also learn soft skills that ensure patients receive dignified care. This training includes scope of practice, care and security of patients’ personal affects, patients’ rights, diversity and culture sensitivity training, maintaining a safe environment, and assisting with nutrition.

College Credit and Certifications

Students earn industry certifications, including CPR, and sit for their board of nursing assessments in the spring.

Adult Education Opportunities

CATEC's Adult Education and Apprenticeship Programs offers a variety of medical-related courses that allow adult learners to begin a new career in the healthcare field or enhance their current skills for job advancement. Adult Education programs include Nurse Assistant courses, Registered Medication Aide, Emergency Medical Technician, and many online healthcare classes adult learners can take from the comfort of their homes.

Projected Job Growth

In Virginia, this high-demand field projects a 28% job growth as our population ages and health-related concerns remain high. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be nearly 200 thousand job opportunities in the healthcare field every year for the next ten years across the United States. CATEC's High School Nurse Assistant program will be hosting a hiring event on May 4th for local healthcare facilities to hire program students directly out of the program.

Ms. Carter-Payne earned her CNA certification at 16 while in high school and has worked in healthcare ever since. She obtained her Associate’s degree in Nursing at Piedmont Virginia Community College and then went on to get her Bachelor’s at Liberty University. Just this month she earned her Master's degree! She honed her clinical skills through her initial training in Rehabilitation and Restorative care. Since 2013, she has been in ambulatory care nursing. Payne also teaching Nurse Assistant classes for CATEC's Adult Education and Apprenticeship Program.

CATEC offers Adult Education and Apprenticeship training that covers a range of technical education courses. The career and technical offerings will help lifelong learners: enhance current skills, gain new knowledge for increased job marketability, continue life-long learning, make life more enjoyable, or simply have fun. CATEC provides a positive place for post-secondary learning. Apprenticeship programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and provide employer sponsors and their employees with the required related technical instruction hours needed to satisfy a full Apprenticeship program. Watch a video here.

• View the 2023-2024 Course Catalog
• Check out online course offerings
• Register Today
• Accepting scholarship applications until March 5, 2024

Email: heltzs1@charlottesvilleschools.org
Website: www.catec.org
Location: 1000 Rio Road East, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Phone: 434-973-4461
Facebook: facebook.com/CATECHighSchool
Twitter: @CATEChs