Career Connection

The purpose of Bulloch County Schools Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program is to prepare students for successful careers and build an educated, skilled, and efficient workforce for economic growth in Bulloch County. Georgia's CTAE career clusters and career pathways use course instruction and student technical organizations along with leveraged partnerships with local businesses, industries, and institutes of higher learning to ensure high school students have the ability to explore their options, while learning and applying skills they will need to thrive in the workforce.

Bulloch County Schools' Work-Based Learning program represents the pinnacle of our Career Technical and Agricultural Education programs. It allows qualified students who have mastered skills in career pathway areas the opportunity to work at an approved job placement to gain valuable work experience while receiving course credit. A job placement may be one arranged by the school's work-based learning coordinator, the career pathway teacher, or an approved part-time job arranged by the student. Work-based learning students can also represent a potential pool of applicants in today's labor market.Take a look at these most recent work-based learning statistics for our school district for 2021:

• 180 - Students served
• $461,018 - Wages earned by students at job sites
• 144 - Number of work-based learning sites that employ students
• 58,263 - Number of hours students worked
• 41 - Local business partnerships that help support work-based learning.

Southeast Bulloch High School's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter members attended Georgia’s annual Fall Motivational Rally on October 15, in Perry, as a kickstarter for an action-packed FBLA season. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to learn more about available programs, participate in competitive events, hear a motivational message, and network with FBLA members from other regions across our state. Other activities at the rally included enjoying the Georgia National Fair's exciting rides and munching on delicious food and snacks.

The Statesboro High School chapter of SkillsUSA competed in the Associated General Contractors of Georgia's Skills Challenges held both in Statesboro and at statewide competition in Macon. Statesboro High had 20 different competitors participating in two competitions. Nathan Wallace placed third in the Masonry Competition at the Macon event. In the local Statesboro event, Evan Smith placed third in Blueprint Reading and Patrick Mock placed third in the Plumbing competition.

Visit the SHS Construction Students online album to see even more photos!

Portal Middle High School's Animal Science class is fostering a rabbit from Fixing the Boro until it is permanently adopted. Taking care of the resident rabbit gives students an endearing and valuable hands-on experience working with a small animal. In addition to helping students practice character development, appreciate nature, be mindful of regional ecology, and review biological concepts, caring for the class bunny has the potential to guide students to a career in Veterinary Medicine.

Portal's Agricultural Mechanics students are learning to cut and weld metal using an Oxy-Fuel Torch. Practicing this skill allows them to grow accustomed to the process and motions of welding before moving on to more advanced forms. Pictured is Logan Richardson, who also holds a job in the agricultural mechanics field at Sharp Engineering, LLC, a multi-faceted engineering, and automotive performance company based in Portal.

Local Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMC), including Excelsior EMC, hosted an electrical wiring workshop for students from area counties. Portal Middle High School's Walker Bowen and JD Donaldson attended the event. They learned about the electrical wiring process and related industries. In addition, they had an opportunity to practice wiring their own electrical circuits.

Portal Middle High School's National FFA Organization chapter has established a Lunch & Learn program. It allows the chapter to host different agricultural companies at the school to network with students, share about their businesses, and talk about the skills used in their jobs. The companies bring lunch for participating students and speak to them about potential career opportunities and internships. Pictured is Kevin Jump, an Agricultural Mechanics teacher from the Central Region FFA . He spoke about electrical wiring. ACE Electrical has also been a Lunch and Learn guest.

Students spend countless hours caring for and working with their farm animals. Livestock shows are a great way to showcase their efforts and put their experiences to valuable use. Portal Ag students (pictured below) planned, prepared, and exhibited livestock projects for their Supervised Agricultural Experiences. This year April Barnes entered three show pigs at the Kiwanis-Ogeechee Fair Livestock Show.

Statesboro High School students M. Kelly and K. Archie participated in a Floral Design Workshop hosted by Portal Middle High School to help prepare for an upcoming Floral Design Career Development Event (CDE). Students had 30 minutes to use the plant materials provided to create a floral design arrangement based on a supplied scenario. Later, the students also had to identify items from a list of foliage, flowers, and design products.

E. Smith represented Statesboro High School in the area's Tractor Driving and Maintenance Career Development Event. Participants were required to answer questions on a written exam dealing with tractor and machinery operations, maintenance, and safety, answer unique problem-solving questions, and complete a practical driving test to demonstrate skills in driving a tractor and implement through a designed course.

Thirty Statesboro High School students took part in the annual Youth Educational Exhibits & Competitions as part of the Georgia National Fair in Perry. Competition categories included the following: Built Projects, Chapter Built Projects, Reconditioned Projects, Chapter Reconditioned Projects, Mini-tractor Pull Contest, Environmental Education, Forestry & Natural Resources Department, Forestry Chapter Displays, Dendrology Notebook, Tree Identification Contest, Horticulture Plant Identification Contests, Georgia National Fair Superior FFA Horticulture Chapter, Horticulture Chapter Displays, Floral Design Exhibits, Floral Design Contests, Landscape Plans, and Plants and Materials. There were also Mini-booth contests covering topics such as Forestry And Natural Resources, Agriscience Research, and Horticulture.

Statesboro High students, A. Newton, J. Brown, C. Hurst and C. Douglass, were part of the Senior Environmental Natural Resources Team. They are pictured here collaboratively discussing solutions for a Soils group scenario activity.

Southeast Bulloch Middle School's National FFA Organization Chapter members participated in the FFA Quiz Career Development Event on November 2, at Southeastern Technical College.

Carson Cobb won second place which qualified him to advance to the state competition in December, at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.

The FFA Quiz Career Development Event is designed to develop personal growth and premier leadership in younger FFA members. Participants are able to gain recognition for their efforts in learning FFA history and facts as well as parliamentary procedure.

Southeast Bulloch Middle School's Junior FFA Floriculture team qualified to advance to state after competing in the Area 4 competition. The Junior team won first place and Maylin Swint was the highest individual competitor

The Junior and Senior Floriculture Career Development Event is open to students in sixth through ninth grades who are agricultural education students and members of a chartered FFA chapter. The event stimulates career interest, encourages proficiency development, and recognizes excellence in students of floriculture production and maintenance through the agriculture education curriculum.

The Statesboro High School JROTC Raider team swept region to advance to state where they claimed two state championships and a third place in the multi-event contest.

The mixed team won Rope Bridge and the girls’ squad won the Tire Flip competition for the fifth time in a row.

Competing in the first state meet since COVID-19, they faced some of the toughest teams in the state like Georgia Military College Prep School, Riverside Military Academy and Benedictine. Cadets competed in the Three-Mile Run, Raider Fitness Test, the Cross Country Rescue, Obstacle Course, the Tire Flip and the One Rope Bridge River Crossing

The Blue Devil Raider Squad advanced to state after sweeping the Area 9 Region Championship on October 16, where they placed first or second in all 15 events, clinching 11 Region titles and four runner-up placements.

Southeast Bulloch High School's HOSA Future Health Professionals chapter hosted middle school students for a two-day showcase of health sciences skills to encourage interest in the school's career pathway courses.

Members planned and carried out activities for eighth-grade students from neighboring Southeast Bulloch Middle School on November 4-5. The visiting students participated in the following activity stations led by HOSA members and officers:

• wound care and control of bleeding
• auditory and visual acuity tests
• infant CPR and adult CPR
• 3D anatomy software
• vital signs
• HOSA officer-led discussion about Healthcare Science courses & HOSA

Southeast Bulloch High School's HOSA chapter members attended the Georgia HOSA Fall Leadership Rally at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, on October 15.

This event serves as a motivational tool to showcase all of the opportunities HOSA offers. The one-day event featured skills competitions, a general session and an inspiring keynote speaker as well as a presentation by the Georgia HOSA State Officer Team.

Community Service: In October, Southeast Bulloch High School HOSA members had frightfully good fun painting pumpkins for the residents of Westwood Nursing Center. After decorating a number of pumpkins, they delivered their artfully rendered creations to the facility. The pumpkins were greeted by the residents with much delight.

In November, members gathered sweet treats and soft drinks to make and deliver treat bags for workers at a local nursing home.

HOSA Week & Fall Leadership Conference: Southeast Bulloch HOSA members celebrated HOSA Week by joining other members from across the state at the HOSA Fall Leadership Conference on November 9-10, at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta. Students had the opportunity to gain skills in leadership through competitive events, concurrent sessions, and special workshops. Among the conference events were student poster displays, mock interviews, a healthcare panel, regional meetings, and assorted presentations about such topics as preparing academic resumes, ergonomics, and how to plan for a career as a registered pharmacist. Southeast Bulloch HOSA member Madeline Brown won second place in the HOSA Membership Recruitment event.

Southeast Bulloch High School's Anatomy & Physiology students explored how the skeletal system works as a support structure for the human body by building skeletons. The project gave students a better understanding how the properties of a skeleton are able to give the human body its shape, allow for movement, make blood cells, provide protection for organs and store minerals. Students used paper mache, pool noodles, and other supplies to make their unique creations.

Visit the SEBHS Health Sciences online album to see even more photos!

Statesboro High School's Culinary Arts Teacher Alicia Pierce and her students welcomed visiting eighth-grade students from Langston Chapel Middle School on November 16. They learned about the career pathway's courses and experienced live demonstrations of the skills they could learn through the Culinary Arts cluster of courses. The particularly enjoyed discovering the properties of cream and how, with the addition of a little salt and a bit of vigorous shaking, anyone can make their own tasty and reasonably priced butter.

Members of the Statesboro High School Technology Student Association (TSA) attended Tech Day on October 11, at Reaves Arena during the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia. Members had an opportunity to compete in various competitions.

This fall TSA members also showcased their skills and projects to parents and peers at an Open House at Statesboro High School on October 24.

TSA members gather for monthly meetings to work on projects that hone their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well as business education. In the process they also develop leadership, academic, and business management skills that will serve them well in the workplace and the community.

Visit the SHS Engineering and Technology online album to see even more photos!

Students in Jenny Hendrix's STEM Lab at Stilson Elementary School accepted a design challenge that caught the attention of the school's administrators. In November, Mrs. Hendrix's elementary engineers prototyped shoes for the principal and assistant principal.

Third-grade students were asked to create a shoe that would fit the administrators. They took measurements of the their feet, and then went to work. The class then invited both leaders into the STEM lab for a shoe show reveal.

The Stilson Elementary STEM Lab's fourth-grade students put their engineering skills to work for the Son's of Liberty at the Boston Tea Party. To help the Revolutionary-era patriots and the 13 colonies, students designed and created catapults to launch fictional crates of tea into Boston Harbor because they were too heavy to dump by hand. The lesson was in conjunction with the students' Social Studies lessons about the American Revolution.

See previous issues of our Career Connections newsletter.

Preparing students for success and enhancing community value

Subscribe to future issues of Career Connection by emailing "Career Subscription" to webster@bullochschools.org

Email: webster@bullochschools.org
Website: www.bullochschools.org
Location: 150 Williams Road, Suite A, Statesboro, GA 30458
Phone: 912-212-8500
Facebook: facebook.com/bullochcountyschools
Twitter: @bullochschools