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News for students, families and friends | Winter 2024

Opportunities | Experiences | Engagement

February is Career and Technical Education Month! The entire Career Tech staff is invested in our work and I wholeheartedly believe in its value preparing young people for success in college, career and in life.

Every day I see the positive impacts of career and technical education and it is rewarding to witness student success stories and hear their powerful testimonials. They love Career Tech for many reasons, especially the opportunities, hands-on experiences and engagement. Here's some of what they share:

• “Without [Career Tech], I wouldn’t be in school. I would have dropped out a long time ago.”
• “Throughout this school year, I learned many skills that will help me through the rest of my life, in the workforce, in college or at home.”
• “I would not have considered this path without Career Tech. But because I did, I am now moving into a career that makes me excited to see what the future holds.”
• “Career Tech has been one of the best decisions in my life and has helped me grow as a person. This program really motivates me to take initiative and be the best I can be.”

If you are interested in learning more about any of our programs, advisory boards, work-based learning opportunities, scholarship programs or other ways you can get involved at Career Tech, please reach out to us at 231.922.6273.



Respectfully,

Pat Lamb

Assistant Superintendent of Career & Technical Education Northwest Education Services

10th Graders Get a Sneak Peek at Career Tech

In January and February, Career Tech is welcoming hundreds of 10th grade students from area schools to tour our state-of-the-art facility and get a sneak peek at our 20+ programs. Each student selected their three favorite programs to visit, allowing them to decide whether to pursue enrollment at Career Tech for their junior and senior years.

From Agriscience to Welding and everything in between, there's a Career Tech program for everyone. Students and families may contact Career Tech's main office with questions at 231.922.6273.

Career Tech Enrollment How-To

Career Tech Pre-Registration Application

Students who would like to attend Career Tech may complete a Career Tech Pre-Registration Application for the 2024-2025 school year, which is located on the North Ed Career Tech website.

High School Counselor

Students who fill out the Career Tech Pre-Registration Application must also notify their local high school counselor that they are seeking Career Tech enrollment.

Notification

In May, local high school counselors will notify students whether they have secured a spot in a Career Tech program. New enrolled students will receive letters by mail in August inviting them to Career Tech orientations on Aug. 27 and 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Late enrollment will continue through mid-September for programs that still have openings at that time.

Questions

If students have questions about Career Tech enrollment, speak with high school counselors or contact Career Tech school counselors:

Barry Bialik, bbialik@NorthwestEd.org 

Karmin Olds, kolds@NorthwestEd.org

NTHS Applications Due Feb. 2

Check the National Technical Honor Society page of the Career Tech website for details about spring 2024 NTHS membership!

Career Tech Scholarship Applications Due March 1

Applications for Career Tech scholarships are due March 1. For more information about the many scholarships available, visit the Scholarship section of the

Career Tech website.

NYT Bestselling Author

in the House

New York Times bestselling author Nita Prose stopped by Career Tech for a visit with Writers Studio students. She shared writing tips and answered questions before stepping on stage at the City Opera House as a featured guest of the National Writers Series. Prose's mystery novel "The Maid" was a No. 1 New York Times bestseller.

Back to Learning with Munson

The Career Tech Health Sciences program is excited to re-join their professional mentors at Munson Medical Center for the first time since 2020 when the partnership was paused due to the pandemic. But now the students are back at Munson twice a week for an hour each day shadowing health care professionals. This on-the-ground training and experience, when coupled with the classroom instruction delivered every day at Career Tech, is a tremendous academic and real-world advantage for college and career preparation.

Partnership with Life Skills Center

Students in the Career Tech Early Education program formed a Peers As Learners (PALs) partnership with North Ed's Life Skills Center. The Early Education students create lessons to work on with students at Life Skills Center, which serves students with a variety of disabilities. So far, they have tried winter-themed and science activities. The Career Tech students learn about different types of learners, age-appropriate activities, special education teacher shadowing, overcoming communication differences, and modeling positive behavior and dialogue. Life Skills Center students also learn from peer modeling to improve friendship development, practice communication and listening skills, and much more!

Engineering Academy Puts the E in STEM

It's recruiting season at Career Tech's Engineering Academy, so spread the word to high school sophomores and juniors who want to get the engineering edge. Students interested in learning more about and applying to Engineering Academy are invited to attend any of the information sessions below. Please register so we can stay in touch. You can also read all about the program in the most recent newsletter.

• Thursday, Feb. 15
• Tuesday, Feb. 27
• Thursday, March 14

Info sessions are at 6-7:30 p.m. Career Tech Engineering Academy, Room 159A, 880 Parsons Road, Traverse City, 49686.

Career Fair Coming April 4

Career Tech will host its 2024 Career Fair on April 4, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A variety of organizations will be there in an "expo" format to meet and potentially hire Career Tech students who are motivated to learn and work.

It is a great way to learn about climbing the employment ladder.

Career Tech and the Career Placement Services department is grateful to the businesses who support the future of the workforce. Organizations may click here to register for the Career Fair by March 22 or by contacting Keri Puffer at kpuffer@NorthwestEd.org. There is no fee to participate.

Esports

It's the first year for Career Tech's esports club team and this crew of gamers blazed onto the competitive scene full of passion and camaraderie.

Esports is comparable to traditional sports, but the competitions are virtual with players mastering complex video games in intense contests.

Super Smash Bros, Overwatch and Rocket League are just a few of the digital battlegrounds where teams compete. Esports players enjoy analyzing strategies and the opportunities to level up in games and in life. The more they practice these skills, the greater the success:

• Teamwork: Esports forges friendship, where strategies are crafted and pixelated victories are celebrated together. Every match involves collaboration and quick thinking.
• Communication: Whether it's calling out enemy flanks or coordinating complex maneuvers, esports requires clear thinking and decisiveness under pressure.
• Critical Thinking: Esports is a mental marathon that requires a sharp and agile brain. Well-honed problem-solving skills allow players to adapt and change strategies and leave challenges in the dust.

Pictured above: Career Tech esports team at the Super Smash Bros’ Tournament at Grand Traverse Games

Relationship Building

Career Tech students are encouraged to establish supportive relationships, and the Health Sciences classes developed a great way to showcase positive acknowledgements on its Cheers for Peers bulletin boards.

At the end of the quarter, the notes are read aloud and one student remarks, “It’s encouraging and uplifting. It makes me feel proud of my peers, too.”

Check the Student

Job Board

Did you know there are employment opportunities posted on the Career Tech website? Check it regularly for job postings in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties. Current students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply. 

Excellence in Practice

Congratulations to our Career Tech staff for being the recipients of two 2024 Excellence in Practice awards from the Michigan Department of Education! Career Tech was recognized for implementing evidence-based reporting throughout all 22 programs at Career Tech, and for supporting the regional Jobs for Michigan's Graduates program with our partners at Charlevoix-Emmet ISD, Wexford-Missaukee ISD, Networks Northwest and Northwest Michigan Works. 

Teacher of the Year

Jared Diephouse, Power Equipment instructor at Career Tech, was chosen as the Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Association of Career and Technical Education. Congratulations Jared!

Northwest Education Services

Career Tech

880 Parsons Road, Traverse City, MI 49686

Tel. 231.922.6273 |  NorthwestEd.org