LETTER FROM D IRECTOR

Our Career and Technical Education program provides courses

that meet student needs, interests, abilities, and aspirations

and prepare the student to respond to actual or anticipated op-

portunities for employment, advanced education, and practical

life applications, empowering the student to be able to partici-

pate in an international economy in today’s society.

Middle school students are offered exploratory courses. In the

high schools, introductory courses are available at grades 9 and

10, advanced and specialized instruction at grades 11 and 12. Dual enroll-

ment and advanced placement opportunities are available at local community

colleges. Certifications and Licensures are also available to qualified stu-

dents.

In this and upcoming newsletters, you will see how CTE educators are:

1. Preparing students for postsecondary education in career-technical fields.

2. Preparing students for initial and continued employment.

3. Assisting students in making educational and career decisions.

4. Applying and reinforcing related learning from other disciplines.

5. Assisting students in developing decision-making, communication, prob-

lem-solving, leadership, and citizenship skills.

6. Preparing students to make informed consumer decisions and apply prac-

tical life skills. 7. Making appropriate provisions for students with special needs to succeed

in career-technical education programs.

Help me to recognize those educators and students who help make our pro-

gram a success.

Volume 1, Issue 1 November 2008

COMING EVENTS:

Trade and Industrial Focus

Meeting NHS (Dec.)

Core Meeting with Administra-

tors and Parents (Dec.)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

CIgarroa High School

Cigarroa Middle School

2

Christen Middle

Memorial Middle

Health Science Magnet

3

Martin High School 4

Nixon High School 5

CTE Literacy Goals

Math in CTE

Reminders

6

Elias Alonzo

CTE Director

NHS Culinary Students’ Centerpiece

It is a policy of the Laredo Inde-

pendent School District not to

discriminate on the basis of sex,

handicap, race, color, or national

origin in its educational and vo-

cational programs, activities or

employment as required by Title

IX, Section 504 and Title VI, and

will take steps to secure the lack

of English language skills will not

be a barrier to admission and

participation in all education and

vocational programs.

DR. LEONIDES G. C IGARROA H IGH S CHOOL

Career and Technical Education Page 2

The students from the PITSCO Engineering group worked on

designing and creating a bridge from balsa wood. The goal was

for the bridge to withstand at least 200 lbs of pressure. The stu-

dents surpassed the mark by 180 lbs for a total of 380 lbs. Stu-

dents working on the bridge were Brain, Carlos and Ivan.

TOY CAR!!!

The students from the PITSCO Manufacturing group

designed and created a toy car. The total cost of the car

to manufacture was .48. Students working on the toy

car was Kevin, Jose M. and Jose B.

CIGARROA HIGH SCHOOL ENGINEERING STUDENTS

BREAK RECORD

DR. J OAQUIN G. C IGARROA M IDDLE

SCHOOL

CTE students celebrated Workforce Development Month in September with a presentation by

Ms. Denise Luna from the Texas Workforce Commission.

During her presentation, Ms. Luna informed students about the different services offered by the

Texas Workforce Commission to anyone who is interested in going into the job-force. Particu-

larly, Ms. Luna discussed a couple of programs that target young individuals who are eager to

join the world of work. One of these programs is the Bridge Program.

Furthermore, students received pamphlets with information about online job resources, employ-

ment data, and applicant databases. One of the recommended websites is www.workintexas.com

The students who attended the presentation were the students in the following classes: Ms. C.

Villa (Career Connections), Mr. S. . Munoz (Building Trades), Mrs. R. Sillas (Federal & Con-

sumer Sciences), Mrs. E. Ramirez (Keyboarding), Mrs. A. Broze (Keyboarding), and Mr. R.

Long (Graphic Design).

CTE students enjoyed the presentation and were enthused to participate in the Q&A session after the presentation, where

they were allowed to contribute answers and received prizes as incentives.

Israel Bonugli and Paola Sandi were some of the students that received prizes.

LOUIS J. C HRISTEN M IDDLE SCHOOL

The PITSCO Synergistic lab was assigned to L.J. Christen Middle School’s eight grade Career

Connections classes. It is the only middle school in the Laredo Independent School District

that has this lab. The synergistic lab consists of 14 modules. They are the following; Audio

Broadcasting, Body Systems, Cell Structure, Computer Graphics & Animation, Computer

Technology, Digital Transportation, Dynamic Earth, Ecology, Entrepreneurship; Child care,

Genetics, Life Skills, Personal Finance, Research and Presentation, and Simple Machines.

Each module involves hands-on activities incorporating math, science, writing, and language

arts. The skills they acquire support their academic progress in the above core areas, help pre-

pare them for state tests, as well as provide them knowledge that will benefit them beyond

school. Other benefits include working collaboratively with partners, developing critical

thinking skills, developing oral speaking skills, setting goals, and learning to be responsible,

not only to themselves and their partners, but for the care and inventory of valuable equip-

ment in the classroom.

As students progress through their modules, they are guided to seek answers first by exploring

with their partner the information in the computer and the library books associated with that

particular module. Working independently with partners at each module workstation, stu-

dents are provided both verbal and written text explaining the processes and procedures for

each activity. Activities include the use of specialized equipment and tools necessary to com-

plete projects. Once completed, the students are given opportunities to showcase their project

to their classmates and explain what they learned. Each module consists of 7 sessions, includ-

ing tests, quizzes, reviews, vocabulary, and a post test. Completed projects and worksheets are

examined and graded.

Finally, students are guided through the process of exploring and examining multiple career

choices associated with each module. Each career investigation allows students to explore the

following, but not limited to: The nature of the work, working conditions, training and educa-

tion required, the job market potential, earnings, and other related occupations.

As the course progresses, students learn how to fill out job applications, develop resumes, and

learn proper interviewing skills.

Rosa Villarreal (Teacher) experiences the new Health Science PITSCO Lab at Martin HS

Health Science Center. Students were on hand assisting with the serving.

tation procedures. Using the

three compartment sink, sev-

enth grade students Ernesto

Coronado, Israel Hernandez

and Luis Ordonez sanitize

the kitchen hand tools.

Students also participated

in their first food production

assignment in the class

kitchen, where they made

delicious treats for Hallow-

een.

This course gives students

information about the food

production industry and al-

lows students to consider

having a career in the largest

national food service employ-

ment occupation. Students

can utilize knowledge and

skills that will function in vari-

ous positions within the food

industry.

In Ms. Buitron

Food Production, Management

and Services class at Memorial

Middle School, students learn

the basic skills to maintain a

healthy kitchen facility.

The Food Production course

at Memorial offers an array of

information. Students began

the class by learning about

kitchen safety rules and sani-

MEMORIAL M IDDLE SCHOOL

Preparing Planters for Square Gardening Planting Fall Gardening Cold Season Crop

LIFE Goat Validation Plasma Cutting Skills Woodworking Skills

Reviving a 1951 Chevy truck. Christina, David, and Jesus performing diagnostics on a

BMW Working on the 1969 Chevy C10 Truck.

Diagnosing a BMW Z3 Roadster. The Auto-Tech team on the rebirth of the 1976 Corvette. Transmission repair on a 2000 Dodge Ram Pickup truck.

RAYMOND & T IRZA MARTIN H IGH SCHOOL

J. W. N IXON H IGH SCHOOL

The LISD Career and Technical Education Business & Marketing Programs had a successful annual advisory

meeting at Cigarroa High School on October 28. Community leaders attending this event are very involved

in our CTE programs. They advise us on how to better our programs so that our students can be successful

The Culinary Arts Department have two amazing teachers, Ms. Ginger Bueno and Ms. Betty Almazan, who are doing a

tremendous job with their students. They have a “Restaurant Day” every month, where students prepare and serve deli-

cious gourmet meals.

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The Marketing Class officers (DECA Program) attended their Leadership Conference in McAllen, where they learned about

the duties of their organization.

The Business Professionals of

America (Adm. Procedures Co-

op Class) had a car wash at

Taco Bell. It was fun, and they

learned what it is to work as a

team and cooperate with each

other.

CTE LITERACY GOALS

I. Students will read a career related article twice

monthly and demonstrate understanding in a writ-

ing opportunity.

II. Students will write weekly to complete CTE as-

signments such as Writing to Learn, Writing to

Demonstrate, and Authentic Writing.

III. Students will prepare a written report and/or

research study each semester in every CTE class.

MATH IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION APPLIED TECHNOLOGY

The Math-in-CTE is curriculum integration to enhance mathematics that is embedded in career and technical educa-

tion (CTE) content. It is a process that provides the opportunity for math and CTE teacher teams to work together in

communities of practice and to identify where math intersects with CTE concepts and applications. This process leads

to the creation of math-enhanced CTE lessons that follow a seven-element pedagogic framework.

Premised on five core principles:

Develop and sustain a community of practice

Begin with the CTE curriculum and not the Math curriculum

Understand that math is an essential workplace skill

Maximize the math in the CTE curriculum

Recognize that CTE teachers are teachers of math in CTE and not Math teachers

Math-in-CTE has a significant positive impact on student learning in mathematics with no loss to career and technical

area content. We have given some examples of Lesson integration in the following areas : Automotive Technology,

Manufacturing Technology, Welding/ Metal Design, Digital Imaging/ Graphic Arts, and Drafting. You can find these on

our webpage. CONTACT INFORMATION

Elias Alonzo ealonzo@laredoisd.org

Griselda Lozano glozano@laredoisd.org

Agustin Hernandez aghernandez@laredopisd.org