M ESSAGE FROM OUR D IRECTOR

CTE SHOWCASE

Volume 1, Issue 2 March 2009

COMING EVENTS:

Career Week March 30—April 3, 2009

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

High Schools, Magnet

School, Early College

2

Middle Schools 3

Nixon Hs A closer Look 4-6

As more than half of the year is behind us, it is time

to start celebrating our suc-cesses and plan corrective ac-

tion for those challenges we still

face. First of all, I would like to commend all the CTE family

for taking part in insuring that student success is our first prior-

ity. Congratulations to all of you in the competitions these

past months and at the L.I.F.E.

fair.

Regarding the chal-

lenges we still face, our primary

objective is to insure that we correct any issues that became

evident during TEA’s visit in February. We also need to keep

doing those things that will help

our program grow and prosper. Like the country, we too are

faced with economic challenges that limit all we want to do; and

sadly, we may not be bailed out

like others. Our stimulus pack-age, however, comes from im-

proving and increasing student attendance. We also will be

helped by better defining and establishing our Career Acad-

emies. Once students are filtered

into these four year academies, we will be able to even double

our funding.

On another note, I would also like to thank you, as

the CTE family, for your com-mitment to the program and for

your part in supporting the core

areas. This year we saw how

CTE is truly measured by

the same ac-

countability as the core areas.

I would like to thank everyone

for their com-mitment to sup-

porting

CSCOPE, DDA, the integration of core areas in

our curriculum, and addressing all students. The CTE family

clearly understands that our stu-dents are the future of the com-

munity and it is our charge to

prepare them.

Elias Alonzo

CTE Director

Congressman Henry Cuellar was sworn

into Office at his Alma Mater, Nixon

High School. The culinary students pre-

pared and served the meal.

Career and Technical Education

Newsletter

Page 2

the students about the new ex-

hibit called CSI: The Experi-

ence. It will be open fall 2009

through spring 2010. At the

moment the exhibit is portable.

Workers are building the ex-

hibit in the museum.

Herndon showed the students a

video about the exhibit and also

showed a little about Ron

Singer, Tarrant County Crime

Lab supervisor.

After the video the students got

to talk to Singer about Forensic

Science. While Singer spoke he

showed the students a Power-

Point presentation, about Fo-

rensic Science. He explained

many things such as why in-

sects are important to a crime

scene.

The students did go on a virtual field

trip to Fort Worth though, to the Fort

Worth Museum of Science and His-

tory. They were the first students to test

Distance Learning.

Blumberg, BCIS instructor, and a lady

named Anne Herndon, assistant direc-

tor of School Services for the museum,

set up the video conference, held on

Wednesday, Feb. 11.

“I think it was successful but you

should ask my students,” said Blum-

berg of the video conference.

“It was very fun and informative,” said

Isaac Garcia, junior steel drums stu-

dent, when asked about the video con-

ference.

“It was a very educational conference,”

said Nubia Alfaro, junior steel drums

student, about the conference.

Herndon from the museum spoke to

When asked

why Blumberg chose the exhibit

he said, “I really just wanted to

show the distance learning, but

I thought it (the video confer-

ence) was interesting.”

There will be a video confer-

ence with distance learning for

Blumberg’s afternoon students,

and other teachers are inter-

ested in using it, he said.

MT photo by Tanya Salas

Students took a virtual field trip to the

Fort Worth Museum of Science and

History on February 11 from the dis-

tance learning center at the library. On

the screen is Ron Singer, Tarrant

County Crime Lab supervisor.

V IDAL M. TREVINO MAGNET SCHOOL

Class takes virtual field trip

to Fort Worth museum

By Lisa Valdez

MT staff writer

David Blumberg’s morning

students went on a field trip

to Fort Worth. Well the

truth is that they went to the

school library.

integrating E-Chalk into their learning as more college and

employment training programs are moving to using online cur-

riculums. The use of the dis-

cussion board feature on E-Chalk has also been useful in

the classroom as students are required to integrate their tech-

nology skills along with their writing skills. The class discus-

sion board provides a writing

component to the course that

allows students to write about the given topic and then re-

spond to each other. The online discussion has an added

benefit of allowing students

who may be reluctant to raise their hand in class the opportu-

nity to offer an opinion on the discussion board. The use of E-

chalk also allows students to submit work in class or from

any computer with Internet

access.

Online Learning at

Early College

In Mr. Balli’s BCIS classes, students are moving away from

using the printer to submit their computer produced work as

they are now required to submit

all assignments using the E-Chalk electronic drop box.

Students are benefiting from

EARLY COLLEGE TAMIU CAMPUS

The students at the Early College

High School are utilizing E-Chalk features to prepare for

RAYMOND & T IRZA MARTIN H IGH SCHOOL

Ms. Laura Hovel with Vir-

tual Finance Course stu-

dents working on a busi-

ness project

Family & Consumer Science stu-

dents using infant stimulators

(robotic babies) for class participa-

tion as parents. Also, the empathy

belly to see how it feels to carry a

child while being pregnant.

Agriculture Science students demon-

strating fund raising projects for their

club (FFA).

in becoming a health profes-sional, coach, personal trainer, or chef.

The FPM students would like to share one of their favorite recipes.

EASY CHIP

COOKIES

This recipe is for one regular size *Betty Crocker, *Duncan Hines or *Pillsbury cake mix. This recipe will make approxi-mately 3 to 4 dozen cookies.

If you desire you may use a Jiffy cake mix. If you do, you will need to reduce the amount of vegetable oil to 2 tablespoons, use only 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water. Re-duce the amount of chips used to ½ cup and the amount of nuts to 1/4 cup. Jiffy mix cookies will make about 1 ½ dozen cookies

1 box regular size cake mix (chocolate or yellow)

2 eggs

½ cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts) optional

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Students enrolled in

Food Production Management classes are learning the ba-sics of food preparation in a commercial setting. The course of study stresses the importance of good nutrition and the importance of eating a variety of foods, using the Food Pyramid as a guide. Students have developed an understanding of recipe for-mats, cooking terms, equip-ment and utensils, equivalents and abbreviations used in cooking, and safety and sani-tation practices. This class is suggested for those interested

LOUIS J. CHRISTEN M IDDLE SCHOOL 1 cups of chips (chocolate, but-terscotch, or peanut butter)2 Tbsp. water

1. Combine cake mix, oil, wa-ter, and eggs in a large bowl. Mix well.

2. Stir in chips and nuts.

3. Drop by teaspoonfuls or use a cookie scoop to drop dough onto ungreased cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper.

4. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for12 minutes or until done.

5. Cool on cooling racks.

DR . JOAQUIN G. C IGARROA M IDDLE SCHOOL

to make the best cards.

Also, Ms. Sillas’ students baked

and decorated cookies and

cakes at the Federal and Con-

sumer Science class. Different

molds and designs were used to

create personalized Valentine’s

gifts.

Furthermore, “Ode to my Job”

poems and cards using Micro-

soft Publisher were created by

Ms. Villa’s students in the Ca-

reer Investigation and Connec-

tion classes. Students also speci-

fied five steps to be followed in

order to obtain the “Job they

Love”.

Mr. Munoz’s Building Trades

class created hearts out of wood

using the different machines in

class.

Finally, Mrs. Broze and

Ms. Ramirez’s Key-

boarding classes typed

wonderful virtual Valen-

tine’s Day cards

Love is in the air in

Bulldogland!

Cigarroa Middle School stu-

dents got prepared for Valen-

tine’s Day at their different

CTE classes through projects

and activities.

In the Graphic Design class,

Mr. Long’s students worked

arduously on their cards about

love and friendship. Students

combined their talent and inno-

vation with technology in order

The class is a semester long

course and is a preparation

course for Keyboarding (year-

long and 8th grade only). Stu-

dents also learn the basics on

preparing basic business docu-

ments like business & personal

letters, reports, memos, and

statistics using Excel.

The students are taught real life

and business situations in the

class. They must be aware of

the growing

technology in

the business world and how to

apply what they learn to real life

situations.

Students are also aware of how

technology enable us to move to

a paper-less environment using

the proper tools in the business

and technology world.

In Mr. Garza’s Introduction to

Keyboarding class students

learn the basic keystroking tech-

niques and position on the key-

board. Students are taught the

alphanumeric keys and the ten-

numeric keypad using the vari-

ous MS Office software pro-

grams.

MEMORIAL M IDDLE SCHOOL

Newsletter Title Page 4

J. W. N IXON H IGH SCHOOL

Advertising Design

A Closer Look at Nixon Mustangs

Advertising Design students under the direction of Mr. Joe Olivares.

Left: A student is working on the computer

using PhotoShop to prepare his project for

competition.

Right: Hiram Peralta, Kennia Lopez, and

Lisa Palacios are getting ready for competi-

tion at Life Downs.

Students use different resources to complete their projects. They use Photoshop, pastels, pencils, charcoal, and other means.

Our students for Advertising Design did exceptionally well at Life Downs.

Gabriela Sanchez placed 1st , Marlene Fernandez got Reserved Grand Cham-

pion, and 2nd and 3rd place Kennia Lopez got Honorable Mention.

These are our students that have learned a skill and have been rewarded.

Mr. Joe Olivares, Advertising Design Teacher with

Ms. Marlene Fernandez, who got Reserved Grand

Champion at Life Downs.

Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5

J. W. N IXON H IGH SCHOOL

Auto Collision

Students have to understand the concepts of mathematics in mixing the

paint .

Students sand the part of the car that needs to be painted. Students also work hard

in removing the rust and sanding each part of the car. Mr. Valdez is always on

hand to instruct students on the procedures for fixing the parts of the car.

Auto Collision students under the direction of Mr. Chris Valdez.

Our students learning the trade of Automotive Collision under the direction of Mr.

Chris Valdez. When the student finishes with the program, they will be able to

work at an entry level position.

Cosmetology

Cosmetology students under

the direction of Mr. Martin

Rodriguez are learning proper

and correct techniques and to

set hair.

J. W. N IXON H IGH SCHOOL

It is the policy of the Laredo Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in it's

Educational programs, services or activities, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational

Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Es norma de Laredo I.S.D. el no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo o impedimento, en sus programas, servicios o

actividades, tal como lo requieren el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, según enmienda; el Título IX de las Enmiendas en la

Educación de 1972, y la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973, según la enmienda.

Simon is getting ready to display his gorgeous chicken. He placed 3rd. Luan is confident with her project. Andy Garcia is showing off his

beautiful lamb to the audience. Pepe is getting ready to show his lamb at the Life Downs Fair. Lorena Reyes and Darnela Villarreal keep

their chickens cool during the event.

FFA

Hard work does pay off.

Luan Montano

Grand Champion

Stephanie Villarreal

Reserve Grand Champion

Life Fair 2009 @ Life Downs