FEBRUARY IS CTE MONTH!

The New York City Department of Education, the Career and Technical Education Citywide Advisory Council and the New York State Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center will be celebrating National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month throughout February, highlighting student achievement and special events in New York City. CTE programs fuse academic rigor with real-world applications, furthering students’ readiness for both college and career. Stay tuned for exciting news all month long!  If you have a highlight you would like to share, please send the information to Marsha Iverson, NYC Field Associate for the TAC Center, at marsha@spnet.us or Jevon Williams at the Department of Education at jwilliams35@schools.nyc.gov.

February 2nd: Skills USA Comes to New York City
February 3rd: Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay Contest
February 6th: Deloitte Virtual Team Challenge
February 6th: Lenovo visits Grover Cleveland High School
February 7th: High School Students on the Job
February 8th: "We The People"
February 13th: Tottenville's Solar Car
February 14th: Business of Sports Schools receives Grant
February 14th: Tuber Surgery
February 15th: Mentor and Mentee of the Year
February 17th: NYC Students Adjourn Court for Recess
February 17th: Principal-for-a-Day
February 20th: Lenovo visits Grover Cleveland High School Cont'd
February 21st: Digital Sweet-tooth for Dentistry at Tottenville  

February 21, 2012

Digital Sweet-tooth for Dentistry at Tottenville

Dentistry students at Tottenville High School are learning about the latest developments in Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in Digital Dentistry. Their teacher, Daniel Solomon, took part in a hands-on professional development program sponsored by Sirona Dental Systems, a multinational technology firm with facilities in North Carolina that develops, manufactures, and markets dental equipment for dentists worldwide. This training program was sponsored by Sirona in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force Dental Corps at Peterson AFB in Colorado.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong employment prospects for dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and dental technicians in the coming years as current practitioners retire and the population ages.

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February 20, 2012

Lenovo visits Grover Cleveland High School Cont'd

Grover Cleveland High School in Queens has been chosen as one of five National Academy Foundation (NAF) schools across the United States to pilot a unique, innovative program by Lenovo Inc. The other schools that will participate are in North Carolina, Connecticut, Los Angeles, and Texas.
The program is a Lenovo initiative to encourage greater student interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and to strengthen 21st Century skills. Approximately 40 students in Grover Cleveland’s Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) will participate. Lenovo is providing Android-based ThinkPad Tablets and ThinkCentre HD All-in-One desktops to implement the program. Student teams will develop a working wireframe; business plan and implementation schedule for an Android-based mobile application and will be required to deliver a presentation on their project.
“To succeed in tomorrow’s workforce, students need a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics with fluency in the technologies that will power the global economy,” said Michael Schmedlen, Lenovo’s worldwide Director of Education. “This exciting program engages students via the technology and apps they use every day. Grover Cleveland High School will have the chance to participate in a rigorous and relevant curriculum that will help create our next generation of developers and entrepreneurs.”
“Grover Cleveland High School has been a leading example of what NAF career academies represent—how we can change high school education to ensure college and career success. We are pleased to be working with the faculty and students at the school to pilot this new and innovative program,” said JD Hoye, president of the National Academy Foundation.

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 February 17, 2012

Prinicipal-for-a-Day

The High School of Computers and Technology in the Bronx will celebrate “Principal for a Day” on February 17. Each year one of the school’s community business partners is picked to shadow the principal, Mr. Bruce Abramowitz, for the day. This exciting event pairs corporate and community leaders with school leaders to help strengthen their relationships. This year, the Principal for a Day is Ms. Corrine Doron, Senior Manager of Programs of Sony Technology Wonder Lab. Sony has been a corporate sponsor of the High School of Computers and Technology since 2005. Ms. Doron has built a relationship with the school and the students by working closely with their Robotics team. 

This experiment serves as a great way for the students of this Career and Technical Education High School to learn from a peer and hear about all the exciting opportunities that are out there.

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 February 17, 2012

NYC Students Adjourn Court for Recess 

An all-star team of New York City students won the final round of the International Moot Court competition, held on February 17 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. The NYC students, assembled from 12 high schools across the five boroughs, beat out ten rival teams from Buenos Aires, Caracas, St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Gdansk and The Hague. The competition, judged by a distinguished collection of jurists including judges on the International Criminal Court, measured oral argument in a fictional case concerning child soldiers.

“This is something I've been dreaming about for years,” said Debra Lesser, executive director of the Justice Resource Center (JRC), a Department of Education partner that sponsored the New York City team. JRC provides law-related education programs and curricula to 38 high schools supporting 46 total programs within New York City’s career and technical education portfolio. “I am ecstatic.”

JRC partnered with the Municipality of The Hague and the International Debate Education Association in conjunction with the International Bar Association (IBA-England), to create this first-of-its-kind event, in which students gave prepared arguments, faced verbal barrages from opposing legal teams and
answered lines of questioning from court judges.

The competition is an outgrowth of the nationally acclaimed MENTOR law firm/school partnership program. Since its launch more than 20 years ago, MENTOR has paired major law firms with New York City public high school students. The lawyers-partners and associates help students prepare for an appellate argument. Countless hours are spent analyzing and dissecting judicial opinions as well as honing oral advocacy skill.

The New York City Department of Education salutes all the winning students and the schools from which they hail:

Mishal Ayaz, John Bowne High School
Rose Balzano, James Madison High School
Shannika Campbell, Harry S Truman High School
Tyler Deharrte, Cobble Hill School of American Studies
Rafael Henriquez, Bronx High School of Science
Benjamin Hoffman, High School of American Studies at Lehman College
Alban Hoxha, Herbert H. Lehman High School
Catrina Livermore, Forest Hills High School
Christopher Llego, Sheepshead Bay High School
Juan Lopez, Flushing High School
Katherine Mallary, High School of American Studies at Lehman College
Tiana Quattruci, Herbert H. Lehman High School
Daniel Pena, Forest Hills High School
Gabriel Pariente, James Madison High School
Sophia Weinstock, Susan E. Wagner High School
Peiran Zhang, Francis Lewis High School

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February 15, 2012

Mentor and Mentee of the Year

The New York City’s Department of Education Mentoring Program recently honored their 2012 Mentor and Mentee of the Year: Brian Bergeron, of the professional association for design AIGA/NY, and Mariano Perez, a senior at the High School for Art and Design in Manhattan. Brian and Mariano met on a regular basis through the fall, developing a close relationship as Brian assisted Mariano with his college applications. The Mentoring program launched their end-of year project at The High School of Art and Design on February 9. Students and their mentors will be working in conjunction with an organization called Green Patriot Posters, to create a poster that will incite someone else to take action for the environment. Each pair will create a poster that will be exhibited at a gallery show in April that will feature work from well-known designers as well as from the mentoring program. For more information, visit Green Patriot Posters.

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February 14, 2012

Tuber Surgery

Manhattan’s High School of Health Professions regularly provides its Medical Assisting CTE students with a variety of Work Based Learning and experiential activities. Resident doctors from  neighboring Beth Israel Hospital come to the school each month and speak to the students on a variety of medical topics. Sophomores perform “surgery” on potatoes, which stand in for patients—an exercise that assists students to develop proper laboratory skills.  Other tasks enable students to practice measuring and data collection.  Students have also traveled to the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, and have watched two live surgeries: the removal of a brain tumor and the other was kidney surgery.  On February 29, they will have the opportunity to view open heart surgery.


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February 14, 2012

Business of Sports School receives Grant

The Business of Sports School (BOSS) was the recipient of a capital grant from the office of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. The grant will be used to outfit a new Macintosh laboratory for the Virtual Enterprise program at the school located on 439 West 49th Street. Borough President Springer visited BOSS on January 9, 2012 to officially cut the ribbon.  Principal Joshua Solomon and his staff welcomed guests from the Department of Education and Virtual Enterprise for the event. BOSS students, Phillip Singleton, Diego Ganam, Randy Mendez, Marcus Purvis, Alex Torres, Tianna Frye, Emony Robertson, and Valerie Nunez, spoke about their Virtual Enterprise program and thanked the Borough President for the grant. For more information about Virtual Enterprise contact Director Iris Blanc at iblanc@schools.nyc.gov


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February 13, 2012

Tottenville’s Solar Car

Teacher Charles Dazzo and the staff of Tottenville High School in Staten Island are once again proud to represent New York City in the national Solar Car Challenge this coming July.  Students in the Tottenville Green Tech Club will compete this year at the Texas Motor Speedway to pursue the first place slot.  In preparation for the July event, the Tottenville Student Crew will be exhibiting their car on March 8 at the Staten Island Green Energy Expo.  Last year Tottenville students designed and built a solar powered car and took eighth place. More than 65 teams from 20 states take part in the Solar Car Challenge. For more information about the event, please call Mr. Dazzo at 917-842-4209 or Solar Car Challenge's website.

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February 8, 2012

“We the People”

The Justice Resource Center, New York City’s leading provider of law-related and civic education programs and curricula, is pleased to report that the Edward R. Murrow High School team placed first among TK teams in New York City in December 2011.  The team then placed second in the academic, rigorous “We The People”:  Bill of Rights and the Constitution program at the New York State level on January 14, 2012.  Students are required to present on constitutional issues before panels of judges.  The competition tests students’ knowledge on questions ranging from historical references to current cases. The Justice Resource Center and the New York State Bar Association are sponsors of the NYC and NYS programs. For more information about JRC, visit online at www.jrcnyc.org or contact program director Debra Lesser at dlesser@schools.nyc.gov
 

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February 7, 2012

High School Students On The Job

Approximately 260 students enrolled in Academies throughout New York City will be participating in job shadowing experiences throughout February and early March. Students from high schools including Richmond Hill, Grace Dodge, Ft. Hamilton, John Dewey, Bronx High School of Law and Finance, James Madison, Jacqueline Onassis, New Utrecht, Manhattan Bridges, High School of Enterprise, Business, and Technology, Grover Cleveland, Susan Wagner, Erasmus, Port Richmond, and City Polytechnic will join workers at participating firms for a day, following them through their activities and learning about their fields of work.  Among the firms participating are Accenture, Moodys, Citi, TIAA-CREF, The Four Seasons, The Sherry Netherland, The Ritz-Carlton, Hilton Garden Inn, Marriott, 414 Hotel, Citi Institutional Clients Group, Fitch Ratings, Four Seasons Hotel, Futures and Options, Hampton Inn, Intercontinental, Mondrian Soho, Museum of Financial History, New Yorker, and the Waldorf Astoria. 

“We view the job shadowing event as a way to develop the next generation of potential employees in our organization,” said Michael Littler, executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer at the Sherry Netherland Hotel, a five-star establishment near Central Park. “Even if students decide that the industry isn’t for them they’re able to take away a business experience that can be invaluable.” The New York City Academies represent a partnership between public and private sectors committed to bringing career-themed education to public high school students. Founded in 1982, with collaboration of the National Academy Foundation (NAF) and the New York City Department of Education, Academies in 32 high schools across the five boroughs now serve over 4,000 students each year.     
The themes of New York City's Academies are Engineering (AOE), Finance (AOF), Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT), and Technology (AOIT). Students Participate in an industry-validated curriculum in addition to their New York State Regents requirements. Nationally, 90 percent of Academy students attend college. To learn about the New York City Academies, visit their website or contact the NYC Director, Regina Flannery at rflannery@schools.nyc.gov.      

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February 6, 2011

Lenovo visits Grover Cleveland High School

Technology giant Lenovo is visiting Grover Cleveland High School in Queens on February 7th to kick off its Mobile App Curriculum project, an innovative program to teach mobile app development to high school students across the United States. The project is a partnership with the National Academy Foundation (NAF), which maintains Academies of Information Technology at TK high schools across the five boroughs. The event will include a short meet and greet around 11:30 followed by the class beginning at 12:16. Grover Cleveland is one of five schools from the national NAF network to participate, along with Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles, Pathways to Technology Magnet School in Hartford, Conn., and A.J. Moore Academy of Information and Technology in Waco, Texas. Ultimately, the Mobile App Curriculum will be available to all NAF 100 Academies of Information Technology. 

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February 6, 2012

Deloitte Team Challenge

With registration open now, Deloitte will be hosting their “Virtual Team Challenge.” The Virtual Team Challenge, starting February 13th, will give participants a taste of the different aspects of working as an employee of a fictional professional services firm. Every participant will fulfill one of several roles on a simulated professional services team and compete against other teams to clean up an oil spill in the river of New City. At the conclusion of the Challenge, Deloitte will be making a real-world donation to the United Way on behalf of winning teams so you can really make a difference for people less fortunate than you are! The Virtual Team Challenge is open to all North American high schools willing to participate and we hope that your school decides to show them what NYC has to offer. To learn more about registering your school, visit the Virtual Team Challenge website. 

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February 3, 2012

Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay Contest

The Association for Career and Technical Education sponsors an essay contest in the memory of former ACTE Senior Director of Communications Cliff Weiss (1951-2004). Cliff Weiss had a passion for career and technical education. He believed very strongly in the value of CTE and always felt privileged to be involved in bringing the message of this value to the public. Cliff shared his gift for writing and with it enhanced everything that was done at ACTE. The purpose of this contest is to recognize CTE students who share the same passion and talents. One entry in each category, secondary and postsecondary persuasive essay and open multimedia essay, will be selected to receive an award of $150. Entrants must be either secondary or postsecondary students enrolled in at least one career and technical education course. Entries must be submitted between Feb. 1 and March 9. Winners will be announced by the end of March. The 2012 CTE Month theme is CTE: Careers Through Education. How do you feel CTE prepares individuals, including yourself, for a future career?  For more information about this essay contest, visit Association for Career and Technical Education's  website. 

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February 2, 2012

SkillsUSA Comes To New York City

New York City high schools are deeply engaged with SkillsUSA, a national partnership of students, teachers, and industry leaders that serves more than 300,000 students and instructors each year. Currently there are 11 New York City schools that have active SkillsUSA chapters. Students from these 11 schools will be competing in the first annual NYC SkillsUSA Competition on Saturday, February 11 at Thomas A. Edison CTE High School, the first such competition to be held in New York City since the 1980s. Competing CTE students from across the five boroughs will have the opportunity to exhibit their skills in their specific CTE area of study. The competition will contain two parts, a written examination and a hands-on performance task. The first, second, and third place winners in each CTE program will be recognized on the day of the event.  This event is open to the public and will be hosted Thomas A. Edison CTE High School located at 165-65 84th Avenue,  Jamaica, NY 11432.  Edison Principal Anthony Barbetta recently said, "SkillsUSA is an excellent opportunity for students to develop leadership roles while also demonstrating their knowledge and skill sets in CTE." For more information, please contact Moses Ojeda, Assistant Principal for CTE at Thomas A. Edison at mojeda@schools.nyc.gov or visit the SkillsUSA's website.

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