Students of the Month for February, 2009

Melissa Eastman , Machining Technology, AM , Harper Creek

Megan Williams, Environmental Sciences Technology, PM, Lakeview

Students of the Month for March, 2009

Brittany Walter, 21st Century Health Careers, AM, Harper Creek

Lauren Murray, 21st Century Health Careers , AM, Lakeview

Here are just a few words the staff used when describing their students:

Melissa is a very talented non-traditional occupations student who does high quality, precision work. She is someone who can always be counted on to challenge herself to make sure everything is "a job well done". She's an excellent worker who exemplifies the term "teamwork" and is a great role model for her classmates.

Megan is an inquisitive learner who spends time on her own to discover more of whatever her class is studying. She settles for nothing but her best effort. She is willing to come to the greenhouse on school breaks to make sure her plants are well taken care of and everything is in order. Her cheerful mood and sense of humor is appreciated by staff and students alike.

Brittany is extremely dependable, self motivated and has a strong desire to learn everything she can about health careers. Her maturity allows her to work exceedingly well with students and her patients on clinical rotations. She's compassionate, honest, and very responsible.

Lauren consistently has her work completed early or on time. She recently placed first in the HOSA Regional Human Growth and Development knowledge test . She's dedicated, dependable and a very positive person. Lauren strives for excellence in all that she does and reaches her goal.

CTE Makes CACC a Formula for Success!

Career and technical education is about helping students, workers, and lifelong learners of all ages fulfill their working potential (Association for Career and Technical Education, 2008).

The Calhoun Area Career Center (CACC) integrates academic knowledge with technical skills, providing well rounded educational opportunities for any student serviced by the Calhoun Intermediate School District. We are not just preparing students for jobs after high school. Students today need more than just a high school education, and our mission is to prepare them for their post-secondary journey. Integrating technical and career training gives meaning and relevance to their academics.

The CACC is about preparing students for careers with:

• Academic subject matter taught with relevance to the real world, often called contextual learning.

• Employability skills, from job-related skills to workplace ethics, where career pathways help

students explore interests and careers in the process of progressing through school.

• Partnerships with community, business, and industry to give the classroom real world

relevance.

The Calhoun Area Career Center (CACC) is a public secondary school operated by the Calhoun Intermediate School District, located in Battle Creek, MI. We are an extension of local public and private schools providing career and technical education to primarily 11th and 12th grade students. The CACC accepts and serves ALL demographics of students from special populations to the academically gifted. Students attend the Center for one-half of their school day and their sending school the other half.

Currently, the CACC offers 18 programs following the Michigan Career Pathways model. While attending the Center, students may earn college credits through dual enrollment or articulation. Several student organizations are available that enhance classroom learning. These organizations provide leadership training, team work, and opportunities to network with professionals in their career field.

Our staff in the Student and Career Services Department provides academic and technical support as well as career counseling and student service resources. We employ academic specialists in core content areas to collaboratively work with programs to integrate elements of the Michigan Merit Curriculum into our instruction.

Partnerships with industry and post-secondary institutions have grown over the years. Our longstanding relationship with Battle Creek Health System, Kellogg Community College, public safety departments, Regional Manufacturing Technology Center (RMTC), and others all support student learning and work experiences.

Benefits for students attending the CACC include:

• Dual Enrollment - Many of our programs incorporate a dual enrollment option for those who qualify. This year alone, students earned 585 dual enrollment credits representing a savings of more than $53,000 in tuition.

• Certifications - Students are able to earn professional certifications by meeting industry standards and passing the required industry exams.

• Articulation - Many colleges will award credit for competencies achieved through coursework at the CACC if they are the same as the entry-level college class. The credit is given to the student when they enroll at the post-secondary institution at no cost!

• Work-Based Learning - The CACC develops training agreements with local employers to provide hands-on, real world experiences for students through job shadows, unpaid work experiences, and co-op placements to link theory and practice in the world of work.

• Scholarships - There are many opportunities to graduating seniors that are exclusive to students who attend the CACC. The amounts vary from year to year but range from $150,000 to $200,000.

How does a student take advantage of the opportunities at the CACC?

Enrollment is through their local district. Home-schooled students can attend but must also enroll through their school district. Contact the CACC or your school counselor for more information and discover how academics, technical skills, and collaborative partnerships add up to a formula for success!