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Technology Day Held at School of Career & Technical Education

Pictured above:  A representative from BMH-Union County talks about the importance of ATV safety.

The School of Career & Technical Education (SCTE) hosted “Technology Day” on Thursday, May 6.  The purpose of the day was to introduce New Albany High School and Career & Technical students to the advanced and diverse technology that is being used in industries.

Medical, law enforcement, government, and other agencies participated in the event and talked with students about the various types of technology they use in their jobs. 

One popular area where the students gathered was among the different health care agencies including the Mississippi Department of Health and Baptist Memorial Hospital – Union County.

Students had the opportunity to see more than $200,000 worth of equipment that is used by the Department of Health.  “The students were very interested in learning how thermal imaging is used to test for radioactivity and for harmful chemicals,” said Jalon Bullock, an instructor at the SCTE and the coordinator of Technology Day.

Drew Cummings, a second year student in Allied Health at the SCTE, said she enjoyed visiting the hospital’s tent because she is interested in a career in the health care industry.  “I was able to assist with the Bone Density Screenings and learn more about technology used in cholesterol testing,” Cummings said.

Another exciting attraction for the students was watching the Air Evac helicopter land.  Students were given the opportunity to take a look inside the helicopter and talk with Air Evac personnel about technology they use in their daily work.

Agencies participating included: Baptist Memorial Hospital – Union County; Mississippi National Guard; Tennessee Valley Authority; Mississippi Organ Recovery; New Albany Police Department; Union County Sheriff’s Department; Mississippi Forestry Commission; Northeast Mississippi Community College; Air Evac; New Albany Fire Department; Mississippi Highway Patrol; Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries & Parks; Mississippi Department of Health; Blue Mountain College; and University of Mississippi.

Pictured below:  Students visit with representatives from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks.

Pictured below:  NAPD Officer Stuart Dodds discusses some of the types of technology the Police Department uses.

Pictured below:  Students take a look a the Air Evac helicopter.

Pictured below:  Representatives with the Tennessee Valley Authority demonstrates how they use infrared cameras in their jobs.

SCTE Celebrates Nontraditional Day

Pictured above:  Caleb Smith, a 9th Grade STEM student, reads to Pre-K student Camryn Rainwater.  Smith was participating in Nontraditional Day activities.

Susan Feather and Christy Paul, Student Services Coordinators at the School of Career and Technical Education, were recently awarded a $1,300 grant from the Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Vocational Education and Workforce Development. The purpose of this grant is to provide nontraditional services to eligible high school students in Mississippi. This year’s theme is “A World of Opportunities” and this is the 5th year this grant has been awarded.

“Our nontraditional enrollment has increased substantially since the first grant was awarded in 2005-2006,” stated Feather. “The first year the total nontraditional enrollment was 15 and this year there are 64 nontraditional students.” In order to be designated as a nontraditional student, a student must be a certain gender in a specific class. For example, boys in Early Childhood Services and girls in Auto Services or Building Trades are considered nontraditional students.

Nontraditional Day was celebrated on Tuesday, February 16. Students in Jalon Bullock’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) classes visited one of eight technical/skill classes offered at the School of Career and Technical Education. Prior to Nontraditional Day, the STEM students filled out a form stating their interest in exploring a program as a nontraditional student. During this visit the technical/skill instructor and his or her students will provide a “How To Clinic” related to the program to allow STEM students to learn about the opportunities available to those who choose to prepare to work in a nontraditional setting.

Monies from the grant were used to provide supplies for the following How To Clinics:
Allied Health: Learn proper handwashing techniques
Auto Services: Learn proper procedure for checking oil & tire pressure
Business & Computer Technology: Design PowerPoint presentation
Building Trades: Build bluebird house
Culinary Arts: Learn proper measuring techniques & how to follow recipe
Drafting: Explore CADD program
Early Childhood Education: Learn how to read books to children
Technology Applications: Make name tags using CNC

At the conclusion of Nontraditional Day, STEM students were given a brochure featuring nontraditional opportunities at the School of Career and Technical Education. In addition, a note will be sent to the parents of these students informing them of the activities that took place on Nontraditional Day.

“Students seem to enjoy this special day and our instructors and their students work diligently to make Nontraditional Day a success,” said Christy Paul.

Pictured below:  Cody Cissom, a nontraditional Allied Health student, leads a "How To Clinic" on proper handwashing techniques.

FBLA Students Win at Northern District Conference

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Northern District Conference was held Thursday, January 14, 2010, at Itawamba Community College in Tupelo, Mississippi. Students from the New Albany School of Career and Technical Education competed in a variety of areas from Networking Concepts to Impromptu Speaking. The following students were recognized as winners at the district level:

Taylor McCreight - 4th Place; Business Procedures

Austin Taylor - 4th Place; Networking Concepts

Taylor Watson - 2nd Place; Impromptu Speaking

Ammy Hill, Andrea Williams, and Kayla Browning - 2nd Place; Banking and Financial Systems

Katie Aderholt - 6th Place; Business Communications

Drew Davis, Hannah Prater, Haven Boyd, Rebecca Taylor, and Joshua Googe - 2nd place; Parliamentary Procedure

District winners will attend the 2010 FBLA State Leadership Conference in Jackson, Mississippi in April, where they will compete with other FBLA members from across the state. Alison Moore, Business and Computer Technology teacher at the New Albany School of Career and Technical Education, serves as the FBLA advisor.

NASA Teams with Mississippi High Schools to Create Space Hardware

Pictured above:  NASA Engineer Bob Zeek explains a set of drawings to members of the HUNCH team.

Bay St. Louis, Miss. – NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center announced plans November 9 to team with students at four Mississippi high schools to develop prototype hardware for the next-generation rockets being built to carry humans beyond low-Earth orbit.

During the next few months, students at East Central High School in Hurley, Gulfport High School, New Albany School of Career & Technical Education (SCTE), and Petal High School will participate in the High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) initiative.

Their assignment is to partner with NASA engineers and mentors and use materials provided by the space agency to develop prototype models for the next generation J-2X engine and the Ares I rocket. Both are being built as part of NASA’s Constellation Program plan to transport astronauts to the International Space Station after the space shuttle is retired and to explore destinations beyond low-Earth orbit.

“This is not just a simulation of work experiences – it is actual work-world experience, as students collaborate with peers and NASA engineers to develop a real product,” explained Cheryl Guilbeau, Elementary and Secondary Projects Coordinator for the Stennis Education Office.

HUNCH was launched in 2003 and expanded to include Stennis Space Center this year. The Mississippi schools participating in the initiative were notified on November 9 and took part in a kickoff teleconference on November 10.

Guilbeau and Bob Zeek, the lead NASA HUNCH engineer, visited the SCTE on Wednesday, December 9 to meet with the students and teachers that will be involved in the HUNCH project.

Participating student teams receive project specifications form NASA, as well as materials needed to construct a prototype model and software to create computer-assisted designs. Through March, students will create such designs, then build prototype models of their product based on those designs. NASA engineers will use those models for hands-on, table-top discussion and for checking their functional fit in a full-scale space vehicle mockup. The models will be unveiled at an Awards Day ceremony at Stennis Space Center on April 23, 2010.

In addition to introducing students to a real-world work experience, the goal of the HUNCH initiative is to inspire high school students to pursue careers in science, technology, or engineering fields.

“HUNCH is a win-win for NASA, schools, and students,” Guilbeau said. “NASA is inspiring the next generations workforce and gaining parts for the Ares mockup. Students are developing communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to succeed in the workforce.”

HUNCH teams include faculty leads and 10-15 student team members who will work with NASA mentors. The teams also have support from local school systems, industry partners, media representatives, and nonprofit organizations, Guilbeau added.

Members of the HUNCH team at SCTE include: Austin Richey, Justin Jarvis, Hunter Surles, Tyler Duff, Maxx Williams, Bryan Dunnam, Madi Van Zile, Micha Washington, Bob Kelly, Amanda Frazier, Luke Foley, Byron Rowe, Shannon Dye, Joe Male, Amanda Hill, Thomas King, Savannah Owen, Cassius Clay, Corderica Hale, Jonah Zahller, Arturo Valles, and Michael Russell.

Faculty Advisors for the HUNCH team are Earl Richard, Kevin Wigington, Jalon Bullock, LaTrina Bynum, Paula Windham, Brooke McClain, and Carey Crain.

Building Trades Classes Build Dug Out for Soccer Team

Students from the New Albany-Union County School of Career and Technical Education are putting what they learn into practical use. The Building Trades classes planned, laid out, constructed, transported, poured foundation for and erected this 5’ x 18’ dug out for the Soccer Field at the New Albany Sportsplex.

They used hand and power tools for wood framing, installing metal siding, installing metal roofing, laying out and pouring concrete foundation, and erecting the structure. The project required that the students use math, cost estimating, reading blue prints, measuring, cutting, nailing, screwing, excavating and painting to complete the assignment.

They had to use their engineering, problem solving and critical thinking skills to figure how to transport and properly get the project onto the previously poured concrete foundation.

Mr. Billy Matkins is the Building Trades Instructor.

Pictured are the Building Trades Classes with the finished dug out:

Building Trades II (1st/2nd Periods):  L-R:  Instructor Billy Matkins, Billy Williams, Jeffrey Coleman, Errad Bell, Tyler Gibson, Cody Fowler, Fabian Guzman, Chad Browning, Brian Gilliam

Building Trades I (3rd/4th Periods):  L-R:  Instructor Billy Matkins, Cory Evans, Joey Burks, Brandon Self, Steven Nix, Zach Spencer, Alan Boyd, Billy Bullock, Bo Williams, Rachel Smith.  Not Pictured:  Stephen Gray, Stephen Page, Jacob Stewart, Trey Leggett, Lakendrick Strong.

Building Trades I (5th/6th Periods):  Front Row L-R:  Instructor Billy Matkins, Robert Dukes, Chelcey Samples, Cody Robbins, Candee Kagey, Cecilia Lemus, Samantha Buse, Justin Kirk, Jacob Douglass, Cortez Pearson.  Back Row L-R:  Jordan Hall, Tyler Bowling, J.D. Frazier, A.J. Smith, Zack Brock.

Workplace Skills Students Complete Entrepreneurship Project

Pictured above are:  Allen Ball, Kayla Browning, Layla Verrell, Centario Biggs, Andrea Williams, Jeannie Lofton, Adrian Gamble, Jessica Lee, Brianna Witherspoon, Trinity Ingram, Eric Johnson, Marc Hall, Ammy Hill, Austin Taylor

On Tuesday, November 10, 2009, students enrolled in Alison Moore’s Workplace Skills for the 21st Century class, participated in a unique activity involving many of New Albany’s downtown merchants. The students, all juniors and seniors from New Albany High School, Myrtle Attendance Center, and East Union Attendance Center, are currently studying entrepreneurship and learning about what it takes to start a business. 

The students were taken downtown where they interviewed business owners in the following stores: The Bead Shack, The Blue Rose, Calico Mushroom, The Coffee Addict, Latham’s, Moda, Rick’s Wix/Antique Mall, Rodeo Salon, T. Sappington & Co., Something Special, Southern Traditions, Slab Stone Surfaces, Two Doors Down, and Van Atkins.

Students asked the storeowners a variety of questions about how the businesses began, when they originally opened, how they have changed, and the stresses of owning a business. 

The purpose of the project was to not only learn about entrepreneurship, but to also learn about the history of downtown New Albany. “The time spent with the store owners was very enjoyable for all of the students involved,” said Moore. “They were made to feel welcome in each store and had only positive things to say about the interviewing process. This real-world project was an excellent experience for my students, and we have the participating merchants of downtown New Albany to thank for its success.”

After conducting the interviews, the students returned to the classroom and created presentations based on their interviews and will soon share their findings with many of the other students enrolled in the New Albany School of Career and Technical Education.

Digital Media Technology Offered at School of Career & Technical Education

Instructor Mallorie Biffle helps Kelsey Hodges create a collage in the Digital Media Technology lab.

Students at the New Albany School of Career & Technical Education (SCTE) are among the first high school students in the state to be enrolled in a Digital Media Technology Program and have access to an Apple computer lab.

This is the first year for the program to be offered to high school students.  In addition to the New Albany SCTE, Pearl-Rankin Career Center; Calhoun County Vocational Center, and McComb are also offering the course. 

Mallorie Biffle, a Technology Teacher Education graduate of Mississippi State University (MSU), is the instructor for the course.  She is currently working to complete her Digital Media Technology certification.  This past summer she attended training at Hinds Community College and MSU.  She will continue her training during the school year by attending workshops and completing on-line courses. 

This past summer Biffle, along with Dr. Charles Garrett, Superintendent; Jackie Ford, Assistant Superintendent; and Kelly Coltharp, Director of Special Services traveled to California.  There, they toured the Apple Headquarters and learned how Apple resources could benefit education.

The new lab includes fifteen student computers, seven graphic tablets, a flat screen television, a wide format printer, and digital cameras.

Fifty-three students in grades 9-12 from New Albany High School are enrolled in the Digital Media Technology Program.  The first year course focuses on photography and graphic design.  Next year students from the Union County School District will have the opportunity to take the course.  Also, a second year course that focuses on webpage design will be offered for those that complete the course this school year.

The program emphasizes techniques and tools of creative design and focuses on the basics of computer graphics, multimedia, and animation.  This year students will complete units of study relating to the History of Apple, Media Literacy and Ethics, Advertising, Photography, and Flash Animation.

“Our students spend a lot of time using technology outside of school,” Biffle said referring to students’ use of cell phones, iPods, and game systems such as Wii.  “It is great that we can continue to bring a variety of technology into the school where our students have access to it and learn more about it.”

New Albany & Union County Students Attend College & Career Night

Northeast Mississippi Community College Counselor Curt Langley (left), answers questions regarding housing during College and Career Night.

More than 300 students and parents attended College and Career Night at the School of Career and Technical Education on Thursday, September 24.  College and Career Night was held in conjunction with New Albany High School’s Senior Parent Night.

Approximately thirty representatives from colleges, universities, armed forces, and local businesses were on hand to offer essential information to those in attendance.

Local banks discussed financial aid while other businesses gave students various opportunities to explore many career options.  Colleges and universities, as well as the armed forces, used the time to recruit prospective students.

 “This event provides both students and parents critical information to future success and truly serves us all by ensuring a brighter tomorrow for the individual student, their family, and the community, said Curt Langley, Counselor at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

Langley added that attendance and participation by both students and parents was very impressive.   “The New Albany and Union County School Districts should be applauded for continuing to host outstanding College & Career events.”

Anna Cagle, counselor at the School of Career and Technical Education, was responsible for organizing College and Career Night.  Cagle, who was pleased with the event stated, “I enjoyed seeing students interact with representatives from colleges and local businesses.”  She continued, “Seeing them receive more detailed information about career and educational opportunities was great.”