Brenda - Administrator

Working with 3 different school districts, ECMD instructors have done an amazing job of juggling late starts, early outs and no-school days.  We’ve stayed on track!  It is an exciting time as many of our students are beginning internship experiences.  The hands-on activities and skills developed in the first part of the school year are now being transferred to the “real world.”

In a recent edition of the Wall Street Journal (1/15/2010) Mike Rustigan, a professor emeritus at San Jose University, wrote, “Not every student needs to go to college.  There are plenty of high school kids who find college-prep classes boring and irrelevant.  Most of these kids are not lazy or defiant: they just want to work with their hands, learn a skill and pursue a solid, honorable, blue-collar trade after high school.”

He goes on to say, “According to a growing number of demographers and labor experts, the United States will soon be experiencing a severe shortage of skilled workers.  Blue collar baby boomers are retiring, but schools aren’t preparing the next generation to take their place.”  But, that is exactly what ECMD is doing! 

Whether students plan to pursue a blue collar trade, or if they want to learn a skill that they can put to use as they work toward college degrees, ECMD offers a first step!  Student in all member districts are registering for next year’s courses.  We encourage each of them to consider a Career and Technical Education course!

 

FEBRUARY is Career and Technical Education Month!

Denny – Building Trades

The new year finds the Building Trades I classes beginning the painting phase in their home construction.  A primer coat is now being applied to be followed by color coats.  The next processes will include finishing of woodwork, installing interior doors, extension jams and woodwork.  The students are also completing their model home unit.  Building Trades II students are working with their personal projects and will complete them prior to starting their Internship projects.

 

Nita – Health Occupations/Pro Med

Both Pro Med and Health Occupations students have studied decubiti, Standard Precautions, the Digestive, Respiratory and Circulatory systems. Pro Med students focused on diseases like Pyloric Stenosis, Sickle Cell Anemia and Cystic Fibrosis in their studies of the body systems. Both classes have also had a final skills test taking each other's vital signs. Students have also studied patient safety and transfers using wheelchairs, gate belts and beds. Nov. 6th Tonya Schoenfelder, MS, discussed careers and gave a wellness presentation to all students. Dec. 14 students visited the SDSU Anatomy Lab under the direction of Andrew Ellis, MS.

 

Health Occupations students have completed separate skills training involving making occupied beds and performing range of motion exercises on each other.

Kim - Marketing
 
The Marketing II students worked extremely hard for their 12 Days of Christmas sales contest. The students had the opportunity to qualify daily for the grand prize of a Best Buy gift card. Congratulations to Meghan Nelson who was the contest winner! As part of their philanthropic project for December, the Marketing II students also raised $225 for the Brookings Backpack Project.
 
The Marketing I students completed their Job Application Modules, along with their personal Victory Logs. They then participated in an interactive unit dealing with the movie "The Devil Wears Prada", in which they evaluated different on-the-job scenarios such as interviews, training, co-worker relations and other issues, along with how they could directly relate to themselves.

 The students took a break from the advertising business during January to participate in "The Dream Team" sports marketing simulation. This project allowed them to take on the role of a Microsoft Office Sports Marketing Specialist by starting their own professional sports franchise team.

 

 

Jim – Automotive

First year Automotive students have spent the last month learning about battery construction and testing, starter construction, testing, and overhaul, and alternator testing and overhaul.

Second year students have completed their “on the job” training packets and are eagerly awaiting their job site assignments. Several major projects have been started, wit the hopes of completion in the next two weeks.