Pittsfield Public Schools Career Technical Education Program Offerings: Your Pathway to College and Career Readiness

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1 Pittsfield Public Schools Career Technical Education Program Offerings: Your Pathway to College and Career Readiness Awaits

2 Dear Students, Parents and Guardians: Welcome to the exciting world of Career Technical Education! In today s economy it is vital that all students leave high school both college and career ready. The technical programs within Pittsfield Public Schools allow students to be prepared for both while offering a range of career opportunities that are both exciting and rewarding. Students have the opportunity to explore the various technical programs during their 9th grade year at each high school. Their tenth grade year marks the beginning of a three year technical certificate that will prepare students for the work place while also providing the necessary academic preparation for both two and four year college degree programs. These programs represent state of the art technology, which reflect recommendations from our very active Technical Program Advisory Committees. Cooperative work experience is available for students in all programs and represents the direct connection to businesses and industries, as well as future job opportunities. Students may elect to go out on Coop half way through their Junior Year or Senior Year. In order to participate in the Coop experience, students must have a C in all of their academic classes as well as a B in their shop. They must have good attendance and be a good citizen of the school community. Coop is a privilege for the students that must be earned. Coop is optional if a student elects not to go out on Coop they can stay in their shop. Students interested in the technical education programs will be required to take Career Exploratory as a prerequisite to gain entrance into a Career Vocational Technical program. If you have any questions or would like to visit any of the programs that you see please do not hesitate to contact the Career Technical Education office at Sincerely, Frank Cote Assistant Superintendent of Career Technical Education

3 Table of Contents (Programs Are Listed By School) Career Technical Education Admissions Policy Q & A Pittsfield High School Career Technical Education Programs Cosmetology Culinary Arts** Electronics Technology Facilities Management Heath Technology** Horticulture Power Technology Taconic High School Career Technical Education Programs Auto Body Technology Auto Mechanics Technology Carpentry and House Construction Culinary Arts** Graphic Arts Technology Health Technology** Manufacturing Technology Metal Fabrication and Welding Technology **Indicates program offered at both Taconic and Pittsfield High Schools, description for both courses is the same and is only listed once

4 Career Technical Education Programs Admissions Policy Q &A In March of 2008 the School Committee approved an Admissions Policy for the Career Technical Programs at both of our high schools. This letter is to answer some of your basic questions about this policy. These are as follows: Q: Why is this policy necessary? A: In Pittsfield our Career Technical Programs are highly competitive and an admissions process is necessary as we have a limited number of slots available for each of our programs. Each year we have more applicants than slots, therefore all students in grades 9-12 that seek to be enrolled in a Career Technical Program will be evaluated using the selection criteria in the Admissions Policy. Q: Who can apply for the Career Technical Programs? A: The Pittsfield Pubic Schools admits students and makes available to them its advantages, privileges and courses of study without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. That being said, any 8 th grade student from the City or Pittsfield or the Town of Richmond who expects to be promoted to the 9 th grade by their current school, is eligible to apply for fall admission to Pittsfield s Career Technical Programs. Transfer students from other career technical programs may also apply. Grade 8 non-resident students will be considered for any remaining openings. Q: What criteria will be used to evaluate my student? A: Criteria will include: 1. The average of Grade 7 and the 1 st and 2 nd quarter grades from Grade 8 2. Number of unexcused absences from Grade 7 and 1 st and 2 nd quarter of Grade 8 3. Grade 7 and 1 st and 2 nd quarter of Grade 8 behavior assessments 4. Students will be assessed by an Admissions Committee using a points system and will be selected using their points scored, the students with highest number of points will have first choice into the Career Exploratory Program Q: How does my student get a Career Technical Program Application? A: You can get applications for the Career Technical Programs through the Guidance Office at your student s school or from Mercer Administration Building at 269 First St. in Pittsfield. The deadline for applications to the Career Technical Program is April 1 st. Applications must be complete or they will be returned. If you have other questions regarding the Admissions Policy you can contact your student s Guidance Counselor. There will be informational material sent home on the Career Technical Education Programs, Open Houses at both high schools and other informational sessions. Thank You!

5 Pittsfield High School Career Technical Education Programs Cosmetology The three-year program is designed to develop the student's skills necessary to become a licensed cosmetologist. The facility is a modern, complete, operating salon with demonstration areas and practice workstations. Students are exposed to every day experiences as in the world of work. Upon successful completion of the program students are fully prepared and eligible to take the Massachusetts State Board exam for licensure to pursue their career. This program also accepts post-graduates by application. Students will begin to log lab hours (towards 1,000 hour requirement) at the age of sixteen. Students receive OSHA 10 certification. Upon completion of the 1,000 hours required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure Board of Cosmetology and successful completion of all graduation requirements, the student is eligible to take an exam that consists of a written and practical test of technical skills based on established performance criteria. With a passing grade of 75% or higher the student is issued as Cosmetology license. Culinary Arts Technology** The Culinary programs are designed to equip students with skills necessary to be successful in Culinary Arts. Training can lead to careers employment in restaurants, cafeterias, hotels and other food service opportunities. Upon completion of the Culinary Arts programs students can choose between entering the industry or going on to a Culinary Arts College. Berkshire Community College has a tech prep agreement with both high schools. OSHA certification and Pro Start certification will be obtained. Electronics Technology The Electronics Technology program provides the student with a variety of technical experiences designed to help the student prepare for post-secondary studies. These follow-on studies can be taken at a technical school, a two-year college, or a four-year institution. While enrolled in the Electronics Technology program the student will experience a variety of hands-on activities and project-based learning experiences designed to familiarize the student with standard laboratory equipment and computer equipment as well as verify theories and subjects studied in class. There are three major areas of electronics that the student will study as he or she progresses through the course. These areas are discrete components and circuits, classical AC and DC theory, and Digital Electronics. Students receive OSHA 10 certification. Since this is a technical course, good math skills are highly valued and are good indicators of success in this program. Facilities Management The Facilities Management Program is designed to offer students in Pittsfield a three-year opportunity to explore a range of construction and maintenance related industries as part of their high school experience. With the support of local labor unions, this program will offer students orientation, instruction and experience in various building trades including: plumbing, roofing, carpentry, painting, masonry, and electrical. The first two years of this three-year program will involve a survey of each trade area coupled with job readiness training, safety, and OSHA-10 certification, and elements required as part of the

6 Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plan. As part of the second year experience students will be matched with internship opportunities to experience on the job immersion. In year three students will focus their attention on one trade through a cooperative work experience that will match them with a focused trades field. Within this experience students will begin the apprentice sequence (in many cases four years) as guided by the certification requirements unique to each field. Upon graduation students will be able to immediately continue their apprentice experiences full-time. Health Technologies** The Health Technology Program within the Allied Health cluster will provide the student with a fundamental process in the study of health careers. It will provide reliable and realistic information about health occupations. A variety of learning experiences will assist the student to make tentative career choices. The health technologies program presents both theory and practice within the school and in the larger community. The multi-competency based instruction and practice allows the student to develop competencies for entry-level employment in the health industry, as well as being a basis for making informed career decisions. With mastery of basic competencies, students are prepared for such entry-level employment as CNA, Dietary Aide, Home Health Aide, Rehabilitation Therapy Aide, as well as many others. For those who wish to continue their studies beyond high school, clinical experience will include, area long-term care facilities and local physicians offices. The related course of study includes theory in the maintenance of health, body structure and function, control of infectious microorganisms, growth and development from birth to old age, nutrition, common health problems, medical terminology, computer awareness, diversified health occupational skills CPR, First Aid, Alzheimer s Certification, OSHA 10 certification, and communication skills. Guest speakers, field trips, and audiovisual aides relating to the health care field will be utilized. The program will provide a basic foundation of knowledge and will build upon this as the student progresses to the next step in developing skills in a particular health career. Horticulture and Landscaping Horticulture is a rigorous and diverse program designed to prepare students for the regional workforce or college. Topics covered in class are landscape design/installation/maintenance, floriculture crop production/floral design, forestry, ecology and OSHA 10 certification. Students participate in a number of integrated projects, competitions, and classroom exercises designed to build and test student s knowledge of the field. Guest lecturers are an integral part of the program, exposing students to the diversity within the field of horticulture. Power Technology This three-year program is designed to provide male and female students with entry-level skills in the field of engine repair. Students will be given a thorough understanding of the theory of combustion and small engines and will become very familiar with troubleshooting procedures for both single cylinder and multi-cylinder engines. Every phase of small engine repair will be covered including fuel systems, electrical systems, transmission systems and complete engine overhaul. Students will be taught to repair lawn mowers, snow blowers, string trimmers, chain saws, ATV, snowmobiles, motorcycles, tractors, outboard, and inboard engines. Safety instruction, and OSHA 10 certification will be an integral part of the program. Upon successful completion off the Power Technology program students will be given the opportunity to apply to take a test for certification in two cycles and/or four-cycle engine repair. If they are successful in achieving the competencies required by the EETC, they will receive a nationally recognized certification in the field

7 Taconic High School Career Technical Education Programs Auto Body Technology This program is designed to train students in complete body and fender repair, refinishing, and the rebuilding of damaged vehicles. It involves frame straightening, glasswork, upholstering, welding, and complete spray-painting in our state-of-the-art De Vilbiss downdrafts spray booth. The proper use of hand tools, grinders, sanders, hydraulic jacks, spray guns, mig, and gas welding, and the skills of using plastic and fiberglass fillers is taught. An appealing aspect of the Auto Body Technology Program is the opportunity for successful students eventually to operate their own business. Auto Mechanics Technology This is a three-year program designed to provide students with the technical knowledge and skills necessary for diagnosing and servicing automobiles. The program includes the following areas of instruction: preventive maintenance, engine overhaul, electrical systems, fuel systems, transmission repair, brakes, and suspension. Instruction in the use of computerized test equipment will be used to test and repair on-board computers and sensors. A computerized four-wheel alignment center provides the most modern method of front-end maintenance and repair. Carpentry & House Construction Technology This program provides students an opportunity to gain experience in using hand and machine tools, equipment and materials commonly found in the building trade. Training is given in a variety of work, ranging from millwork and cabinet-making to outside construction. Blueprint reading, floor, wall and roof framing, roofing, siding, stair building, renovation and computer work, and interior and exterior carpentry are covered in yearlong on-site building projects. The program prepares one for entrance into building trades and also apprenticeship programs and technical schools if so desired. Graphic Arts Technology Graphic Arts include two major professions in the communications industry: Printing and Graphic Design. The graphic arts curriculum includes all the basic phases of lithography (offset printing), and computer graphic design. The course covers from pre press to post press production. This includes, computer to plate processing, computer design, camera, presswork, and binding. Knowledge of design elements, page layout, typography, and program applications will be taught. These are covered in the computer lab. Students are trained for entry into the Graphic Arts industry. They will also be prepared for furthering their Graphic Arts education through college or technical schools. Manufacturing Technology This program provides instruction in all basic machine principles, allowing the student to pursue any of the various occupations in the machine trade. These occupations range from machine operators to tool, die and mold makers, and inspectors. In addition to the basic machine lab instruction, computer numerical control programming of lathes and milling machines is offered. Multiple tool programs are heavily

8 emphasized. An electrical discharge machine and an injection mold press have recently upgraded the program. A related drawing course consisting of drafting and blueprint reading provides experience in this highly technical area of machining. This program prepares students for entrance into college, industry, or apprentice programs. Metal Fabrication & Welding Technology This program involves the use of both the machines and techniques of the sheet metal and welding trades. Instruction is given in the properties of metals and their reaction to heat, including fusibility, contraction, and expansion. The student is exposed to all phases of welding, such as arc MIG and TIG welding, structural steel fabrication, mechanical pipe welding, and acetylene cutting operations. In addition, the student is trained in many phases of sheet metal including ductwork for furnace recirculation, air conditioning, fireproofing, cornice, skylight and ornamental work. The student is taught developmental drafting layout and blueprint reading. A related drawing course consisting of drafting and blueprint reading provides experience in this highly technical area of metal fabrication. The training given could open doors to other vocations, such as aerospace industry, air conditioning, heating and plumbing, refrigeration, technical metallurgy, or entrance into a formal apprentice program.