CTE Spotlight, February 2021

Volume IV | February 2021

Please forward this newsletter to your teachers and colleagues.

Updates

VCOE Career Education

CA Department of Education

March 5: Counselor Coffee (formerly Counselor Breakfast); register to join the webinar at this link. CEC program updates include Manufacturing which is scheduled to be a Dual Enrolment course for the fall. Aviation and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have combined into one 300 hour course. Auto Body and Auto Paint also are combining into one 300 hour course. 9am-11am.

March 16: HQ CTE: CCI, Equity, and the LCAP. Zoom Link is available here; pre-registration is not required. Zoom details also are on our website. 9am-10:30am.

March 1-5: Moorpark College Career Education Week. This virtual event is designed for high school students to attend. Learn about academic and career options available at MC. For details and access to the week-long event and registration click on this link.

CTE Completer Data: Data is due March 5. Districts offering CTE courses are required to submit data. Information is available here.

CTEIG Allocations & GAN: The State Board of Education approved FY 2020-2021 CTEIG allocations at their January meeting. These are funds related to applications submitted September 2020. GAN's are in process. Questions may be directed to our regional CTEIG Education Programs Consultant Tara Nielson tneilson@cde.ca.gov

Upcoming CTEIG Application: The CDE is preparing the application for the next CTEIG round of funding, FY 2021-2022, projected release date to be this spring. More details will follow as updates become available.

Capital Outlays: A Reminder that all CTEIG & SWP expenditures over $5000 need prior approval.

Program Spotlight: Rio Vista Middle School, Robotics

Rio Vista Middle School offers a robust STEM program. Teacher Amy Murphy successfully engages students with Sphero Bolt robots through distance learning. Projects include using coding to make animated light-up images, talk through the built-in speaker, navigate a maze of the student’s design, and swim through water by attaching fins made out of craft foam.

Students are enthusiastic about participating in Coder Z robotics competitions and FIRST Robotics Lego League. With a year that started with a lot of instructional uncertainty due to COVID, RVMS managed to keep students engaged in Robotics and prepares them to continue their studies at the high school level. With skills and experience in robotics, coding, and competition as a result of the work done at RVMS, students are prepared to enter Rio Mesa High School's MERIT Academy (Manufacturing, Engineering, Robotics, Information Technology).

Industry Spotlight: Global Trade

An abundance of Ventura County companies import and export products internationally. This global trade industry offers a growing number of job opportunities. Adilene Polis, Regional Director in Global Trade for the South Central Coast Regional Consortium, highlights the abundance of training and employment opportunities for our students, particularly bi-lingual and multi-lingual students.

Programs preparing students include Moorpark College's new International Business degree and certificate programs, Ventura College's international business coursework, and Oxnard Union High School District's Port of Hueneme Global Trade and Logistics course. Skills in complex problem solving, logistics, cultural diversity, and multi-lingual communication are essential to these careers. A career in global trade can be an exciting and lucrative opportunity for students who have the ambition, desire, and skills to explore this career pathway.

Industry Fact: Ventura County growers export a wide variety of crops to 76 countries around the world.

STEM Pipeline

FIRST Robotics Funding Opportunity

Please join our March 16 6pm webinar to learn about funding opportunities for FIRST Robotics teams. All levels are invited from elementary to middle to high school. Navy funds support team registration and competition fees. Join this session to learn more about FIRST, team mentorship opportunities, and how to apply for funds. Click on this link to register in advance for this webinar. Direct inquiries to Anne Campbell at acampbell@vcoe.org.

Hackathon

The annual Hackathon by the Sea is scheduled to take place in a virtual format May 21-22, 2021. Please note this new date (formerly set for February 2021). More information may be found on our Hackathon webpage.

Seaglide

Plans are underway for a summer teacher training for teachers interested in participating in high school Seaglide activities. Seaglide is an autonomous underwater glider project culminating in a spring competition for high school students. Contact Anne Campbell at acampbell@vcoe.org if you are interested in being involved in the teacher training or learning more.