Please forward this newsletter to teachers, staff, and colleagues. |
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K12 Strong Workforce Program Pathway Coordinator: Please welcome our new Pathway Coordinator Anthony Marenco. Mr. Marenco supports districts in Ventura County, advising on CTE programs, labor market information, and pathway alignment. He may be reached at amarenco@vcoe.org.
SWP Round 2 STEM: VCOE Consortium partners on the SWP Round 2 STEM grant are invited to Arduino training for middle school teachers to learn to write and upload code. Trainings are scheduled for September 23 and October 7, with follow up support available. Pre-registration is required. Arduino devices will be distributed to middle school teacher teams. Please contact amoreno@vcoe.org or larnold@vcoe.org with questions.
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CTEIG 21-22 Addendums: All CTEIG 21-22 applicants are required to complete Addendums to their applications. CDE Programs Consultant Tara Neilson will be providing clarifying information and available to answer questions on September 28, 2021, at VCOE's CTE Collaborative.
Strong Workforce Program, Round 4 Applications: The due date for Round 4 applications is October 15. The RFA is available here.
Strong Workforce Program, Round 1 Expenditure Deadline: The expenditure deadline for K12 SWP Round 1 funds is December 31, 2021. Please be sure your district has expended all funds passed through from VCOE.
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Program Spotlight: Video in K-8 - Oxnard and Rio |
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Students are making the cut using video at Oxnard School District and Rio School District. Both Oxnard and Rio offer students the unique opportunity to develop creativity, communication, teamwork, and self-awareness through project-based learning filmmaking. OSD has partnered with the Youth Cinema Project (YCP), a non-profit organization whose mission is to bridge the entertainment industry's achievement and opportunity gaps by working with schools to develop competent, resilient, real-world problem-solvers. Bridget Sims, 4th Grade Teacher at Ramona Elementary School, collaborates with YCP classroom mentors to guide students in researching, writing, filming, and applying specialized technical industry skills to create a 1–3-minute movie. The curriculum aligns with English and VAPA standards, and every student learns the value of their unique voice. Students screen their films at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Creative Artist Agency, and Pixar. This summer, this project expanded to seventh and eighth-grade students at Cesar Chavez School, Lemonwood School, and Frank Academy of Marine Science and Engineering. Click here to view student projects.
Rio School District is innovating its video program and fostering high language and literacy development engagement through AME. This past summer, Rio del Sol STEAM School offered its first AME elective to sixth through eighth-grade students. Teacher Omar Espinoza inspires students to become active contributors. He guides students through skill development in digital media, podcasting, and video production. During the course, students learn collaboration, critical thinking, communication, planning, and presentation skills. Development of messaging and marketing skills are at the forefront of course goals and the vision to create real-world projects to support local businesses.
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Industry Spotlight: Agriculture in Ventura County |
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Agriculture is an essential industry in the region. Ventura has over 6,800 acres designated as agricultural land, and the climate is suitable for subtropical fruits, the year-round production of certain vegetables, and a long harvest season for strawberries. The estimated gross value of Ventura County's agriculture for the calendar year 2020 is $1,985,365,000, according to Ventura County's 2020 Crop & Livestock Report. Strawberries are the number one crop, lemons second, and nursery stock third. The agriculture sector needs a more robust workforce to meet production needs. Key careers in demand are Quality Assurance Officers, Food Safety Inspectors at production facilities and farms, Food Scientists, and Food Safety Specialists.
In September 2021, California Community Colleges launched an Ag Career Spotlight search engine application that helps students discover careers in the Agriculture Industry. Each career showcase includes a video of someone working in that job, salary information, and additional information to connect students to a California Community College they can attend to get into one of those careers. Please share this link with students: https://www.spotlightonag.com
Ventura College's Agriculture program offers a variety of certificate and degree programs in Plant Science, Agricultural Business, Food Safety, and Natural Resources Management. Moorpark College is slated to start a Viticulture program in the near future.
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Industry Fact: California produces over 400 unique specialty
crops and provides 25% of the national food supply.
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STEM Opportunity for Middle School Students
Saturday, October 9, 2021
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