Career Readiness Newsletter
CTE Distance Learning
Innovation Day 2020
" Please enjoy the first video submission and sixth grade 1st place winner for this challenge and the links to all the  5th grade submissions  and  6th grade submissions
Congratulations to all winners!
Innovation Day ( at home) 2020!
Fresno Unified 5th and 6th grade students were given the unique opportunity to compete in a Innovation Day engineering challenge!
As part of Fresno Unified's ongoing partnership with The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for its STEM 5 hands-on science and Kids Invent! engineering programs and in response to school closure, the Lyles Center team created Innovation Day @ Home – a distance learning engineering challenge.
Students were challenged to create a Sphere Run using any household items. Students submitted videos of their creative designs and innovative skills learned in the STEM 5 and Kids Invent! programs during the school year. Three students from both 5th and 6th grade received a prize, courtesy of the Lyles Center; the grand prize winner for each grade level received a Chromebook.


Our students and teachers are connecting to partners virtually, opening up more opportunities for Work-Based Learning!
Bullard Law Pathway students were given the opportunity to meet virtually with members of the United States District Court. On May 13, Eastern District of California held a ‘virtual Open Doors’ event. Seven of our law pathway students participated in a question and answer session with Judge Boone Chambers, Clerk Chi Soo Kim, and Prosecutor Brian Enos where students got the opportunity to ask questions about their educational backgrounds, the advantages and disadvantages of working in a court as opposed to practicing law privately, and advice on persisting through the long and often challenging path through law school. 
Edison students win Youth Code Jam Award!
Edison sophomores Jack Janzen, Alexander Fischer, and Daniel Remington were encouraged by their Computer Science teacher, Samantha Bolin, to participate in a digital code competition .
The team, The COVIDiots, received the award for Most Creative for their game: Raiders of the Lost Pandemic. Pictured above, students celebrated with a virtual high-five!
This game proves that combining boredom with a great idea, a dash of youthful optimism and a solid stab at making something mechanically-complicated in a relatively short period of time has its rewards. The idea: build a “Zork-like game, in which you meet all sorts of zany characters, like Bob Ross, Mr. Rogers, and Carl Sagan, who help you along in the adventure, putting down all sorts of creatures representing deceit, stress, and hopelessness on the way to fight the big daddy of all bad things, COVID-19.”
McLane Virtual Guest Speaker Series
McLane High School students have been logging in each Friday for the Virtual Guest Speaker sessions to learn more about occupations and opportunities in the Valley.
Fabiola Ramirez shared her journey in becoming a news anchor for KSEE24. She gave the students great insights on various careers and encouraged them to work hard and ask a lot of questions.
Gretchen D'Souza spoke with students and staff to build awareness against driving under the influence. Gretchen suffered a devastating spinal injury as the result of a drunk driver, but she was determined to persevere and complete medical school. Gretchen shared how she has worked to overcome hardships and inspired students to volunteer in the community for events like Walk Like MADD !
Patino School of Entrepreneurship News
Patino students and staff have been working hard to create weekly video announcements to keep everyone aware of the latest news on campus, while still connecting to mentors and industry partners.
In this edition, 10th grade student, Giovanni Chavarria, presented his virtual musuem web design to his mentors, Curlen Phipps and Damon Thomas of Quiqlabs and received feedback. Additionally, Patino students presented virtual senior defenses where they shared skills learned while attending school.
Click here to watch the Patino Sophomore Showcase (begins at 4:23) and Final Episode 2019/2020 of Patino News!
Senior Celebrations
Fresno Unified sites have continued to celebrate students graduating in 2020 with virtual Valedictorian speeches, senior check outs, links for families to still watch their graduates and celebrate virtually.
Internship News
Congratulations to the ten Duncan IDATA Academy seniors on being selected for the Workforce Connection Manufacturing Internship Program in partnership with Fresno City College, Reedley College, and the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance. Each student was awarded Career Technical Education scholarships to help pay for tuition, health fees, books, supplies, and over 200 hours of paid summer internships at local automotive and manufacturing facilities!
Virtual CTE Summer Opportunities
CTE Career Readiness with Industry Chats
College and Career Readiness created a week long virtual experience for students that focused on different industries and professional topics each day. Students heard amazing insights and career advice from our partners, and students have developed new career interests as a result!
Teacher Academy

Fresno Unified is dedicated to creating a pipeline of students who are interested in pursuing a career in education. This summer, 131 students are attending professional learning and applying their learning in various summer academies. Teacher Academy students assist elementary students virtually with one-on-one tutoring and small group instruction, reinforce critical literacy and problem solving skills, and assist classroom teachers with activities that support District goals. This opportunity provides students with relevant knowledge in the education field and supports them in their future educational and professional goals.
Doctors Academy
Sunnyside Doctors Academy students gain insights from clinicians virtually and learn about various aspects in the medical field. For rising Seniors, students utilize the UCSF Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE) and are completing a research project and presenting at a virtual symposium in July. 27 Sunnyside students participate in interactive online sessions that include 20 different providers that present case studies to the students. With each specialty, medical professionals cover terms and definitions, models, disorders, “A Day in the Life” videos, self-care, and resources. To date, students have heard from a NICU educational lead nurse, a doctor of psychology, local dentist (who is also a SHS DA Alumni), local physical therapist, UCSF neurosurgeon, UCSF/CRMC ED doctor, and an alumni panel. We have many more specialists still to come. The virtual UCSF symposium is scheduled for July 2, 2020 and we look forward to hearing from our Doctors Academy students.
CART Summer Camp
There is a new type of summer camp at CART (Center for Advanced Research and Technology)! CART has partnered with Fresno Unified School District and bringing hands-on learning to students at home with CART Summer Camp
 
Students are enjoying a variety of fun learning experiences ranging from Kitchen Science to Digital Storytelling to Builder’s Workshop. Over Fresno Unified 500 students have accessed the camps. Student can also share their projects on social media at #cartsummercamps. 
Sites work creatively to support during COVID19
Duncan Polytechnical Manufacturing Students Create Face Shields for Essential Workers
CTE students and teachers have stepped up to help our essential workers. Duncan Manufacturing instructor Doug Urabe (pictured above) and students worked to create face shields and delivered them to Saint Agnes and several other health clinics locally. The medical staff (pictured below) appreciates the structure and design. At this time, over 2000 face shields have been delivered with more on the way! Duncan students and staff are fulfilling requests and have Edison students assisting as well!

Roosevelt Fashion Design Students Fabricate masks for Essential Workers
Roosevelt costume and fashion design instructor, Tamara Norris, and student volunteers got the idea to start making masks for essential workers.  Mrs. Norris (pictured above) put together kits for volunteers to assemble masks. These masks have now been distributed to first responders, social workers, case managers, Dr. offices, assisted living facilities and hospitals. Now, with a team of 30 volunteers and students, they have already produced over 1000 masks.
Pictured below are health care workers wearing the masks created by students.
t Pictured below is Roosevelt Freshman AJ Mijangos sewing masks from home.
Please click link to view the Building Futures-June 2020 Edition.
Interested in attending our CTE Advisory Committee Meetings?
2020/2021 Meeting Dates and Times
All meetings will be done via Zoom or other platform
(Please reach out to tara.kaitfors@fresnounified.org for more information)
September 24, 2020 3:30-5:00PM
December 10, 2020 3:30-5:00PM
March 11, 2021 3:30-5:00PM
May 6, 2021 3:30-5:00PM