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Career and Technical Education Update
January 2021
Preparing students for successful careers through aligned instruction, focusing on leadership and technical skills, in partnership with and for the benefit of our community
Sneakers close-up_ finish 2020. Start to new year 2021 plans_ goals_ objectives
Leonard Trust Committee
Members of the committee will meet virtually on January 27, 2021 with the primary goal of awarding management of assets. The committee has issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) for investment management services and will review reponses at their next meeting. In addition, the committee will discuss scholarship awards for the 2021 graduating class. CTE Director Rick Goble will also share progress on the district's CTE plan for the year including collaboration with Centralia College, upgrades in technology, the purchase of new equipment, and the development of learning standards for a new course offering.
CTE Equivalent Courses
Students who take CTE-equivalent courses may satisfy two graduation requirements while earning one credit for a single course; hence, "two-for-one". The purpose of this policy is to create flexibility for students to choose more elective courses or to address other graduation requirements.

The policy will permit the second course to be "checked off" as a "met requirement" by W.F. West counseling staff. Which course is put on the transcript and which one is locally "checked off" will continue to be determined by the student, based on their post-high school goals.

The total number of credits the student needs to graduate will not change. (WAC 180-51-067)

Currently W.F. West has the following CTE equivalent courses:
  • Fine Arts - 9 courses (examples include Graphic Design and Sign Making)
  • Math - 4 courses (examples include Personal Finance and Drafting/Engineering)
  • Science - 12 courses (examples include Animal Biology and Sports Medicine)
CTE Career Pathway Highlight
Pictured above: Cy Bunker (left) and W.F. West senior Britt Lusk (right)

Bearcat Alumnus and Centralia College Graphic Arts student Cy Bunker returned to W.F. West in December to discuss the process of creating LED light-up signs to high school students in the Advanced sign Making class.

When asked about his career and college goals, Cy shared the following:

All through my high school career I had passion for sign making. After graduation from W.F. West in 2019, I bought some equipment and started a small sign business called Ballpark Signs. I definitely did not know everything and to be successful in this industry I knew I had to be a lifelong learner.

I do feel however, that I truly left W.F. West career-ready thanks to ALL of my teachers. Not just my CTE teachers, but all of my teachers at W.F. West had a tremendous impact on my life.

After high school graduation, I had the skills at a basic level to begin in the sign industry, but the most important skill I left W.F. West with was the ability to seek out more education and the confidence that I can be successful.

Cy is working towards an Associate In Arts degree with an emphasis in Business and Graphic Design at Centralia College. After earning the AA, Cy is interested in pursuing a Business degree while continuing to take as many Graphic Design classes as possible. Cy hopes to teach CTE Graphic Arts classes one day.

To learn more about career possibilities, education plans for graphic design careers, and courses offered at Centralia College use the button below: