SEPTEMBER 2026 | ISSUE NO. 1 | |
WHAT IS CTE AT SAINT PATRICK?
Saint Patrick High School's Career & Technical Education (CTE) Department gives students the opportunity to explore their interests, develop real-world skills and begin building a path toward college and career, all while completing a rigorous college-preparatory education. Through specialized coursework, hands-on learning, industry-standard technology, dual-credit opportunities and partnerships with professionals in the field, students can discover where their strengths and interests may take them after high school.
From engineering, construction and technology to business, media, public service, health sciences and more, CTE at Belmont & Austin is about giving every Shamrock the opportunity to find his path, and get a head start on his future.
| | Students now have the opportunity to earn a Haas Mill & Lathe Operator Certificate, gaining hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment and building skills that translate directly to careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering. | |  | On September 19, Saint Patrick High School hosted the Battle on Belmont Regional Robotics Competition, welcoming teams and spectators for a day of competition and innovation. Our Shamrocks put their robotics skills to the test while also helping host the event and welcome visiting teams to campus. We are grateful for our partners - Palm Beach Bots, Repeat Robotics, and Robot Smashing League - whose support helps make learning experiences and events like this possible. | | | |
BUILDING THE FUTURE
Saint Patrick’s new Architecture & Construction Lab is taking shape, and students are helping build it themselves. Construction Technology students now have a large, dedicated space for hands-on learning, including a new ShopBot Alpha CNC machine for precision wood cutting and fabrication. The boys have already been busy assembling the shop door and ShopBot itself, and will soon take their skills beyond the lab with a drywall project on campus. It’s real-world experience from day one in the newest CTE program.
| | FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREER
Watch the video above to hear Aaron Serrano ’26 share how Saint Patrick helped prepare him for what came next. Aaron completed two valuable internships while at St. Pat's, including an opportunity this past summer with SRAM, a leading bicycle components manufacturer. As the youngest intern on a team of college juniors and seniors, Aaron helped develop new brake components expected to reach the market next year. Now studying Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, Aaron entered college with sophomore standing thanks to the dual credit hours he earned at 5900 W. Belmont - a true example of how hands-on experience and rigorous academics can give Shamrocks a head start on what’s next. | | The all-new Media Lab gives students a dedicated space to create, collaborate and build hands-on skills in video, photography, design and digital media. Featuring a podcast studio, news desk and flexible classroom space, the lab provides students with industry-standard technology in a professional environment. Telling the story of the unique Shamrock Experience is an important part of our community, and we’re excited to give students a space, and the tools, to help bring those stories to life. | | New this year were two Student Media Internships for aspiring photographers, videographers and content creators to help tell the story of Saint Patrick High School, with a primary focus on school events, culture and Shamrock Athletics. Luke Glorioso ’28 (IG: @ljvisualls) and Israel Sanchez ’29 (IG: @shotbyis) are sharpening their skills through real-world experience while building student portfolios to take to the next level. We love showcasing their work while giving our students the opportunity to take the lead in telling the Shamrock story through their own lens. | | |
BROTHER JOE'S: BREWING UP BUSINESS
Born out of the INCubator program, Brother Joe’s is a student-run coffee shop bringing entrepreneurship to life on campus. This year, students took it a step further by developing an order-ahead app, led by Rocco Moroko ’27, making it easy for students and staff to place their orders before they arrive. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday before school, Brother Joe’s has quickly become a favorite part of campus culture - and a real-world business experience for our students.
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SHAMROCK T-SHIRT STUDIO: SCREEN PRINTING FOR SERVICE
In recognition of the 25th anniversary of September 11, Saint Patrick’s National Honor Society and Student Council partnered with the Shamrock T-Shirt Studio to honor local first responders. Students designed and printed commemorative shirts, then delivered them, along with banners and homemade Shamrock cookies, to two neighborhood police and two fire stations.
The Shamrock T-Shirt Studio gives students real-world business experience by fulfilling apparel orders for Saint Patrick and area feeder schools. From design and production to pricing and order fulfillment, students learned what it takes to run a business while putting those skills to work in service to others.
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Saint Patrick is launching its newest CTE offering, a Health Sciences & Medical Careers Pathway. A classroom will be transformed into a medical simulation lab featuring a mock hospital room and training mannequin, allowing students to practice skills like patient assessment, monitoring vital signs and emergency response.
The pathway will combine Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Simulation and Clinical Skills, with plans to expand into certifications including EMT, CNA and EKG Technician, giving Shamrocks hands-on experience and an early look at where a career in healthcare could take them.
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A CPR-READY GENERATION
Saint Patrick High School is proud to be recognized as a CPR Ready Generation school, helping ensure our students are prepared to respond when it matters most. CPR certification will now be offered right here on campus, with Dr. Glynn leading after-school certification classes for students. Through hands-on training, Shamrocks will gain practical, potentially lifesaving skills they can carry with them well beyond the classroom.
| | Through our partnership with the Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA), Saint Patrick students interested in careers as police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other first responders have access to a highly selective program that can give them an edge in this competitive field in the City of Chicago. Saint Patrick is the only private school in Chicago to partner with CPFTA, giving Shamrocks priority access to testing opportunities while building valuable connections within the police, fire and emergency services industries. | | | | | |
“I wanted to be a fireman for as long as I can remember. My sophomore year at St. Pat’s, I applied to CPFTA with letters of recommendation from administrators who believed in me.
By senior year, I was able to take the Chicago Fire Department test while still in high school and was guaranteed one of only 4,000 testing seats out of 30,000 applicants. Just two months after graduation, I began processing and later joined the December 2023 academy class.
I was still able to enjoy my senior year as captain of both the swim and water polo teams while preparing for my future. St. Pat’s gave me the support to go after my dream job. Now I’m at Engine 94 at Grace & Menard, just a few blocks from St. Pat’s, giving back to the same community that helped me get here.”
- Alex Moroko ’23
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NEW INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS COMING TO CTE
Saint Patrick continues to expand opportunities for students to earn industry-relevant certifications while still in high school. The Information Technology Department is exploring three new certification opportunities tied directly to coursework: Microsoft Excel for Accounting Associate in Accounting, Microsoft Excel for Business Finance Associate in Financial Algebra, and IT Specialist Python for AP Computer Science Principles students. These additions will give Shamrocks another way to graduate with practical skills, and credentials, that translate directly to college and the workplace.
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PARTNERS WANTED!
Our Shamrock Opportunity Fair returns this January, connecting Saint Patrick students with local businesses, organizations, unions and industry professionals to explore career paths and opportunities beyond the classroom.
We’re looking for partners to participate! If your organization would like to meet our students, share more about your industry and help introduce them to future career possibilities, we’d love to have you join us.
Interested in participating? Contact Tony Pecoraro at apecoraro@stpatrick.org for more information.
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BECOME A BUSINESS PARTNER
Put your Shamrock connection to work! The Shamrock Business Partner Program connects alumni-owned and affiliated businesses with the Saint Patrick community while supporting the school and expanding the Shamrock network. Promote your business, build connections and give back to the Brotherhood that lasts a lifetime.
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For all Career & Technical Education-related questions, contact:
MAGDALENA PIPER
CTE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
mpiper@stpatrick.org
(773) 282-8844, ext. 320
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