Career and Technical Education - Leading the Way
Valley Education for Employment System
| NEWS, CURRENT EVENTS AND UPCOMING ACTIVITIES |
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Food Service teachers visited Fona International, the world's leading expert in flavor development and applied food science. Teachers learned about the chemistry of flavor development as well as marketing, manufacturing and business practices related to the flavors industry. There are many career pathways that can lead to interesting and rewarding careers in STEM related manufacturing. Great Harvest Bread Company is a franchise bakery in Geneva, IL. Food Servce teachers learned about challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurs face in a rapidly changing economy. Topics addressed on this field trip included business operations, marketing strategies, and employability skills critical to running a successful business. Both of these businesses provided great opportunties for teachers to examine how the integration of CTE and core curricula play an impotant role in preparing students for STEM careers in manufacturing and entrepreneurship. |
HEALTH CAREER EXPO |
The annual HEALTH CAREER EXPO was held at Delonr Hospital Campus, Geneva on October 27, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Health care is more than just doctors and nurses. Working alongisde these dedicated medical professionals are hundreds of clinical professionals who play critical roles in the delivery of health care. Download the flyer advertising the event here. |
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Nicholas Vidmar is the 2011 recipient of the VALEES Region Graphics Student of the Year award. The Graphics Student of the Year candidates present their professional portfolio and interview with a selection panel comprised of business representatives and educations in the VALEES region. Nicholas is a senior at Oswego High School. He will be continuing his education at Waubonsee Community College. |
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Burgess-Norton is pleased to announce the award of two scholarship of $2,500 each. The scholarships are designed to provide financial support for graduating high school seniors in the Valley Education for Employment (VALEES) region who wish to pursue their education in fields that relate to careers in the manufacturing industry. CONGRATULATIONS to JEREMY ANDERSON of Newark High School and MATTHEW LASH of Batavia High School. |
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CAD Program Committee members visited Roberts and Schaefer Engineers and Contractors offices in downtown Chicago. Roberts & Schaefer is a worldwide leader in the design, engineering, procurement and construction of bulk material handling and processing systems for the power and mining industries. Offices are located around the globe in the U.S. (Chicago, Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh), Australia, India, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa and Chile. This professional development activity provided valuable information regarding world class engineering business practices including sales and marketing, bidding, project management, conceptual design, detail drawing, and project completion. Company executives shared their perspectives on these business processes as well as career pathways and employability skills necessary to be successful in a highly competitive global enterprise. |
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Graphic Communications Program Committee members from VALEES high schools, career and vocational centers, Waubonsee Community College, and business partners toured two agencies in downtown Chicago as a professional development activity and as a component of the development of the Graphic Design Program of Study. Critical Mass is an international marketing agency whose goal is to "create extraordinary experiences that bring together creative thinking, smart ideas and emerging technologies to drive our clients' businesses." www.criticalmass.com Chicago Portfolio School prepares its students to get a job in an advertising agency as a copywriter, art director or designer. Students spend a year putting together their book (portfolio) to accurately reflect their true ability. |
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RACE TO NOWHERE FILM SCREENING OPPORTUNITY at Batavia Fine Arts Center SEPTEMBER 26, 2011. Tickets are available online. Upcoming screenings include:
A concerned mother turned filmmaker aims her camera at the high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children's lives, creating unhealthy, disengaged, unprepared and stressed-out youth. Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people across the country who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students aren't developing the skills they need, and parents who are trying to do what's best for their kids, Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic in our schools: cheating has become commonplace, students have become disengaged, stress-related illness, depression and burnout are rampant, and young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired. Race to Nowhere is a call to mobilize families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens. |
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You can now follow VALEES on twitter. Join twitter if you don't already have an account and look for Valley Education or VALEES1. Can you believe that someone already had VALEES, so being number one, we're VALEES1 on twitter. You can also look for Valley Education and find us. |
CTE featured on Today Show. This five minute video clip illustrates the important role of CTE. Interviews with Adrianna Benjamin, a high school student enrolled in the maritime program at Urban Assembly New York Harbor School and Jan Bray, ACTE Executive Director, are refreshing, informative and positive. |
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The fourth "Did You Know" manufacturing career event was held at Waubonsee Community College to expand high school students' awareness of career pathways related to manufacturing. Some 300 students registered for the event with 20 regional manufacturing businesses represented at the career expo. Students had opportunities to interact with business representatives, expand their strategies to explore career pathways, see the application of STEM concepts in robotics, and learn effective communication strategies in the interview process. The Valley Industrial Association, River Valley Workforce Investment, Aurora Economic Investment, Waubonsee Community College, and VALEES partnered to make this event possible. |
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CAREER PATHWAY EXPO 2010: Waubonsee Community College hosted the second annual Career Pathway Expo on October 22, 2010. This event provides students an opportunity to expand their knowledge of career pathways and avenues at WCC to pursue their career interests. Students are able to select specific pathways they wish to explore and see first-hand what skills they will need to master in order to pursue their career interests. 350 students from eleven VALEES member schools attended. |
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Illinois College Automotive Instructors Association held its annual state-wide conference at Waubonsee Community College on October 7-8, 2010. College and high school instructors participated in presentations ranging from tips on teaching electricity, engine oil characteristics in 2010, diagnostic equipment training, plastic and structural repair, to e-learning instructional strategies. Congratulations to Ken Kunz and Jim Armitage, Automotive Instructors at Waubonsee Community College and to Guy Tiberio, Automotive Instructor at Oswego East High School as conference organizers Click here for conference photos. |
