Porter County Career and Technical Education News Vol 18, Issue 4

Electronic Students Explore Earth Friendly Home in Our Neighborhood

An area neighbor, Dave Welch (center foreground in brown sweater), invited Mr. Kenning and his Electronics students to visit his home and see his recently installed solar power system (solar array is visible on the roof of his home). Mr. Welch’s home was remodeled using eco friendly products and intelligent design. He uses plantings and gardens to protect his home, provide fruit and vegetables, and beautify the surroundings. His electricity is produced by a recent roof mounted solar array. He heats his home with a wood stove and he has done an extensive amount of insulating that allows for great comfort with the thermostat set at 62 degrees. We learned a lot from Mr. Welch and took advantage of a nice fall day for an educational field trip.

Culinary Students Explore High Volume Meal Preparation

Students in the Culinary Program at Boone Grove High School have started their field placement experiences at Valparaiso University under the guidance of VU's Chef Jim Galligan.

Rochelle Hatchett and Claudia Persons, both from Portage High School, work together in the catering section at VU.

Randy Ridge, Washington Township High School, and Jessica Scrivnor, Hebron High School, work together in the Bakery at VU.

Dec 6 Open House Schedule

Attend a CTE Open House Before Enrolling – Find out if it is the right place for you!

Valparaiso Programs
Porter County Career & Technical Center
1005 N. Franklin St., Valparaiso 46383

Dec 6, 8-9 a.m.

• Auto Technology
  
• Computer Aided Design & Animation Technology
  
• Construction Technology
  
• Electronics & Computer Technology
  
• Health Careers
  
• Health Occupations
  
• Marketing Internship
  
• Modern Machining
  
• Sports & Entertainment/Business Ownership
  
• Video Production and Media Studies

Portage Programs

Dec. 6, 8-9 a.m.

• Auto Technology- Willowcreek M.S. Rear Entrance
  
• Construction Technology- Willowcreek M.S. Rear Entrance
  
• Dental Health- PHS-East, Rm. 155
• Industrial Mechanics- PHS-East, Rm. 110
  
• Medical Terminology/ Anatomy/Physiology- PHS-East Rm. 156
  
• Printing Technology- PHS-West, Rm. B14

Dec. 6, 1-2 p.m.

• Diesel Technology- Green Building N.E. of PHS-E
  
• Education and Early Childhood Careers- South Haven Elem. Rm. 25
  
• Work Study- J Lab near media center

Boone Grove High School
260 S. 500 West, Valparaiso, IN 46385

Dec. 6, 8-9 a.m.

• Culinary Science

Ivy Tech Community College
3100 IVY Tech Drive, Valparaiso 46383

Dec 6, 8-9 a.m.

• Welding Technology- Main Entrance

Don Roberts Beauty School
1354 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso 46385

Dec. 6, 8-9 a.m.

• Cosmetology

This open house will be at the Career Center, 1005 N. Franklin St., Valparaiso

Self School
750 Ransom Road, Valparaiso 46385

Dec. 6, 8-9 a.m.

• Education and Early Childhood Careers- Rm B 8

Morgan Township High School
299 South State Road 49, Valparaiso 46383

Dec. 6, 1-2 p.m. Behind School

• Landscaping/Horticulture (In Agriculture Building)

Wheeler High School
587 West 300 North, Valparaiso 46385

Dec. 6, 8-9 a.m.

• Criminal Investigations- Entrance E
  
• Criminal Justice System- Entrance E

Hobart High School
2211 East 10th Street, Hobart 46342

Dec. 6, 8-9 a.m.

• Cisco Networking- Front Entrance
  
• Education and Early Childhood Careers- Front Entrance
  
• Emergency Rescue Technology Academy- Front Entrance
  
• Fundamentals of Sports Medicine- Front Entrance

Duneland Building Trades House For Sale
858 Whitestone, Jackson Twp.

Property Details

• Price: $299,000
  
• Beds: 3 Bed
  
• Baths: 2.5 Bath
  
• House Size: 2,280 Sq Ft
  
• Lot Size: 1.65 Acres
  
• Year Built: 2011

Great News!!!

• Touchstone Energy rated our house at a 5 Star Plus, their highest energy efficiency rating! They have estimated total annual energy costs at $2585 (heating, cooling, appliances, lighting, and service).
  
• This rating comes with a Home Heating and Cooling Guarantee from REMC that annual heating costs will not exceed $752 and cooling costs will not exceed $117. Any excess over those amounts will be reimbursed to the homeowner at 50% of the overage. This guarantee is good for 12 months after the closing date.

Call Rick Hokansen of Boulder Bay Realty to request a showing, (219) 508- 3241. Congratulations to the Chesterton High School Building Trades students and instructor, Mr. Jeff Larson, for this achievement.

Soap – Jon Sheets
Jon at his Film Festival Awards Program, October 2011

Picture 1) Jon wearing his credentials around his neck which were required to get into all Film Fest events. Jon’s Mom is also seen enjoying the event.

Picture 2) Jon stands in front of the AMC theater, answering questions from the audience. He was unperturbed and did it with grace and a smile on his face.

Picture 3) Jon and Brother David (another former Career Center star) wearing the free tuxedos they were given to attend the Black Tie Gala dinner at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis where Jon was recognized for his short film. He won $500, a very nice gift for a poor college student! Jon and his parents called to thank his teacher, Mr. Phelps, who encouraged Jon to enter the Film Fest and taught him lots of important things which helped him do well in his work.

More so than any other film in the competition, Soap is an integral part of director Jon Sheets’ personal life. The courage exhibited by the main character is paralleled with the courage the filmmaker must muster day to day. As a young man dealing with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Jon knows firsthand the struggles that are inherent with the disease. Soap starts off lighthearted enough, but it’s quickly realized that not all is as it seems. What appears to be an innocent first date is quickly derailed by the main character’s inability to leave the bathroom due to his OCD. Of course, all the fear and insecurity that mounts is solely in his head. When in reality, his date is none the wiser of his disorder. It’s a fun and quirky short which ironically conveys a serious undertone.

Jon Sheets attended the Porter County Career Center in Valparaiso, Indiana during high school. He now attends Ball State University for Telecommunications but would like to go into the music industry for performance. He has dealt with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which makes his film “Soap” closer to non-fiction than fiction to him.

Outstanding Students First Quarter 2011-2012 School Year

Afternoon Student Stars

Morning Career Center Outstanding Students

Porter County Step Ahead Council Visits Career Center

Porter County Step Ahead held a meeting in our building and then toured our facility. Devin Corneil and Elizabeth Buth (pictured at right) are shown serving as mentors. Myles Reid is seen in the picture on the left demonstrating Computer Assisted Drafting software.

Career Center Student Attends Veterans Day Program

Toni Greco (CHS senior), Health Occupations student is on active duty in the National Guard. She has completed her Basic Training and she attends once a month weekend Guard training activities. This summer she will attend her advanced occupational training. Toni hopes to get into ROTC and continue her work toward an RN. She is pictured above (far left) attending the Kiwanis Veterans Day program in the company of Army vets, Tony Avalos and Jon Groth, and Marian Dick, recently retired Health Occupations teacher, who taught Toni’s older sister, Angelina two years ago at the Career Center. Toni has a solid occupational and personal career plan in place for her future.

ECE Students Recognize Community Veterans

Mrs. Iddings’ Early Childhood Education students helped recognize "Home Town Heroes" for the Veterans day program at South Haven Elementary School by designing a board to honor all of our family members and friends who have served or are currently serving in the military. Students pictured are (l-r) Kaitlyn Jarrard, Jessica Meyer, Lizz Oprisko, Becky Stalbaum, Nikkie Wimberley and Danni Johnson.

Calendar

• November 18, Second Blood Drive Day at Career and Tech Center, 8 – 2:30
  
• November 24 and 25, Thanksgiving Break
  
• December 6, First CTE Open Houses for prospective students, 8 - 9 am
  
• December 9, Counselor Tours of Portage Programs, 7:30 – 10:30
  
• January 13, Career Center trip to the Hockey game.
  
• April 12, 3:30 pm, District Advisory Committee Meeting at the PCCTC