Porter County Career and Technical Education News Vol 18, Issue 6

Welcome Mrs. Marcus to the Career and Tech Center

Mrs. Lorna Marcus is our new Health Occupations and Health Careers teacher at the Career and Tech Center. Mrs. Marcus previously worked as a school nurse in the Duneland School system. She is certified as a CNA, LPN, and RN. She has additional work experience at Associated Pediatrics, the Willows Rehabilitation Center, and the Chesterton Health Care Center. Mrs. Marcus is a sports enthusiast and has experience coaching volleyball, swimming, and cross country. She and her husband, Mitch, have three children Kaelyn, Emily, and Alyson and one granddaughter Payton. Her instructional goals are to help all students achieve to their maximum potential. Mrs. Marcus has almost immediately become a positive and significant contributor to our staff. Below, Mrs. Marcus is showing how to do a blood pressure check on Mrs. Sorensen. Welcome to the Career and Tech Center, Mrs. Marcus!

Porter County Career and Technical Center’s District DECA Winners

Culinary Students Explore Commerical Cooking with Professional Chefs

Pictured are students from Mrs. Harbaugh and Mr. Buford’s Culinary classes getting real world experience in a commercial kitchen under the watchful eye of Chef Jim Galligan.

Video Productions Reunion

Video Productions students got together over the Christmas holidays to reconnect and reminisce. Pictured above are students from each of the last four graduating classes. All are in college successfully progressing toward degrees. Instructor, Mr. Phelps, is pictured in the upper left.

Helen Hylek is currently at Ivy Tech with a major in nursing. She is working at the Willows as a CNA. She graduated from Wheeler last year and is shown at above with Mrs. Ellis.

Mrs. Marcus’ morning class sang Christmas Carols and gave Christmas banners to residents at the Willows in Valparaiso.

Mrs. Marcus students can be seen dressed for Christmas caroling at the Willows.

Mrs. Edwards afternoon class went caroling the Dunes in Chesterton.

Students can be seen interacting with residents and helping everyone get into the Christmas spirit.

Our high school students will soon be doing clinical rotations at area residential homes where they will get to know and befriend many elderly residents.

Career Center Mentors Help Out at Valparaiso Middle Schools

Career Center students can be seen above helping middle school students with their career exploration software.

Dr. Oranu Ibekie Speaks to our Health Occupations Students

Dr. Ibekie, a Merrillville physician, and native of Nigeria spoke to our Health Occupations students about the many opportunities they will have in the health field for work and occupational success. Dr. Ibekie was a trained medical doctor in Nigeria but started off as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), when he came to America. He stressed the wonderful feeling of service and reward one gets from providing empathic care to those in need.

Attention High School Seniors

All students should file a FAFSA by Mar. 10 (received) for college financial aid (FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Financial Aid Presentations (to help parents and students know how to fill out FAFSA):

• Valparaiso High School, 6:30 p.m., Jan. 10
  
• Chesterton High School, 7 p.m., Jan 19, CHS cafe
  
• Portage High School, 6:30 p.m., Jan. 25, East Auditorium
  
• Boone Grove High School, 6 p.m., Feb. 7
  
• Wheeler High School, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 16, auditorium

College Goal Sunday
(Direct help to get FAFSA filed) Feb. 12, 2 p.m. at sites around Northwest Indiana More info: www.cashforcollegeIndiana.org or www.fafsa.ed.gov

Nipsco Supports Career and Tech Center Alternative Energy Project

The Porter County Career and Tech Center (PCCTC) would like to announce a generous donation from Nipsco in support of our alternative energy demonstration project. The PCCTC alternative energy project continues to be a work in progress. Manufacturing instructor, Mr. Greg Carmack, has plans to build one or two more wind generators while also building a robotic solar tracker for two photovoltaic panels. Electronics instructor, Mr. Dave Kenning, wants to install more LED lighting and extend the alternative energy grid within the building. The two classes are working together on the solar tracker and on building mounting supports for the solar panels. Nipsco’s support will help us complete the next phase of the project. Nipsco Public Affairs Manager, Rick Calinski, says that Nipsco is eager to support the training of future energy workers and also to expand public knowledge about alternative energy and energy conservation.

Pictured is a programmable logic controlled, robotic sun tracker that will automatically orient two photovoltaic panels toward the sun consistent with the season and time of day. This apparatus is currently under manufacture by students at the Porter County Career and Tech Center.

Parents -- Drug Test Kits Are Available

Low cost drug test kits are available from Ms. Sharon Cawood from the Porter County Substance Abuse Council. Ms. Cawood’s organization sells drug testing kits to parents who wish to test a child 17 years or younger. The kits are $5 and parents can purchase up to 4 of these kits at a time. Credit cards are not accepted, cash only, no checks, just cash. These kits will test for marijuana, heroin, cocaine and ecstacy. The Substance Abuse Council also has advice for parents on how to get your kids to say “No!” when it comes to using drugs. She also can help direct you to places in Porter County for help if your kid is already using. Ms. Cawood is not always in her office and so she asks that you call and make an appointment with her, do not just show up unexpected. She can be reached at (219) 462-0946.

Parents: Wouldn’t it be nice to know where your child is at all times?
Police say that every extra minute a person is missing contributes to a greater possibility of an unhappy ending. If your student has a smart phone, there are apps available to help. I know a 17 year old may not want parents to follow them every second of the day, but maybe a compromise would be to have them followed by a friend or other relative. That way, in an emergency you would be able to have someone you know who could find out where they are. Following are some sample free apps:

• https://market.android.com/details?id=com.greenalp.RealtimeTracker&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5ncmVlbmFscC5SZWFsdGltZVRyYWNrZXIiXQ
  
• Here is another app that can track more than one person. https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fsp.android.g&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5mc3AuYW5kcm9pZC5nIl0.
  
• This app will also display sex offender residences. https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fsp.android.c&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5mc3AuYW5kcm9pZC5jIl0.
  
• Here is an Iphone app called “Find My Friends”: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-friends/id466122094?mt=8

Valparaiso Community Schools are hiring substitute teachers, contact the Human Relations Dept at 531-3000, for information on qualifications and on how to apply. Bus driver candidates are also welcome.

Porter County Career and Technical Education Spring 2012 Open House Schedule for Prospective Students

VALPARAISO PROGRAMS
Porter County Career & Technical Center, 1005 N. Franklin St., Valparaiso 46383
Jan. 26, 8-9 a.m.· Feb. 8, 8-9 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

PORTAGE PROGRAMS
Jan. 26, 8-9 a.m. · Feb. 8 8-9 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.

• Auto Technology, Willowcreek M.S. Rear Ent.
• Construction Technology, Willowcreek M.S. Rear Ent.
  
• 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

Jan. 26, 1-2 p.m. · Feb. 8, 1-2 p.m. and 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

• Diesel Technology, Green Bldg 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
Jan. 26, 8-9 a.m. · Feb 8, 8-9 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.

• Culinary Science

Ivy Tech Community College
3100 IVY Tech Drive, Valparaiso 46383
Jan. 26, 8-9 a.m. · Feb. 8, 8-9 a. m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.

• Welding Technology, Main Entrance

DON ROBERTS BEAUTY SCHOOL
1354 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso 46385
Feb. 25 1:30 – 3:00 p.m

• Cosmetology

CHESTERTON HIGH SCHOOL
Open houses will be locally set

• Work Study
• Construction Technology

SELF School
750 Ransom Road, Valparaiso 46385
Jan. 26, 8-9 a.m. · Feb. 8, 8-9 a.m. and 6:30-7:30p.m.

• Education and Early Childhood Careers, Rm B8

MORGAN TWP. HIGH SCHOOL
299 South State Road 49, Valparaiso 46383 (In Agriculture Building)
Jan. 26, 1-2 p.m.· Feb. 8, 1-2 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.

• Landscaping Design/Plant Science

WHEELER HIGH SCHOOL
587 West 300 North, Valparaiso 46385
Jan. 26, 8-9 a.m. ·Feb. 8, 8-9 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.

• Criminal Investigations, Entrance E
• Criminal Justice System, Entrance E

HOBART HIGH SCHOOL
2211 East 10th Street, Hobart 46342-New High School Jan. 26, 8-9 a.m. · Feb. 8, 8-9 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.

• Cisco Networking, Front Entrance
  
• Educ. and Early Childhood Careers, Front Entrance
  
• Emergency Rescue Technology, Front Entrance
  
• Fundamentals of Sports Medicine, Front Entrance

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

Property Details

• Price: $297,500
  
• 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.

Calendar

• January 26, morning Open Houses at all CTE locations, see listings above
  
• February 8, morning and evening Open Houses at various CTE locations, see listings above
  
• February 15, Counselor Tour of Apprenticeship Programs, sponsored by the Construction Advancement Foundation
  
• April 12, 3:30 pm, District Advisory Committee Meeting at the PCCTC