Mrs. Katie Towler, Career Academy Principal
Well, to say that March has come in like a lion would be an understatement. Despite the bitter cold and the snow, we're managing to keep things moving right along at the Career Academy. We celebrated national CTE month (February) with the addition of some amazing new technology. Our new zSpace lab combines elements of augmented reality and virtual reality to create lifelike experiences that are immersive and interactive. Students will have the opportunity to explore all of the functions of a human heart for anatomy, first responder, and health science, create circuit's in digital electronics, and potentially practice complex welds for welding. The technology allows students into labs that they wouldn't normally have access to because of money, feasibility, space and location, time, and sustainability. We are thrilled that members of our community see the value in this educational tool as well. This week friends from Mercy Medical Center, Unity Point, and Sioux City Fire and Rescue will be joining our first responder class to learn more.
As always, thank you for partnering with us,
Katie
To learn more about zSpace, and see what all the hype is about, visit: www.zspace.com
Mr. Jeff Lucas, Career Academy Guidance Counselor
Juniors and seniors, below are a few items to be aware of as we approach spring in regards to college planning.
Juniors:
1. College Visits: Spring is a great time to get on campuses of colleges you are considering. If you are not able to make a spring visit work, consider the summer months.
2. Begin searching for scholarships. Create accounts at scholarship web sites. Fastweb.com and cappex.com are a couple common sites.
3. As you are looking at colleges of interest online, make sure to look at their financial aid pages for scholarship opportunities as well. Be aware of incoming freshmen scholarships and any program specific scholarships.
4. For those students who are eligible, college courses through WITCC will be available to sign up for shortly. Check the college web sites of schools you are considering to see what transfer courses you can take as a senior through WITCC
Seniors:
1. If you have yet to submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you still can! See your home high school counselor or Mr. Lucas at the Career Academy for help.
2. There are many local scholarships with upcoming deadlines. Check with your counselor if you have any questions.
3. Housing deadlines and on campus meal plan deadlines may be approaching if you are looking at living on campus next fall. Check online at the college web sites for more details. It can usually be found within the Student Life link.
Any questions, feel free to see Mr. Lucas in the Career Academy counseling office!
Health Science Pathway Students Shine at Western Iowa Tech Health Skills Day
Western Iowa Tech Health Skills Day finalists were recognized for excellence on Friday Feb. 15, 2019 in the following competitive events:
Medical Math Test
1st Place –Kaitlin Palmersheim - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
2nd Place –Mason Hardin
3rd Place –Christine Ly
Medical Terminology Test
1st Place -Kaitlin Palmersheim - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
2nd Place –Aline Vasquez
3rd Place –Luna Cisneros
Nurse Assisting
1st Place -Debora Allard - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
2nd Place -Fruit Habib
3rd Place -Lisa Thach
Pharmacy Science
1st Place –Kaitlin Palmersheim - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
2nd Place –Tammy Huynh
Extemporaneous Health Poster
1st Place –Debora Allard - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
2nd Place –Hien Tran
3rd Place -Christine Ly
Health Career Photography
1st Place –Jessica Kleinschmidt - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
Biomedical Debate Team Event
1st Place Team Members - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
Matteo Castaneda, Dayze Olson, Nathan Reed, Dayson Tucker
Health Career DisplayTeam Event
1st Place –Erika Carrasco & Mackenzie Flynn - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
2nd Place –Rylie Zadikar & Olivia O’Brien
3rd Place -Tegan Hayes & Sydney Price
Health EducationTeam Event
1st PlaceTeam Members - $500.00 Western Iowa Tech Scholarship
Rudy DeAnda, Elizabeth Francisco, Vanessa Hernandez, Blanca Topete
2nd Place Team Members - Adriana Aguilar, Luna Cisneros, Jacob Gomez-Morales, Aline Vasquez
3rd Place Team Members - Sydney Ohlfest & Katie Gowen-Peterson
Exciting News from the Business Entrepreneurship Pathway - Mrs. Chris Dicus
The following students participated in the annual Innovation Grow Entrepreneurial Competition on Thursday, February 21st. They all did very well! This competition is coordinated by the Enactus groups from Briar Cliff University in coordination with SCGO (Sioux City Growth Organization). These organizations sponsor the annual “Entrepaloosa Week” which celebrates and promotes International Entrepreneurship Week.
The students who participated in this competition are all enrolled in the Sioux City Community School District’s Business Entrepreneurship course. They were required to submit a business plan for a new business or for a product/service idea. In addition, they were required to do an elevator pitch about their business idea to four judges (local business people) and answer a variety of questions from the judges.
The results of the 2019 Innovation Grow Entrepreneurial Competition:
1st Place – Business Idea & Pitch:
Grass Gear:
Austin Craighead, North High School
Turner Henry, East High School
Madison Johnson, East/Heelan High School (dual-enrolled)
Cole McClure, North High School
Austin Wilshire, North High School
2nd Place – Business Idea & Pitch:
Straight Rate:
Colby East, East High School
Liam Streit, East High School
Jonah Snieder, East High School
Additional Entries:
EZ Track:
Yovani Topete, North High School
Jose Sebastian, North High School
Snow Raptor:
Thomas Anderson, West High School
Carlos Ozuna, North High School
Enduring Glass:
Sam Stodden, North High School
Kaleb Taylor, North High School
Christopher Wheeler, North High School
Alarm Box:
Sam Bigelow, East High School
Hailong Nguyen, East High School
School Climate Survey
Your Voice Matters. Speak Up In Our Schools.
Please plan to participate in the School and District Climate Survey
Survey Dates: February 19 – March 22
The survey is open to all parents and guardians.
How to take the survey:
- A link will be sent to you by email, text message and voicemail.
- Paper surveys are available for pick up at your child’s school.
- Take the survey online: www.siouxcityschools.org/newsletter
All survey responses are confidential.
Su Voz Importa.
Levante tu voz en Nuestras Escuelas.
Por favor participe en la Encuesta sobre el Ambiente del Distrito y las Escuelas
Fechas de la Encuesta: 19 de febrero-22 de marzo
La encuesta está disponible a todos los padres y guardianes.
Como tomar la encuesta:
· Se le enviará un enlace por correo electrónico, mensaje de texto y correo de voz
· Si Habrá encuestas en papel disponibles en las escuelas de su hijo.
· Complete la encuesta en línea: www.siouxcityschools.org/newsletter
Todas las respuestas de la encuesta son confidenciales.
The NEW Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress
The NEW Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress
Coming April 29 – May 17
Why a NEW version of the assessment?
Legislators passed House File 2235 during the last legislative session, which now requires all Iowa schools to give a new assessment called the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). The new assessment is aligned with the grade-specific Iowa Core Standards, which means the ISASP more accurately reflects student understanding of the information currently being taught in our schools.
Who will take the assessment?
Students in grades 3 – 11 will take the reading, language and writing, and math assessments.
Students in grades 5, 8, and 10 will also take the science assessment.
Why is this assessment given?
In Iowa and in the Sioux City Community School District, the curriculum taught to students is aligned to the Iowa Core Standards. It is important to assess how well students understand the information taught in our schools. Therefore, ISASP will assess each student’s demonstrated knowledge and understanding of grade-specific content.
How will students take the assessment?
Students will take the assessment online.
What should parents/guardians know about the new assessment?
· Results are received quicker.
· Previous assessments relied heavily on multiple-choice questions. The new assessment will evaluate students’ skills using a mix of technology-enhanced questions, including open-ended essay questions.
· Today’s technology-enhanced questions provide greater insights into learning than previous assessments, which were formatted primarily with multiple-choice questions.
· The new assessment will provide parents/guardians with actionable information about their child’s learning.
· Over time, parents will also be able to access year-over-year analysis of how their child performed from one year to the next.
How can parents/guardians help prepare students for the assessment?
Practice tests are available online at http://iowa.pearsonaccessnext.com/test-prep/. Parents/guardians can help prepare students for testing by reviewing the practice tests online. Throughout the school year, and especially during testing periods, parents/guardians can ensure optimal student performance by making sure children get enough sleep, eat a good breakfast, and arrive to school on time. Most importantly, encourage students to try their best.
La NUEVA Evaluación del Progreso Estudiantil del Estado de Iowa
Comenzando el 29 de Abril 29 al 17 de Mayo
¿Por qué hay una NUEVA versión de la evaluación?
Los legisladores aprobaron el Archivo 2235 de la Cámara de Representantes durante la última sesión legislativa, que ahora requiere que todas las escuelas de Iowa realicen una nueva evaluación llamada Evaluación del Progreso Estudiantil del Estado de Iowa (ISASP). La nueva evaluación concuerda con los Estándares Básicos de Iowa específicos para cada grado, lo que significa que el ISASP refleja con mayor precisión la comprensión de los estudiantes de la información que actualmente se enseña en nuestras escuelas.
¿Quiénes tomarán la evaluación?
Los estudiantes en los grados 3 - 11 tomarán las evaluaciones de lectura, lenguaje y escritura, y matemáticas.
Los estudiantes en los grados 5, 8 y 10 también tomarán la evaluación de ciencias.
¿Por qué se da esta evaluación?
En Iowa y en el Distrito Escolar de la Comunidad de Sioux City, el currículo que se enseña a los estudiantes concuerda con los Estándares Básicos de Iowa. Es importante evaluar qué tan bien los estudiantes entienden la información que se enseña en nuestras escuelas. Por lo tanto, ISASP evaluará el conocimiento demostrado y la comprensión de cada estudiante del contenido específico a su grado.
¿Cómo tomarán la evaluación los estudiantes?
Los estudiantes tomarán la evaluación en línea.
¿Qué deben saber los padres/guardianes acerca de esta nueva evaluación?
· Los resultados se recibirán más rápido.
· Las evaluaciones previas se basaron considerablemente en preguntas de elección múltiple. La nueva evaluación evaluará las habilidades de los estudiantes utilizando una mezcla de preguntas aumentadas con tecnología, incluyendo preguntas abiertas de ensayo.
· Las preguntas de la tecnología mejorada de hoy día proveen una mejor comprensión del aprendizaje que las evaluaciones previas, que eran escritas principalmente con preguntas de elección múltiple.
· La nueva evaluación proveerá a los padres/guardianes información útil acerca del aprendizaje de sus hijos.
· Con el tiempo, los padres también tendrán acceso al análisis de año tras año, de cómo se desempeña su hijo de un año al siguiente.
¿Cómo pueden los padres/guardianes apoyar a sus estudiantes para prepararlos?
Los exámenes de práctica están disponibles en línea al http://iowa.pearsonaccessnext.com/test-prep/. Los padres/guardianes pueden ayudar a preparar a los estudiantes para los exámenes por medio de repasar los exámenes de práctica en línea. Durante el año escolar, y especialmente durante el periodo de los exámenes, los padres/guardianes pueden asegurar el rendimiento mejor, por supervisar que sus niños duerman lo suficiente, desayunen bien, y lleguen a la escuela a tiempo. Lo más importante es de animarlos a que hagan lo mejor posible.
Contact Us
Email: twlerk@live.siouxcityschools.com
Website: siouxcityschool.com
Location: 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6668
Facebook: Facebook.com/SiouxCityCareerAcademy
Twitter: @sccareeracademy
