OACTEP Newsletter

The Octorara Junior-Senior High School offers eleven on-site Career and Technical Education Programs specializing in career & technical education for students in grades 10, 11, and 12. OACTEP is committed to helping all students prepare for bright futures after high school. Today, students need a broad education and 21st Century skills to ensure successful long-term careers. Fortunately, students no longer need to choose between the academic courses needed for college and a vocational or technical training program. The Career Technical Education (CTE) courses offered by OACTEP allow students to combine both college preparation and real world workforce skills development into one customized education program. OACTEP courses encourage students to explore and prepare for careers in business, woodworking, engineering, childhood education, graphic design & illustration, culinary, law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, computer technology, animal science and plant science, agriculture, engine repair, welding, and much more.

For more information CHECK OUT THE OACTEP VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Email: lmcnamara@octorara.org
Website: www.octorara.k12.pa.us
Location: 226 Highland Road, Atglen, PA, USA
Phone: 610-593-8238
Facebook: facebook.com/Octoraracareerandtechnicaleducation
Twitter: @oactep

The benefits for students attending OACTEP stand out. OACTEP provides:

• Students with various career opportunities

• Attending a 4 year college with advanced technical skills in their chosen career

• Attending a 2 year college or trade school with advanced technical skills in their chosen career

• Going right into the workforce with advanced technical skills

• Apprenticeships, Internships, Co-Operative Education Experiences

• College Credits while in high school

• College-in-High School, SOAR credits, articulated agreements for college credits

• Courses use project-based learning or other engaging instructional strategies that provide real-world context and relevance to the curriculum

• Field-based learning opportunities that expose students to real-world and workplace environments where they can learn from adults outside the school through mentorships, job-shadowing, apprenticeships, internships, and project-based learning

• Courses prepare students for industry certification opportunities. An industry certification is a credential recognized by business and industry at the local, state or national level. They can increase job prospects, marketability to employers and employability, as well as options for postsecondary education

The Octorara Area Career & Technical Education Programs (OACTEP) Student of the Quarter are students who lead by example and are role models for others in the class for their leadership skills, attitude, technical skills, and knowledge of occupational concepts.

Congratulations to the following students have been selected as the Octorara Area Career & Technical Education Student of the Quarter.

Animal and Plant Science and Mechanical Systems Technology FFA students competed in the Eastern Regional FFA Career Development Events (CDE's). This is the first in person contest for these students since the Fall of 2019. Last year they only had the state CDE's which were held virtually. Student success is as follows:

Kai Johnson came in 1st place out of 10 in Chester County and 50th out of 93 in the region in the Dairy Judging Contest.

Aquatics Competition:

Daniel Rowe placed 2nd out of 11 in Chester County and 18th out of 56 in the region.

Aidan Staffieri placed 7th out of 11 in the Chester County and 40th out of 56 in the region

Cindy Flores Acuna placed 8th out of 11 in Chester County and 41st out of 56 in the region

Amira Benchegroun placed 9th out of 11 in Chester County and 46 out of 56 in the region

Rachel Swann placed10th out of 11 in Chester County and 51 out of 56 in region

Horse Judging Competition

Madeline Cracknell placed 6th out of 22 in Chester County and 23rd out of 114 in the region

Emily VanScoter placed 11th out of 22 in Chester County and 43rd out of 114 in the region

Morgan Bristow placed 17th out of 22 in Chester County and 76th out of 114 in the region

Ag Mechanics Competition

William Miller placed 1st out 3 in Chester County and 5th out of 25 in the region

Clayton Carlin placed 3rd out of 3 in Chester County and 14th out of 25 in region

Xander Wiseman placed 2nd out of 3 in Chester County and 13th out of 25 in the region.

At the Regional Tractor Driving Contest, Mason Ellingsworth placed 3rd and Kayden King placed 4th in senior division and William Miller placed 2nd in junior division. This contest is where students need to demonstrate their driving skills with a 2 wheel wagon and a 4 wheel wagon, take a safety test and parts identification test.

This year marked the 94th National FFA Convention, and needless to say, those who attended were excited to be back, and see it better than ever after last year’s virtual convention. After the first day and the main conference in the Lucas Oil Stadium, students all seemed to get over the initial awkwardness of social interactions after the lack thereof in the past year or two with the pandemic. FFA officers, members, alumni, and associates from all over the country, from the state of Alaska to the Virgin Islands, and from the state of Maine to Hawaii, gathered together once again to share a common background in the different types of agriculture. The convention included a few different conferences, some very influential workshops about a wide range of careers in many different fields. There was also the Expo center where FFA members could learn more about many universities organizations, all while diving deeper into their own interests and futures. 2021’s convention held over 51,000 people who all traveled to experience either their first, or yet another, incredible National FFA convention, as well as activities outside the walls of the Indianapolis convention center. Octorara members attended all that the FFA convention center had to offer, and also had the opportunity to visit the Indianapolis 500 track and museum.

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The Octorara FFA chapter has received a few new members this school year and is starting to return back to “normal.” While chapter activities haven’t been as numerous as they were in previous years, the chapter is beginning to plan more ways to give back to our community and connect with each other through community service. Students are also working on recruiting new members to help volunteer with these service activities.

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There are four members of the Octorara FFA who will be receiving the PA State FFA award, the Keystone degree. Members receiving this award have invested time and money into various projects of their choice over the course of at least 2 years, attended numerous chapter and out of chapter events, and have completed a minimum of 25 hours of community service. Congratulations to Clayton Carlin, Madeline Cracknell, Joe Gehron, and Kaden King who will receive this prestigious FFA Award.

Article by Emily VanScoter-Octorara FFA Historian

Octorara FFA wanted to give a big THANK YOU to everyone in the district that contributed to this year's Holiday Food Drive. We were able to donate over 800lbs of non-perishable items to the Octorara Food Cupboard yesterday! I know they were extremely appreciative of our support!

Emma Blomiley has several accomplishments so far this year. She is one of our OACTEP Graphic Design & Illustration student reps, was Q1 student of the quarter, and she will be doing some freelance work for Dutchland. Emma has also been accepted into Pennsylvania College of Art & Design with a $8,000/year scholarship as well as being chosen to create the 2021 Holiday card for OASD.

It has become a tradition for the OACTEP Design & Illustration students to take a football helmet that can no longer be used for play, and turn it into art. Each graduating player of the Octorara Varsity Football Team will receive one. Players will be presented with their personalized helmet at the football banquet, but until then it is a TOP SECRET project.

OACTEP Graphic Design & Illustration class is teaming up with Cider the OES wonder dog to make trading cards in the style of Pokemon! Students met with Cider and learned/experienced some of the cues that his handlers are working on with him.

Keep your eyes open for the finished collector items!

Business Academy students have completed a full unit on Google Sheets. They have acquired a better understanding of creating, customizing and organizing data in spreadsheets. Students are preparing for regional competitions for FBLA. They have been studying terminology, researching concepts, and designing materials to prepare for competitions. Members will compete in their chosen topic. These topics include Graphic Design, Accounting, Broadcast Journalism, and Marketing. Competitions will take place from November 29th through December 6th.

Congratulations Tyler Hihn! Tyler is going to Thaddeus Stevens for Cabinetmaking and Wood Technology. He will be in good company with 2020-2021 Octorara graduates Jesus Duenas Gonzalez and Rachel Gillenwater as they complete their second year.

Dan Jones participated in Veterans Day Memorial Event with OHS Band members. This was coordinated through Mayor Hodorovich

Octorara Area School District is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex and handicap in its activities, programs, or employment practices as required by Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504.For information regarding civil rights, grievance procedures, or services, activities and facilities that are accessible to and usable by handicapped persons, contact the Director of Student Services at the Octorara Area School District, 228 Highland Road, Atglen, Pennsylvania, 19310, tel. 610-593-8238 ext. 3519, email chilblt@octorara.org