Wasatch School District Career and Technical Education Spring 2010 We re on the web at Wasatch.edu/ Departments/CTE As we come to the end of the first year in the new high school and the reconfiguration of grades, it is a time to reflect on our accomplishments. CTE programs have expanded and our students have been recognized with state CTE scholarships. Wasatch High School continues to lead the way in the number of scholarships awarded each year. Cheryl Hardy, CTE Director CTE teachers and counselors took on a tremendous undertaking of moving supplies, computers and equipment to the new high school and middle school. With no time to relax, they jumped into the new school year. The CTE student organizations FFA, FBLA, FCCLA and Skills USA have performed well this year. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) recaptured the Most Outstanding Chapter Award this year. The FFA Poultry team won first place in state and the opportunity to represent Utah at the national convention in the fall. Individual students in all the organizations performed well at the state competitions. Wasatch School District Celebrates Career and Technical Education Month Students and faculty in the Career and Technical Education programs in middle schools, junior high schools and high schools throughout Utah celebrated Career and Technical Education Month, February 2010. This year s theme for the month-long celebration was: Career and Technical Education: Connecting High School to College and Career. The theme emphasizes the important role CTE plays in the life of every student. CTE will guide students on the right path in order to obtain the academic knowledge and technical skills they will need as they advance to the highly competitive workforce of the 21 st century. The CTE programs at Rocky Mountain Middle School have welcomed Kristen DiStefano and Kirk Heaton, and the CTE programs have adjusted to the new grade format with outstanding results. Thanks to all the CTE teachers and counselors for their hard work and positive attitudes. We have a dedicated and committed group. Inside this issue: FBLA, FFA, FCCLA 2 Skills USA 2 Gary Roberts 3 Kristen DiStefano 3 Allan Sulser Retires 4 Virtual Health 4 As part of the celebration on Monday, February 8, the CTE Leadership Organizations Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and Skills USA-- hosted an ice cream social during lunch for the students at the high school. Students celebrate CTE Month at Ice Cream Social
CTE Student Organizations FFA FBLA The Wasatch FFA Chapter performs well at State Competition The Poultry Team placed 1st in the state Awarded 5 Star Chapter Awarded Top Chapter Food for America FCCLA FCCLA in connection with Five Penny Floral sold flowers for Prom. This was very successful. Proceeds will be used for Leadership Conference. Congratulations to Julia Snow for completing all five components for the Power of One Award. The findings and her project on Nutrition and Fitness were presented to the school board. Skills USA Mr. Fredericks was awarded the Skills USA Service Award Members of the Wasatch Skills USA Club Compete in the State Skills USA Championship Holly King won a gold medal in Extemporaneous Speaking and qualified for the State s Skills USA team that will be competing at the National Championships this June in Kansas City. Other medal winners included Chase Nielson, Matt Rogers, and Thomas Sprouse. Chase was a silver medalist in Job Skill Demo Open by demonstrating how to glue up a raised panel door. Matt and Thomas received bronze medals in the Video Production contest. The other members of the Wasatch team included Jordan North who competed in Cabinetmaking, Sarah Arnold and Cameron Kelson in TV Production, Hunter Duff who competed in Technical Drafting, and Courtney Geary in Architectural Drafting, and Casey Muir in Job Skill Demo A contest where he showed how to put together a cabinet. Wasatch High School FBLA Wins 2010 State Championship The Wasatch High School FBLA chapter earned the "Most Outstanding Chapter" award during the FBLA Leadership Conference. There were 82 schools and over 1,200 students from throughout Utah participating at this year's conference. Thirty-two Wasatch High FBLA members competed in this two-day competition. Wasatch FBLA members performed extremely well during this year s competition with 24 students placing in 39 different individual, team, and chapter events. Wasatch placed first in nine events with outstanding performances from Joe Blodgett, Jantsen Roney, Abby Green, Katie Wilde, and many others. Nine Wasatch High FBLA members qualified to attend the National FBLA Leadership Conference which will be held in Nashville, TN in July of 2010. Brittany Todd was also elected to serve as Utah FBLA Central Region Vice President for the 2010-11 school year. Congratulations to all of the students and the advisors, Marge Carlile and Susan Edwards, who worked hard to prepare for this year's competition. A special thank you to the Wasatch County Fire Department for providing the fire engine trip for the Utah FBLA state champions. Mr. Fredericks was awarded the Skills USA Service Award for his service at the Utah State Championships.
Gary Roberts Drafting and Engineering Teacher Honored for Program of the Year Gary Roberts, Wasatch High School s Drafting and Engineering teacher, was honored by Utah Association of Career Technology Education during the Winter Conference held in St. George for having the Program of the Year. Mr. Roberts, who has taught at Wasatch High for 13 years, teaches Drafting, Architecture Drafting, CAD (Computer Aided Design), and Engineering Design. His former students are well known on college campuses across the state for their well developed skills and great understanding of the software used in today s industry. Last year at the UVU Drafting competition, Mr. Roberts students placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the Drafting and Design segment. His students also claimed the Best Car in Show award. The drafting program at Wasatch High School is known for its academic prowess under Mr. Roberts direction. His students in the Drafting and Design department pass the state skills test at a rate that is a full 35% higher than state average. His CAD students pass the state test at a rate 41% higher while his Architecture students lead the state by more than 23%. We are so pleased that Mr. Roberts has been recognized by his peers for his outstanding program, said Principal Paul Sweat. He has built an amazing environment for his students and he constantly challenges them to learn and grow. Year after year we watch his students succeed and move on to college well prepared for the next level of academic challenges. We are honored to have Gary Roberts on our staff. In addition to the leadership provided at Wasatch High, Mr. Roberts is also the Section President of the Utah State Drafting Association and will host the state summer conference this year in his facilities at Wasatch High School. Rocky Mountain Middle School Welcomes Kristen DiStefano Kristen DiStefano was born and raised in Kaysville, Utah, where she graduated from Davis High. She went to Utah State University where she majored in Business Information Technology and Education, with a minor in Marketing Education. This is her 6 th year teaching middle school kids! She taught one year at Elk Ridge Middle School in South Jordan, and then spent four years teaching at South Davis Junior High in Bountiful. This is her first year with Wasatch School District, and she is enjoying her first year at Rocky Mountain Middle School. Throughout her teaching career she has taught Keyboarding, Computer Technology, and Computers in Business.
Allan Sulser Retires Congratulations! Today is your day. You re off to great places! You re off and away! Oh, the places You will go! is a familiar phrase that is heard in Mr. Allan Sulser s classroom on the first day of school. Allan has taught Agriculture Education for 30 years. For 18 years he has helped the Wasatch FFA Chapter obtain and maintain the Five Star Chapter Award. He has advised many winning judging and contest teams over the years, such as five time state champions in Poultry, six state titles in Range judging, multiple Proficiency Awards and Star States Candidates, State FFA Degree recipients, and has helped several students in achieving their goal of obtaining the highest degree, the American FFA Degree. He is always willing to help FFA members and students succeed in their goals. He has encouraged many of his students and colleagues to take opportunities that they would have regretted not taking. His philosophy for life is You can t win if you don t apply. In 2007 the Wasatch FFA Chapter was recognized as one of the top five chapters in the nation for Models of Innovation in Service. They received this recognition for their outstanding Ag in the Classroom Program and Farm Field Day participation. Both programs educate all third grade students in the Wasatch County School District, with help from agricultural commodity groups, in soil conservation service, animal biproducts, and proper hand washing. The Wasatch FFA Chapter provides a hands-on learning environment to help educate our future agriculture students. Allan has been involved in the local community and has served the State of Utah as the President of the Utah Association for Agricultural Educators. In 2001, Allan was the NAAE Region I Vice President for a three-year term. He was then elected the NAAE President Elect for the following year; and he finished out his term as the NAAE President in 2005-06. He also served in 2005, 2006, and 2007 on the National Council for Agriculture Education. In 2007 he was selected by the Council Board to serve as the Council President, being the first high school agricultural teacher to be elected since the council was established in 1983. In 2008 he was recognized by the National Association for Career and Technical Education with the Arch of Fame Award. This award is a means by which ACTE provides recognition for the commitment and dedication that individuals have demonstrated to the organization. Allan s career is full of service to his organization extending far beyond the Wasatch mountains of Utah. All students and faculty that walk the halls at Wasatch High would agree that Big Al has affected their lives and is considered a lifelong friend. Virtual Health Interactive Conference held at Wasatch A Virtual Health Interactive Conference was held on March 4 at Wasatch High School. Students came from South Summit, North Summit and Park City to watch two knee surgeries and then have interaction through questions/answers with the two surgeons. 58 Years of Agriculture Education Superintendent Merkley, Reed Stephens, Allan Sulser, Jolene Christensen, and Kody Clyde The following students from Wasatch participated in the interactive conference: Natalie Blanton, Abby Wade, Jessica Crittenden, Brandy Espinosa, Kelli Woodruff, Hayden Bergin and Rachel Kohler
Another philosophy of Mr. Sulser s is that You can t expect your students to be a leader if you are not willing to do the same. Throughout his career he has done just that.