By Amanda Wilson
Several Marion County FFA (agriculture education) members placed high in the Career Development Contests held at West Virginia University September 26-29. Members participated in such contests as entomology (study of insects), agronomy (study of crops), plant pathology, livestock judging, meat processing, and equine (horse) judging. Students placing in the top ten individuals in state competition include: Courtney Shaver, first, entomology; Jamie Dickie, third, entomology; Mike Hunter, fourth, plant pathology; Jennifer Vandergrift, eighth, agronomy; Matt Willie, eighth, plant pathology; Lauren Hamilton, ninth, equine judging; and Brian Eddy, tenth, plant pathology.
Team placings in the national competition included second, entomology; third, plant pathology; fourth, agronomy; fourth, equine judging; eighth, meat processing; and fourteenth, livestock judging. A total of 795 students in 48 schools competed in these contests. Other students competing in the contests were Justin Sanders, Matt Pierce, Erica Williams, Eric Craig, Amanda Wilson, Sara Jones, Katie Michael, Brandon Harvey, Wayne Willie, Amanda Hawkins, and Jeremy Coleman. Marion County FFA placed eighth overall in the school sweepstakes.
Shaver, Dickie, Hunter, Vandergrift, Willie, Hamilton, and Eddy represented Marion County FFA at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky on October 26-30.
BLOOD DRIVES WIN $4,000
By Heather Yoho
MCTC GETS NEW WEB PAGE
By Dottie Hayhurst
Our school web page has a new look thanks to the combined efforts of instructors Gary Rinehart and Lisa Wayne.
The page features all of the classes available at the Tech Center. You may locate the page by going to: http://www.labs.net/schools/marion/mctc. If you have any comments about the web page, send us an e-mail at: mctcweb2000@yahoo.com.
“Our web page is constantly changing to reflect the current activities of our dynamic students. We hope that everyone visits our site frequently to view the pictures and gain a better understanding of what the Technical Center has to offer the community,” according to Wayne.
Rinehart added,
“Our web page is updated daily to keep everyone apprised of the Technical
Center’s activities and happenings. We would like everyone to check
out the new and improved web site.”
STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM NEW ENGINEERING LAB
By Adam Bowers
“Never has the need for technology education been more apparent than in the last ten years,” stated former state superintendent of schools, Henry Marockie. Technology education is the use of processes, tools, and materials to satisfy human needs and wants, and to solve practical problems. Technology education classes offered at the Marion County Technical Center are manufacturing, construction, transportation, communication, materials and processes, engineering graphics, and foundations in engineering.
Foundations in engineering, one of the new classes being offered, emphasizes hands-on activities and the development of mental processes such as creative thinking, decision making, critical thinking, and problem solving. It also focuses on the use of technological processes (specifically, the use of knowledge, materials, and design technologies) to solve everyday problems related to technology.
For the foundations
in engineering class, instructor Gary Bowers transformed his classroom
into a laboratory where computers and specially-designed equipment enhance
the learning experience.Students are introduced to such careers in engineering
as pneumatics, materials testing, structures, mechanisms, and advanced
electronic circuits.
MASONRY CLASS WORKS FOR COMMUNITY
By Caleb Knight
Andy Petracca’s classes have found another way to get involved with North Marion and its surrounding communities. They’re building dugouts and bleachers at the new North Marion softball field and a pavilion at the Metz Community Center.
On October 4 the masonry class started the dugouts, and the facilities maintenance class began the Metz project. The structures should be finished by spring, but the completion date depends on the weather.
Most of the class projects are built temporarily and then torn down; but the dugouts, bleachers, and pavilion will be permanent and will provide an excellent opportunity for the students to get involved with people in the community. Petracca likes this type of work because “students get prepared for when they leave here and go to work; and they also get the opportunity to see what the actual job would be like.”
People in the
community are encouraged to come and take part in the masonry/facilities
maintenance class because there is now a big demand for masons and block
layers.
ANIMAL TECH LABS ADD EXCITEMENT TO CURRICULUM
By Courtney Shaver
First-year animal science students take instruction to the “doing stage” when they participate in demonstrations and hands-on activities with such live animals as horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, and dogs.During these labs, students gain an understanding of basic animal terminology, production techniques, disease control, and restraint.
Dr. Larry Watson, animal science teacher, points out that “students who participate in these labs have a ‘step up’ toward becoming a veterinarian or entering a science-related field.” The animal technology curriculum serves students from grades nine through adult.
By Heather Yoho
ABE/GED CLASS
The adult basic education class gives adults the opportunity to learn math, reading, test-taking skills, and study skills as they study for the GED test. It is offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 - 11 a.m. with instructor Dorothy Haugh. For more information, call 986-3590. All adults are welcome and encouraged to attend!
ADULT ORIENTATION
At the orientation meeting for adults who are enrolled in Tech Center classes this semester, building administrator Jim Casto welcomed the adult students, notified them of the services available at the Tech Center, and distributed a list of “Do’s and Don’ts”. He concluded with, “Hope you have a great year and meet your goals!”
STATE VICA WINNER
Adam Efaw, an automotive service technology student, participated in Skills USA-VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America), won first place in the state, and became a contestant at the Skills USA-VICA 36th National Leadership Conference and Skills USA Championships held in Kansas City. Adam and his instructor Bill Brand were part of 12,000 students and instructors who attended the convention.
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
At the last National Association for Career and Technical Education Convention in Orlando, Florida, Roger Perdue, administrative assistant of vocational education for Marion County schools, was named Administrator of the Year for Region I (which consists of several states in the Northeast). Perdue has been involved with vocational education as a teacher and an administrator for over thirty years.
STUDENT COUNCIL
Student council members elected the following officers: Harley Swiger, president; Rachel Moore and Michelle Lupo, vice-presidents; Ashley Fulaytor, secretary; Carlena Moore, treasurer; and Jeff Sago, parliamentarian.
PEER MEDIATORS
The newly elected officers for peer mediation are Rachel Moore, president; Cherish Booth, vice-president; Courtney Shaver, secretary; and Wayne Willie, treasurer. Peer mediation is another means of preventing violence in schools. Referrals can be made by the administration, teachers, or students.
WEST VIRGINIA MATH LEAGUE
The highest scorers in the first West Virginia Math League competition were Bill Beavan, Shannon Currey, Teresa Sigley, and T. J. Knight.
STUDENT TEACHER
Margie Barron from Fairmont State College is currently doing her student teaching in the classes of Karen Lynch, Kathy Kolar, and Gary Rinehart. She will graduate in December with a degree in business education. Barron is a former Tech Center student and a former student-of-the quarter.
NVTHS
National Vocational Technical Honor Society members served as hosts, greeters, and tour guides at the first Parent-Teacher Conference, and provided an information table for the parents.
Future Business Leaders of America recently held a candy and submarine sandwich sale.
PROSTART/FOOD MANAGEMENT
Regina Fulton, a representative of Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, was a guest speaker in the ProStart/food management classes and demonstrated how to make marzipan roses.
The class made cookies and vegetable trays for an American Fiber Resources event. They are planning a submarine sandwich sale to raise money to dress “angels” for Christmas, and they will be catering the career fair luncheon for guest presenters.
CAREER FAIR
The annual
career fair will be held on January 11. At this time all 8th
graders in the county will have the opportunity to talk with various representatives
from difference careers. This will help the students realize all
of their career options and get them interested in what they want to do.