In May 2023, 8th grade students in two of our local middle schools participated in our first annual 8th Grade Career Expo. This initiative will be expanded to include 8th grade students from five local consortium buildings for 2023 - 2024.
The 8th grade expo preparation beings with students exploring careers at their local middle school through Xello. The results are matched with corresponding DCTC programs to plan their schedule for the expo. CTE teachers and high school students prepare a mini hands-on activity that expose the 8th grade students to their CTE program.
At our May 2023 event, CTE teachers and students from our transfer programs were excited to share their passion for their field with our 8th grade students. The consortium middle schools students were encouraged to explore opportunities for their high school years and their futures; to learn more about programs that matched their skills and interests; and to investigate programs that were unfamiliar.
Students, read below to start thinking about your interests:
If you are a creative thinker, check out the Arts and Communication programs. Do you enjoy being a leader, organizing people, planning activities, and talking? Explore your high school's Business, Management, Marketing, and Technology programs. Are you technically inclined and practical? There are many programs offered in Engineering/Manufacturing and Industrial Technology and STEM. If you like to care for people who are sick or help them stay well, look at the Health Science programs. Are you friendly, open, understanding, and cooperative? Our Human Services programs may be for you. Do you love nature? Enquire about the Natural Resources and Agriscience programs.
This is an opportune time to expose 8th grade students as they are preparing to enter high school. Your district's in house CTE programs may be available for 9th and 10th grade students. Transfer CTE programs are designed to fit the schedule of students in 11th and 12th grade.