Career Drive  

Your Success is Our Business  
 

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE SPECIALIST II

The AOS II class has been very busy. We spent the beginning of the quarter preparing for BPA contest and have seven students advancing to state competition. Everyone continues to concentrate on her secretarial skills in the executive, medical and legal areas. Some in our class are still working and learning on the job. For Valentine's Day, we explored and examined languages, rituals and symbols related to other cultures. We each presented our research in a PowerPoint presentation.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT II

Currently, we are learning management and human relations as we complete assignments for a simulation called Corporate View. Most of the work is done using the Corporate View website. This has been a realistic and valuable assignment. In January, everyone in our class participated in BPA region competition. We are happy to share the fact that ten members of our class placed in their contest, and four have earned the opportunity to compete at the state level in March.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE I

This quarter has been a very busy one. We have taken a number of excellent study trips and learned quite a bit from the experiences. Our class is still presenting our Stop the Violence puppet show at area preschools and had the opportunity to attend the Butterfly Ballad puppet show held at Edison Community College in February. Ten students in our class participated at the Picture Book Read-In held in Fairborn.

In addition to the study trips, we are continuing to learn during our observations of the preschool children in the center. Plus, we worked very hard to prepare for FCCLA competition the end of February.

ALLIED HEALTH I

Allied Health I students recently completed First Aid and CPR certification in January. We had a 100% passage rate on both the skills and written test for all students who participated in the training. Our class continues to learn about infection control measures and the importance of standard precautions. Our charity fundraiser was very successful; we raised $352.51 for the Jade Green Benefit Fund.

As a part of our program curriculum, every student competed in the local SkillsUSA-VICA competition in various areas. This competition served to identify those students who are eligible to advance to region competition.

Each month we continue go to Dorothy Love Retirement Community in Sidney to visit with the Alzheimer patients. We play dominoes, paint fingernails, play cards, color, and watch movies with the residents. Everyone looks forward to these monthly visits, and the residents are always happy to see us.

 

 

 

UPPER VALLEY JVS AND
EDISON COMMUNITY
COLLEGE ANNOUNCE.....

Career Odyssey
... A Premier Job Fair at
Edison Community College
North Hall
Wednesday, April 9
11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

AG. BUSINESS

The Ag. Business students are continuing to work in their co-op positions and are learning many skills on the job. These employers are pleased with our performance.

Our class is completing a unit on human relations in the work place, and we are learning how to appropriately get along with our supervisors, co-workers and customers. We have reviewed and discussed a number of case studies that involve human relations situations.


ALLIED HEALTH II

The Allied Health II class is learning about dental-related issues. We better understand the importance of good oral care and have been practicing our skills by brushing the teeth of our "patients." Our patients are our classmates.

In January, our program hosted a health career fair. There were nurses, a pharmacist, radiology technician, EMT's, cardiopulmonary technician, health information specialist and a laboratory technician in our classroom to talk about their career areas. In February, we did a community service Valentine activity with the students from Riverside School in Troy. Everyone enjoyed this activity and felt it was very worthwhile. 

We also spent time this quarter preparing for local VICA competition. Those students advancing to the region level of competition will continue to perfect their skills.

AUTO TECHNOLOGY I

Auto Technology I students have been taking engines out of vehicles and then reinstalling them properly. We've also been taking heads off an engine and tearing it down. After that we clean and rebuild the heads and then put it all back together. It was also necessary for us to learn how to properly grind valves and the seats on a head. This has been a great learning experience. Next, we plan to begin tearing down and rebuilding an engine.

Our class also competed this quarter in local VICA competition to select the students who will represent us at the region level.

 

PRE-ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY II

The PET II students have been busy this quarter developing new skills in digital electronics, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) using the EdgeCAM software provided by Imaginit Technologies of Piqua, and refining skills in CADD (SolidWorks), robotics, hydraulics, pneumatics, machine design and analysis, and elecro-mechanical systems.

Our class was also involved in the trebuchet competition. Each of us was required to construct a trebuchet following the competition guidelines. We are working on a quadcycle for the Tech Prep Showcase. This four-wheeled vehicle will be human powered. The machine was designed to enable senior citizens to exercise on a stable platform as well as allow easy access to the machine.

CARPENTRY I

The Carpentry students worked very hard to prepare for local VICA competition. It was very difficult to choose the student who would advance to region competition.

Our class continues to spend lab time at the JVS project house. The walls, windows and doors are in place. Next, we will be putting on the vinyl siding and hanging drywall.

CARPENTRY II

Our class has been working on our latest project since work on the JVS house has slowed down due to the weather. We are building flag boxes for veterans. The Veterans Service Commission of Miami County has partnered with us on this project. We've built 25 flag boxes for the VSC to make available to the families of deceased veterans. We presented these flag boxes to a group of veterans at a program the end of February. In conjunction with this project, our class researched the significance of honorary customs, such as the flag folding, taps and a 21-gun salute. We did a PowerPoint presentation to share what we learned with the veterans.


MEDICAL TECH PREP I

This quarter our class has started to review and practice First Aid techniques and will be taking the certification test before the end of the school year. We continue to visit the residents at Fair Haven Nursing Home in Sidney. The medical programs recently hosted a health fair in our lab. Health care professionals were on hand to tell us about their occupations. Time was also spent preparing for VICA competition. Soon we will be starting our Red Cross projects and will be making Scrubby Bear presentations to elementary students to promote proper hand washing. 

HOSPITALITY AND FACILITY CARE I & II

The seniors are presently studying life skills in related class. This involves learning about budgets, banking, car buying and apartment renting. Both junior and senior classes are training for the upcoming FCCLA District Skills Competition in March in Van Wert. We hope that some in our class will be eligible to advance to state competition in April.

During the week of February 10, we celebrated FCCLA week at the JVS. Students created ribbons and hosted an afternoon reception and breakfast for staff. We decorated the bulletin board in the hall and wore red, white and blue for FCCLA. 

GRAPHIC ARTS I

We are still completing patronage work and assignments in lab. Recently, we finished putting together a book for an area school. This was a big project for our class. Right now, we are beginning to learn how to do silk screening on t-shirts. We've also learned how to put a new blanket on the presses. In the computer lab, we have been using Adobe Pagemaker to design business cards.

COMPUTER ASSISTED DRAFTING I

This nine weeks the CAD I students have designed and built a trebuchet. We designed the parts in AutoCad and the Machine Technology students machined the parts. The trebuchet was entered in the annual competition in February that Wright State University sponsors.

In addition, we spent time designing and building a bulletin board for VICA competition. Everyone in the class was required to help with this project.

Currently, we are working to design 40 parts using the skills that we've learned so far this year.

PRE-ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY I

Pre-Engineering students have been very busy this quarter. Among the new skills developed this quarter were computer programming using Microsoft Visual Basic .NET programming language, microelectronics circuit building and troubleshooting, computer literacy using the on-line CISCO training program, technical mathematics to study the forces on stationary machines and structures (bridges, cars, aircraft, etc.), CADD using the SolidWorks three-dimensional solid modeling program, Rapid Prototyping using the Stratasys Genisys three-dimensional plastic plotter, and the fundamentals of engineering and computer science.

In addition, we have been able to integrate these skills to develop projects for competitions. We designed and developed a trebuchet to enter into the annual Wright State University competition. We've also developed an exercise machine for the Tech Prep Showcase competition.

CAREER BASED INTERVENTION

This quarter, the CBI class has been working on budgeting. This will help us to know how to wisely use the money that we make to pay our bills plus save for the future. Our class also studied and prepared for the annual CBI Knowledge Bowl competition. We had to learn a variety of information to prepare for this competition.

MACHINE TECHNOLOGY II

Machine Technology II students have been helping to prepare for the NIMS (National Institute of Metalworking Skills) certification. Students in our class took this certification test at Edison Community College. We are anxiously waiting for the results.

ELECTRONICS I

We have been very busy working on a variety of projects this quarter. Currently, we are learning about AC. This involves the function generator and the proper use of the oscilloscope. Our class worked to prepare for the local VICA competition and helped conduct the awards ceremony for competitors and staff.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY I

The Information Technology I students are learning HTML (hypertext markup language) to create web pages. This class is articulated with Edison. That means we earn Edison credit as we take this HTML class at the JVS.

The groundwork is being put in place for next year's junior students to earn IC3 certification. Today's economy requires familiarity with computers and the Internet. Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3) offers certification candidates the opportunity to learn and demonstrate computer and Internet literacy through a worldwide industry standard that accurately validates skills and productivity in the workplace. IC3 is the world's first global certification for digital literacy. It offers certification candidates the opportunity to demonstrate to employers a basic level of computer and Internet literacy. After individuals complete IC3 they are prepared to pursue other software specialist certifications such as Microsoft Office Specialist. They will even be prepared to pursue more technical certifications, such as A+, to continue enhancing their computing knowledge, skills and overall marketability.

HORTICULTURE I

One of our big projects this quarter was preparing for our Valentine's Day sale. It was a very successful sale. We will soon be getting ready for our spring plant sale. The year is going by very quickly; the flower shop seems to be busy all the time. We appreciate all of our customers.

UPPER VALLEY JVS
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

The JVS sponsors a recognition program to honor graduates who have "distinguished" themselves in their chosen career. Please contact Deb Holthaus at the JVS at 937.778.1980 to obtain information about this award or to request an application.

Happenings from Science

Mr. Weldy’s advanced physical science classes are preparing for an interdisciplinary trip.  They will be visiting the Newport Aquarium, expanding their study of ocean ecology while there.  His other classes are breaking (not burning) bridges they have built, to test the strength of the construction.

Mrs. Clark’s life science classes have begun their study of plants by researching some hot ecological topics like clear cutting and deforestation of the rainforest. PowerPoint presentations were created to state their point of view.  Anatomy students have written stories, created board games, and presentations to demonstrate their mastery of the digestive system.

Mrs. Harshbarger is exploring genetics with her students.  They are currently working on a simulation that involves karyotyping actual images of human chromosomes.  Once the students complete the karyotype they will be analyzing them to diagnose genetic abnormalities.  Mr. Arnold is preparing his students for some “hair raising” experiences in electricity, they will use a Van de Graf generator to create static electricity and are also going to be making batteries.  Mrs. Noffsinger was hard to catch as she races between the Edison and JVS campuses to teach chemistry to our senior med tech students.  Her chemistry students are writing scientific biographies.  Her physics classes have been working on presentations about the space shuttle Columbia disaster.

 Help is on the Way

The Upper Valley JVS Math Department’s aim of helping the student is more than just a slogan. 

Every year many students come to the Upper Valley JVS without having passed the Math portion of the 9th Grade Proficiency Test.  Mr. Keith Manier, Math Tech Prep instructor, has a 65%

success rate of helping his students pass the Math section and get back on track toward graduation.  When students arrive at Upper Valley, they have already unsuccessfully attempted the test 5 times.  Mr. Manier’s ability to reach his students and increase their math understanding is the major reason for the success of many students.  

Mrs. Shirley Card is helping her students answer that age old question, “When am I ever going to use this stuff?”  Mrs. Card’s class used ratios and proportions to calculate the number of fish in a pond by sampling to fish population.  She had her class capture and tag a number of fish and then release them back into the pond.  Then they captured a second group of fish and determined the ratio of tagged to untagged fish.   They were then able to use that ratio to calculate the total fish in the pond.  In addition, a (math-tutoring) schedule has been developed to assist any student that may be having some or a lot of difficulty.  Each instructor has made himself or herself available during some part of the day to try to meet the student’s needs.  

 English News

The communication classes attended a distance learning videoconference with the Cleveland Museum of Art.  The subject discussed was “The Art of Adornment.”  Examples of hairstyles & wigs, clothing, jewelry, tattooing and piercing were shown from various time periods and cultures.  The students then researched the history and varieties of body adornment including clothing, jewelry, plastic surgery, tattooing, and piercing.  The research was compiled and shared with the class in the form of posters, power point, and papers. After studying the novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Mrs. Frey’s 5th period English class wrote letters in the style of the 1800’s.  Pretending to be a person of that time, they wrote to one of the characters in the novel in the style of language used in the story.   A group of teachers read the letters and 		 awarded Megan McGraw first place for her design and formal language. First period Advanced English 12 students had the opportunity to embark on a Distance Learning journey with the help of The Cleveland Health Museum.  Using live satellite transmission, students participated as a class in discovering the unknown facts and misconceptions of sexually transmitted diseases.  Students were able to address their questions and concerns to the “live” presenter in Cleveland. 

 Social Studies Stuff

The social studies department strives to make education interesting and fun for our students while teaching them skills that they can use in the occupation of their choice. One example of this is the problem solving skills that Ms. Edmondson is teaching in her American Legal System class. They have been working on a project that allows the students to act as investigators who must study a simulated crime scene and piece together the clues they find there. They will then be participating in a mock trial based on the crime that was simulated. Ms. Edmondson has also invited actual crime scene investigators to speak to her classes.

 The U.S. history classes taught by Mr. Gentry are currently working on making videos that chronicle the causes, events, and aftermath of WWII. Mrs. Detter’s World Cultures classes will be going on a field trip to Mound City, near Chillicothe, Ohio to get a hands-on learning experience with the Hopewell and Adena cultures that once thrived here in the Ohio Valley. The U.S. History classes taught by Mrs. Roeth were practicing analytical thinking as they used the Internet to look at a statistical analysis of World War II.  Mr. Ohler’s Government classes are currently making pamphlets with fast facts on Congress to encourage involvement in the legislative processes and as involved citizens of our democracy.


IMPORTANT DATES

March 31 - April 4 No School -- Spring Break
April 9 Career Odyssey, Edison Community College
April 18 No School -- Good Friday
April 23 Mid-Term
May 26 No School -- Memorial Day
June 4 End of 4th Grading Period
June 4 Senior Convocation, 7:00 pm

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