 |
| A ribbon cutting ceremony marks the completion of two new CTE
buildings at Chaparral |
Construction has been completed on
two new Career Technical Education (CTE) buildings on the campus of Chaparral
High School in El Cajon. A
ribbon-cutting and building dedication ceremony was held for the new facility
on Wednesday as numerous CTE business partners attended the dedication.
With a
construction cost of $7.5 million, the project included the construction of two
new steel-framed buildings, totaling 14,555 square feet of space. The buildings
feature specialized classrooms for the school’s entrepreneurship-focused programs
including: cosmetology, floral design, culinary arts, technology, art and
construction technology, as well as student and staff restrooms. Roughly
one-quarter of Chaparral’s students participate in CTE’s four sequenced pathways
for a two-hour instructional block each day. CTE classes utilize higher levels
of academic and applied skills in preparing students for college and careers,
and all CTE teachers have California teaching credentials and industry
experience.
The buildings take advantage of
natural daylighting throughout, with high clearstory windows and Solatube
skylights, which were designed to meet the energy efficiency standards of the
Savings by Design program. Site upgrades included a new quad/courtyard area,
wrought iron fencing, drought-tolerant landscaping and a water-saving drip
irrigation system. The new classrooms are furnished with state-of-the-art
equipment and replicate real-life business practices.
The
building dedication included remarks by GUHSD Superintendent Ralf Swenson;
David Napoleon, principal of Chaparral High School, Brenda Davis-Landini,
floral design teacher; Miranda Harle, 12th grade floral student; and
Harriet Bossenbroek, immediate past-president of Rady’s Children’s Hospital
Auxiliary and a GUHSD business partner.
CA High School Exit
Exam Results Released
The
districtwide first-time time passing rates for 10th graders on the California
High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) remained the same in 2014 in both English
Language Arts (ELA), where 83 percent of students passed, and mathematics,
where 87 percent of students passed.
Several sites posted
strong gains in the year-over-year passing rates. Chaparral High School
increased its first-time passing by almost eight points in English Language
Arts (ELA) and by nearly four points in mathematics. El Capitan High School also
gained nearly four points in the ELA passing rate. El Cajon Valley High School
realized the biggest gains in math, with a five point increase in the passing
rate. West Hills High School also demonstrated growth in both CAHSEE subjects,
with a nearly three point gain in ELA and a two point gain in math.
GOT
PLANS? Career
& College Fair on Oct. 11
In
partnership with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, we are
hosting our eleventh annual Got Plans? Career
& College Fair for high school students and parents on Saturday, October
11, 2014, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Cuyamaca College, located at 900 Rancho San
Diego Parkway in El Cajon.
Students
and parents will be able to interact with admissions representatives from
public and private universities, community colleges, vocational schools, and
the military.
Free
workshops will be presented on topics including financial aid and career
opportunities. Admission to the fair is free and open to the public. More
information is available by calling Jason Martinez at 619-593-2713.
