m. e. t. a. cigarroa high school engineering and technology magnet school

M. E. T. A.Cigarroa High School Engineering and Technology

Magnet School

STATUS REPORT ON THE STATUS REPORT ON THE ENGINEERING MAGNET ENGINEERING MAGNET

SCHOOLSCHOOL

HighlightsHighlights Recruiting efforts begin in the fall (early Recruiting efforts begin in the fall (early

November) with one visit to every middle November) with one visit to every middle school. The visit is emphasized by our current school. The visit is emphasized by our current students both sophomores and freshmen who students both sophomores and freshmen who draw attention to what is being done at the draw attention to what is being done at the magnet school.magnet school.

This is followed up in the spring with a 2nd This is followed up in the spring with a 2nd visit to the same campuses with accent on the visit to the same campuses with accent on the GT math classes.GT math classes.

Also scheduled for the spring semester are Also scheduled for the spring semester are meetings with parents through PTOs at each of meetings with parents through PTOs at each of the middle schools.the middle schools.

HighlightsHighlights We hold orientation meetings with parents We hold orientation meetings with parents

two weeks prior to the end of the two weeks prior to the end of the academic year to discuss the magnet academic year to discuss the magnet program summer school guidelines and program summer school guidelines and rules for participation and then in the fall rules for participation and then in the fall at individual classrooms to prepare at individual classrooms to prepare students graduation plans, sequence of students graduation plans, sequence of courses, etc.courses, etc.

Currently we are in the process of getting Currently we are in the process of getting ready for summer school program.ready for summer school program.

Pre-registration is about to begin for next Pre-registration is about to begin for next school year.school year.

HighlightsHighlights

A brochure for use during pre-registration A brochure for use during pre-registration (for students) as well for counselors and (for students) as well for counselors and for science and math master teachers at for science and math master teachers at all four middle schools have already been all four middle schools have already been given to the middle school counselors.given to the middle school counselors.

An application was developed for students An application was developed for students and sent to the middle school counselors and sent to the middle school counselors (deadline for application March 31st .)(deadline for application March 31st .)

Posters have been developed for use at Posters have been developed for use at the middle schools.the middle schools.

HighlightsHighlights Newspaper advertisement has been developed Newspaper advertisement has been developed

and is scheduled to be in print beginning in late and is scheduled to be in print beginning in late February for four consecutive Mondays.February for four consecutive Mondays.

We currently have a mechanical engineer We currently have a mechanical engineer teaching our students engineering principles, teaching our students engineering principles, computer assisted animation, as well as computer assisted animation, as well as engineering graphics.engineering graphics.

We have former students who are in colleges of We have former students who are in colleges of engineering that are about to graduate and who engineering that are about to graduate and who have graduated saying that they would like to have graduated saying that they would like to come in to talk to students about engineering life.come in to talk to students about engineering life.


We had two electrical engineers from MIT We had two electrical engineers from MIT visit with our students in January and are visit with our students in January and are scheduled to visit again this January.scheduled to visit again this January.

We have a licensed nuclear reactor We have a licensed nuclear reactor operator (among, if not the youngest in operator (among, if not the youngest in the country-she is 18 yrs old) currently the country-she is 18 yrs old) currently working on her nuclear engineering degree working on her nuclear engineering degree at MIT scheduled to visit with out students at MIT scheduled to visit with out students also in January.also in January.


We have formed several partnerships We have formed several partnerships with various universities.with various universities.

– The College of Architectural Engineering The College of Architectural Engineering from A&M University.-setting up camps from A&M University.-setting up camps for our students to attend the University.for our students to attend the University.

– The College of Natural Sciences also from The College of Natural Sciences also from A&M university-have our students A&M university-have our students assemble, build and set up wind driven assemble, build and set up wind driven electrical generators at several colonia electrical generators at several colonia sites.sites.


The University of The University of Texas partnership.Texas partnership.

The College of The College of Natural Sciences Natural Sciences at the University at the University of Texas the of Texas the UCHEM program.UCHEM program.


We are one of 12 schools across the state We are one of 12 schools across the state participating with the University of Texas participating with the University of Texas (8 in SA, 2 in Houston, 1 in Austin and(8 in SA, 2 in Houston, 1 in Austin and

us-The Pride of So. Laredo.)us-The Pride of So. Laredo.) We had a 72% success rate last year 10 of We had a 72% success rate last year 10 of

14 passing with 6 earning a DAP measure 14 passing with 6 earning a DAP measure including one A. Keep in mind all of these including one A. Keep in mind all of these students were juniors.students were juniors.

We were visited by the impressed We were visited by the impressed University representatives to see how it University representatives to see how it was that our students were doing so well.was that our students were doing so well.


We currently have 25 students and a We currently have 25 students and a 73% pass rate which include 4 As.73% pass rate which include 4 As.

Last year UCHEM students will be Last year UCHEM students will be featured in a show on Public Access featured in a show on Public Access to air in January. to air in January.

I have been interviewed concerning I have been interviewed concerning these stellar students by “La Voz these stellar students by “La Voz Latina” which is part of the LA Times Latina” which is part of the LA Times in Los Angeles Ca.in Los Angeles Ca.

They also participated in an elementary recruiting activity where they put on a science “magic” show.

More recruiting.


We have received 3 modules of a program We have received 3 modules of a program called TRAC from TxDot and although called TRAC from TxDot and although these modules are primarily for students these modules are primarily for students (juniors) taking physics our freshman (juniors) taking physics our freshman social studies teacher is incorporating the social studies teacher is incorporating the modules in her classes.modules in her classes.

We have a TxDot civil engineer assigned to We have a TxDot civil engineer assigned to our school for technical assistance with our school for technical assistance with these modules. these modules.


We currently have a memorandum of We currently have a memorandum of understanding with TxDot for when understanding with TxDot for when our students become seniors.our students become seniors.

Our e-chalk web site has been up Our e-chalk web site has been up and running for about a week.and running for about a week.

OverviewOverview

Program of study includes two Program of study includes two career pathways, engineering career pathways, engineering route and technology route. route and technology route.

Summer school begins the Summer school begins the summer prior to freshman year summer prior to freshman year and all students are expected to and all students are expected to take keyboarding, BCIS, P.E.( last take keyboarding, BCIS, P.E.( last summer swim lessons were given summer swim lessons were given to all incoming freshmen), and to all incoming freshmen), and Health.Health.

OverviewOverview

AP courses begin junior year. AP Spanish AP courses begin junior year. AP Spanish may not be a choice because of scheduling may not be a choice because of scheduling constraints.constraints.

In their Junior year, the students will take, In their Junior year, the students will take, the University of Texas online University the University of Texas online University Chemistry course. Students will also be Chemistry course. Students will also be encouraged to take college courses as early encouraged to take college courses as early as the summer before their junior year. as the summer before their junior year. They will also take Economics through They will also take Economics through TAMIU’s YES Camp in their senior year TAMIU’s YES Camp in their senior year followed by college algebra though Laredo followed by college algebra though Laredo Community College.Community College.

OverviewOverview

Students take the preliminary ACT Students take the preliminary ACT test (PLAN) their freshman year.test (PLAN) their freshman year.

Beginning 2005-2006 school year, Beginning 2005-2006 school year, student will take the PLAN their student will take the PLAN their sophomore year (results pending)sophomore year (results pending)

The PSAT will be taken in the fall of The PSAT will be taken in the fall of the junior year. the junior year.

OverviewOverview

Current enrollment consists of 82 Current enrollment consists of 82 students and the breakdown students and the breakdown percentages are:percentages are:

G.T.: 43%G.T.: 43% Sp Ed. 4%Sp Ed. 4% Reg. Ed.: 53%Reg. Ed.: 53% LEP: 5% LEP: 5%

Engineering principles

OverviewOverview

All freshman students are in a Writing All freshman students are in a Writing TAKS Tutorial during the 2nd block and TAKS Tutorial during the 2nd block and sophomores are in a Math tutorial class. sophomores are in a Math tutorial class. Those students who are not passing their Those students who are not passing their weekly assessments in the core areas are weekly assessments in the core areas are also given mandatory TAKS tutorials after also given mandatory TAKS tutorials after school in the areas they are not passing.school in the areas they are not passing.

Performance on TAKS 2004-2005: 72% Performance on TAKS 2004-2005: 72% passing all areaspassing all areas

OverviewOverview

We have planned a focused, We have planned a focused, targeted, diagnostic reading program targeted, diagnostic reading program where students are assigned to where students are assigned to classes by TAKS scale scores.classes by TAKS scale scores.

We also have a planned a focused, We also have a planned a focused, targeted, prescriptive curriculum targeted, prescriptive curriculum based and sequenced on student based and sequenced on student expectations where students are expectations where students are weakest.weakest.

OverviewOverview

Our teachers are scheduled for Our teachers are scheduled for updates and training workshops on a updates and training workshops on a variety of strategies to help increase variety of strategies to help increase these scores. As stated previously these scores. As stated previously tutorials have been set up to not only tutorials have been set up to not only help the magnet students but all help the magnet students but all students.students.

NeedsNeeds

A comprehensive needs assessment is in A comprehensive needs assessment is in the process of being finished. We have the process of being finished. We have needs that include hardware, software, needs that include hardware, software, and technology related items. and technology related items.

Students have asked about a dedication of Students have asked about a dedication of our Engineering/Technology Magnet Schoolour Engineering/Technology Magnet School

m. e. t. a. cigarroa high school engineering and technology magnet school

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