NE W SL ET TE R OF T HE QUI NC Y A RE A V OCA T I ONA L

TE C HNI C AL CE NTE R &

WE ST C E NTR AL RE GIONA L ED UC AT I ON F OR

E MP LOY ME NT S Y S T E M # 240

December, 2013

Volume 3, Issue 2

DIRECTOR Mark E. Pfleiger

219 Baldwin Drive Quincy, IL 62301

217-224-3775 217-221-4800 Fax pfleigma@qps.org

We’re on the

web!

Qps.org/qavtc

September 2013

River Bugh, Auto Technology

nominated by Richard Gregory

Blake Folkenroth, Digital Electronics

nominated by Kristen McKenna

October 2013

Nate Christianer, Construction

nominated by Dave Bellis

Avery Hoffman, Computer Integrated

Manufacturing

nominated by Corey Loos

W C R / Q AV T C Se r ve s th e f o l l ow in g S ch oo l D i s t r i c ts i n W es te r n I l l in o is : Ad a m s C o un t y : Cen t ra l CUSD#3 , , L i ber t y CUSD#2 , Payson CUSD #1 , Un i t y CUSD#4 , Qu incy Schoo l D i s t r i c t 172 . P ik e Co un t y : Gr i ggsv i l l e -Pe r r y Un i t #4 , P ike land Un i t #10 , P leasan t H i l l

Un i t #3 ,W es te rn Un i t #12 . Ha nc oc k C o un t y : Sou theas te rn Un i t #337

Page 2

The students in Childcare helped host the annual Friendship Soup

Feast for the Preschool children and their families. Each family con-

tributed an item to add to the soup and the students helped the pre-

school children wash, chop and cut the vegetables to go in the

soup. The high school students also assisted the children in making Na-

tive American and Pilgrim outfits to wear at the Feast.

The childcare students have also had the opportunity to visit Transi-

tions School and observe children with special needs prior to their text-

book. In January the Childcare students will be planning and imple-

menting a lesson with their assigned classroom at Transitions

School. This gives the childcare students actual experience with chil-

dren with special needs.

- Cinda Hummel, Childcare, QAVTC

Payson Seymour High School Sophomore, Kira Eidson,

was named the National FFA Creed Speaking Champion

on Friday, November 1, at the National FFA Convention

in Louisville, Ky. Kira was one of 4 finalists selected on

Thursday, and then was named the national winner at

the 7th Session of the 86th National FFA Convention after

competing once again on Friday.

In early May, Kira Eidson was named the state cham-

pion, and therefore earned the honor of advancing to the

national competition. Judging for the FFA Creed Speak-

ing contest involved not only recitation of the creed per-

fectly but also the manner of presentation on the stage.

Additionally, each participant is asked three questions

that require them to relate the creed to today’s agricul-

tural issues.

The National FFA Creed Speaking event is sponsored by

CHS Incorporated. CHS provides the funds to support

this activity, the awards banquet, award medals and the

cash award scholarships. Kira Eidson earned a $1300

award for her efforts.

A video of Eidson’s championship performance can be

found on iHigh.com/ffa

A congratulatory reception was held for Kira at Payson

High School. Kira has had many interviews with the

press, citing her accomplishment. Kira is the first Illinois

FFA member to make it to the final four since the FFA

Creed Speaking contest began at the national level in

1999.

-Barry Eidson, Agriculture, Payson

Page 3

The Seniors taking Consumer Education at Pittsfield High School

are approaching the end of this course as Christmas and semester

end are right around the corner. Students are currently

tracking stocks purchased a few months ago. As usual

there are both some winners and a few losers. The stu-

dents look forward almost each class period to reporting

how their investments are doing.

These same Seniors are about half way through 10 mod-

ules of the EverFi learning set on the net sponsored for

us by Farmers State Bank of Pittsfield. The EverFi se-

ries includes reinforcement on chapters that are also cov-

ered in the classroom. –Savings, Banking, Payment, In-

terest Rates, Credit Cards, Credit Score, Financing

Higher Education, Renting vs. Owning, Taxes and Insur-

ance, Consumer Fraud, and Investing.

As Christmas and the Super Bowl approach these Pittsfield seniors

are wrapping up learning sections on Insurance and Auto Insur-

ance. We prepare to begin the interesting world of Advertising and

its affect on consumers and their purchases.

- John Schultz, Business, Pittsfield

Auto Body I & II students are working on three major and interesting customer projects, (1.)

A 1950 Chevy P/U Truck that was towed from Urbana in east-central IL for students to do a

restoration and repaint. (2) the students are cleaning up and repainting a double axle horse

trailer, and (3) students are making good progress on a restoration and repaint of a 1985

Chevy pickup truck. Various other smaller repairs have also been made to student owned ve-

hicles. Pictures are available of students working on these projects by contacting Mr. Caruso,

or stop by the Auto Body bulletin board in G building to view them.

Commercial Foods I & II students are planning a holiday meal for STP stu-

dents on December 11th. This project will give students real life experience

when it comes to cooking for large amounts of people. They are very excited

about the holiday meal and welcome other opportunities to exercise what they

have learned in class.

Graphic Design I & II students had a T-shirt sale and earned over 400.00

for their spring field trip! QHS spirit shirts can still be ordered by request by

any one in the district!

Page 4

This exciting and popular new course offering provides opportunities for students to learn ad-

vanced 3D animation and modeling design skills used in digital media and design enterprises (i.e.

software and video game design, electronic visual media, architectural and automotive industries).

Students will work on computer stations using state of the art animation and 3D modeling appli-

cation software and graphic output devices to design unique digital image projects. Student-

centered activities will encompass both individual and team efforts to develop knowledge and tech-

nical skills through problem-based activities including: working with objects and modifiers, model-

ing techniques, creation and application of materials, lights and radiosity, animation techniques,

character animation, as well as rendering and post production processes.

The 3D Animation & Modeling class starts January 8, 2014 and will run during the QAVTC STP

Wednesday evening class schedule from 2:30 – 6:30 pm., through May 21st. The class is open to all

10th-12th grade QHS students. Students should see their counselor or stop by the QAVTC office in

F building to find out more or sign up for this fast-paced high tech careers of the future class. Par-

ents are always welcome to contact us to find out more about this class or any QAVTC class.

Thank you to the following for assistance with the Health Occupations Program during first semester.

We appreciate your assistance with clinical experiences and sites, guest speakers, blood donor services,

and community service opportunities:

The Good Samaritan Home, Blessing Hospital, American Red Cross of

Adams County, QUANADA, Adams County Ambulance Service, Quincy

Fire Department, The Hanger, Mrs. Rachael Petty (physical therapist),

First Choice Therapy Services, Ms. Diana Bradney and Ms. Robyn

Sprenger (Quincy Public Schools-- occupational therapists).Mr. Bill

Brothers and Ms. Gerri Schutte (Quincy Public Schools---bus drivers)

Refreshment Services Pepsi (donation for blood drive)

The Health Occupations Students and HOSA sponsored a blood drive with the

American Red Cross on November 25, 2013. There were 51 units of blood

collected with 37 first-time donors.

The next blood drive at QHS will be on January 24, 2014.

Students from the Health Occupations program continue clinical sessions at The Good Samaritan Home

and at Blessing Hospital. The HOSA members sponsored Bingo at The Good Samaritan Home in Octo-

ber and also collected food and clothing for QUANADA during November. Plans for third quarter service

projects include ""Pennies for Patients" (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) and Valentines Creations for

Page 5

The 2014 First Robotics Competition season “officially”

begins on January 4th. On this day the QAVTC Devils

Robotics Team 4196 will be attending one of the 89

Kickoff Events scheduled across the United States,

Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Israel. These

events not only announce the Game Challenge for the

new season, but also provide teams with the opportu-

nity to gather and compare notes, exchange ideas,

make friends, find mentoring teams, learn the game,

pick up their Kit of Parts and get geared up for the ex-

citing competition season.

The QAVTC Devils plan to attend the Bradley kickoff event which will be held in Bradley’s

new Renaissance Coliseum located at 1600 W. Main Street, Peoria, IL. At this event the team

will take a tour of the campus, pick up their kit of robot parts, and be able to examine the new

game's field elements up close.

After the Kickoff Event the QAVTC Devils will feverously work for six weeks to design, build,

and test their robot per the game challenge rules, in preparation to compete in a regional

event. This year Team 4196 will compete at the Cen-

tral Illinois Regional held in Pekin, IL at the Avanti’s

Dome on February the 27th, 2014.

NASA will provide an online broadcast of the live re-

gional event on NASA Robotics and NASA TV. All

FIRST events are free to the public so feel free to join

in the fun. If you are unable to attend a live event in

person, tune in to NASA TV.

The QAVTC Devils Team #4196 would like to thank

the following 2014 sponsors, Gardner Denver, Titan

Wheel, Harris, Knapheide, Dot Food, Ameren, Dream Big Technology Grant, Armadillon Au-

dio, Sharkey Transportation Inc., Manchester Tank, and HB Tooling. Without the generosity

and support from our sponsors, students would not have the real world opportunities FIRST

offers inspiring young people to become science and technology leaders.

Page 6

Season’s greetings from your friends at the West Central Regional System Office and QAVTC. It’s been an amazing semester at WCR and QAVTC with many exciting new ini-tiatives moving forward. I hope all of you have had a rewarding semester filled with many moments of learning. One new initiative in the WCR office has been involvement in a workforce development ini-tiative spearheaded by the Great River Economic development Foundation (GREDF). A workforce steering committee with three teams focusing on career guidance, work readiness and succession planning have embarked on the challenge of addressing how to improve the workforce of the greater Quincy and Adams County areas to make our area more attractive to new employers as well as retain our existing employers to strengthen the economy of the region and ideally provide for a better quality of life for the citizens of the region. I look for-ward to being a part of this initiative to help us better determine the direction we need to take to ensure career and technical programs in our secondary schools are best serving our students, employers and community. We will report out on recommendations and action plans developed to address thee key areas of workforce development as this work pro-gresses. Initiatives impacting QAVTC programs include the infusion of standards-based curriculum that aligns with industry-based certification programs. This year we have added a Welding curriculum that is designed to meet American Welding Society standards for Level I Welder Certification. We have worked with the QHS computer technology program to add Comp-Tia A+ Computer Technician Certification. We are exploring adding curriculum to the QAVTC Automotive Technology program aligning to Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification, as well as curriculum in the Auto Body program aligned with the Inter-industry Conference on Auto collision Repair (ICAR) certification to make our graduates more employable as they enter the workforce. This will compliment our existing Certified Nurse Assistant program in Health Occupations, and Food Sanitation certificate prep in Commercial Foods. Additional certification prep is being researched for the Construction program and more. We added two exciting new classes this year at QAVTC/QHS, including our fourth Project Lead the Way course on Computer Integrated Manufacturing, and a high tech course in CAD titled 3D Modeling and Animation. Both classes are off to a great start. We are ex-ploring adding the Project Lead the Way Biomedical strand starting in 14-15. Next, career pathways have been introduced at Quincy HS and QAVTC. It is anticipated that next year students entering QHS will have ten career pathways to choose from, repre-senting some 75% or more of all careers. The goal will be for students to be making course choices based on a career goal to help them be more focused as they progress through high school, whether it be a technical or professional career. Finally, all of us in the West Central Region office and Quincy Area Vo-tech Center wish for you and all those close to you, the very best for the holiday season and the promise of a prosperous new year. I will leave you with one of my favorite nautical sayings: “May your new year be blessed with fair winds and following seas”. Until next time...

Mark Pfleiger, QAVTC/WCR Director