Henley CTE Day helps incoming 9th-graders decide on classes
April 7, 2023 / Henley Middle School eighth-grader Robert Alvarez is considering a career in construction. Classmate Lilly Schott isn’t sure what she wants to do.
Robert and Lilly were among Henley eighth-graders who spent the day at Henley High School Wednesday, exploring Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and pathways available to them when they enter high school this fall. The event is one way of helping eighth-graders determine their interests and forecast what classes they want to take as ninth-graders.
All eighth-graders in the Klamath County School District participate in high school class exploration activities in the spring. Brixner Junior High School eighth-graders will visit Mazama High School next week, participating in a showcase event that introduces the soon-to-be ninth-graders to available electives and classes.
Before attending the CTE Day event, Henley eighth-graders took an aptitude test called YouScience, which offers brain challenges that measure individual strengths, pointing students to career cluster options. The results are meant to provide insight to strengths students may not realize they have.
On Wednesday, Henley students rotated through 12 CTE stations, including snap circuits and electricity, welding, 3-D printing and flight simulation, robotics, intro to FFA and strawberry DNA, pre-teaching, digital media design, business marketing, carpentry, and health occupations. Pathways represented were ag science, ag mechanics, engineering, business, health occupations, digital media, education, and carpentry.
Robert measured and cut a 2-by-4 during the carpentry rotation. He likes to work with concrete, he said, and has family members involved in construction and welding. “My aptitude test was in line with construction type of work,” he said. “I like getting dirty.”
Lilly's aptitude test pointed her to the law, the arts, and engineering. “Maybe law might be fun to explore,” she said, “but I really like painting, drawing, writing, and acting.”
Meanwhile eighth-graders Waylon Poe and Chase Barrett worked with Henley sophomore Estefan Muneton to create a snap circuit for electricity, which is part of the ag mechanic pathway. Poe is considering the Air Force and has always been interested in welding. He is now adding ag mechanics to his list.
Barrett is looking at a professional sports related career, but found the snap circuit project intriguing. “I’ve never done this before,” he said.
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