Tag: #CTE

Port St. Lucie High Hosts Skilled Trades Advisory Council Meeting

February 24, 2025 By KERON BELGRAVES

Area business leaders recently joined educators at the Skills Trade Advisory Council meeting to provide valuable insights into the skills needed for today’s workforce. Partners representing a variety of industries toured classrooms focused on Building Construction Technology, Automotive, and Technical Design. The focus of the visit was to bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring students graduate with the practical skills employers demand. Business partners emphasized the importance of not only technical proficiency but also crucial soft skills. Recurring themes included the need for punctuality, responsible phone usage, a strong willingness to learn, a keen awareness of safety protocols, … Read More

Thankful for CTE (Career and Technical Education)

December 2, 2024 By Dana Caputo

St. Lucie West Centennial High School Culinary Arts students invited Northport K8 Culinary Arts 8th graders to collaborate on a Thankful for CTE (Career and Technical Education) event at Centennial High. Their plan was to work together in the Centennial High School Culinary Arts’ commercial kitchen. The instructors, Chef Chris Balachak at St. Lucie West Centennial and Chef Tiffany Tredor at Northport K8 created a plan for their culinary students to work together. Principals Mr. Rustay and Ms. Popwell supported the event which had the middle schoolers collaborating with high school mentors to create a Thanksgiving-style meal that included dishes … Read More

Culinary Arts Cooks at Derby Day

May 13, 2024 By Dana Caputo

Culinary Arts students from Northport K8, Port St. Lucie High School, and St. Lucie West Centennial High cooked up a storm at the Derby Day celebration at Monarch Country Club. Students cooked Kentucky Derby-themed recipes including Port St. Lucie High School’s Kentucky Hot Brown Wontons, Louisville Chicken Sliders, and Shrimp on Savory Grits Cake, St. Lucie West Centennial’s Chilled Tomato Shooter Gazpacho, Pork Sliders with Chow-Chow & Apricot Jam served in a Brown Butter & Caramelized Onion Biscuit, Mint Julep Almond Vanilla Cupcake With Blackberries and Bruleed Bananas, and Northport’s Chicken and Waffles bites, Deviled Eggs, Cucumber Canapés, Rosewater/Cardamom cupcakes, … Read More

Westwood FFA Parliamentary Procedure at Board Meeting

April 15, 2024 By Dana Caputo

Fort Pierce Westwood Academy students and FFA members Lilly Revels, Berkley Barnes, Elizabeth Rufo, Jayden Weil, Alyssa Coppock, and Laila Chastine presented Parliamentary Procedure at the monthly School Board Meeting. Westwood’s proud Principal Alfonso, Assistant Principal Gordon, and Agriscience Instructor Jenna Blakenbaker cheered them on as well as St. Lucie Public Schools Career and Technical Education CTE Director Aliesha Seitz.

Westwood FFA Horse Judging Competes

April 8, 2024 By Dana Caputo

The Fort Pierce Westwood Academy FFA Horse Judging team competed at the University of Florida FFA State Horse Judging contest against the best horse judging teams in the State of Florida. They had to pass the preliminary online test and be a top 15 team at the State Fair to be eligible to even compete at the State contest. Westwood’s team placed 6th in the state with 3 freshman and only one veteran judger. Wow! Team members consist of Zoey Thomaselli, Abigail Brickley, Madison Curtis and Adrianna Spotts. Congratulations!

CTE Student Entrepreneurship Showcase

April 8, 2024 By Dana Caputo

Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from middle and high schools across St. Lucie Public Schools participated in the CTE Student Showcase. The Showcase was all about entrepreneurship, the entrepreneurial mindset, and the resilience needed to be an entrepreneur.  The CTE classroom is a perfect place for teaching these skills since CTE teachers already cover many lessons and projects in entrepreneurship. Across the board, CTE has produced many small business owners in St. Lucie County and across the State of Florida.  Many of the Showcase participants someday want to own a business and be an entrepreneur. Thank you to our … Read More

Westwood Wins State FFA Veterinary Assisting

March 25, 2024 By Dana Caputo

Congratulations to the Fort Pierce Westwood Academy students who competed in the FFA Vet Assisting contest in Plant City! They placed FIRST in the state with Jayden Weil being the high individual of the whole contest. The team members (pictured) Briana Plaza, Samuel Rogers, Jayden Weil, and Ella Stark will be recognized during the State FFA Convention in June and then continue on to compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October! Woo-hoo! Great job, Panthers!

Fort Pierce Westwood New Nurses Aides

Fort Pierce Westwood Academy New Certified Nurses Aides

February 26, 2024 By Sarah Harris

Please help us congratulate the following Fort Pierce Westwood Academy students who passed their state certification on 02/14/2024 and are now Florida state-certified nurses aides! Marie Sainvil, Katalin Gonzalez-Cardona, Cournecya Harris, Jodian Johnson

Northport K8’s Culinary Students Cater PSL Citizens Summit

February 26, 2024 By Dana Caputo

Northport’s Culinary Arts program students catered the Citizen Summit the first Saturday of February which kicked off CTE Month!  They held after-school cooking sessions to prepare for the event.  Select students attended Saturday’s event with Mrs. Tredor, Mrs. Butterworth, Mrs. Sharrah, and Mrs. Bailey where they plated and served over 700 food samples to the public citizens attending the event. A big thank you also goes out to Mr. McDonald who stayed late with us to offer his expertise as well.

Culinary Arts Advisory Board Members Meet

February 19, 2024 By Dana Caputo

St. Lucie Public Schools Culinary Arts Program teachers virtually met with their Advisory Board members. Teachers and business partners discussed plans for Derby Day, IRSC Open Houses, the Sunshine Kitchen Cookoff, SERV Safe, and Food Safely industry certification testing. The culinary teachers and students are busy, busy, busy this time of year planning catering events, Proms, sports concessions, senior celebrations, ProStart Competition, SkillsUSA competition, and more.

Outboard Marine Service Technology Virtual Field Trip

February 19, 2024 By Dana Caputo

St Lucie Public Schools middle school students participated in a Virtual Field Trip to St. Lucie West Centennial High’s Outboard Marine Service Technology Program. The middle schoolers were able to see hands-on activities on electrical troubleshooting, engine mechanics troubleshooting, and marine service lab activities, and ask questions. Big thanks to Mr. Bob Kachanis Outboard Marine Service Instructor, his students, the St. Lucie Public Schools Media Services team for recording, St. Lucie West K8, Southern Oaks Middle, Oak Hammock K8, Dan McCarty Middle, and Allapattah Flats K8 for a great field trip!

Centennial Marine Program Meets with Advisory Board

February 19, 2024 By Dana Caputo

St. Lucie West Centennial High School’s Outboard Marine Service Program teacher met with his Advisory Board. Local marine industry members virtually met with Mr. Bob Kachanis to collaborate on classroom projects and industry needs. More meetings and activities are planned. Big thanks to Rob Abbott-Oceanwide Electronics, Justin Beard-Marine Industry Association of the Treasure Coast, Jim Dragseth-Shearwater Marine, John Helfrich-Grand Banks Yachts, and Tracy Campbell-Grand Banks Yachts.

Port St. Lucie Culinary Arts Cooks Jamaica-Me-Crazy

January 22, 2024 By Dana Caputo

Culinary Arts students in Chef Roland Foerster’s classes cook and serve tasty Jamaica-Me-Crazy lunches. Students learned Jamaican cuisine recipes and cooked up entrée choices such as Stewed Oxtail, Curry Goat, Jerk Chicken, Jerk Pulled Pork served with Pigeon Peas, Butterbeans, Rice, and Johnnycakes. Delicious!

Marine Service Gets on Board at the Boat Show

January 22, 2024 By Dana Caputo

St. Lucie Public School Outboard Marine Service Program students attended the Boat Show in Stuart. Students met with employers from the local marine industry and visited boats docked at the show. Students heard about career opportunities in various areas of the marine industry as well as the increase in marine jobs in St. Lucie and Martin counties. It was a great day for the students. Big thanks to Robb Abbott at Oceanwide Electronics, Jill Marasa at Ashley Capital, and Justin Beard at Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast MIATC for planning this day for students.

Westwood FFA Sweeps Competitions

December 18, 2023 By Dana Caputo

Congratulations to West Prep FFA students who swept the local FFA contests in Okeechobee, winning every category! 1st place Creed- Laila Chastine 1st place Prepared Public Speaking- Berkley Barnes 1st place Extemporaneous Speaking- Anna Paige Cruse 1st place Safe Tractor Driving- Reed Blankenbaker 1st place Parliamentary Procedure- Lilly Revels, Berkley Barnes, Elizabeth Rufo, Laila Chastine, Jayden Weil and Alyssa Coppock Best wishes as these students move on to district competitions in late January.

Sunshine Kitchen Cook-off

October 30, 2023 By Dana Caputo

St. Lucie Public School Culinary Programs competed at the Sunshine Kitchen in Fort Pierce.  Five outstanding high school culinary students along with an Indian River State Culinary Institute student formed teams and competed at the Sunshine Kitchen Cook-off. Judges included Chef Mike Febre, True Roots Catering, Guytano D’Anna, Bonefish Macs, Leslie Moyers, Sunshine Kitchen, Jacques Larson, Cathy Townsend, St. Lucie County Commissioner.  The winning team was Aristhene Thelisnort, Fort Pierce Central High and Justin Stolaj, Indian River State Culinary Institute each winning a $1,500 scholarship.  Big thanks to Gina McCants, St. Lucie County Tcerda Research Park, Chef Deb Midkiff, IRSC Culinary Institute, … Read More

Port St. Lucie High School’s Technical Design Students Meet Architects

October 23, 2023 By Dana Caputo

Students in Mr. Picchiarini’s Technical Design class met Guest Speaker, Carlos Luis Flores Blancaneaux RA, Project Manager at Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. The students were engaged in seeing designs turn into buildings. Aline Mar, Architectural Designer at Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. is an alumnus of Treasure Coast High School and spoke about courses to take, the challenges of the job, studying overseas, and loving architecture.    

Port St. Lucie High Culinary Arts Hosts Virtual Field Trip

September 26, 2023 By Dana Caputo

Port St. Lucie High School Culinary Arts students hosted a virtual field trip for middle school students. Students from Dan McCarty Middle, St. Lucie West K8, Southern Oaks Middle, and Oak Hammock K8 stayed in their classrooms and via Microsoft Teams were able to meet Chef Foerster and his Culinary Arts students. The students saw and heard about the culinary program, met students, toured their commercial kitchen, and saw them in action as they prepared and served a Latin Lunch, pizzas, and expresso, plus asked questions about the program! Big thanks to Mr. Frost and his students in the Port … Read More