News
California high school welding team captures state championship
Posted on May 20, 2013
Category: Workforce Development
A high school welding team from Southern California captured a state championship in the industrial trade for the first time in five years, according to a published report.Competing against 18 teams and 68 contestants, the Future Farmers of America Agriculture Welding Team with the Ernest Righetti High School in Santa Monica seized the crown at Cuesta Community College California, The Santa Maria Times reports.The team's advisor said the magnitude of the accomplishment by no means should be underestimated."This is a big deal," adviser Jim English with FFA told the news source. "What a wonderful journey. They can look back at their accomplishments forever."Consisting of five members - Tanner Tuttle, Devin Miller, Justin Rich and Patrick Stemlock – the team also has a member who snagged the First High Individual and the second highest prize. Those individuals, respectively, were Tuttle and Miller.The competition was difficult and represented the opportunity for the team to look forward and prepare for the future, Tuttle told the media outlet."Building career skills was not easy, but very rewarding," Tuttle said.Among the tasks charged to the team during the competition was reading blueprints and assembling many different positions. They also were able to exhibit various processes of welding while presenting their portfolios of work. They showed the certified work within the realm of the American Welding Society.For the past two months, the Santa Monica high school team has been demonstrating its skill throughout the state. The squad captured first place during a recent welding completion at Hancock College.For their efforts, they were awarded personalized welding jackets.According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, career prospects for welders are poised to develop at a 15 percent pace during the 10-year period leading to 2020. In 2010, the median pay of welders was more than $35,000 per year.
Southeast Michigan preschool anticipates program strengthening
Posted on May 20, 2013
Category: Early Childhood Education / Day Care Centers
An early childhood education center in a Southeast Michigan city is poised to hurtle forward with efforts to better instruct children thanks to increased funding, according to a published report.Paddock's Early Childhood Center is likely to benefit from state officials looking at increased per-pupil spending, which would spur the educational site to receive a large amount of grant money, Heritage Media reports.Director Lisa Mellinger told the Board of Education in Milan earlier this month that good news is coming. She underscored the program and numerous grants that the program has taken on while also forecasting plans up the road."It's an exciting time to be in early childhood education," the director said, according to the news source, also indicating that Michigan is pondering a per-pupil budget spending increase on preschool programs. "This would be the first time in maybe 10 years it was increased."The school aims to foment a strong, age-appropriate educational experience for children, according to the school's website.Should that plan encounter approval as part of the overall state school aid budget, the school would see an increase that per pupil would climb to minimum $3,600 and maximum $3,800 after checking in at $3,400.With state funding, the school has orchestrated the Great Start Readiness Program for about eight years. Twelve openings were available.The director said the program is crafted for students aged 4.At present, 36 students are enrolled in the program and the school is planning to double capacities in time for next year.She said the educational program would continue allowing for 36 students to benefit from the educational services but those children would embark on full days rather than half days. Should the school take on additional students, it would have to bring aboard an additional teacher to help handle the influx of work.Many different classes are within the curriculum, such as play groups, Music Together courses, Nature Detectives and a play-and-learn group. Those programs are poised to become even stronger with the augmentation of additional grant funding allotted to them.The director demonstrated numerous instruments that were acquired by a $650 grant for members of the board.The courses implement worldwide music into the coursework at the preschool, the director said."There were 135 students enrolled in the preschool program this year, one of the highest enrollments ever," Mellinger said, according to the media outlet.
Panel entails discussion of early childhood education practices in three states
Posted on May 17, 2013
Category: Early Childhood Education / Day Care Centers
Early childhood education experts from three U.S. states conducted a webinar on Thursday to expound nationwide preschool efforts and discuss how policy makers with the federal government may lend support to the effort, according to a published report.Dubbed "Preschool: from the Capitol to the Classroom," the panel discussion entailed discussion about programs from California, New Jersey and Tennessee, noting how imparting a strong, positive impact on children has its benefits, The Chattanoogan reports.Nonprofit organization Los Angeles Universal Preschool crafted the 5-Star Quality Rating and Improvement System and it demonstrated the benefits, perks and contributions of quality early childhood education programming. It noted that accountability and support are marked components."We set high standards for the 300-plus preschools in our network and offer the funding and coaching support to help them meet those expectations," senior vice president of programs Dawn Kurtz with LAUP said, according to the media outlet. "We look at teacher qualifications, classroom instruction and a host of other factors to ensure the programs we work with are constantly improving the quality of services they offer to children and families."The organization aims to avail quality preschool education for all children in Lost Angeles County with hopes of imparting a strong start to their lives, according to the organization's website.Benefits of investing
Investment also is a key factor. Ronnell Nathaniel with the Acelero Learning Center in New Jersey noted the importance of investing, as well as how it proves to be beneficial. Strong early childhood education does its part to assist closing the achievement gap that the nation is staring at. Implementing proactive problem solving and the capacity to follow through with early education programming are vital segments that serve strong purposes when it comes to constructing a better future for communities."We believe in data-driven decision making, open communication and teamwork," Nathaniel said, the news source reports. "We can never be complacent in our efforts, as quality preschool services demand our focus."Established in 2001, Acelero Learning aims to enhance the quality of Head Start programs in local communities, the website states.A refuge for children
Since 1872, the Children's Home/Chambliss Shelter in Chattanooga has been a refuge for at-risk children. Kids who are needing safe haven can look to the home and shelter, which also offers a 24-hour center for child care that serves area families."We've made great strides with our public dollars at the Chambliss Center for Children, but we still have a long way to go as a state and as a country to ensure every child has access to a high-quality early childhood education," president and chief executive officer Phil Acord said, according to the news source. "Each year we delay investing in early education is an important year for a child's positive development and learning. We shouldn't wait longer to make the right investments."Staving off threats of dependency, neglect, abuse and delinquency are the top drives of the Chambliss Center for Children, according to the organization's website.Panel moderators chime in
The moderators of the panel discussion were Adele Robinson from the National Association for Young Children and Dr. Steve Barnett with the National Institute for Early Education Research. They underscored the positive contributions of the budget proposal assembled by President Barack Obama. They noted the proposal includes methods of driving up preschool services mandated by millions of children throughout America."Given all that we know about the educational, social and economic return on investment, accelerated funding for high-quality early childhood education programs should be a top priority for Congress and for states," Robinson said, the media outlet reports. "The lack of access to and quality of early childhood education programs for thousands of young children, starting at birth and continuing through pre-kindergarten, not only undermines the potential of those children, it undercuts our nation's ability to prosper in the short and long-term."The merging of efforts between the government and the private sector can foment strong partnerships that will prompt innovative efforts and programming, Barnett said during the panel discussion, the publication reports.Advocacy for the poor
He also emphasized the importance of advocating for the impoverished when it comes to impart strong educational values."The three examples provide lessons regarding the public policies needed to support highly effective early education to improve the lives of our children and yield long-term savings to taxpayers," Barnett said during the panel discussion, the news source reports. "When poverty is on the rise and half of all American children under the age of 5 live below 200 percent of the poverty line, there is no educational issue more important."Aiding the educational pursuits of children from many socioeconomic backgrounds was the overall theme of the panel discussion as it strengthens their academic, social and emotional development."All of these organizations show how important it is to focus on the quality of preschool programs," the senior vice president of programs said, according to the news source. "LAUP is contributing to and supporting this national preschool movement to help all children become prepared for kindergarten and beyond."
