Writers for The Wa-Hi Journal Adanna Escobar, Bailey Nelson and Willa Schober contributed to this report.
Published: February 8, 2010

February is National Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. The CTE program provides experience and hands-on learning for students interested in a variety of fields.

Schools around the country are celebrating their CTE programs with multiple career emphasized activities. Wa-Hi CTE students are celebrating this month through job shadowing and other leadership activities.

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to provide opportunities for job shadowing in our community. Twenty-two students are currently preparing for FBLA regional competition in Connell on Feb. 16.

Over 40 FFA members worked on leadership skills at the annual FFA retreat, Feb. 6-7. They will also have a radio spot and special events daily during the National FFA week, Feb. 16-19.

The culinary arts students are preparing hors d'oeuvres for the community Valentine dance sponsored by the Mormon church on Feb. 12. A team is also practicing Tuesdays and Thursdays after school in preparation for a competition at South Seattle Community College on March 5-7.

The focus of the CTE program is to provide "career opportunities to students while still in high school," assistant principal Brett Cox said. "We want to promote the Wa-Hi mission, to make students career and college ready."