Another week is mostly over, and much activity surrounds us as we bring the school year to a close. I was up on the roof today to get a look at the new membrane, skylight openings, and drains for our new underground water retention system. Stay tuned for pictures to be posted on my blog!The view looks different from the roof top!
Inside the building, much renovation is taking place--concrete is being sealed for moisture abatement under our new science classrooms, and masonry has started to construct the walls in the new student services and clinic area. The math classrooms are also beginning to take shape. The current phases, 4 North and 4 South, and phase 5 are scheduled for completion so we can occupy for school's start in early September. Contractors are on schedule to date, and things are looking good for Phase 6, which will house the central office administration to be complete in December this year. Construction continues to be exciting!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Today is a busy one! Vantage is hosting its first Advanced Manufacturing Day in three career-technical education training shops all day today. Our $35 million complete renovation and construction project has eight months until completion, (it is an 18-month construction project), but our new shops in Welding, Precision Machining, and Industrial Mechanics are open for area employers to tour today. State of the art equipment has been purchased for all nine trade and industry shops, however, and plans are being made to host open houses in other training areas in the next year.
Over 100 employers from the northwest Ohio area are expected to visit--many of whom employ our CTE high school students upon completion of two years of training with us. While some schools are seeing reduced interest in trades like precision machining and welding, we are going strong at Vantage. Employers know the quality of our students' work and seek these students when openings occur. As an example, have placed over 80 students with one manufacturing employer over the past 10 years.
Vantage Career Center is one of 49 career centers in Ohio, serving juniors and seniors from 13 area high schools. Students come for training in one of 16 different trades programs, including carpentry, electricity, culinary arts, ag diesel mechanics, cosmetology, health technology, and early childhood education, to name a few. We serve all the high schools in Paulding county, Van Wert county, the western half of Putnam county, and the Parkway district in Mercer county. Vantage also contracts with the city of Delphos and Delpho St. John districts to provide career-technical training.
Check out the Vantage website at www.vantagecareercenter.com! We are proud to teach manufacturing and other trades skills to serve the employment needs in northwest Ohio.
Over 100 employers from the northwest Ohio area are expected to visit--many of whom employ our CTE high school students upon completion of two years of training with us. While some schools are seeing reduced interest in trades like precision machining and welding, we are going strong at Vantage. Employers know the quality of our students' work and seek these students when openings occur. As an example, have placed over 80 students with one manufacturing employer over the past 10 years.
Vantage Career Center is one of 49 career centers in Ohio, serving juniors and seniors from 13 area high schools. Students come for training in one of 16 different trades programs, including carpentry, electricity, culinary arts, ag diesel mechanics, cosmetology, health technology, and early childhood education, to name a few. We serve all the high schools in Paulding county, Van Wert county, the western half of Putnam county, and the Parkway district in Mercer county. Vantage also contracts with the city of Delphos and Delpho St. John districts to provide career-technical training.
Check out the Vantage website at www.vantagecareercenter.com! We are proud to teach manufacturing and other trades skills to serve the employment needs in northwest Ohio.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Terrific Week at Vantage!
What a great week! I was thrilled to be in the audience at our annual FFA banquet on Wednesday evening. . .our Ag Diesel Mechanics students and their instructor, Mike Miller, did a wonderful job planning this year's banquet and officer installation. It was extra special to see our students and teacher using the new stage in our new student commons area for the first time for the purpose of recognizing our students' achievements! I cannot describe how it felt to watch them on stage and know how far we have come with the construction project in the past year. All the effort has been well worth it!
I was reminded by the guest speaker, our high school director, Bob Vennekotter, as he presented some construction project information to the crowd, that actually the planning for this project started in 2001 or 2002. For at least the last 10 years, some staff members, and our architects, Garmann-Miller Engineers, Minster, have been working on some aspect of a renovated Vantage Career Center. I am proud to be part of the project, from revising the building plans to passing the bond levy in 2009. I know I have said it before, but I would do it all over again. Seeing our students use our new facility is absolutely wonderful!
I was reminded by the guest speaker, our high school director, Bob Vennekotter, as he presented some construction project information to the crowd, that actually the planning for this project started in 2001 or 2002. For at least the last 10 years, some staff members, and our architects, Garmann-Miller Engineers, Minster, have been working on some aspect of a renovated Vantage Career Center. I am proud to be part of the project, from revising the building plans to passing the bond levy in 2009. I know I have said it before, but I would do it all over again. Seeing our students use our new facility is absolutely wonderful!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Life is a Journey. Wear Comfortable Shoes.
April 5, 2012--I saw a shoe advertisement recently that struck a chord with me. The title of this blog, which is the tagline on the ad, seems particularly fitting as we plod through the construction project at Vantage. While "plod" may not seem to be a positive reference, the other choices that come to mind are "trudge" and "endure"! The construction process is a tedious one, frought with many details, each of which presents an opportunity for an oversight, which requires a correction. Naturally, the correction impacts the schedule. . .and so it goes.
During the project, I am wearing out a few pairs of "old lady shoes", (as my daughters, both in their 20's, refer to them)!(Saying goodbye to dresses and heels for 18 months has been rather pleasant, since this attire doesn't meet the safety code onsite). And while it is hard to find the energy to clean the dust and mud off of my shoes some days, the comfort provided by these unstylish shoes is well worth tromping through the muck on the construction site most days.
Life is a journey for each of us, no matter what our role in employment, family, or community service. Hopefully your daily journey brings you happiness and fulfillment, as mine does on most days. If not, take time to think of the things you are thankful for and the blessings present in your life. Happy Easter!
During the project, I am wearing out a few pairs of "old lady shoes", (as my daughters, both in their 20's, refer to them)!(Saying goodbye to dresses and heels for 18 months has been rather pleasant, since this attire doesn't meet the safety code onsite). And while it is hard to find the energy to clean the dust and mud off of my shoes some days, the comfort provided by these unstylish shoes is well worth tromping through the muck on the construction site most days.
Life is a journey for each of us, no matter what our role in employment, family, or community service. Hopefully your daily journey brings you happiness and fulfillment, as mine does on most days. If not, take time to think of the things you are thankful for and the blessings present in your life. Happy Easter!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Senior Capstone Day
Just had to write a quick blog after seeing some wonderful projects this morning. It's a day when I am on the edge of my chair, (just as several teachers are), hoping students give the right answer to a tough question a judge has asked them. We KNOW they know the answer! The teachers take the projects as seriously as their students, as this is a day where they know the quality of the student's senior capstone is also a reflection on them. Over and over this morning I heard of the lessons learned in "time management" "time is money" "customer service" "work smarter not harder" "it's about moving quickly to solve a problem--time is money in the real world". And the always present advice: "Don't wait until the last minute to do your project, juniors!"
I am so proud of our students, AND our staff! This day always reminds me, as I listen to students' presentations, of why I chose education as a career. I can't help but leave each session bursting with pride, no matter how nervous a student might have been,and feeling good about Vantage's part in helping that student grow. It's a feeling that will stick with me for a long time.
Thanks to all of our community members and associate school personnel who came out today to judge or watch student presentations. We couldn't do Senior Capstone Day without you!
I am so proud of our students, AND our staff! This day always reminds me, as I listen to students' presentations, of why I chose education as a career. I can't help but leave each session bursting with pride, no matter how nervous a student might have been,and feeling good about Vantage's part in helping that student grow. It's a feeling that will stick with me for a long time.
Thanks to all of our community members and associate school personnel who came out today to judge or watch student presentations. We couldn't do Senior Capstone Day without you!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
March 18, 2012
What a great week of spring weather we just experienced! I know another good week is ahead of us. On March 21, Vantage hosts one of the best days of the school year--it's Senior Capstone Day. Our building will be filled with judges for our seniors' projects from all over the Vantage district. Alumni, office and industry professionals, Board members (past and present) and our administrative team, and staff, all assist in helping our seniors complete the last leg of their project.
While most students have worked all year or at least this semester on their project, many students started thinking of ideas during their junior year.
If you haven't been able to come to Vantage and see our students' accomplishments,contact a Vantage staff member and sign up today for next year's event. A half day or full day of judging is a great way to help our students! You may also email me at Vantage, via kaufman.s@vantagecareercenter.com to offer your help on Senior Capstone Day.
Have a great week!
While most students have worked all year or at least this semester on their project, many students started thinking of ideas during their junior year.
If you haven't been able to come to Vantage and see our students' accomplishments,contact a Vantage staff member and sign up today for next year's event. A half day or full day of judging is a great way to help our students! You may also email me at Vantage, via kaufman.s@vantagecareercenter.com to offer your help on Senior Capstone Day.
Have a great week!
Friday, February 24, 2012
A new blog--finally!
February 24, 2012
Hopefully I am once again blogging weekly (or even more often) as time permits! My struggle with a severe form of tendonitis in one hand has made typing impossible for several months.
I had the pleasure of being invited to Mr. Matt Miller's physics class recently. His students were learning to calculate potential energy and kinetic energy using mass, speed, distance, and time measurements. A magnetic roller coaster model provided the simulation for which they gathered the information for their calculations. The students learned a great deal regarding how real roller coasters are designed and how scale models are used for testing the impact of sample designs before they are built. Thanks to Mr. Miller for the invitation--I am always glad to be invited to see our students' work!
We are getting closer to our next phased move for the construction project--on or before April 9, we will probably occupy our new north and south additions! We are about halfway through the 18-month construction project, and while at times it feels like forever, it continues to be fun and exciting as we watch new training areas being built around us!
Have a great weekend!
Hopefully I am once again blogging weekly (or even more often) as time permits! My struggle with a severe form of tendonitis in one hand has made typing impossible for several months.
I had the pleasure of being invited to Mr. Matt Miller's physics class recently. His students were learning to calculate potential energy and kinetic energy using mass, speed, distance, and time measurements. A magnetic roller coaster model provided the simulation for which they gathered the information for their calculations. The students learned a great deal regarding how real roller coasters are designed and how scale models are used for testing the impact of sample designs before they are built. Thanks to Mr. Miller for the invitation--I am always glad to be invited to see our students' work!
We are getting closer to our next phased move for the construction project--on or before April 9, we will probably occupy our new north and south additions! We are about halfway through the 18-month construction project, and while at times it feels like forever, it continues to be fun and exciting as we watch new training areas being built around us!
Have a great weekend!
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