CTE Monthly Newsletter

To better align with the CTE industry standards, the Business and Finance CTE program has been revamped! Beginning in the fall of 2026, students will be required to take The Power of Business EEP. Upon completion of the course, students can earn 3 credits to URI if they have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Check out the program changes here.

The CyberPatriot XVIII Teams will be competing for top honors in the state on Friday, December 12th. One team is competing in the Gold tier and hopefully will win first place for the state of RI and the other team is competing in the Silver tier.

The Girls Who Code club has been learning how to code a game using AI and will be starting on the CyberSecurity and AI Challenge on December 15th in room 102 from 2 - 3 pm.

The Intro to Cybersecurity class has been working in the Cyber Range learning about Encryption and Decryption methods and Stenography( hiding information in images)

Engineering students attended New England Tech's Transportation Exploration day.

Students interested in the pharmacy field attended URI's Pharmacy Career Exploration Day!

The Culinary Arts Program recently partnered with Yellow Farmhouse Education Center in its Farm to School project, the Farm to Culinary Classroom Initiative: Advancing Curriculum, Career Pathways, and Local Procurement.

This partnership allows Culinary students to participate in a service learning project including field trips and farmer visits to their classrooms.Students earn work-based learning hours from this partnership as well!

Kyla is a member of the Law and Public Safety Program. This past summer, she attended the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) Law & CSI High School Student Program. The program focused on hands-on evidence analysis and courtroom and forensic simulations. She participated in both legal and CSI content during the program, which allowed her to explore the world of law and crime scene investigation in a way that goes far beyond the classroom. She learned about the entire judicial process in-depth; from the discovery of a crime, through collecting and analyzing all of the evidence, to preparing for the courtroom process, and taking part in the criminal trial.

As part of the focus on law, she performed a mock trial, received an introduction to the law school trajectory from law school professionals, and discovered the specialty career paths available in this exciting field.

During the CSI focus of the program, she attended an interactive panel with university professors and forensic scientists, who discussed the latest high-tech applications used during criminal investigations, and discovered the career paths that shaped her future.

What led you to choose this particular Career and Technical Education (CTE) program?

After high school I want to continue my academic career majoring in business. I thought this pathway would be a great way to start my college journey.

What advice would you give to a younger student who is considering this CTE program?

You don’t need to know everything before you start. CTE programs exist to teach you the skills. Being open-minded and willing to learn is more important than being an expert on day one. The courses in the pathways give you hands on experience while learning valuable information to take with you on the rest of your high school and academic career.

What are your plans after graduation? Are you pursuing further education, certifications, an apprenticeship, or going directly into the workforce?

After graduation I want to go to a four year college where I will continue my education and athletic career.

Is there a project, assignment, or competition you are proud of?

When I took Entrepreneurship, a project I was proud of was my Shark Tank Presentation. I had to come up with a product or business. The class spent weeks working on it. I was really proud with myself on how my business came out. It was one of my favorite business classes I've taken.

How has this program made you feel more confident about your future?

The program made me feel like I am getting prepared for the future. I am acquiring knowledge for my field of study and accomplishing my goals.

Congratulations Mrs. Jen True for completing her first Project Lead the Way course! Beginning in the Fall of 2027, Mrs. True will be teaching PLTW Medical Interventions, a required course in the Biomedical Science CTE program.

Congratulations Mrs. Liz Russillo for completing her first Project Lead the Way course! Beginning in the Fall of 2027, Mrs. Russillo will be teaching PLTW Principles of Biomedical, a required course in the Biomedical Science CTE program, beginning next fall!

Smithfield High School's Biomedical Program has partnered with RI Bio and Organogenesis. Through this collaboration, students will gain access to professionals in the field of Biological Sciences allowing them to engage in hands-on modern laboratory techniques, guest speaker presentations, and career exploration opportunities.

The Career and Technical Program at SHS is always looking for new business and industry partners to help support our students. If you're interested in partnering up, please reach out. We would love to hear from you or you can fill out this Google Form expressing your interest.

Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 school year. Click the link to apply!

Take this quiz to find out!

Interested in exploring more about careers in pharmacy and how to apply to pharmacy school? Check out these great resources:

Read the stories on this website to get first hand perspective on how pharmacists contribute to patient care.

Check out videos from pharmacists in different areas of practice: Visit the Pharmacy is Right for Me website for more great resources about WHY and HOW to be a pharmacist.

Polaris MEP has partnered with New England Tech to launch a grant-funded Accelerated Associates Program in Mechanical Engineering. This program offers:

• An Associate’s Degree in just 18 months

• Tuition fully covered for 30 invested participants

• Job Placement Assistance with Polaris MEP to secure a role in Mechanical Engineering

We invite your clients to attend our upcoming Info Session:

December 15th at 3:00 PM Register HERE

On Tuesday, December 9th, all CTE students attended a Work-Based Learning presentation. Below you will find the video presented to students.

Dimeo Construction is offering students the opportunity to job shadow and observe a professional in the field to gain insights about the day-to-day responsibilities, the environment at the company, and appropriate workplace behavior.

Visit https://www.dimeo.com/ to learn more.

Bio Dental is offering high school students who are interested in health careers the opportunity to job shadow. This is a unique opportunity for a student who is interested in the health/dental field (dental assistant, dentist, dental hygienist, dental office manager) to explore the day to day management of patients, paperwork, interaction with labs, interaction with other businesses that are part of taking care of patients and to help the business run.

Visit https://www.smileri.com/ to learn more.

RI JMRC- For Youths aged 14-17 years of age interested in medical or emergency response careers.

The Rhode Island Junior Medical Reserve Corps (RI JMRC) serves as a dynamic platform for young volunteers aged 14-17 who harbor an interest in pursuing future careers in the medical field, emergency management, or first responder professions. This youth-focused initiative not only encourages civic engagement but also provides invaluable opportunities for personal and professional development. Volunteers within the RI JMRC are offered scholarship and mentoring opportunities, enabling them to explore and cultivate their interests in the healthcare and emergency response sectors. In addition to gaining valuable knowledge and skills, members of the RI JMRC can fulfill their community service requirements for graduation, further emphasizing the program's commitment to nurturing responsible and engaged young citizens. By instilling a sense of responsibility and preparedness, the RI JMRC not only contributes to the community's well-being but also shapes the next generation of healthcare and emergency management professionals.

Register here or visit https://www.riresponds.org/ to learn more.

Students interesting in pursuing a career in culinary, hospitality & tourism can apply for this internship opportunity.

Visit Organization Website to learn more: https://www.wesribhouse.com/

Sin-cere Multiservice Inc is seeking an administrative intern to support daily nonprofit operations. This role is ideal for individuals interested in business administration, nonprofit management, or office coordination. Responsibilities include: Managing incoming emails and virtual mailbox, organizing and maintaining digital and physical records, assisting with scheduling and document preparation, tracking inventory of supplies and materials, and supporting general office tasks as needed

How to Apply: Email resume and a brief statement of interest to: 📧 Frontdesk@sinceremultiservice.com Subject Line: Program & Event Support Internship Application Include your availability and any experience or interest in event planning or community programs.

Visit Organization Website to learn more: https://sinceremultiservice.com/

Students can search for WBL placements through the Rhode Island Experiential Learning Navigator, which is a site where students browse opportunities by grade level, opportunity type, industry, and location.

All students in our CTE Programs are required to complete 80 hours of work-based learning by March of their senior year. These hours must be completed in a field related to their CTE Program. WBL hours can be arranged within a business organization, an independent contractor, a community or non-profit organization, or even within the school district. Students must submit a work-based learning form to the CTE advisor prior to beginning their hours. Hours must be logged quarterly using the WBL google doc. Upon completion of their hours, students must submit the WBL hours verification form. These documents can be found on our website.

Contact Information

Phone: 401-949-2050 ex 2313

Email: kluongo@smithfield-ps.org
Website: www.shsri.org