Career Learning Chronicle
January 2026
A Note from Mrs. Morris, Career Learning Principal
I hope everyone enjoyed a restful winter break and is feeling refreshed and ready for the new year. January is a great time for fresh starts, new goals, and getting back into routines.
January is also the home stretch of Semester 1, with final exams this week. We’re encouraging students to stay focused, ask for help when needed, and take pride in finishing the semester strong.
This month’s CTE theme is Digital Self-Marketing, with a focus on social media branding. We know social media can bring up questions and concerns for families, and we want to reassure you that our approach is intentional, age-appropriate, and focused on digital responsibility. Students are not being asked to create social media accounts or post publicly. Instead, they are learning how to think critically about their digital footprint, make smart choices online, and understand how employers and colleges view online presence.
Students will explore how to present themselves professionally, protect their privacy, and use safe, school-approved online tools to organize work, highlight skills, and practice digital communication. The emphasis is on awareness, professionalism, and decision-making, not social media popularity.
LCs can support this learning by talking with students about online habits, reviewing privacy settings together, and encouraging thoughtful, positive digital behavior. These conversations help students develop lifelong skills they’ll use in college, careers, and everyday life.
We’re excited to start the year with a focus on responsibility, confidence, and growth. Thank you for partnering with us as we help students navigate the digital world safely and successfully.
BGSU Summer Camps
Bowling Green State University hosts summer camps for students to explore several areas including cybersecurity, health science, manufacturing, writing, marine biology, music, fine art, athletics, and more!
Applications are open and spots fill quickly! Sign up here!
Note that some camps are free and others have an associated cost. Financial assistance is available by applying through this link.
Aliyyah S. - Business and Marketing Explorations
Mr. Kuczma would like to recognize 8th grader Aliyyah's S., from his Business and Marketing Explorations course for her Black Friday project submission. In this project, students imagined they were the general manager of a retail store who was tasked with creating a Black Friday sales promotion event. The goal of this project was to design a multi-phase project to increase sales and present it to the regional vice president (Mr. Kuczma).
Check out Aliyyah's hard work and presentation here!
Well done, Aliyyah!
7th Grade Career Explorations
Students in Mrs. Greenfelder's 7th grade Career Explorations course have been researching specific careers they want to learn more about; from neurosurgeons to deep sea divers and daycare owners to heavy machinery technicians, students' have varied interests. Students have been presenting their work to classmates and enjoying discussions about many different careers. We look forward to Semester 2!
Healthcare Explorations
This semester, Mrs. Barry's Healthcare Exploration has been filled with hands-on learning, real-world scenarios, and opportunities for students to step into the shoes of healthcare professionals. Students explored four major units that helped them better understand the responsibilities, challenges, and problem-solving required in the medical field.
Students kicked off the semester by taking on the role of Medical Clinic Staff Members. In this unit, they examined how healthcare workers make ethical decisions and protect patient rights. The unit concluded with students using a pros and cons decision-making process, applying what they learned to realistic ethical dilemmas; just as a healthcare professional would.
Next, students shifted their focus to emergency preparedness. Throughout this unit, students worked on creating a presentation for elementary students, encouraging families to build their own emergency response plans. They studied safety hazards and learned the precautions necessary to protect healthcare workers, families, and entire communities. This unit emphasized the importance of safety awareness in any future healthcare career.
In the 3rd unit, students stepped into the role of Communications Department staff at the CDC. Their task was to research a communicable disease of their choice and use their findings to script a Public Service Announcement (PSA). The goal: promote public awareness and help stop the spread of disease. This unit strengthened students’ research skills, communication abilities, and understanding of how public health professionals respond to community health threats.
To wrap up the semester, students will stepped into the role of Hiring Managers for OHVA Health Science Pathway students. They researched the program and identified the personal and professional skills needed for success in healthcare careers. Using this information, the “Hiring Managers” designed recruitment materials, including a slide presentation targeted toward finding the best candidates for summer internships. This unit helped students apply workplace readiness skills and better understand career expectations in the health science field.
It has been an engaging semester filled with authentic learning experiences. Students have shown curiosity, professionalism, and enthusiasm as they explored multiple facets of healthcare.
Early Childhood Education - Job Shadowing
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
We are excited to share an upcoming opportunity for students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a job shadowing experience at their local YMCA. This experience is designed to provide students with meaningful, hands-on exposure to early childhood and youth development careers while reinforcing classroom learning.
Participation Requirements
To ensure student safety and compliance with YMCA policies, the following documents are required before a student may participate in the job shadowing experience:
- YMCA Agreement Form – This form must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian.
- Student Physical/Medical Form – This form must be completed and signed by a doctor or pediatrician.
Please schedule any necessary appointments ASAP and have this medical/physical form completed and signed by your child’s healthcare provider. Completed forms should be returned no later than 1/16/2026 for students to be eligible to begin job shadowing.
Students who do not have all required forms submitted will not be permitted to participate until documentation is complete.
This job shadowing experience is an important component of our Early Childhood Education program and offers students valuable insight into real-world professional expectations and environments. We appreciate your support in helping make this opportunity possible.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Jackson by email shjackson@ohva.org or phone 419-482-0948 ext. 7204.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jackson
Media Arts
We are thrilled to announce the following Media Arts students were chosen for the Career Video Internship: Max Z., Ashlynn T., Isaac W., Nick D., Brent B., Eleanor W., and Moriah I.
These talented students were selected by submitting creative career videos designed to spark curiosity and inspire students in grades K–5.
Under the guidance of Ms. Teeple and Mrs. Goebelt, our interns will create engaging, age-appropriate videos that help young learners explore a variety of careers in a fun and accessible way. The students will also be collaborating with several of Mrs. Jackson’s 12th Grade Early Childhood Education students to design interactive lessons that pair with the career videos. Together, these two groups will combine creativity and teaching expertise to make career exploration hands-on and engaging for elementary students.
This internship is a fantastic way for our Media Arts and Early Childhood Education students to showcase their talents while inspiring the next generation of learners. Stay tuned for updates and links to their amazing videos and interactive lessons!
Questions? Please reach out to Mrs. Goebelt at sgoebelt@ohva.org
Personal Concerns and College/Career Planning
If you are a CTE pathway student and would like support in the areas of academic planning & progress towards graduation, college and career planning, or have personal concerns (social, emotional, mental health, etc.), please reach out to your school counselor:
CTE Pathway Students with last names A-K: Mrs. Alonzo at salonzo@ohva.org or 419-482-0948 ext. 7131
CTE Pathway Students with last names L-Z: Mrs. Bard at tbard@ohva.org or 419-482-0948 ext. 7283
If you are a CTE Explorations student or are not participating in a CTE pathway right now, please reach out to your assigned school counselor, who is the teacher listed in your Finding Your Path course and School Counselor classroom. Click here for counselor contact information.
