Career Tech News

Dear Career Tech Families,

Welcome to a new school year at William D. Ford Career-Technical Center! I am excited to begin my first year serving as principal and look forward to partnering with our students, families, staff, and community throughout the year.

Our goal at Career Tech is to provide students with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for success beyond high school—whether their next step is college, a skilled trade, an apprenticeship, the military, or entering the workforce. Along the way, we want students to develop not only strong technical skills, but also the professionalism, responsibility, confidence, and work ethic that will help them succeed wherever their path takes them.

Communication and partnership with families are an important part of that work. Through our newsletters, we will share important reminders, upcoming events, program highlights, student accomplishments, and opportunities to stay connected with all that is happening at Career Tech.

We are looking forward to a great year of learning, growth, and opportunity. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your student’s journey. I am excited about what we will accomplish together!

Mrs. Pringle
Principal/ CTE Director
William D. Ford Career-Technical Center

• 9/23- NO School for students (Staff PD day)
• 9/25- Tornado Drill
• 9/29- Picture Day
• 10/2- Fire Drill
• 10/9- Evacuation Drill
• 10/7- Parent/Teacher Conferences (2:30pm-5:30pm)

Students who drive to Career Tech must have permission from their home school and a Career Tech parking pass. Parking applications are available in the Career Tech main office, and the parking permit fee is $25.

Please keep the following expectations in mind:

• Students attending John Glenn High School or Wayne Memorial High School are not permitted to drive to Career Tech and should use district-provided transportation.

• Students participating in Work-Based Learning (WBL) or who have a unique circumstance requiring them to drive should contact Assistant Principal Mr. Dan Calhoun at CalhounD@wwcsd.net for prior approval.

• Students are not permitted to carpool without prior authorization from Mr. Calhoun. Both families involved in the carpool must contact Mr. Calhoun and receive approval before students begin carpooling.

• Students may only park in designated Career Tech student parking areas. Vehicles parked in the Administration Building parking lot or other adjacent/non-designated parking lots are subject to towing.

These expectations are in place to help us maintain a safe and orderly environment and ensure we know how students are arriving at and leaving Career Tech. Thank you to our students and families for your cooperation!

Please review the following Career Tech arrival and dismissal times. It is important that students arrive on time and follow their assigned dismissal schedule.

AM Block

• Regular AM Block: 7:25–9:50 a.m.

• Students who drive should arrive no later than 7:20 a.m.

• Students enrolled in a 2-hour AM block are dismissed at 9:10 a.m.

PM Block

• Regular PM Block: 11:25 a.m.–1:50 p.m.

• Students who drive should arrive no later than 11:20 a.m.

• Students enrolled in a 2-hour PM block should arrive at 12:00 p.m.

PM Dismissal Schedule

To support an orderly dismissal and bus transportation, PM dismissal is staggered by school:

• 1:30 p.m. — Belleville

• 1:40 p.m. — Wayne Memorial and WWIA

• 1:50 p.m. — All other schools and student drivers

Students should remain in their classrooms/program areas until their designated dismissal time. Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process each day.

Emily Puts Skills to Work!

Emily, a dedicated second-year Sports Medicine & Exercise Sciences student at the William D. Ford Career-Technical Center, is already making strides in her professional field!

Emily is currently employed as a Physical Therapy Tech at US Rehabilitation. In her role, she is doing an outstanding job applying the hands-on medical knowledge and practical clinical skills she built during her first year at the Center.

We are incredibly proud to see Emily gaining valuable, real-world experience in healthcare and confidently stepping toward her future career. Congratulations, Emily!

Please log into your ParentConnect account as soon as possible. You will find the mandatory Back-to-School Check-In located right on the homepage between "Report Absence" and "My Account." As you go through the portal, please ensure that you complete every single section of the check-in process under Contacts and Students.

We completely understand that filling out these digital forms can feel redundant and repetitive, especially if you have already provided some of this information in the past or to your student's home high school. However, this step is absolutely critical for our specific building records. Completing every section is required for your student to fully participate in their career-technical classes, safely use our specialized equipment, and join off-campus learning opportunities.

Please join our school's class Dojo for weekly updates of what is happening at Career Tech.

All students will have their picture taken for a Career Tech-specific student ID. Students will be expected to carry their Career Tech ID with them each day while attending Career Tech for identification and safety purposes.

📸 Student ID pictures will be taken on Tuesday, September 29.

Please help us remind students of the importance of having their ID with them every day once IDs are distributed.

Address: 36455 Marquette St, Westland, MI 48185

District: Wayne-Westland Community School District

Phone: (734) 419-2100