CATEC May 2025 Newsletter

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Dear CATEC Families,

There was a sigh of relief in CATEC hallways in May as we wrapped up state testing, final exams, interview events, and our school-wide celebrations. Congratulations to all of our students who reached their goals this year, both large and small. On May 13th, we hosted our annual School-to-Work Signing Day event, where 27 students signed commitments to working with employers in their fields. The event was sponsored by the Trades and Technical Education Foundation and Red Wing Shoes. On May 21st, we held our Completers Ceremony at the MLK Jr. Performing Arts Center, celebrating 132 students completing their CATEC programs.

Thank you to our students, families, staff, and community partners for all of your support this year. We look forward to seeing our returning students as well as our new students in August. Have a safe and great summer!

Sincerely,

Dr. Stacey Heltz

• May 29: Last day of CATEC

• CBS19: CATEC Signing Day
• NBC29: Nurse Program Granted Thousands for Hands-On Equipment

• Culinary Arts 2
• Charlottesville High School
• 11th grade
• Taking Culinary Arts allowed him to pursue his dream of becoming a personal chef
• Liked the feeling of community the Culinary Arts class created for him and his classmates
• Loves making pasta
• Wants to save money over the next two years to go to the Culinary Institute of America
• Currently works as a deli cook at Wawa

• Carpentry 1/Electricity 1
• Western Albemarle High School
• 11th grade
• Decided to attend CATEC to learn a trade as an alternative to a traditional college
• Enjoys wiring boxes in the booths
• Will attend CATEC next year to take Electricity 2 and hopefully begin an internship
• Wants to be an electrician after graduation
• Works at Harris Teeter as a bagger

This month we're recognizing two programs that are intertwined: EMT and Fire Science.

EMT Curriculum

The EMT program gives students the opportunity to learn the basics of emergency medical care. Students learn about anatomy and physiology, initial patient survey and triage, airway management, oxygen therapy, treatment of bleeding, shock, cardiac arrest, fractures, spinal injuries, and other medical emergencies. Students can become certified in American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider CPR, earn a variety of FEMA certifications, and sit for the National Registry EMT- Basic certification.

Duel-Enrollment and Clinicals

CATEC’s EMT program is dual enrolled with Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). Students successfully completing the program may receive college credits for the course. Students participate in a required 30-hour clinical experience at local emergency locations, including local rescue squads and the University of Virginia University Hospital.

Projected Job Growth

There are many career pathways for emergency medical professionals. Most often, students can train to become an EMT/Paramedic who assesses injuries, administers emergency medical care, and extricates trapped individuals. They can also transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities. The projected job growth for EMT/Paramedics in Virginia is 20%. Professionals can also become Medical Assistants. Medical Assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of physicians. They can schedule appointments, maintain medical records, take and record vital signs and medical histories, prepare patients for examination, draw blood, and administer medications. On average, Virginia’s Medical Assistants earn more than the national average and can expect 35% job growth.

Fire Science Curriculum

CATEC’s Fire Service program introduces students to the equipment and procedures necessary to fight live fires, operate in simulated hazardous materials incidents, and conduct search-and-rescue operations. Students react to multi-faceted situations such as accidents, natural disasters, and simulated terrorism as part of an emergency response team. They become familiar with emerging technologies like communications dispatch, geographic information systems mapping, incident reporting, and simulation programs. Each year, students participate in two live burns at the Charlottesville Albemarle Training Ground. Throughout the year, students gain valuable workplace skills necessary to become successful firefighters, including teamwork, critical thinking, public service, research, report writing, and incident management skills. This course challenges students academically, mentally, and physically.

Duel-Enrollment and Certifications

The Fire Service program has dual enrolled agreements with Central Virginia Community College. Students who successfully complete the program can receive college credits towards an Associate's Degree in Fire Service Technology, transferrable to many schools in the Virginia Community College System. Students receive college credit in classes that cover principles of fire and emergency services, fire prevention, strategy and tactics, and First Aid and CPR. Additionally, many students undertake junior volunteer firefighter experiences at area fire stations, earning on-the-job training and exposure to the industry outside of the classroom setting.

Students sit for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs Firefighter I and II exam, and can earn certifications in Hazardous Materials Operations, Agency Overview, Active Gun Shooter for First Responders, and Introduction to Technical Rescue. Students can also earn Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) certifications in Introduction to Incident Command, National Incident management System, and National Response Framework and Introduction.

Projected Job Growth

Graduates have many career pathways related to the Fire Service, positions in public service, or work in tandem with EMT positions. They can become firefighters who work to control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment are at risk. The projected job growth in Virginia for firefighters shows an 14% increase with higher earnings than the national average.

The Trades and Tech Education Foundation awarded Scholarships to six CATEC students who will each continue their pursuit of excellence in the Skilled Trades.

• Summer Cobb received the Leslie Hughes Walton Memorial Scholarship of $2,000. Summer graduated from WAHS. She will enter PVCC this fall to study Radiology.

• Cecil Rodriguez received The Justin Tilghman Culinary Arts award of $1,000. Cecil, a WAHS graduate, has already signed a contract to continue working for Farmington Country Club. He will use his award to continue studies in Culinary Arts at PVCC.

• Rebecca Hernandez was awarded a Trades and Tech Education Foundation $1000 Scholarship Awards to continue her studies in the skilled trades. She is a graduate of MHS and plans to study Interior Design at PVCC with the intention of then transferring to a four-year program in Interior Design.

• Honorina Makyba was awarded a Trades and Tech Education Foundation $1000 Scholarship Awards to continue her studies in the skilled trades. She is headed to PVCC to study Nursing. Honorina is a graduate of CHS.

• Samuel Shipley-Johnson was awarded a Trades and Tech Education Foundation $1000 Scholarship Awards to continue his studies in the skilled trades. He is a graduate of AHS and is headed to Idaho State University to study Nuclear Welding.

• Michaela Carter-Payne was awarded a Trades and Tech Education Foundation $1000 Scholarship Awards to continue her studies in the skilled trades. She is a FCHS graduate who participated in CATEC's Adult Education CNA program. She will study Nursing at Norfolk State University.

Email: heltzs1@charlottesvilleschools.org
Website: www.catec.org
Location: 1000 Rio Road East, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Phone: 434-245-2419

Facebook: facebook.com/CATECHighSchool
Twitter: @CATEChs