During lunch on Feb. 26, Colton High CTE (Career Technical Education) hosted an event to showcase several classes available at Colton High School that prepare students for future careers.
Hands-on experience was the rule of the day, as students in various CTE classes set up tables to showcase and explain the main purpose of their classes while providing student visitors an opportunity to interact with their subject.
Many of the CTE classes at Colton High are part of pathways, or included in the school’s offering of ROP (Regional Occupational Program) courses. These classes can help students earn college credits and support skill building for future career paths.
Career Center Tech Elizabeth Fregoso has been in charge of coordinating this event for nine years. “There are a lot of opportunities for [students] to learn skills that will apply for a career, even if it’s not the right career for them,” she said. “They’ll still learn something that they could transfer to the next career.”
Students such as Jocelyn Pulido and Denzel Cantrell shared how these classes will help them in their future careers.
Cantrell, who wants to become an Emergency Medicine Physician, represented sports medicine. Sports medicine allows students to learn about injuries that athletes face, such as spinal cord injuries and joint instability, as well as teaching about how to properly treat those injuries. The class also explores environmental conditions and how that may affect athletes, something that most people don’t normally consider.
Pulido represented Community Health, which will help her in pursuing her future career as a doctor. Community Health provides information on the medical problems communities face, such as Alzheimer’s and depression.
“It’s really to show that going to the doctor can help,” Pulido said.
In addition to medical oriented classes, several others were available for Colton High students to discover.
This included the Automotive program, which teaches students the various parts of cars and how to work on and repair them.
Mechatronics, which focuses on mechanical systems and engineering. They have a club which builds a solar boat for participation in the annual San Bernardino County Solar Boat Challenge in May.
Computer mapping teaches students how to create digital informative maps of varying models. They do a lot of work with 3-D printing.
Graphic Communications shared about printing and publishing. Colton High is the only school in the district to have its own print shop, where students learn how to press t-shirts, print industrial-quality documents, and do professional-grade graphic design.
Welding offers students opportunities to learn professional welding skills. Students in this program can take exams in their senior year to qualify for licensure.