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Berlin High School students showcase Career & Technical Education projects at board meeting
Summary
Berlin High School CTE students presented three hands-on stations — an arcade cabinet, 3D-printed projects and a multimedia news piece — at the Feb. 10 Board of Education meeting, highlighting career pathways and college-credit partnerships.
Students from Berlin High School's Career & Technical Education program demonstrated projects at the board meeting as part of CTE Month, giving board members a hands-on look at woodworking, 3D/CNC fabrication and multimedia production.
Sebastian Fortuna, technology education teacher, introduced the student teams and outlined three stations on stage: an arcade cabinet built by Advanced Woodcraft students, a 3D-printing/CNC station and a multimedia station that included a student-produced news story. "We're building a department that best represents our current skills and fits growth for future expansion," Fortuna told the board.
Student Michael Lino described his experience in robotics and how hands-on projects inform his college plans: "This just kind of sparks my passion of bringing programming and physical objects into real life," he said. Another student described learning CNC programming by resurrecting an old machine and teaching themselves to program it.
The presentation noted a CCP CAD partnership through "Tungus" that allows students to earn college credit for some coursework (as stated in the meeting). Administrators also said the program is working to expand industry certifications so students can graduate with portable credentials.
The multimedia station's video was slated to be submitted to FOX61, providing a real-world audience for student work. Board members applauded the students' projects; the board president thanked teachers Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Fortuna for their work modernizing the program.
Why it matters: Board members said the CTE updates connect classroom learning to local, state and national industry needs and help keep the district competitive for staff and families. Students emphasized that the hands-on experience gives them a head start for college and careers.
What was asked: Board members and student reps took questions about certifications, college-credit opportunities and how the updated program aligns with workforce needs. No action items resulted directly from the presentation.
