Eastern Center for Arts and Technology Newsletter
February 2014
In This Issue
Student Success - Student of the Month
Alumnus Spotlight - Hunter Staehly
EASTERN Events
Inside EASTERN
Dates to Remember
Facts about CTE
 EASTERN Foundation

The purpose of EASTERN's Foundation is to recognize EASTERN student achievement and success, assist them if post-secondary education is their goal, or help them start a rewarding career.

 For more information about the EASTERN Foundation, please visit  www2.eastech.org/home/eastern-foundation.  

Mission Statement 

 

The mission of EASTERN, a leader in technology and in developing innovative, responsive programs, is to equip all students with the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to select, enter and succeed in a career, and to anticipate and adapt to change by providing high-quality technical instruction and specialized services. 

- Thomas Allen, Administrative Director
- Kevin Reilly,
Assistant Director
- Allison Larson,
CTE Supervisor
- Amy Shields, Editor
Student Success - January Student of the Month

Jonathan Mehrman is the January 2014 Student of the Month at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) in Willow Grove. He is in EASTERN's Collision Repair Technology program and a senior at Upper Moreland High School. The Student of the Month Award is sponsored by EASTERN's faculty, Joint Committee and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success and service. Ten students each year are selected for this honor.

 

At EASTERN, Jonathan is actively involved in SkillsUSA as the Collision Repair Technology Class Secretary for the 2013 - 2014 school year. He was also part of the team that won first place for Chapter Display at the 2013 SkillsUSA State Competition, which also provided him with the opportunity to participate in the SkillsUSA National Competitions held last June in Kansas City, Missouri. SkillsUSA is a national student organization promoting good citizenship, student leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and recognizes student achievement and excellence.

 

At Upper Moreland High School, Jonathan is a member of the Winter and Summer Track Teams. He is a member of the Key Club in which he volunteers for the Jewish Relief Agency Food Bank and is a Halloween Night volunteer. Through Aikido USA, Jonathan is a Junior Black Belt and Adult Blue Belt. He is a member of the United States Chess Federation and the Warminster Chess Club. He also worked part-time as a car detailer, and currently offers his own detailing services locally to gain some work experience while in school.

 

Jonathan plans to work in a shop for a year after graduation to master his auto detailing and collision repair skills before looking into a post-secondary Collision Repair program. He also would like to come back to EASTERN as a substitute Collision Repair instructor.
 Alumni Spotlight - Hunter Staehly
EASTERN 2012 Automotive Technology/Abington High School graduate, Hunter Staehly, is working at Faulkner Nissan in Jenkintown as an Automotive Technician. He often volunteers his time to speak to the current Automotive Technology class about opportunities in the automotive field.

 

Even as a child, Hunter loved cars. This was a trait passed down to him from his father. He didn't know what he wanted to do in terms of post-secondary education, but he knew he had a talent for fixing cars. As he was considering his future plans, his mother suggested that he learn more about the automotive industry. As a sophomore, Hunter visited EASTERN during a school trip. He liked what he saw, and felt the Automotive Technology program was the best choice for him. He knew that in order to get a job in the automotive field, he would need training.

 

While attending EASTERN as a high school junior, Hunter already had a part-time job at Brown's Automotive. As a senior and second-year student in EASTERN's Automotive Technology program, he began an internship at Firestone, where he continued to work for a year and a half.

 

"When deciding what to do with your future, the question that you need to ask yourself is - do you learn better in a hands-on educational environment?" said Hunter. "There is a lot of opportunity for those with career and technical training. Engines make the world go round."

 

From left to right: Hunter Staehly and John McDonald, EASTERN's Automotive Technology Instructor

EASTERN Events - EASTERN Foundation Happy Hour/Meal Fundrasier at Mike's York Street Bar and Grill
The EASTERN Foundation is holding a happy hour (actually, it's three hours) at Mike's York Street Bar and Grill on March 27, 2014 from 5 - 8 p.m. The fundraiser will also include a 50/50 raffle and  live acoustic music.

 

Mike's will section off a part of the dining area specifically for the EASTERN Foundation fundraiser from 5 - 8 p.m., and will donate 15 percent of total sales if sales are $1,000 or more. If sales are less than $1,000, then Mike's will donate 10 percent.

 

If you are unable to attend during the 5 - 8 p.m. time frame, but still want to assist, you can come to Mike's any time during the day and the Foundation will still get credit if you use the coupon below. Takeout orders count too! Please pass along the attached coupon and help the EASTERN Foundation spread the word about this fundraising event.

 

The EASTERN Foundation has one reason for existing - to encourage students in their pursuit of career ambitions that were developed and strengthened by attending EASTERN. The Foundation does this by rewarding student success and achievement through scholarships and awards which are presented in May at our Annual Awards Night.

 

The Foundation thanks you for your consideration and support.

 

 

Inside EASTERN - Strategic Planning Has Begun!

From January through March, EASTERN staff, faculty, administration, and local community and industry partners, are meeting regularly to work on the Current Reality teams for the school's Strategic Plan for 2015 - 2021.

 

EASTERN serves a diverse group of constituencies, including nine independent school districts, hundreds of employers distributed among almost 20 different career clusters, a significant number of post-secondary educational institutions through our articulation agreements, various industrial and governmental certification and licensure groups, and residents and employees of Eastern Montgomery County. To ensure EASTERN's responsiveness to the needs of each of these groups and to balance the allocation of resources, EASTERN has structured a comprehensive planning process involving all of these constituencies. In addition to their involvement in the decision-making process, the planning process provides ongoing feedback and communications to them regarding our accomplishments on the goals that have been established.

 

The planning process developed by EASTERN carefully integrates the requirements, needs and perspectives of a number of plans required of EASTERN, including the state-mandated Comprehensive Plan, Middle States Accreditation for Growth Plan, Technology Plan and Professional Development/Induction Plan. In addition, EASTERN's planning process addresses its education offerings and budgeting under this single unified planning process.

 

Curently Reality Teams include:

-Economic and Industry Trends Team

-Finances, Facilities, Information Resources & Technology Team

-Health and Safety, Education Program, Assessment Team

-Legal and Legislative Team

-Mission, Governance, and Institutional Planning Team

-School Climate, Student Success, Student Life & Services Team

-Social and Local Demographics Team

-Technology and Environmental Trends Team

 

For more information and Meeting Minutes, please visit http://tinyurl.com/mrhv434

Dates to Remember
  • February 12, 2014 - 10th Grade Career Expo Visitation; AM session
  • February 12, 2014 - Joint Operating Committee Meeting; 8 p.m.
  • February 14, 2014 - Teacher In-Service; No Class for Students
  • February 17, 2014 - School Closed
  • February 26, 2014 - 10th Grade Career Expo; PM session
  • March 2, 2014 - Advisory Appreciation Brunch; 11 a.m.
  • March 2, 2014 - School Director's Orientation; 11 a.m.
  • March 2, 2014 - Open House; 1 - 3:30 p.m.
Facts About Career and Technical Education

According to a study by the Gates Foundation/Hudson Institute, a person with a CTE-related associate degree or credential will earn between $5,000 and $15,000 more a year than a person with a humanities or social sciences associate degree.

 

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The Eastern Center for Arts and Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:  Equity Coordinator, 3075 Terwood Road, Willow Grove, PA  19090.  215-784-4800.