APS Arlington Career Center Open House January 12

One of the truly hidden jems of the Arlington Public School system is the award winning Arlington Career Center:

Please come to the Arlington Career Center Parent/Student Elective Information Morning on Saturday, January 12, 2013, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. to learn about the exciting programs that we offer.  Did you know that our classes allow students to start on the path toward future careers as an architect, auto technician, chef, cosmetician, electrician, emergency medical technician, engineer, forensic scientist, pharmacy technician, physical therapist, pilot, TV producer, veterinarian, and many more?

Did you know that your child can do the following?

1.  Prepare for college

2.  Fulfill lab science requirements

3.  Earn industry certifications

4.  Participate in dual enrollment and earn college credit

5.  Work with state-of-the-art equipment

6.  Participate in internships and apprenticeships

The following classes will be available for you to visit on January 12, 2013:

Advanced Topics in Information Technology

Animal Science

Air Force JROTC

Automotive Body Repair

Automotive Technology

Aviation Technology

Biotechnology

Carpentry

Computer Graphics for the Web

Cosmetology

Culinary Arts and Sciences

Digital Visualization/3D Animation

Electricity/Fiber Optics and Network Cabling

Early Childhood Education

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Engineering/Architectural /Technical Drawing

Forensic Technology

Introduction to Health and Medical

Photography (digital and film)

Physical Therapy/Sports Medicine

Pharmacy Technician

TV/Multimedia Production

Refreshments/treats will be provided by individual classes.  Please come to meet our staff and be impressed by what the Arlington Career Center has to offer.

Schedule: 

9:30 a.m.  Welcome / Presentation of Colors / Intro Video

Spanish-speaking parents can meet with a translator for a brief orientation.

9:45 a.m.  Visit the first class that interests you. 

10:00 a.m. Visit the second class that you find appealing.

Can’t make it at the above times?  Come when convenient for your Saturday morning schedule.

Our Best Schools Preparing Our Children for Yesterday

Our educational system was born over 100 years ago, in order to produce workers for the industrial revolution.  Our educational system breaks the process down into distinct parts, focusing on those skills that would be useful for the assembly line and for an era prior to computers.

A child entering kindergartener this year, if that child completes what we currently think of as a 4 year liberal arts education, will not enter the work force until 2030.  We have no idea what the market and the work force will look like in 2030.  Yet we continue to train children for the 1950s.

And what does our current system of education train students for?  What is our current system of education geared for and excellent at producing?  Educators!  Students who succeed at school - students who get straight A's - go on to graduate schools, to get the highest degrees, to come back to perpetuate the self-replicating system.  It is the C students that break away and make money.  It is the drop outs that go and reinvent the entire game.

Why do we continue to train children to work on Henry Ford's assembly line?  Why do we continue to reinforce rote memorization when the entire world's library is in our pockets?  Why do we permit our teachers to be technologically 10 years behind our students?

Arlington's Own Lost Dog Rescue's Ranch

NVRPA (Potomac Overlook) Strategic Plan 2012-2017

Both the Plan and the video are typical of strategic plans: filled with vague statements and lofty goals, but not overly informative or surprising.  The plan calls for land acquisition, better care of trails, better use of volunteers, better use of partners, and better use of technology. One interesting data point is that NVRPA generates 83% of its budget through user fees (think swimming pools, cabins...).   NVRPA wants to diversify its offerings so that there are more things to do in the parks.  

The plan also reflects why it is important of taking surveys.  The plan reflects the input it received from park patrons who took a NVRPA survey.

• Park Facilities that respondent households have a need for: #1 Paved walking and biking trails
• Most important park and recreation facilities: #1 Paved walking and biking trails

These survey results influence where the NVPRA will place its priorities.