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ECE Family Spring Fling

April 14, 2025

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Highland Community College Student Center

Feb. 6, 2025 Agenda

We have finished the framing & drywall on the rooms we are building in the shop. The roof shingles and accessories are being installed now. When the roofing is completed vinyl siding will be installed. Around the end of the February we should be ready to start learning about plumbing.

Perkins Measures FY24 Explanation

Perkins Measures FY24 Data Summary

This past month, our HOYA 2 students have been diving deeper into Medical Terminology, an essential part of their curriculum. They’ve been breaking down medical terms by learning prefixes, suffixes, word roots, and combining forms—giving them the ability to define unfamiliar words through analysis. Mastering these word parts will serve them well as they continue their journey into healthcare.

In addition to sharpening their medical vocabulary, some HOYA 2 students played a key role in our Dementia Training for first-year students. Through our Virtual Dementia experience, the newcomers stepped into the shoes of individuals battling daily challenges, giving them a deeper understanding of the struggles patients face.

February will bring new opportunities, including assisting at CareerTEC’s Mall of Life event at Highland Community College. In addition, students will begin team-teaching projects on Medical Terminology related to body systems. These lessons will not only cover disease processes, medical specialties, and diagnostic tools but will also explore rare diseases they may encounter in their careers. As we progress through the body systems, students will also have the chance to participate in hands-on dissections.

Outside of class, many of our HOYA 2 students are balancing a lot—between coursework, internships, sports, and planning their next steps after high school. With senior year going by quickly, many are also busy visiting potential colleges and preparing for the transition into post-secondary education.

Despite their packed schedules, HOYA 2 students continue to make an impact beyond the classroom. Their latest Community Education Bulletin Board projects focused on Human Trafficking Awareness and Stalking Awareness, bringing attention to serious issues that often go unspoken among teenagers. By addressing these topics, they are helping educate their peers while also gaining confidence in having difficult but necessary conversations—an important skill they will carry into their future healthcare careers.

The year is moving fast, and our students are making the most of every opportunity. With so much ahead, we look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the months to come.

Careers In Business (CIB)

Feb 2025

In January, we’ve been learning Excel, about the banking industry, and learning how to invest for the purpose of playing the Stock Market Game which ends mid-April. The Stock Market Game explored types of companies, stocks, reading a stock quote, risk, and what metrics to use when doing stock analysis. It’s early and the teams are doing very well with one in the top 50. Sometimes the students are thrilled and other times they are completely exasperated with their portfolio’s performance. It’s a fun and worthwhile learning lesson for all of them. 

After learning about banking, checking, and savings account, and everything related to it, the students will volunteer at the Mall of Life late February. It involves helping 7th grade area students navigate check writing, balancing their checkbook registers, and making life choices in general based on circumstances and financial constraints. It is a worthwhile event for both the younger students as well as CIB students. 

A special ‘Thank you’ to the CIB II students who have been helping update all of the “stores”, banking, careers, and salary information for the Mall of Life. They’ve made quick work of it and we appreciate the help! 

As the 3rd quarter winds down in March, most of the CIB II students will have completed their internship hours, and are continuing to work while putting the finishing touches on their portfolio. Additionally, they will work on the PowerPoint presentation they are giving to their respective mentor and the CIB I students at the end of April. It’s a great chance for the CIB I juniors who are taking the class next year to learn what options and opportunities they have to look forward to. 

GOOD LUCK to the Freeport (Cooper Hathaway) and Pecatonica (Brody Black, Jaxon Diedrich, Jordan Gassman, and Cooper Hoffman) boys basketball teams as regular play comes to a close next month and regionals start

In the month of January, semester 1 ended with Culinary Arts conducting a practical final. Students had to prepare a protein, starch, and vegetable, and they were graded on the flavor and texture or each. Semester 2 began with a week dedicated to potato cookery, during which students prepared homemade gnocchi, pierogies, and picadillo. Next, students focused on baking with yeast, one of the most popular units of the year. To practice baking with yeast, students prepared cinnamon rolls, homemade pizza, khachapuri, baguettes, and soft pretzels. In the first half of February, students will learn about breakfast cookery and pasta preparation.

HOYA Update: Over the past 2 weeks, the students have completed their state-mandated dementia training. We have had a lot of fun with this unit during different hands-on activities. Each class created an appropriate activity for those with dementia and we went to Liberty Village or Parkview to perform the activity. Activities included Bingo, coloring, cards, crafts, listening to music, and dancing. HOYA organized a bake sale with proceeds going to Liberty Village and Parkview’s dementia units. We were able to raise over $270! The students were able to experience what it is like to live with dementia through our dementia world simulation. Looking forward to the next few weeks: we are starting CPR training and clinicals!