Career & Technical Education Consortium Logo

Our Mall of Life event was a great success.

6th & 7th grade students that went through the Mall of Life were from Dakota, Freeport, Orangeville, Pearl City, Pecatonica, Homeshoolers and TriCounty.

Students learned how to balance their expense ledgers, pay for housing, buy a car or 2, purchase insurance, pay for medical, dental and vision, buy a phone, pay for daycare, and buy clothes and groceries. They also had the opportunity to vote, buy a pet and purchase a vacation. There were also a few surprises that cost them to repair household items and maybe receive money back from the IRS.

A huge thank you to our CareerTEC students in Careers in Business, Culinary Arts, Construction Trades and HOYA 2 along with their instructors for all their help in making this event possible for the younger students. Thank you to the ladies at Citizen's State Bank for coming in to help run our "Bank"

 During February, the students were busy learning about banking, checking and savings accounts, as well as credit: credit cards, credit reports and scores, and how to establish and improve your credit scores. This knowledge was put to use on February 26th, when they volunteered at the Mall of Life, a 7th grade CareerTEC sponsored event. The purpose is to simulate life, make career and financial decisions, and improve check writing skills. They did well assisting the younger students, while having fun too!

Next, we pivot into investing and the Stock Market Game (SMG) which everyone is looking forward to. We will see how they feel about it in a couple of weeks as the competition becomes intense! The SMG features learning about types of companies, stocks, reading a stock quote, analyzing risk, and what metrics to use during stock analysis.

Several students are also contemplating and/or planning on taking the second year of the program next school year, involving an internship. In order to help with that process, Year II students are writing and preparing a presentation for the year I students about each of their internships. These will be presented to the students and their mentors in late April. I’m so excited to see how they turn out and see what they have learned.

If anyone is interested in taking CIB 1, please reach out to your local guidance counselor, the CareerTEC office, or the CareerTEC website.

The Roofing, siding and soffits are completed on our “in shop”room that the students have constructed. They have learned how to figure out what materials are needed for each faze and how to properly install them. We worked with architectural roofing shingles, vinyl siding & aluminum soffits. We will now be moving onto floor coverings, ceramic tile, and interior trim.

Oh my goodness!  How are there only 23 class days left for this amazing group of young people??  This entire year has flown by. Hard to believe that graduation for these students is just around the corner. 

February was a busy and engaging month for the HOYA 2 students as they continued developing both their healthcare knowledge and leadership skills. One highlight was assisting with the CareerTEC Mall of Life, an interactive financial literacy event for local 6th and 7th graders. During this activity, younger students selected a career, received a salary, and were assigned a “life” scenario that may have included being married, having children, or other responsibilities. They then visited stations to make real-world budgeting decisions for housing, transportation, groceries, daycare, insurance, clothing, and other everyday expenses—while also navigating unexpected “life happens” events along the way. Our HOYA 2 students, as well as other CareerTEC classes, helped guide participants through the process and did an excellent job representing the program while supporting younger students as they worked through these important life lessons. It was a great opportunity for our seniors to step into mentorship roles and demonstrate the professionalism and leadership that the HOYA program strives to develop.

In class, HOYA 2 students continue making progress on their Body Systems and Diseases Capstone projects, which require them to research and present medical conditions that affect multiple organ systems. Students are also strengthening their clinical reasoning through case studies and virtual patient simulations, where they analyze patient histories, symptoms, and diagnostic clues to connect several body systems together. Over the next two weeks, students will continue expanding their hands-on learning with additional anatomy dissections, with the kidney dissection being the next lab activity. These experiences allow students to deepen their understanding of anatomy while continuing to build the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed for future healthcare careers.

As March’s warmer weather hopefully continues, please remember to work on some relaxing outdoor activities. Spring and Spring break will be here before we know it.

Culinary Arts students have been progressing quickly and are now comfortable with most cooking methods. In the second half of February, the class focused on seafood cookery and balancing flavors. To learn about cooking seafood, students made recipes such as coconut crusted tilapia, cajun shrimp and rice, and homemade sushi. Balancing flavors is an essential culinary skill, and students practiced this concept through a variety of recipes. These included a bistro salad with apple cider vinaigrette, candied walnuts, apples, and marinated pork, as well as sweet and sour chicken with rice. 

In the first half of March, students will learn about cooking with fruit and international cuisine. They practice fruit cookery by preparing recipes such as banana cream pie, strawberry shortcake, and pineapple salsa. Our international cuisine unit consists of students choosing a country which they will present to the entire class about. They discuss their country's cuisine, then we prepare a recipe from that country. This exposes students to unique dishes and aspects of culinary arts they are unfamiliar with.

Board Minutes for Feb. 5, 2026

HOYA Monthly Update – February Highlights

February was a busy and exciting month for our HOYA students as they completed our Emergency Care and Human Development units and began diving into Mental Health.

Emergency Care Unit

Students gained hands-on knowledge and practical skills related to a variety of emergency situations. They learned how to recognize and respond appropriately to:

1. Cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest
2. Choking emergencies
3. Falls
4. Bleeding and hemorrhaging injuries

Signs and symptoms of a possible stroke and heart attack, along with appropriate care for both

1. Seizures
2. Epistaxis (nosebleeds)
3. Syncopal (fainting) episodes
4. Various types of shock

Through case scenarios and skill practice, students strengthened their confidence in staying calm, assessing situations quickly, and providing safe, effective care in high-stress emergencies.

Human Needs and Development

In addition to emergency care, students explored the foundations of patient-centered care by studying:

1. A Theory of Human Motivation and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
2. Holistic care and treating the whole person
3. Stages of growth and development across the lifespan
4. Developmental disabilities and appropriate caregiving approaches

This unit helped students better understand how physical, emotional, social, and developmental factors all influence patient care.

Mental Health Unit

We have recently begun our Mental Health unit, where students are learning about:

1. Common mental health conditions
2. Signs and symptoms
3. Defense mechanisms
4. Treatment options
5. Therapeutic communication strategies

Students also presented informative posters on a variety of mental health disorders, including:

1. Schizophrenia
2. Anxiety disorder
3. Major depressive disorder
4. Post-traumatic stress disorder
5. Bipolar disorder

The students did an excellent job presenting and engaging in meaningful class discussions about improving patient communication.

Guest Speakers

We were fortunate to have a Registered Nurse, BSN, visit our class in February, with experience in emergency medicine, intensive care, and family birth. She shared real-world insight into nursing practice, critical thinking in high-acuity settings, and different pathways within the nursing profession.

In March, we welcomed a Fire Marshal and Deputy Chief who spoke to students about how to become a firefighter/paramedic and the important role emergency responders play in community safety. Students were also given a tour of the local fire station, providing valuable exposure to careers in fire and emergency medical services.

Clinical Update

Clinicals continue every Thursday and Friday. Students are doing an outstanding job advancing their hands-on skills, professionalism, and communication strategies in real healthcare settings. It is wonderful to see their confidence and competence grow each week.

Looking Ahead

In the coming weeks, we will begin learning about restorative care and special care skills related to:

1. Surgical care
2. Cardiac monitoring
3. Artificial airways
4. Mechanical ventilation
5. Chest tubes

We are looking forward to another month of growth, learning, and skill development as our HOYA students continue building a strong foundation for future careers in healthcare.

What is CTE Month?

Every February, the Career Technical Education (CTE) community celebrates CTE Month® to raise awareness of the role that CTE has in readying learners for college and career success. CTE Month is also a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of our CTE partners at the local, state, and national level.

The CareerTEC Mall of Life is a life-skill simulation event focusing on financial literacy, in which sixth and seventh grade students take part in making real-world adult decisions.  The event instills skills such as decision-making, financial responsibility, problem-solving, goal setting, and communication, which prepares students for making realistic choices and achieving a successful future.  The Mall of Life offers a glimpse into the realities of a career, salaries, and the obligations of daily life. 

Prior to the event, each student picks a career from a list provided by CareerTEC. At the event, students are given the corresponding “salary” for one month minus any student loan amount for the career choice they’ve made.  We randomly designate students to be “single,” “married,” “divorced,” and if they have “children,” which makes the event more realistic.

There are 14 “stores” (booths) set up with a poster at each showing the life choices the students have to make and what they must “pay for” while keeping track of their spending.  The “stores” include purchasing housing, daycare, groceries, clothes, insurance, vehicles, doctor visits, cell phones, pets, and vacations, if their salary allows. The Mall of Life is both interesting and fun for students and provides them with insight to see what adults deal with in real life.