High-school students display CTE projects; district highlights dual-credit and Sno‑A participation

Mr Patton introduced the high‑school portion of the workshop by framing Career and Technical Education (CTE) as essential to graduation and post‑secondary planning. He noted that Washington state requires one CTE credit for graduation, while the district requires two as part of its 30‑credit diploma standard.

Students showcased a range of hands‑on projects. Skyler and Bailey described a four‑episode podcast assignment and showed a two‑minute compilation of their work. "We learned about editing and creating videos...as we kept going we got better at determining how to edit sound," they said.

Tim described shop and engineering projects, including building a birdhouse and designing a toy train using 3D modeling; Oliver summarized an independent advanced engineering project that involved writing a simple interpreter in Python. Katie showed advanced graphic design work and said she used AI tools for some finishing touches. Several students described dual‑credit and regional technical opportunities: Mr Patton said South Whidbey High School enrolls about 350 students and that over 30 of them attend the regional Sno‑A technical center where students can take programs that earn college credit.

Nick (computer service and networking), Ka (aerospace manufacturing and maintenance), Emily (veterinary assisting with an internship at Useless Bay Animal Clinic) and Zach (electronics engineering and guitar building) each summarized the skills and career pathways they're pursuing. Students and staff noted that Sno‑A programs draw participants from many districts and offer credits that can count toward high‑school graduation requirements as well as community‑college credit.

Board members applauded the breadth of opportunities and the real‑world experience the programs provide; several asked follow‑up questions about post‑graduation plans and certification options. The presentation concluded without formal board action.