In this edition ... Dr. Miller's latest blog entitled, "Good to Great" Engineering Technologies Center Opens Latest Donation Hits New Heights Bioscience student earns top internship and award Important dates and events ... and more!
9.2.21 Volume 2 // Issue 3
DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
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As we enter the second full month of school all Eastland-Fairfield campuses, satellite locations and Adult Workforce Development are hard at work to make each tomorrow better. We're finding 'E's, learning trades, making our marks, and making memories while doing so. Check out what is happening inside the EFCTS walls and how you can join in!
We're cleared for takeoff at EFCTS!
by Dr. Kimberly Pietsch Miller
In 2001, Jim Collins published a book that was widely read by business leaders and eventually many educational leaders picked it up as well. The book was titled, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don’t. In chapter 1: “Why Good Is the Enemy of Great”, Collins explains that what keeps companies, schools, teams, etc. from being great is the fact that they are good. And good is, well…a good place to be. But is that where we want to be?
good to great
Dr. Miller's Blog
To read past editions of Dr. Miller's Blog, click here.
At Eastland-Fairfield, we have decided that the answer is an emphatic NO!! In fact, we have established a theme for the year to guide us and keep us focused on our goal. Jim Collins wrote about it in 2001, and before that John D. Rockefeller said it: Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great! Again, good is a good place to be. But at Eastland-Fairfield, we are committed to more. We are committed to greatness. Not for us - our school or staff. Not for our own recognition. But for our students. As we continue our strategic planning process, our goal is becoming clearer and clearer. From business partners to alumni, from staff to students, we desire to improve programming, delivery systems, facilities, and future opportunities in order to support each student on their journey to success. We have made helping each learner successfully take their next step into Education, Enlistment, Employment, and/or Entrepreneurship an important component of becoming a great educational provider. We also understand that going for the great means a willingness to change even if something is good right now. We understand that the interests and needs of the high school and adult students that we teach today are different from those we taught in the past. We know that the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow may be different. We know that making the decision to pursue greatness for our students is bold and ambitious. We know that we will have to endure some moments of discomfort and even experience short-term failure as we learn and grow. And we also know that our students, who motivate us to move toward greatness, are worth it.
At Eastland-Fairfield, we know that each learner's journey toward success will be unique. We encourage you to embrace it. Explore and engage the opportunities available to you in order to find your destination and how to get there. Will it be: Additional Education? Entrepreneurship Employment? Enlistment? You decide!
Engineering Technologies Center
your journey is unique.
Grand opening reignites commitment to students and emerging industries On August 18, 2021, Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools held its official Grand Opening of the new Engineering Technologies Center at Eastland Career Center. More than 100 people including students, staff, members of the EFCTS Board of Education, community members, local politicians, and supporters of career-technical education came together to witness the ribbon being cut and the doors opened to the newest facility supporting EFCTS students. Representatives from the offices of Ohio Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown joined the EFCTS Board of Education as distinguished guests of the grand opening and joined all attendees in touring the facility. Board of Education President Bill McGowan and Superintendent/CEO Dr. Kim Pietsch Miller delivered remarks about the wonderful opportunities the Engineering Technologies Center and the updated equipment within will provide its students. "This new facility represents our commitment to our students, their learning, and our valued business partners," said Dr. Miller. "It also represents our commitment to expand existing programs and bring new and in-demand opportunities to our students." Measuring in at approximately 43,000 square feet, the Engineering Technologies Center (ETC) broke ground in March 2020. The $10.3 million structure is fully equipped with more than 20 individual welding booths with top-rated personal exhaust systems, 13 state-of-the-art flight simulation stations, a full-size hangar built to fit up to three aircraft, lab and instructional space with digital displays, a partitioned meeting room to seat up to 200 people, and three full offices. The ETC will serve the Aviation, Welding, and Pre-Engineering programs at Eastland Career Center. In addition to new facilities and upgraded, state-of-the-art equipment, the increased space dedicated to each program will allow each program to expand the number of students that will be afforded opportunities to participate in these programs. The ETC will also serve as the future home of Eastland-Fairfield's Mechatronics program, which will debut in Fall 2022. Check out the photo gallery from the ceremony to the right. Swipe or tap to expand and view all photos.
Aviation Lands Generous Donation
Thanks to the generosity of a local pilot, Eastland-Fairfield will have a new teaching tool in its aviation program. Eastland-Fairfield not only has a new building to house its Aviation program with the opening of the Engineering Technologies Center, but it also has a new aircraft that will soon taxi through its hangar doors. Thanks to the generosity of Dublin resident LeRoy Johnston, the Aviation program at Eastland Career Center will soon have an incredible new teaching tool in its fleet. Johnston, a retired attorney, donated his Vans RV-6A two-seat aircraft to Eastland-Fairfield in order to support educational opportunities in aviation with hopes to inspire younger generations to enter the field ... well, air. Now nearing 30 students, the EFCTS Aviation program was eager to jump on the opportunity to acquire this private craft. EFCTS Aviation instructor Alex D'Ettorre explained that the Vans RV-6A is one of the most popular kit planes to be produced and purchased. Johnston, who with a friend built the kit in 2006, equipped the aircraft to make it IFR (instrument flight rules) compliant, giving the plane the ability to fly in inclement weather, and EFCTS students a new element of technology to explore. It also is equipped with modern avionics, which according to D'Ettorre, is a major asset for students looking to learn about mechanical diagnosis, wire running, and comparable system upgrades. D'Ettorre explained that while the aircraft will remain grounded and used only for instructional purposes, the plane is fully capable of flight. Instead, the Aviation program will use their gift to provide lessons in aviation pilot training, perform safety checks and ground safety walk-around procedures, learn preventative maintenance techniques, and learn aircraft ground movement procedures. It is D'Ettorre's belief that this gift will easily serve the program for the next 30 years. Students from the Aviation program met Johnston at the Fairfield County Airport, where he flew his aircraft from its home base, Union County Airport in Marysville. Johnston then spent nearly two hours providing students with a walk-through and giving them the aircraft's history. He also shared the aircraft has a name, Esperanza, which is Spanish for "hope". In the coming weeks, EFCTS Aviation students will return to Fairfield County Airport and take part in disassembling the aircraft and readying it for transport to its new home in the Engineering Technologies Center at Eastland Career Center. Thank you to LeRoy Johnston for his incredible generosity and inspiring future generations of aviation professionals and supporting Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools. Pictured: Alex D'Ettorre (left) and Roy Johnston (right)
Edna Boadi of the Eastland-Fairfield Bioscience program shares a one-in-a-lifetime experience that landed her a prestigious award and insight to take into her future endeavors. While many 16- or 17-year-olds may have been playing a sport, working a job, or relaxing while the world reopened this past summer, Gahanna-Lincoln High School rising senior Edna Boadi was busy paving the way for her future behind a rare professional experience. Boadi was selected as one of six high school students to participate in the Futures Matter program at Nationwide Children's Hospital, an eight-week paid summer research internship, allowing students to gain hands-on science experience while exploring various careers in biomedical research. Boadi was paired with two research coordinators and statistician Enas Alshaikh, PhD and embarked on a project centered around Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in infants. If you needed to search WebMD for a better understanding, you're not alone. GERD (or GER) occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting the mouth and stomach. This acid reflux can irritate the lining of the esophagus. Boadi explained that her research explored, "whether bradycardia (a lower than normal heart rate) and tachycardia (higher than normal heart rate) should be considered legitimate symptoms of GERD and whether the reflux type and bolus size of the reflux had an effect on the heart rate response to these reflux events." The first phase of her experience was to create a presentation on GERD and other critical elements of the disorder and then hypothesize whether bradycardia is a direct symptom of GERD. Boadi learned new software to help conduct experiments and record her findings. In all, Boadi analyzed 48 studies and did 1,557 total infusion procedures to accumulate enough data for her presentation. Her research continued as she learned about the complexities of the disease, its diagnosis, and its treatment. The experience was also accompanied by the opportunity to shadow lab nurses conducting various studies surrounding GERD. The opportunities continued to grow as Boadi was granted the chance to shadow Dr. Sudarshan Jadcherla and Erika Osborn, NNP, during patient consults, giving her first-hand exposure with live patients. Upon presenting her research on GERD, Boadi was graded on her work and earned first place for the presentation her findings in a competition among those selected for the Future Matters program. Boadi is a senior in the Eastland-Fairfield Bioscience satellite program, housed at Gahanna-Lincoln High School. "Before this experience, I thought practicing medicine and conducting research were mutually exclusive. Considering that I love both, I believed that I would have to inevitably choose one path to pursue as a career. I now know that it's possible for me to have a career where I can conduct research, while also caring for patients. Moreover, I learned about how people with different career backgrounds can all contribute to research. My lab was comprised of a doctor, a nurse practitioner, research coordinators, a statistician, nurses, research assistants, and an administrator. I was amazed when I learned about all the different paths my lab members took to get involved in research and realized that there's no concrete path to be involved in research and have your research impact the scientific community. I am grateful for the Jadcherla Lab's enthusiasm to teach me about the nitty-gritty aspects of research and will continue to cherish my summer with them forever as I continue my journey as an aspiring physician-scientist!" -- Edna Boadi
EFCTS Student Earns Life-Altering Summer Experience
Out n' About EFCTS
Top: Ms. Sauer's ENTIRE dental assisting class passed their X-ray exams and will receive their Ohio Dental Radiographers Certificate! Bottom: Firefighting at Canal Winchester is gearing up for a challenging day of training.
Left column: Students in the Modern Cultivation Technologies program learns to propagate an "inch plant". Bottom left: Pre-engineering students build structures from simple materials capable of holding 30 pounds! Top right: HVAC students begin to learn wiring tactics to produce electric outcomes! Right column: Interactive Media students are learning about ISO, shutter speed, and the insides of cameras.
Check out what has been happening around Eastland-Fairfield to kick off this school year!
Our Agriculture and Heavy Equipment juniors are beginning to work on small engines in their lab. Show us how its done!
Eastland-Fairfield will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for its students and staff at Fairfield Career Center. In partnership with local health organizations, the FDA-approved Pfizer vaccine will be made available on the following dates: Clinic 1: Thursday, September 16 Clinic 2: Thursday, October 7 Both clinics will be held between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. in the FCC Multi-Purpose Room. Registration is not necessary. A consent form must be completed before the first dose is given. NOTE: This is NOT a clinic for a booster. For more information, click here or go to www.EastlandFairfield.com.
Eastland-Fairfield is thrilled to announce its inaugural Tech or Treat event on Wednesday, October 27. Join our students and staff for a Halloween treat (or is it a trick?). Wear your Halloween costume and scurry from room to room down our hallowed halls collecting sweet treats. We'll be on the lookout for the best costume, and the winner will win a fang-tastic prize! This event is open to children of all ages for all families within the EFCTS District, plus EFCTS staff and their families. It will be hosted at both the Eastland Career Center AND the Fairfield Career Center, so you can choose which building you wish to explore. More details will be provided as we get closer to the event! TECH OR TREAT Wednesday, October 27 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastland Career Center (Groveport) AND Fairfield Career Center (Carroll) * To help prevent the spread COVID-19, masks must be worn during this event *
join us for 'tech or treat'
covid-19 guidance
Eastland-Fairfield Career Centers The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal masking for all staff and students in K-12 schools. The Ohio Department of Health recommends masks for those who are not fully vaccinated. Because all EFCTS staff and students are eligible (by age) to receive the COVID vaccine, masks or face coverings are optional for students, staff, and visitors at our Eastland and Fairfield campuses. While COVID-19 vaccines are not required in Ohio public schools, vaccines are recommended for all individuals ages 12 and up by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the Ohio Department of Health. Masks are strongly recommended for those students, staff, and visitors who are not fully vaccinated. This applies to high school and Adult Workforce Development (AWD) students taking courses at the AWD Center. Satellite Programs Mask guidelines are at the discretion of each school district and may vary. Please contact your satellite program’s host school district to learn more about its mask and face covering policies. Click here for more detailed information on Eastland-Fairfield's COVID-19/mask guidance. * all information is based on current guidance and recommendations from the CDC and Ohio Department of Health. If guidance changes, we will update you with any impact on our operations.
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Quick Hitters
vaccine clinic reminder
new program ADVISORY BOARD Meeting
VIRTUAL TOUR Explore any program you want with just the click of a button. You can explore the career-tech labs at Eastland Career Center, Fairfield Career Center, and our satellite program locations by taking the virtual tour on your computer or mobile device. The Tour Checklist: Explore all corners of as many career-tech labs as you’d like. Stop at our flashing interactive elements to learn more about the program(s). Watch a video showcasing a lab demonstration. Learn more about industry credentials, certifications and college credits you potentially earn in a program. Check out some alumni, business partner, or current student testimonials or be introduced to the program instructor. Want even more information? There is a form in each lab where you can request additional information.
Satellite Program Locations
IT'S NOT TOO LATE!
to enroll into an Adult Work Development program this fall!
Eastland Career Center
IN-PERSON TOUR You can visit any or all of our locations, based on your program interest. To schedule your in-person tour at your desired location(s), please contact your school counselor to begin the scheduling process.
Eastland-Fairfield Adult Workforce Development is ready to meet the needs of those looks for a first opportunity or a career change. Fall programming will soon begin, but it is not too late to enroll in programs with openings remaining! Click or tap on a program below to explore the opportunities waiting for you! Welding For more information about Eastland-Fairfield Adult Workforce Development programs, available financial aid, or customized training, click here or visit www.EastlandFairfield.com/AWD
VISIT US!
Click or tap the button of the location you'd like to tour!
Schedule your tour or take a virtual tour, today!
Fairfield Career Center
Sept. 1-2: ESOL Orientation Sept. 6: Labor Day - No School Sept. 14: First Day - Aspire ESOL Sept. 14: Picture Day (ECC) Sept. 16: COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic #1 (FCC) Sept. 16: Parent-Teacher Conferences Oct. 14: Staff PD Day (no school) Oct. 15: No school for staff or students Oct. 27: 'Tech or Treat' Event (FCC and ECC) Click here for our online calendar
In our next edition ... Check out what is going on inside the EFCTS Firefighting and Cyber Security satellite programs! New programs are coming! Learn what will be available to students in Fall 2022! Dr. Miller's blog that connects to "Going from good to great" ... and more!
Stay Connected!
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Come back for our next edition on September 16!
Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools 4300 Amalgamated Place Groveport, Ohio 43125 Phone: 614-836-4530 www.EastlandFairfield.com
Important Dates