CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (CTE)

A state-approved Career & Technical Education Program of Study is a series of courses/pathways that help students develop the technical skills, academic knowledge and real-world experiences needed to prepare them for the high-skill, high-demand, high-wage careers of the 21st century and make informed choices about their post-secondary options.

CTE student videos at the Grant CTE site

This PPS District website has more information to explore.

 Course listed below are 9th Grade Electives

AUDIO ENGINEERING

AUDIO ENGINEERING/MUSIC PRODUCTION: An introduction to the world of creating sound in the analogue, digital and live world. Students will become familiar with technical musical/audio vocabulary and learn the practical skills necessary to work with audio equipment. The class will explore the different methods and techniques used for home recording systems and up to professional studios in the greater Portland area. Students will develop skills such as tracking, mixing and mastering as well as microphone placement and acoustics. Students will also be responsible for designing, producing and working all major concerts, plays and assemblies throughout the school year. Career opportunities may be possible through potential partnerships with local recording studios and professional sound engineers.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

ACCOUNTING AND PERSONAL FINANCE: This one‐year course will introduce students to one of the fastest‐growing professions in the United States, which includes a formal system of financial record management for sole proprietorships and partnerships. Students will gain experience dealing with specialized accounting applications: special journals, petty cash system, taxes, depreciation, managerial decisions, and interest. Accounting career opportunities and ethics will be researched and discussed. This course covers various aspects of personal finance such as; investments, budgeting, and managing personal  banking.  This course is also recommended for students interested in an accounting career and those pursuing other business career‐areas.

MARKETING & ENTREPRENEURSHIP: This course is designed to teach students about marketing concepts and how they apply to business creation and management. Students who are interested in developing an understanding of business, planning to study business in college, and/or becoming informed consumers are encouraged to take this course. The class will cover a variety of topics including brand development, promotion, merchandising, advertising, distribution, pricing, product development, market research and planning, sales, and entrepreneurship. This is a project‐based course in which students will have the opportunity to learn business skills in a hands on environment.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

INTRO TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING: This is a project-based, hands-on course that focuses on teaching the tools students need to become good programmers. We will design and code websites, games, and interactive stories, build and program robots, and design applications for the Raspberry Pi while learning important skills such as problem solving, research, algorithm development, and basic programming principles. Students do not need prior programming experience to be successful in this course.

CONSTRUCTION

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING:  This class is an introduction to basic architectural drawing skills including terminology, drafting tools, lettering, line quality, dimensions, plans, elevations, sections. Three dimensional techniques will be covered as well, including isometric, oblique, and perspective views. Sketch-ups are used to model simple building structures and everyday objects. Emphasis is on accurate visual communication using industry standard conventions.

WOODWORKING 1-2: This class introduces students to the amazing possibilities of making things from wood. Through a series of increasing complex projects, students will learn the properties of wood; safe and proper use of hand tools, power tools, and machinery; techniques for finishing wood projects; and how to create an excellent project from raw materials. Focus will primarily be on small wood projects such as boxes and small furniture, but students are introduced to the basics of carpentry and construction as well. The goal of this class is for students to be able to design, create, and build projects to fulfill individual and community needs by the end of the year.

DIGITAL MEDIA

DIGITAL MEDIA & POP CULTURE: CTE (Career Technology Education) course.  This course will introduce students to digital art and design skills, ideas, and frameworks. Students will explore contemporary ways in which artists use and create digital works, which may include: graphic art, social media, animated GIFs, and short videos. The conceptual content of this course is centered on students’ experience, interests, and motivations, using critical discussion of contemporary culture as a lens. Referencing discussions, images, internet media, and lecture, students will be asked to creatively problem solve in each assignment. With an emphasis on social responsibility, students will gain the kinds of skills necessary to be empowered to create the kinds of media they consume. 

ENGINEERING

INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING 1-2: Do you like to design and make things by hand and with machines in the makerspace? Do you like choosing your own projects or participating in design and building challenges with your peers? In this hands-on, project-based class you will learn engineering using the tools and design processes used by engineers. These include hand tools, computer aided design (CAD), digital fabrication (3D printing & laser cutting), and many others...  

HEALTH SCIENCES

PRINCIPLES OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE: In this course, students will have guided exposure to a variety of health careers/ occupation and will learn about important issues in healthcare. The students will experience how biology, chemistry, and physics are used by medical and health professionals. Students will participate in real-life simulations, role-play exercises with peers and medical experts. Students will also research the academic and people-skills needed to pursue medical research, nursing, nutrition, radiology, pharmaceutical fields, dentistry, sports medicine, anesthesiology, physical therapy, kinesiology, chiropractic, and other health-related fields.

MULTI-MEDIA

GRAPHIC DESIGN 1-2: All students are welcome to explore their interest in art and technology through this foundational course in Graphic Design. This course  is an introductory project-studies class in which students acquire skills in graphic design from a marketing and visual communication perspective. Students will learn the elements of graphic design to develop business branding and marketing solutions such as logos, packaging, advertising, and promotional materials, as well as optimize graphics for print and non-print mediums. Students will learn to use the industry-standard software program Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. These programs will be used for students to create, edit, organize and publish their works. Students will have the opportunity to create and present a digital portfolio of studio work. This class requires students to have interest, motivation, knowledge of basic computer operation, and an ability to work maturely and independently with technology and in a studio setting. Students will earn one elective credit for this class

THEATER ARTS

ACTING: BEGINNING: (Acting 1-2) This course is for ANYONE who would like to dive into performance/theater. No experience is necessary. This is a big, fun class! We play games and explore improvisation. Students will create original material and begin understanding acting technique and theatre in general (memorization of text is part of this class). This is for the beginning student who wants to find out what it feels like to perform in front of an audience.  This is an introductory class and all are welcome!

THEATER TECHNOLOGY 1-2: STAGECRAFT FUNDAMENTALS & EVENT PRODUCTION: This class is for the student who is interested in how things work, having a hands on experience, exploring creative design, build and paint, and light the stage for performers. The Tech Theatre course is an exploration of the duties of stage technicians and their contribution to the total aesthetic effect of a dramatic production. Students must be able to work independently as students often work in small groups on directed projects. Students may take this class more than once for credit.

Anyone can take this class at any time!

ROBOTICS

ROBOTICS 1-2: Do you want to design, build, and program robots that perform a wide variety of tasks as well as compete in class challenges? In this project‐based course, you will build and program self-driving robots and remote-controlled robots. Previous programming experience is helpful, but not required.