Above: Students practicing their suturing skills during our fall Healthcare Career Camp.
Fall Career Field Trips
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February is CTE Month
(Career Technical Education)
Join us for our CTE Showcase.
Student Spotlight: Owen Dzurik
My grandpa, who spent his entire life in the banking industry, introduced me to investments. By the time I was 10 years old, I was starting to invest some of my own money with help from my grandpa. Money to invest was regularly on my holiday wish list. As a ninth grade student, I immediately joined DECA (business leadership student organization) and our Investment Club. Through those experiences, I was able to connect with people in the investing world, which grew my love for business.
Owen's early interest in business afforded him the opportunity to fully leverage the highest level business related coursework, including AP Calculus, AP Microeconomics, AP English Lanuage and Composition, as well as our concurrently offered business courses. Owen further deepened his business related skills through his student club involvement. As a junior, he is now the president of both DECA and the Investment Club. He attributes those experiences to helping him develop communication, public speaking, teamwork, and collaboration skills. Last summer he interned at Rychley Tax and Financial Services. After graduating he will pursue a four year finance related degree.
Teacher Spotlight: Kelly Nicholls & Joe Letko (Engineering, Trades, & Manufacturing)
We work closely with industry through our advisory boards to better understand how we can best prepare our students to be successful in their career pursuits. To reflect industry practices, we needed more equipment to help students collaborate and create. With the help of our TEFFLA Grants, we were able to invest in TV screens, rapid prototyping 3D printers, and a laser engraver. Now, student groups can function as a company, collaborating around their designs (that are displayed on their group TV screen). Each team member has a role, and they are responsible to one another for performing at their highest capacity in their roles. Students with the same roles from other groups can teach and learn from each other based on their errors. This structure completely changes the dynamic of our classrooms from individual learning and work spaces to collaborative creative spaces.
Students in our Engineering, Trades, and Manufacturing department are not only developing their technical skills, they are intentionally working on their employability skills. What does effective communication look like? How can groups leverage their skills through teamwork? What process do I follow to solve problems? Students grapple with and develop these skills through their coursework. Meanwhile, they are also creating really cool things: rocket stoves, sheds, cabinets, personalized lego-like people, and more. Next up.... leather engraved baseball hats, vinyl stickers, vinyl helmet wraps, and much more.
Alumni Spotlight: Taylor Ritchot - 2019 FLAHS Graduate
Taylor always had big plans for herself; and she never squandered an opportunity to learn. Her advice to younger students when she was graduating in 2019 was, "Make the most of every opportunity!" In high school, Taylor challenged herself with AP courses and earned her EMR and EMT certifications, while also being a competitive athlete. Nearly six years later and Taylor is still making the most of every opportunity. She carries two quotes with her throughout her challenges and accomplishments. The first was from her EMT teacher in high school, Traci Johnson, who often said, "don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong." The second is the U.S. Army's motto, "Be all you can be".
After her high school years, Taylor served as a combat medic with the U.S. Army National Guard. She has been stationed around the world, and has been to over 10 countries. Now, she has just earned her BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, in an accelerated two-year program. AND there is more...Taylor has been accepted into the Fall 2026 UMN Medical School class. Taylor is part of a special new program at UMN called Medic to Medical School.
Partner Spotlight: Forest Lake Fire Department
Our annual fall Healthcare Career Camp served over 50 students again this year. The event is only possible with the help of our tremendous partners: M Health Fairview EMS, Life Link, Forest Lake Fire Department, Forest Lake Police Department, M Health Fairview Lakes, and Forest Lake Area High School teachers.
This year, we would like to feature the Forest Lake Fire Department for leading students in a demonstrative mock car crash. At each step, students learned what emergency responders are thinking and doing to perform life saving work. From initial arrival, to extraction, to victim departure, students were able to better understand the number of people and expertise required to create an effective emergency response team.