October CTE Newsletter

CTSO Recap given by Vice President Johnny Beccera

This month for CTSO has been a time to prepare for a lot of new upcoming events! The officers have been preparing and sending out information on competitions for all the CTE classes. As well as preparing special events for the upcoming Christmas season! The officers are working to be the first CTSO in Tahquitz to reach the 2nd chapter of Skills USA!

Our Level 1 students took a meaningful field trip to the Museum of Tolerance, as part of the academy, where they learned about the history of the Holocaust and reflected on why it’s so important to remember. In class, Level 1s and 2s have been practicing their photography and lighting skills, experimenting with handheld flashlights to capture motion and create creative shots.

Our Level 3 students have been busy working on Titan TV while also developing their own professional interview projects. They’re learning what it takes to plan, film, and edit a polished, real-world production. They also visited the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and toured the L.A. Film School, where they got a behind-the-scenes look at the film industry and found inspiration for their future projects.

The Digital Media Academy classes were put into their own houses, and competed in the door decorating contest.

Sports Medicine Level 1 students are diving into the muscular system and exploring how muscles make movement possible. They’ve been breaking down the process of how muscles contract — in simple terms, when you decide to move, tiny parts inside your muscles (called myofilaments) slide past each other like gears in a machine. This sliding action makes the muscle shorten, or “contract,” which causes movement. It’s a fascinating look at how something so small creates every action our bodies make, from walking to lifting weights!

Sports Medicine Level 2 students are shifting their focus toward career readiness. They’re learning how to build strong resumes and develop valuable interview skills as they prepare for the District Office Mock Interview Contest — where Tahquitz High School is the reigning champion! These experiences help students gain confidence and prepare for real-world opportunities in healthcare and beyond.

Year 1 - Discovery Academy - We just finished the basics of what entrepreneurship is, the role of entrepreneurs in society and how they drive innovation. We started into the basics of business ownership from determining the types of business we want, business models to use,start up strategy, business planning and risk. As part of our Opportunity Discovery lesson, students are completing their "Beach Proposal" Project where they design a beach, all businesses and activities around the beach. They need to explain how the beach, business and activities will make money. They learn how to turn an ordinary beach into a money making venture. This is a multiple phase project to be worked over the year where they will later build marketing plans, expansion plans, idea presentation & pitches.

Year 2 - We are almost finished with our module on Financial Literacy. Students are actively working on their financial literacy projects. We just started into our tax section where students learn what taxes are, why we pay them, tax terminology and the numerous types of taxes. We are learning to read tax tables and calculate taxable income. Students will learn documentation and forms required for taxes and the advantages of owning business in regards to taxes. Finally we will finish up with how taxes affect our future decision by doing tax research to help plan for the future. Once finished we will be moving into our investment lessons and starting our stock portfolios which will be managed throughout the school year as part of a stock game.

It’s been a busy and exciting month for our Technical Theatre students at Tahquitz High School! Our Technical Theatre 1 students have been exploring the world of color theory and costume design, learning how color choices can communicate emotion, personality, and story on stage. From analyzing the color palettes of famous film characters to designing their own costumes, students are discovering how visual design helps bring a production to life.

Meanwhile, Technical Theatre 2 students have been working diligently to complete their OSHA-30 safety certification—an industry-standard credential that ensures they understand proper safety practices for backstage and construction environments. Their effort and commitment reflect the professionalism expected of future theatre technicians.

Finally, our 7th Period Acting and Directing Workshop has been in full production mode, working late nights to prepare for the fall show, William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. From lighting and sound to costuming, makeup, and stage management, students collaborated across all disciplines to bring this classic comedy to life in vibrant 1800s Mexico-inspired style. Tahquitz Drama continues to prove: when students lead the production, the magic truly happens!

The project manager has been in contact with McCarthy construction putting together a field trip to a live jobsite to watch a concrete pour. The field trip is scheduled for 11/5/25. Students are also working on a new tool room for the shop.