EYE ON EDUCATION A Publication of the Paramount Unified School District
15110 CALIFORNIA AVE., PARAMOUNT, CA 90723 • TEL: 562-602-6000 • FAX: 562-634-6029
DECEMBER 2011
Get Your Hands on an Electrician Career Whether you are a total beginner, a handyman/woman who has dabbled with electricity, or a construction industry professional who is looking to start on the path toward state licensure, the electrician classes at Paramount Adult School are designed just for you. Since the spring of 2009, both Basic and Intermediate Electrician classes have helped about 200 men and women gain the theoretic and hands-on skills they need to launch or improve their careers. Starting wages of $12-$14 an hour, and building toward $28 or $38 or much higher, certainly add to the classes’ appeal. And the program is growing. Two new teachers, both with extensive experience in the field, have been hired. One teaches Electrician (Basic) on
Monday and Tuesday evenings. The other teaches Electrician (Intermediate) on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. All classes run from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and continue for a 13week trimester. Cost is $75 for Basic, $175 for Intermediate. “These classes are a steal at that price,” said instructor Rich Iadevaia. Especially since private schools that cover the
same material charge upwards of $12,000 or $14,000. “I can’t imagine why anyone interested in the electrician field wouldn’t jump at this chance.” Especially, too, since this rock-bottom prices will probably be going up soon. “This teacher’s great,” said an intermediate level student recently. “He helps us identify and focus on our individual
goal then points out what we need to do to get there.” Both classes start with a thorough discussion of safety, then move on to presentations of theory blended with actual wiring, testing, and problem solving with equipment and materials used in the field. Switches get flipped, conduits run, light bulbs lit, and motors connected. Both 110 and 220 volt applications come to life in the class. So what’s next? A coding class will be added in the Winter trimester. And next summer, plans are being made to add a photovoltaic class. Yes, Paramount Adult School will be going solar! Eventually, other classes such as energy auditing and those necessary to get the adult school approved as an official site for licensure-appropriate instruction are planned. “We want to move into
the 21st century by using online technologies, too,” added instructor Hal Hernandez. “We’re building a program of excellence here, and these technologies play right into the expectations and skill sets of our students.” Technologies that include hybrid courses which are taught live as well as having computer-assisted components for assignments, feedback, and tracking online. Registration for the Winter trimester will begin in December. Call the Paramount Adult School at (562) 602-8080 for details, or stop by 14507 Paramount Blvd. and see this class in action. Many of the adult students from other classes do every evening—and many of them wind up enrolling, too! Jerry King Assistant Principal Paramount Adult School
CTE Parent Harvest Day Celebration Orientation Meeting
The Preschool students (ages 4 and 5 years) at Gaines Preschool celebrated Harvest Day on October 31st. What Approximately 500 students and parents attended the CTE parent orientation meeting held on Tuesday, November 8, at Paramount High School. Paramount High School Principal Dr. Greg Buckner welcomed the parents and Mr. Manuel San Miguel, Director of Secondary and Alternative Education
presented an overview of the Career Technical Education. After the introduction, CTE teachers presented information regarding their specific pathway and course content. Parents displayed a lot of interest in Career Technical Education and were excited about the new facilities that will house the
CTE programs at Paramount High School. A special thanks go out to the CTE staff, administrators, and student helpers who put on a very successful event. Manuel San Miguel Director Secondary/ Alternative Education
looked like fun was actually learning. The children had opportunities to milk a cow, make butter, squeeze fresh lemon aide, explore cut pumpkins, take a hay ride, play memory games, have their face painted, bake cookies and make harvest art projects. Children and the numerous parent volunteers all had a wonderful time. Nancy Kelley-Kuhn Early Childhood Education Director
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES December 7, 2011 Board of Education meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. in the Boardroom at the District Office, 15110 California Avenue, Paramount, and are open to the public