Eugene Colosimo, a CCTI guidance counselor, spoke to the Carbon Career & Technical Institute’s Joint Operating committee last week to give a summary of the past school year and plans for the new year.

The department plans to expand website links on the guidance section of the school website, continue student participation in dual enrollment courses, increase student scholarship opportunities, expand and organize articulations with local postsecondary schools, schedule and implement a career fair in the spring, and implement the new guidance plan during the next three years.

Administration and guidance continued to implement the positive behavior plan called the Stepping Up Program. Nominations are made by staff to recognize students that make the right choices, display positive behavior, or go above and beyond to help others in the school or community.

The Guidance Department’s summer schedule includes coordinating students that need summer school/credit recovery, send transcripts for graduated seniors to postsecondary schools and unions, work on student course scheduling, review students’ cumulative credits toward graduation, process applications received through rolling admission, and plan postsecondary planning presentations for all grade levels.

This year

Colosimo reported the Class of 2024 had 103 graduates. Of those students, 60 plan to go right into the workforce, 34 will attend college, six will be in technical/trade schools, and three will enter the military (Marine Corps).

In 2023-2024 testing: 16 students passed Advanced Placement: Literature and Composition; 11 passed the PSAT (3 sophomores, 7 juniors, 1 senior); seven students passed the SAT (1 junior, 6 seniors); 97 students passed NOCTI tests. with 90.63% achieved levels of competent or advanced; written 100% proficient or advanced; seven students passed the NIMS as competent or advanced.

Keystone Exams, Winter Wave, included: Algebra, 109 students; Biology - 63 students; Literature - 54 students

Keystone Exams, Spring Wave: Algebra - 176 students; Biology - 159 students, and Literature - 154 students

CCTI sophomore students Keira Peppard and Adam Gardiner were nominated for the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference.

CCTI made presentations were made to ninth grade students at all sending districts. Gave tours of CCTI to eighth-grade and ninth-grade students from sending districts. Students shadowed technical areas throughout the year. Individual tours for parents/students throughout the year.

The office coordinated dual enrollment with Lehigh Carbon Community College. Eighteen students took advantage of the dual enrollment grant this past year.

The department also took a group of students to tour and attend department presentations at Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Morgan Center in Tamaqua and hosted Lehigh Carbon Community College to sponsor a FAFSA day and FAFSA evening for students and parents.