The 8th graders from Alton Middle School took their first high school tour of the year on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15. There are two tours in a school year, the first one being the CTE (career and technical) tour to help incoming freshmen before they create their schedule.
The CTE tour takes place about a week before guidance counselors make their way to the middle school, giving the 8th graders plenty of time to decide their courses.
Head of the CTE department, Patrick Goetten, currently oversees the planning and quality of the tour. The influx of students varies by course per year.
“We kind of go on a rollercoaster,” Goetten said. “Some classes are higher for years or two and then they drop off and so on, but really I think it’s beneficial for the students to see the classes.”
In preparation for the CTE tour, setting up for it is a two morning process in which teachers semi shut down their classes for the morning. A two morning sacrifice leads to incoming 8th graders expanding their awareness.
Incoming freshman Sharyn Kinerd said she felt the tour broadened her insight on her schedule decisions.
“The course that piqued my interest was the biomedical sciences because I always wanted to be in the medical field,” Kinerd said. “I have a much clearer understanding on how to build my schedule.”
Within the past three years, the courses have shifted more towards student-led presentations. With more student-on-student engagement, incoming freshmen are given a better idea of what courses they would like to involve themselves in.
“We have went into a more student-based presentation, …with the students actually leading the roles and actually getting it firsthand, it’s been pretty good,” Goetten said. “…It’s nice to let the students actually tell the story for us.”
A majority of 8th graders come in blind during the CTE tour, thus each group stays about five to six minutes per station while upperclassmen pitch their best course values. Some course presenters included field trips while others gave free items to peak the 8th graders interests.
“My favorite part of the CTE [tour] was looking at the different careers and the free stuff they gave us,” said Kinerd. “It wasn’t overwhelming or underwhelming, it was very calm and fun.”
Someone may have found their future they wish to work towards, while others may have been inspired to try multiple at once. Whatever the case, the annual CTE tour is a moment to remember between teachers, upperclassmen and underclassmen.
