Staff Celebrations

Whew what a week!  Here are just a few of the things that I am aware of that we can celebrate. Please feel free to "Comment" on this post if you want to add more celebrations!

Shawn Carlton
Just call him "Mr Grant-writer Extraordinaire"  Shawn wrote and was AWARDED a grant for a Laser Cutter. He and Patrick are dancing in the streets. Yippie! They did it, they did it, they got a laser cutter. Oh the fun we can now have, but even more importantly, I've heard a lot of chatter about how students will be able to use formulas and drafts and bring them to life, to see if their formulas were accurate, and get immediate feedback by using this laser cutter. We know that many departments and students will benefit. Thank you Shawn and Patrick!

Lupe Martinez-Ramirez
Sometimes the work we do is quite hidden from others, but I want to bring this to light. For the past several years, New Tech has inadvertently overlooked deadlines for UC "a-g" requirements and has not submitted course descriptions. This puts us at risk, not only with our students' college applications, but with WASC accreditation! Lupe, as you all know, is leading the charge to make sure that we all talk to students and help them and their families understand college entrance requirements and the ever-mysterious "a-g" course requirements. She's been working with staff so that we are better messengers, because it really takes us all, working together, with consistent messages, to help inform our students. So, through tremendous and earnest effort, Lupe was able to get us an extension on submitting our a-g requirements and is working at a frantic pace to get everything submitted by today at 5:00 pm (they told her on Wednesday that she could have until today). Yikes!  We appreciate your scrambling here, Lupe, and want to celebrate the good work you are doing on behalf of New Tech HS.

James Brown
Have you looked at our website lately???  It's looking smokin hot!!  Although it is still being completed, it's got a lot going on that is great!  Since we have ECHO for internal communications and information, and we want to continue to direct our students and parents to use ECHO for the information they need, James and Peter have decided to make the website a marketing tool. Our website informs the public about who we are and what we do!  It targets three major audiences: (1.) students interested in applying, (2) fans of the NT model from near and far who want to tour our school and study our program, and (3) people who want to give us money and show their support for the great work we do!!!  So remember, if people who are enrolled at New Tech say "Why isn't the Non-bell Schedule on the website" your response should be, "Because it's in ECHO!!" Direct insiders to use our awesome Echo program. But go ahead and start directing OUTSIDERS to use our website. It's lovely~ check it out! Thank you to Peter for building the Study Tours area, and thank you James Brown for the rest!