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School Year 2020-2021 Reopening Updates

Posted on July 31, 2020 by webadmin

Posted Nov 20, 2020

Dear EASTERN Family,

I hope this email finds everyone healthy and happy.  We have a lot of information to share, from communicating schedules, expectations for returning to hybrid learning on December 7^th, reporting absences, and how to adhere to the new travel restrictions.

Schedule:

Starting Monday, November 23^rd we will be reverting to a virtual model for all students and will reopen again for our hybrid model on December 7^th. Our virtual schedule will be the same one we used before November 5^th.

AM Students – Virtual – Monday – Friday

7:45 AM – log in for at least 1 hour of synchronous (live) instruction

8:45-10:15 – AM asynchronous (independent) learning

10:15-10:30 AM – Synchronous – class meeting time, check in

PM Students Virtual – Monday – Friday

12:00 PM – Log in for at least 1 hour of synchronous (live) instruction

1:00 – 2:30 PM –  Asynchronous (independent) learning

2:30 -2:45 PM – Synchronous – class meeting time, check in

Returning to Hybrid

On December 7^th, we plan to offer hybrid learning again, using the same schedule students have currently been in.  Please note, if you opted to have your student attend virtually the week of November 15^th-20^th, we are expecting your child to return to a hybrid model starting December 7^th.  If you selected a virtual model for the second marking period, we are expecting your child to continue in that model.  Students can switch to virtual at any time but must stay in that model for the full marking period.  This week was an exception due to concerns over substantial spread.

Cohort A attends Mondays and Tuesdays for in-person instruction

• • Abington
  • Cheltenham
  • Jenkintown
  • Lower Moreland
  • Springfield A-Li
  • Bishop McDevitt

Cohort B attends Thursdays and Fridays for in-person instruction

• • Hatboro-Horsham
  • Springfield Lo-Z
  • Upper Dublin
  • Upper Moreland
  • Wood

Reporting Absences:

Please report all absences to attendance@eastech.org. Absence notes/emails must come from a parent, not the student. For the health and safety of our school community, please make sure your child returns to school with an excuse note if you were unable to email the attendance. For the health and safety of our school community, we will call home to verify absence reasons when a note is not presented before allowing our students to join their class. Any COVID-related absences, including positive COVID test results, mandatory quarantines due to exposure, or being symptomatic and awaiting test results should be reported to covid@eastech.org. Please note, if your child must quarantine for 14 days due to exposure a negative test result before the 14 days has concluded, it does not clear your child to return to school. 

Travel Restrictions: 

Effective this Friday, anyone travelling outside of Pennsylvania must have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to entering PA or quarantine for 14 days upon entry.  For our students, this means that if you are travelling, you need to get a COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to your return.  You will have to provide us with a negative test result or you will need to quarantine for 14 days.  See the official order on travel here:  https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Travelers.aspx

Thank you for your continued support helping to keep our school safe and open. We look forward to seeing our students back again on December 7, 2020. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Cathleen Plesnarski
Executive Director

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Career Pathways at EASTERN

Posted on September 15, 2020 by webadmin

Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) is committed to providing our students with career pathway options that suit their skill sets and career aspirations. Our goal for all graduates is placement on the track that they select, which may include going directly into the workforce, an apprentice program, internship, certificate program, post-secondary education, or a combination of two or more. We work closely with our participating districts to provide the highest quality career and technical education possible.

We have developed this Career Pathway Program Booklet with students, participating high school guidance counselors, and parents of potential EASTERN students, in mind.  This document provides a clear and purposeful description of our career and technical programs, their expectations, requirements, and the potential career and postsecondary options available. If you would like to request a hard copy, please contact Amy Shields, Marketing and Recruitment Coordinator, at ashields@eastech.org.

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Xtime University Access for Automotive Tech Students

Posted on November 9, 2020 by webadmin

Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) Automotive Technology students will now benefit from Xtime University, which was designed to offer automotive training and certification courses to help car dealership personnel learn more about the Xtime platform, which teaches how dealership service departments schedule, document, and enhance vehicle services.

Kevin Rogers, General Manager of Faulkner Infiniti of Willow Grove, is a member of EASTERN’s Automotive Technology Occupational Advisory Committee. It was Rogers who decided that it was worth asking Xtime to grant EASTERN access to the full program for educational purposes, which also includes full training modules on Xtime University.

Faulkner Infiniti is also an EASTERN Co-op partner, providing paid internships to selected Automotive Technology seniors. Faulkner Infiniti currently uses Xtime as part of their internal training program. Access to Xtime’s training modules provides Automotive Technology students a look at the innerworkings of the business and customer service areas within a dealership service department.

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EASTERN Town Hall Link

Posted on November 3, 2020 by webadmin

EASTERN Parents,

If you were unable to attend the Town Hall Zoom meeting, you can find the recording here: https://youtu.be/nzqzgsZRUxg

All questions can be directed to our Administrative Team:

Dr. Cathleen Plesnarski, Executive Director – CPlesnarski@eastech.org
Mr. Joe Greb, Assistant Director – JGreb@eastech.org
Mrs. Allison Larson, CTE Supervisor – ALarson@eastech.org

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Hybrid Instruction Information

Posted on October 16, 2020 by webadmin

The Eastern Center for Arts and Technology has obtained approval to begin hybrid instruction on November 5, 2020. We need to know if your child is planning on hybrid or virtual instruction. Please  answer the following survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HK2DW7S  so we can plan for instruction.

If you choose virtual instruction, Mrs. Larson will be reaching out to let you know what instruction will look like for your child.  If you choose hybrid instruction, she will notify the high school of your choice and work with them if transportation is needed.

If you choose hybrid instruction and your child will be driving to EASTERN, the Student Parking Permit Form needs to be completed, saved, and sent with a copy of your child’s license, registration, and insurance card to parking@eastech.org. If you can not scan the information we will obtain it when your student arrives at school in person.

If your child will be riding with another student you need to complete the Student Passenger Form and have the parent of the driver list your child as an approved passenger.

All student parking related forms are found on the EASTERN website Parents and Students web page at https://www.eastech.org/parents-and-students/.

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Veterinary Science Student Uses Skills to Help Friends

Posted on October 14, 2020 by webadmin

Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) Veterinary Science/Abington Senior High School senior, Greg Destefano, is currently enjoying working part-time at Hamilton Animal Hospital in Roslyn while working virtually through his first semester at EASTERN and Abington Senior High School. Although Greg is busy with school and work, he still makes time for what he finds most rewarding – helping others with their pets.

Greg chose Veterinary Science at EASTERN because of his love for animals. After visiting EASTERN through Abington’s 10th grade visit, he felt as though the program fell in line with his future plans – which he was confident would include animal care. Greg maintains excellent grades in Veterinary Science and has been selected as a team leader by his EASTERN Veterinary Science Instructor, Karen McGeehan. Mrs. McGeehan has also nominated Greg to interview for Student of the Month later in October.

At Hamilton Animal Hospital, Greg calls the pet owners to document the pet symptoms, brings the animal inside, and restrains it for the doctor. Once the doctor has completed the examination, Greg gets the medication ready to go home with the client. He also cleans exam rooms following appointments and runs in-house diagnostics.

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Alumni Spotlight: Nekicia Black, Cosmetology

Posted on October 5, 2020 by webadmin

Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) Cosmetology/Upper Dublin High School 1992 graduate, Nekicia Black, is currently the Transition Coordinator at Upper Dublin High School, while also pursuing her Doctorate Degree from Immaculata University. Education became one of her career goals due to her experiences at EASTERN.

While in Middle School at Upper Dublin, Black enrolled in EASTERN’s Summer Fun Introduction to Cosmetology program, which helped encourage her passion for the makeup and fashion fields. During high school, Black felt as though EASTERN was a good fit for her career plans, since she was also pursuing a career as a full figure model and knew this was an opportunity to cut out the middle man by learning to do her own hair and make-up for fashion shows. During her time at EASTERN, Black passed her state board of Cosmetology and completed her Cosmetology Teacher hours. In working with her EASTERN Cosmetology Instructor, Mr. Bailey, as a classroom assistant, she enjoyed helping her peers learn, and it is from that experience that her desire to teach was ignited.

“I worked my way through college doing hair and makeup for church members and wedding parties. Currently, I still hold a valid PA license. I worked hard to earn my license, so I never let it lapse,” said Black. “One thing that the highly qualified staff taught me at EASTERN was to believe in myself and that I could be and do anything I set my mind to in life. EASTERN was not only about Cosmetology for me. It was the mentors and leaders who really set my pathway when I didn’t honestly have a clue what I was really doing in life. Advice that I would give any student in a career and tech program as well as all students is that you can attend college. I am a proud EASTERN Alum and I will always encourage students to reach beyond the skies, as we don’t know what the universe holds for anyone.”

Since graduating from Upper Dublin High School and EASTERN, Black has gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Cheyney University, a master’s degree in Special Education as well as an ESL and Reading Specialist Cert from Arcadia University, and an Education Leadership Certification from Cabrini University.

Save thousands of dollars by taking Cosmetology at EASTERN while in high school! This two-year program will provide the skills necessary to begin a career in the cosmetology field. In Pennsylvania, as well as other states, cosmetologists must be licensed to practice in the field. Learn more at https://www.eastech.org/eastern-programs/cos/.

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Student Spotlight: Emma Massinger wins EASTERN Cares Logo Contest

Posted on July 28, 2020 by webadmin

Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) Commercial Art/Hatboro-Horsham High School junior, Emma Massinger, created the winning design for a an EASTERN Cares logo to be displayed as a sign of hope and compassion as we enter the 2020 – 2021 school year this fall. In June, EASTERN’s Commercial Art students were invited by their instructor to submit their logo sketches, and a school-wide staff and faculty poll was conducted. Her design will be displayed on all of EASTERN’s back to school signage throughout the building.

Emma chose Commercial Art at EASTERN because she had always had a passion for art. After visiting EASTERN during her sophomore year of high school, and meeting Nicole Mohrey, EASTERN’s Commercial Art Instructor, she knew that the Commercial Art program would give her the knowledge necessary to make a career out of what she enjoys. Learning from home for the last three months of school was difficult, but Emma made the best of the situation and remained an active and successful student.

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