VO-TECH SCHOOL TO MARK WEEK WITH OPEN HOUSE

The Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School will celebrate American Vocational Association Week with an open house today to show off programs available at the school.

The open house will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Teachers and students will be on hand to demonstrate skills and talk about courses offered.

The vocational school serves 450 secondary students from eight area high schools. The school is also reaching out to more and more adults each year. In 1994, the school served 9,424 adults through vocational and recreational programs. Many of the adults are being retrained for new jobs or job advancements.

The school also offers training for new employees at local industries including Dana Corporation and M&W Packaging.

An assessment center provide testing to help people determine their aptitude and interest in certain jobs. The Adult Basic Education center teaches illiterate adults to read and helps others study for the high school diploma equivalency.

Teachers also rely on citizen advisory boards to make sure they are teaching what students will need when they enter the work force.

During the rest of the week and into the next week, sixth-grade students from area schools will be touring the building. Students have completed interest screenings. When they arrive at the school, staff members will help relate student interests with high school classes and career paths.