Seniors Makinley Weekly and Marley Kittle were on hand to explain the therapeutic services CTE program, which focuses on nursing and other health care skills, to sophomores attending JMHS or Cameron High School next school year.

“We’re trying to show people it can give you a head start and it’s a really good program,” Kittle said.

Because of the training they have received through the program both Weekly and Kittle are already certified nursing assistants. They are also CPR and Stop The Bleed certified. Plus, they already have 13 college credits via West Virginia Northern Community College.

Weekly noted the application process to enter the program is competitive as only 20 spots are available. Both of their instructors have nursing and nurse manager experience. There is no cost to participate in CTE programs.

John Marshall broadcast program students, from left, Emeline Hyde, JJ Brown and Emma Dehner pose with the portable broadcasting production station on Friday. The program is called WJMH Media. (Photo by Shelley Hanson)

Weekly said they also received hands-on training at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Wheeling.

“We got to hang out with the residents, but we also got to feed them and basic skills there. We washed them and gave baths and took care of them – basic activities of daily living,” she said.

Kittle said, at first, taking care of people was “scary,” but her confidence grew.

“For me, I thought to myself, I’ve learned this. I know how to do it,” she said. “Let me just try, and a lot of residents are just so sweet about it, and will help you and tell you you’re doing great, which is just amazing to see.”

Weekly said she, too, was “terrified” at first when working at the nursing home with real patients, but she remembered her training and how she would want to be treated if she was a resident there.

John Marshall students Kolson Shepherd, left, and Hanna Oliver pose with one of the VEX robots built in the robotics program. (Photo by Shelley Hanson)

She noted this semester the students will be shadowing nurses in various departments at Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale.

Weekly said she is interested in furthering her education and becoming an RN or nurse practitioner. Kittle said she is interested in becoming a pediatric nurse or a medical doctor in the future.

Carpentry teacher Matthew Ali said his program has 18 spots open each school year. Before becoming the instructor he worked in the laborers union in Wheeling. He said this is the third year for the carpentry CTE program.

“We’ve really around the carpentry framework introduced these guys to construction as it’s going to be there in the field – concrete work and scaffolding. We’re trying to get them ready for the types of jobs that are out there,” Ali said. “I still maintain a really good relationship with the building trades and I have a good pipeline for them to walk out of here and be in a job as long as they’re willing to do the work.”

By their senior year, the students will work on and complete an entire project, such as a small house inside the large workshop at JM.

The CTE Showcase also featured information about the carpentry program at John Marshall High School. Shown here, students pose with one of their latest building projects. Front row, from left, are Hank Horvath, Jesse McDowell and Liam Vetanze. Back row, from left, are Carpentry teacher Matthew Ali and student Mason Zonker. (Photo by Shelley Hanson)

Ali said he is working on having JM carpentry recognized as a pre-apprenticeship program.

“That would probably be the first one in the state of West Virginia,” he added. “It’s something I’m working on behind the scenes.”

Students with the WJMH Media program, which focuses on broadcast TV, Emeline Hyde, JJ Brown and Emma Dehner have learned all aspects of broadcast work including directing, filming, production, reporting and more. The students do real live productions of local events including Christmas parades, sporting events, graduation ceremonies and more.

They have also learned some life lessons along the way.

“It taught me not to take everything for granted, especially with the family I have made from here. And I feel like they have really taught me a lot – more life skills and more technical skills,” Brown said.

John Marshall High School seniors Makinley Weekly and Marley Kittle demonstrate nursing skills on their medical mannequin on Friday during the CTE Showcase.

Hyde said being in the program has helped her make new friends that she may not have otherwise.

“It’s taught me a lot about myself and the people around me,” Hyde said. “Some of the people I wouldn’t have talked to before are now some of my best friends. It’s really just such a pleasure to be here.”

Dehner said she has learned a lot from the program and she is interested in pursuing a career in broadcasting or media because of it.

“It taught me a lot of life skills, time management and skills I’m going to be using in the future,” Dehner said.

The public can see the students’ work on their YouTube channel WJMH Media, on WTRF 7.2, Instagram and Facebook.

Students Kolson Shepherd and Hanna Oliver are enjoying the robotics program.

“I think it shows you don’t just have to have physicality and athleticism to excel in something and compete,” Shepherd said.

Oliver noted she has improved her communications skills by working with a team.

John Marshall’s CTE programs include agribusiness, automotive technology, biomedical science, broadcasting, building maintenance and operations, business, carpentry, collision repair, computer science, drafting, Grow Your Own: Education, engineering, machine tool, marketing, ProStart, therapeutic services and welding.

Cameron’s CTE programs include agriculture, agribusiness, power, structural, technical plant systems in agriculture and business.