LAGUNA CREEK HIGH SCHOOL VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
Green Energy Technology Academy
PREPARED BY THE GETA LEADERSHIP BOARD
January
accomplishments 01
Zehren Design Challenge
02
Zehren Design Challenge
03
Design Professional Round Table
04
Design Professional Round Table
05
GETA Facility Scavenger Hunt
06
GETA Facility Scavenger Hunt
07
Teacher Spotlight
08
Partner Spotlight
09
Building Updates
10
Sponsors
GETA Leadership Board THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE NEWSLETTER
PRESIDENT IVAN HUANG VICE PRESIDENT DONOVAN CHEN VICE PRESIDENT JOAQUIN CRANMORE-SANCHEZ PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE ADRIAN CARRION SECRETARY JAY CHEW MEDIA EDITOR BENICIO PEREZ MEDIA EDITOR JASON NGUYEN MEDIA EDITOR ELAINE JAMORA SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE JOAQUIN CRANMORE-SANCHEZ SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE DAWIT TADDESE
JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE ETHAN TRAN JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE BRANDON GEORGE SOPHOMORE REPRESENTATIVE MAHIMA SRINIVAS SOPHOMORE REPRESENTATIVE KATIE LIANG FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE TREVOR MATSUMOTO FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE Evelyn Brown
Zehren Desig
Design by Evelyn Brown
Design by Donovan Chen
Design by Ivan Huang
01
n Challenge
We were introduced to a design engineer named John Zehren, who taught us an overview of the many aspects and factors that go into designing. He even went into aspects like the aesthetic appeal of an item. After learning about the various aspects of design, students were tasked with brainstorming and designing an item of their own. For this design, the GETA teachers taught their classes CAD (Computer Assisted Design) on the program Retina Engrave Online, “Re3” (A laser cutting design program). This program allowed students to hyperaccurately plan out and design specific pieces for their project digitally. However, before students were able to map out their design on a computer, students were tasked with drafting their designs on paper. At first, students merely had to describe what they wished their project to be. Then, they had to draw it 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional views, including mapping out each individual part of the design. Afterward, the students applied their newly taught computer design skills on Re3, such as various computer commands and systems needed to properly construct advanced and complex shapes. Students say they individually learned about the specific types of design they would need for their own projects; for instance, some learned about how to design slotted joinery for their specific plans, while others learned how to use puzzle-piece-like edges to create items similar to 3-D prisms. Overall, many students say they enjoyed this project, especially due to it allowing them to express their creativity in design, and the general freedom they had for experimentation.
02
Design Professional R
03
ound Table
Design Professionals
Field Trade Professionals
04
GETA Facility S
The GETA Facility Scavenger Hunt definitely seemed easy at first. We thought, “How difficult could a scavenger hunt be? We’re already given the resources, we just have to find it.” We were quickly humbled by the level of intricacy of the build plans, along with the volume of information.
05
cavenger Hunt
In this assignment, we had to look through multiple pages of build plans
in
order
to
correctly
identify
specific
structures
and
measurements, learning how build plans are formatted and also easier techniques to find what you’re looking for. This was a great experience, building familiarity with the upcoming facility. We definitely give big props to the professionals who create these build plans, along with interpreting and putting them to use.
06
Teacher Spotlight Ms. Gorchinski is currently an English teacher who has worked at Laguna Creek and has been a part of the Green Energy Technology Academy for the past eight years. She is involved with the different activities and events planned in GETA. She began her teaching career while in her late 30’s, but first worked as a weapons technician in the Navy. One day she decided that she wanted to do something that she was more passionate about and pursued her education, first at CRC and then Sac State. She graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and went on to do her credentialing program at UC Davis. She thinks that her 15 years of real life experience before becoming a teacher is really valuable in her classroom, being able to talk about other things besides education.
To Ms. Gorchinski, GETA means more than just an academy. It’s an opportunity to build different connections and grow with others in the academy. GETA gives students opportunities that other students don’t have, such as the different field trips and competitions. One of her favorite GETA experiences was the camping trip to Rancho Seco and when the seniors were able to watch the juniors compete. She loved how students were able to see a different side to their teachers, showing how special our academy is. She also loves how the GETA staff is able to connect and get to know the students. The academy really focuses on building a support system and student success, regularly meeting and discussing how to grow the academy. The GETA staff aren’t just co workers. They’re a team who have good relationships within school, but also outside of school. Unfortunately, because of distance learning, we haven’t been able to participate in a lot of the fun activities in school that helped us connect.
Regarding the upcoming building, Ms. Gorchinski is very excited, wanting to move her classroom out there now! She sees the new GETA building as a symbol of hard work and the vision that the academy leaders have had, and also of the hardship students and staff have gone through to grow GETA, reminiscing to when GETA would have just 16-18 students in a classroom compared to the 30-38 now.
07
Partner Spotlight Lennar Corporation is the largest home construction and real estate company in the United States, with 38 different operating divisions. They first survey and buy out land that they see fit for homebuilding, and then contract multiple construction companies that specialize in a specific trade to build houses on that land. Lennar has also helped pioneer modern homes, being one of the first home builders who started implementing solar panels into their designs in 2006. Their new innovative “Next Gen” houses are designed to accommodate multiple generations within a family at one house while still retaining individual privacy and independence. Lennar’s overall goal as a company is to give back their community, which is done through projects and charities.
Jeff Panasiti is Vice-President of Operations at Lennar. His role is to help guide and manage the operations of all 38 divisions of Lennar across the United States. Mr. Panasiti is also responsible for helping create Lennar’s trade training workshops, which, in the past, he has reached out to school workshop classrooms & Academies such as GETA and MPTA, in order to help arrange these trade workshops for their students to participate in. This helps to give high school students, who are already interested and experienced with hands-on workshop activities, the opportunity to have firsthand experience in the various different real-world construction trades needed for the home building industry.
Furthermore, these workshops can give students the opportunity to participate in a summer internship, where they get real on-site job experience by job-shadowing a variety of different construction trades workers. These workshops were created due to a gradual decrease in new workers in the home construction industry, primarily due to the lack of trade schools within California and the US as a whole. The workshops help introduce high school students to opportunities regarding construction. Unfortunately during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lennar is no longer able to provide students the opportunities of the Trades Training Workshops, or their summer internships for 2020-2021. However, if the virus were to desist, it is likely they will be brought back again.
08
Building
The new GETA
finished by late
being placed on
look closely, yo
well as electrica
09
Updates
TA Facility being built is projected to be
e July of 2021. In the first image, plywood is
n the steel frame of the building. Also, if you
ou can see plumbing work done in the walls as
al boxes placed in the walls.
10
Supporters
11