Fort Pierce Westwood High School is St Lucie County's best kept secret nestled in its northwest corner. Serving approximately 1,500 students from varying backgrounds, the campus boasts eight Career Academies and many more Major Areas of Interest (MAIs). All Career Academies are three or four year programs where students take at least one class in the academy area per school year. Often during senior year students can complete an Internship or OJT in the academy area working at a local business earning credits and a paycheck during the school day! The Career Academies are not a new concept, in fact the oldest academy, the Allied Health Academy was established back in the 1980s. Allied Health has launched a new Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program partnering with IRCC this year. Students in the PC Support Program master skills in Microsoft Word, Access, Excel and PowerPoint. If you wind up near the Panther Pub at lunchtime you will see Culinary Operations students and smell their creations at the student run restaurant. You may hear the banging of hammers and nails as you approach the Carpentry Program area better know as Building Trades. Student in Web Design create web-pages and master Internet skills. You may have heard about the awesome Veterinary Assisting Program featuring Doggie Daycare, a fully-functioning Operating Room, Grooming Room and 'National' award winning students. Agriscience students are often at the 'Farm' working outdoors with plants and animals. After graduation several Agriscience students have gone on to represent the State of Florida in the State FFA. Marketing Program students are busy learning the essentials of retail and sales. Often times you see them selling baked goods after school to raise money for DECA competition costs. HOSA, FFA, and DECA are three student clubs that are focused around Career and Technical Programs. Students can join these clubs in their freshman year competing in district, regional, State, and even national competitions each year. The newest program at Westwood is quite the craze - Marine and Oceanographic Academy (MOA) where students classrooms are located at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce. Wow, these students are immersed in Marine Science sometimes working with Harbor Branch Scientists. Students must apply for this academy through the St. Lucie School District Office.

Look for my next entry about Westwood High next week!