Career and Technology Studies & Knowledge and Employability

Career and Technology Studies (CTS) and Knowledge and Employability (K&E) pathways build on the Career & Technology Foundations (CTF) inquiry-based, hands-on studies for Grades 5–9. CTS involves five main clusters composed of occupational areas with industry commonalities. 

The 5 CTS Clusters

  • Business, Administration, Finance & Information Technology (BIT)
  • Health, Recreation & Human Services (HRH)
  • Media, Design & Communication Arts (MDC)
  • Natural Resources (NAT)
  • Trades, Manufacturing & Transportation (TMT)

Cluster Courses Include:

  • BIT: Computing Sciences, Enterprise & Innovation, Finance Management, Information Processing, Marketing & Management, Networking.
  • HRH: Community Care Services, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Foods, Health Care Services, Human & Social Services, Legal Studies, Recreation Leadership, Tourism.
  • MDC: Communication Technology, Design Studies, Fashion Studies
  • NAT: Agriculture, Environmental Stewardship, Forestry, Primary Resources, Wildlife
  • TMT: Auto Body Services, Automotive Services, Aviation, Construction, Electro-Technologies, Fabrication, Logistics (Supply Chain Management) 


Courses Offered at A.E. Cross School (Subject to Change)


Health, Recreation & Human Services (HRH)

CTF Foods

In Foods, students will gain an understanding of how to properly prepare a variety of basic snacks, drinks and meals while adhering to safety and sanitation standards. Students will learn to read recipes, use kitchen equipment, act with care in handling food, and the importance of safe and efficient work habits. An emphasis will be placed on nutrition and the Canada Food Guide. Foods falls under the Career and Technology Foundations where students can explore their passions and interests as they learn about various career possibilities in the world of culinary arts. 

Approximate Course Fee: $40.00


Leadership

Students will explore what it means to be a leader and begin to develop the foundational skills and knowledge that allow them to engage in leadership activities. Through their work on 'mini projects', students will be challenged to develop the abilities necessary for successfully planning, collaborating, and implementing school-based leadership initiatives. Students will explore possible career opportunities.

Students will be given opportunities to acquire the skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary to practice effective service in leadership, and demonstrate a desire to help meet identified needs that foster a positive school culture. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”  John Quincy Adams


Training for Excellence in Sport

Training for Excellence in Sport (TES) provides opportunities for students to develop and refine competencies that focus on personal development and responsible citizenship through sport. Students develop: leadership and citizenship, athletic skills and tactics, and fitness and conditioning. This course may be used with all sports. TES helps to further develop students' physical literacy. The course provides opportunities for students to understand the need for and demonstrate a committment to a high standard of academic, sport and lifestyle achievement.


Natural Resources (NAT)

Environmental and Outdoor Education

This course will introduce students to investigating a variety of lifestyle strategies that foster contact with the natural world. Students will participate in activities that will focus on leadership and working in groups in a variety of environmental settings. Some activities may include team building, shelter building, and techniques for being able to be adaptable to the various weather patterns of Calgary.

Approximate Course Fee: $50.00


Media, Design & Communication Arts (MDC)

CTF Communication Technology

Students will have the opportunity to discover and develop skills using digital technologies. Students will develop understanding of the issues, tools, and opportunities that arise when we use digital technology to communicate our ideas with others. Topics include: digital citizenship and your online presence, sharing, privacy and responsible decision making. Digital media and design: communicating with purpose, principles of layout and design, Adobe Spark/Canva and/or other design software, photo editing, coding, using Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets to create and communicate, emerging technologies and animations. Students will explore possible career opportunities.


CTF Communication Technology through Photography

Students will be presented many opportunities to discover and enhance skills in photography through communication technology: developing technical skills in the use of cameras, analyzing and utilizing the principles of composition and design, developing image manipulation skills to create aesthetically satisfying pictures and exploring various occupations available in the ever-broadening field of photography.


CTF Design Studies

Students will learn about the creative process and technical skills for the development of projects in architecture, engineering, and graphic design. Join a team and learn about the design process. Learn how to look at an engineering challenge, design a possible solution, and then how to build your design. Finally, students will test their project to determine if it works effectively. Students will explore possible career opportunities.

Course Fee: $20.00


CTF Fashion Studies

Students will learn how to design and make hand-sewn items. Students learn how to safely use and care for sewing and pressing equipment and apply these skills when machine sewing their final project. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to create various other projects based on their skill level. Students will explore possible career opportunities.

Course Fee: $30.00

Trades, Manufacturing & Transportation (TMT)

Construction Technology

Students explore a variety of trades-based skills. Students design and build projects, using a combination of tools and machines. Students will work as a class to build rooms and structures and learn about industry leading software for CNC machining and tooling. The construction program offers a window into the world of hands-on opportunities for a variety of in demand roles in possible future careers.

Approximate Course Fee: $40.00