Mount Diablo High School Academy Presentation Principal – Kate McClatchy

What are academies? Academies offer small learning communities for students to specialize in particular skills. We have four academies at Mount Diablo: Architecture, Construction, Manufacturing & Engineering Academy (ACME), Digital Safari Academy (DSA), Medical & Biotech Academy (MBTA), International Hospitality & Tourism Academy (IHTA) All academies offer access to rigorous curriculum, team building activities, and internship opportunities.

Digital Safari Academy (DSA) Multimedia Pathway Students will take career tech courses focused on video production, digital photography, and graphic design. Students will complete collaborative projects that merge digital arts with core curricula, such as English and social studies. Students participate in internships during their Junior year and work with mentors in the fields of multimedia, communications, and business. Interactive Design Pathway Students will take career tech courses focused on interactive design, such as gaming, animation and web design. Students will solve real world problems and be prepared for the growing Information Technology field. Students will complete a capstone course in which they will complete an inquiry-based project.

International Hospitality & Tourism Academy (IHTA) Culinary Arts Pathway Students will take a variety of career tech courses focused on hospitality and tourism. Students will work in the Serendipity Restaurant as 12th graders, developing the menu, preparing the food, and serving customers. Students will be enrolled as members of FHA Hero, a career technical organization for students enrolled in home economics careers and technology education. Students have the opportunity to participate in internships in the field of hospitality and tourism. Healthy Living Pathway Students will take a variety of career tech courses focused on health, nutrition, and sustainability. Students will learn how to cook and live in a healthy lifestyle, preparing for careers in the growing health and medical sector. Students will work in the Mount Diablo High School garden, an expanding urban farm used to produce the organic foods prepared in the kitchen. Students will partner with the City Wellness Challenge.

Architecture, Construction, Manufacturing, & Engineering (ACME) Construction Pathway Students take career tech courses focused on construction and manufacturing through the woodshop. 11th and 12th graders have the opportunity to take ROP Construction. Students will explore colleges and careers through field trips to schools and industry. Students of all grades have the opportunity to participate in the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) mentor afterschool program. Architecture & Engineering Pathway Students take a sequence of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses to prepare them for rigorous careers in engineering. Students will have the opportunity to take Computer Integrated Manufacturing, a robotics class, and Civil Engineering and Architecture as capstones. Eventual scale-up will include Engineering Design and Development, the PLTW capstone, an inquiry-based engineering class.

Medical & Biotechnology Academy (MBTA) Students will take career tech courses focused on the health and medical sector. All 10th graders will take sports medicine and assist athletic teams on campus. All 11th graders will take ROP Biotechnology, learning how to use sophisticated equipment in our new science labs. Some 12th graders will receive professional development on workplace etiquette, learn how to make professional presentations, and engage in an internship in a health field. These students will take an advanced biotechnology class and engage in independent research. Some 12th graders will take an advanced sports medicine course during 7th period and run the athletic training program for Mount Diablo High School.