Center for Advanced Technologies

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The Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) is a public magnet program in St. Petersburg, Florida, attached to Lakewood High School and part of the Pinellas County Schools district. Its primary focus is mathematics, science, and technology. It is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST) and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In its May 28th issue, Newsweek magazine ranked CAT at 24 in its 2007 list of the top 100 high schools in the nation.[1]

It opened in 1990 with both freshman and sophomore students. In 1991, its own building was completed on the west side of campus on the site of the previous bus circle. In 1993, the initial sophomore class of seven students graduated. In 1994, first four-year class graduated with forty-three members.

Every year, students must apply to enter the CAT program. Approximately 150 students enter into the program each year. The entrance requirements include A's and B's in all math and science related courses, and no less than a C in any other class, as well as stanine and FCAT score requirements.

The focus of the CAT program is science and technology and thus all math and science classes are taught by CAT faculty. The rest of the students honors curriculum is provided by the traditional high school. This results in integration with traditional honors students. However, there are separate valedictorians and salutatorians.

Since the county schools are soon requiring the middle school students to choose their majors by Freshman year, CAT's major would be Math, Science and Technology.

For the first time ever, 2007-2008 CAT is going to have an Algebra I class. It has been added to the curriculum to make up for the inadequate schooling in the math/science department prior to high school.

1 Network Assistants
2 CATNIP

[edit] Network Assistants

The CAT network assistants help the network administrator, Louis Zulli Jr. in upgrading and repairing all technology aspects of the CAT program. They also maintain the internal and external web sites (Catnip & External CAT).

[edit] CATNIP

CATNIP, the Center for Advanced Technologies News and Information Project, is the internal website for CAT.

[edit] Heatwave 312 Robotics

The CAT program is also home to Heatwave, the school's robotics team. Heatwave participates in the FIRST robotics competitions, and has ranked in the top 3 in the nation. Heatwave is primarily sponsored by Baxter Healthcare. Students build the robot in Baxter's machine shop. Mr. Paul Dickman supervises Heatwave.

History of Heatwave:

1996 (then U.S.FIRST) Lakewood was paired with Raytheon E-Systems. They finished 2nd, losing by inches, at the Nationals.
1997 Heatwave finished 2nd to the eventual National Champs, Beatty, at the Chicago Regional.
1998 Heatwave finished 6th at the Nationals as well as 6th at the Motorola Regional.
1999 At FIRST, Heatwave is at Kenedy Space Center Regional, Heatwave is in 4th Place

[edit] CATCOM Studios

The Center for Advanced Technologies Communications, CATCOM, a video production class and club a part of the program, produces a daily in-house 10 minute news program known as "Fast Forward". They also produce award winning segments, known as "Fox ThirTEEN Magazine," for the local Fox affiliate. CATCOM has won numerous Student Emmys for its work.[2]. Mr. Mark Granning oversees CATCOM.

[edit] CAT5

During the 2006-2007 school year, the 1st and 2nd editions of the CAT Newsletter were published and maintained by math/computer teacher Mr. Jacobs, editors Adrienne Hundley and Kaitlyn Brown, copy editor Chris Hastings, and editor-in-training Victoria Joyal. The publication has been continued into the 2007-2008 school year by current editor Joyal, academic coordinator Nick Phillips, general coordinator Carley Sattler, sports coordinators Robert Hudson and Steven Vongsay, as well as a growing staff of writers, photographers, layout designers, and proofreaders. The CAT5 is a newspaper unique to the CAT program.