The parent page is designed to serve as an additional resource for parents/guardians of agriculture students.  Current information is sent by email.  It is a good idea to have your email address added to our Parent Contact List. Email Rebecca Isaacson to get your name added to the list. Read the New Parent Guide. As always, parents are encouraged to call the agriculture center directly if you have additional questions or wish to speak to your student's teacher directly. Thank you for visiting this site.

In the Classroom

Ag I students will have a brief orientation session, and then they will rotate through our four introductory classes; Introduction to Animal Science, Introduction to Agricultural Mechanics, Introduction to Natural Resources, and Introduction to Plant Science. In the spring they will be able to select a major area of study.

Ag II students  will have the opportunity to study units in their selected majors for the entire year. The Ag II units are the building blocks for Advanced Agricultural units. 

Advanced Ag students  will be able to select units from a list provided for the current year. They can select units from all four areas based on their individual interests, and career goals. We make our best effort to accommodate student needs.

ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER.  Students can visit the Google Classroom for details.

Your child can compete!

FFA Members have many opportunities to be competitive. The National FFA Organization refers to these activities as Career Development Events (CDE) or Leadership Development Events (LDE) because the activities help develop skills applicable to careers. Events are held throughout the year. 

No experience or prior knowledge is required. Participation helps students build a solid college resume. We coach students on all aspects of the Events and provide them with the study materials they will need to succeed.

Visit http://www.ffa.org for information on these and all Career Development Events.

Supervised Agricultural Experience

All students are required to conduct a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Program. Each student receives instruction and advice from agriculture teachers regarding the SAE. However, it is the student's responsibility to develop an SAE Program. Parents/Guardians should monitor a student's progress in the SAE Program. A detailed explanation of the components of an SAE program can be found here. Click Components of an SAE Program . Students are also encouraged to find unique SAE opportunities. Click here for a presentation on Thinking Outside the Box. Postings are updated periodically in your student's Leadership Classroom (Google Classroom). Students may only volunteer at a certified non-profit organization for SAE credit. Click here for a list of ideas. Please, note all SAE programs must comply with Labor Laws. Your student's SAE may require working papers and approval from the Department of Education and Department of Labor. All SAE experiences must be approved by the Agriculture Science & Technology Program.

Parent Volunteers

The staff and students in the Ag program recognize the generous contributions of our parents. Many of you have donated your time, talents, and capital to help the students in their endeavors. We are grateful to have such generous parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and adult friends. Thank you.

Parents who would like to help may contact the center at any time or consider joining the Parent & Alumni Support Group. Visit the parent & alumni support page on this website. 

Please, check volunteer the volunteer policy of the school. 

What can parents do to ensure success in the program?

Ask your ASTE student how he/she is doing on the research paper requirement
Ask about his/her SAE:
What are her/his SAE goals?
How many hours is he/she working?  
Are the records up to date?
Email or call her/his teacher  
Check the teacher’s website/online classrooms for class information
Communicate with the school any problems as soon as possible; we want our students to feel safe and secure in our building   
Write FFA events on your family calendar
Encourage your child to attend FFA activities 
Encourage your child to compete.  No experience necessary
Return all permission slips so your student can attend field trips
Share any agriculturally related newspaper, magazine articles, or media with your student.
Encourage reading at home
Attend the Parent Conferences 
Join the Parent/Alumni Group, Advisory Committee or PTA
Encourage your child to apply for FFA Degrees
Visit www.ffa.org to learn more about FFA Opportunities
Use www.middletownschools.org as a resource