Great News! SSVT Wins $231,419 Vocational Equipment Grant

Hello SSVT Community,

At a ceremony at the State House on February 25, Governor Charlie Baker announced recipients of the $9.2 million Mass Skills Capital grant program.  

South Shore Vocational Technical High School was one of 35 school districts to receive funds out of 68 grant applicants.  The $231,419 grant award will be used to upgrade equipment and improve student access to curriculum in the Electronics, Precision Machine, Graphic Communications, Computer Information Technology, Electrical and HVAC programs.  The grant funds will also assist the school as it pursues Design/Visual Communications and Engineering Technology program approvals.

I am grateful to the Baker Administration and the legislature for recognizing the need to maintain current equipment in the Commonwealth’s vocational technical programs. Grant funding helps South Shore Vo-Tech fulfill its mission, eases the cost burden on our district communities, and assists local employers in their search for qualified candidates to fill job vacancies.  With theses funds we can expand our instructional reach, offering more learning opportunities to more students.  I am also very proud of our teachers in our vocational technical programs who provided essential information for the grant application, showing how these purchases will benefit our students and make them more marketable to area employers.

Grant funds will allow us to purchase Cyber Security training equipment for Computer Information Technology , a new surface grinder for Precision Machine Technology, student work stations and collaboration tables for Graphic Communications/Design Visual Communications program, Industrial Motor Control training stations for Electrical and HVAC programs, and student stations, test equipment, injection molding safety equipment, and fume hoods for Electronics.

Governor Charlie Baker (L) and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito (R)
presented each school with the grant awards. 

Carpentry Students Continue Great Work on Hanover Bandstand

Hello SSVT Community,

The Carpentry and Electrical students have been working very hard on a bandstand in Hanover on Route 139 near the Sylvester School.  Here are some recent pictures of our Carpentry students.

Great job!

---Mr. Hickey

Alumni Day Recap

Hello SSVT Community,

On January 12th, we were fortunate to have over 30 alumni from the classes of 2008-2014 return to speak in small groups with the Class of 2016.  This is the first time that we have held such an event and it was a great success.  

Alumni Day was organized by our administrators and guidance staff and I want to thank them and send a special thank you to Guidance Counselor Amy Dow for taking the lead on the event.  


When I consider the special programming provided for our seniors, including a Career Fair in October, the Alumni Day in January, and the Credit for Life Fair in April, it is clear to me that our faculty care deeply for our students and seek to give them the best possible real world experiences to carry them into adulthood.

Here are two pictures of our alumni before the event.

Alumni Day provided our seniors with a chance to hear about the real world from their peer group.  I must admit, I was gratified to hear our graduates say that SSVT prepared them well for the real world.  Many graduates went on to tell the seniors to get the most out of high school, listen to their teachers, work hard and not cut corners!  Such wisdom after only a few years out of high school.

Regardless of whether our alumni were still working in their vocational major or thriving in another field, they ALL think that SSVT gave them the environment to learn transferable skills and to gain confidence to handle whatever comes their way.

I would like to thank the following graduates for donating their time, and I hope they will consider coming again next year to speak with the class of 2017

Name	Shop
Alana Oksanan	Cosmetology
Alex Thompson	Graphic Communications
Alison Donovan	Allied Health
Amy Turini	Culinary Arts
Brad Carlson	Computer Information Tech
Brandon Mulkern	Computer Information Tech
Brianna Picariello	Computer Information Tech
Brian Belleville	HVAC-R
Cam Barron	Electronics
CJ Furey	HVAC-R
Dan Hutchins	HVAC-R
Dan Krahe	HVAC-R
Danielle Gugliemi	Culinary Arts
Dave Munn	Carpentry
Dave Wadyszewski	Graphic Communications
Frank DiFazio	Metal Fabrication/Welding
Giovanni Gentile	Electrical
Jake Reily	Electrical
James Curley	HVAC-R
Jamie Gauthier	Cosmetology
Jesse Ferland	Computer Information Tech
John Wilder	Precision Machine Tech
Josh Riley	Electrical
Kenny Burns	Metal Fabrication/Welding
Kyle Keegan	Electronics
Matt Terenzi	HVAC-R
Olivia O'Connell	Graphic Communications
Pat Daly	Electrical
Renee Burnett	Cosmetology
Rob Lowry	Electrical
Ryan Lowry	Electrical
Scott Lowe	Culinary Arts
Taylor Eastman	Computer Information Tech
TJ Petruzzelli	Computer Information Tech
Todd Eastman	Automotive

Seniors, I know that you appreciated hearing from our alumni, and I hope we can call upon you in a few years to grow our extended SSVT family and participate in alumni events.

Let's finish strong...on to graduation!

---Mr. Hickey

FY17 Budget Process Underway

Hello SSVT Community,

As we approach a well-deserved vacation and end of 2015 I want to inform you that SSVT is beginning to build its budget for the 2016-2017 school year.  Our department heads have submitted requests for supplies and equipment and this past Wednesday night I presented a FY17 budget proposal to our school committee.  The entire budget process will take several months and involves our school committee and our eight district towns.

This budget increase includes the funds needed to maintain current curriculum and technology in our academic and vocational technical areas, as well as funds facilities projects to help keep our school modern and responsive to student and staff needs.

In addition to the budget presentation for 2016-2017, there is also a narrated Long Range Facilities Plan that highlights the many projects that have been completed since the summer and the many projects planned for the future.

Both items are posted to our school website: www.ssvotech.org.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

---Mr. Hickey

Vocational Education is the Focus on Radio Boston

Hello SSVT Community,

On Wednesday, Upper Cape Tech Superintendent Bob Dutch and Northeastern University Economist Barry Bluestone appeared on Radio Boston (WBUR, 90.9 FM) to discuss how there is a great demand for vocational education statewide and how a recent study commissioned by the Massachusetts School Building Authority points out how a majority of jobs needed in Massachusetts through 2022 will not require a college degree.  Listen to the 15 minute interview here.  It is an excellent discussion of this topic.

I hope this conversation and the release of this report will lead to further discussions about how to increase student access to high quality vocational technical education.

For me, "access" starts with giving middle school students (in grades 6-8) and their parents time to learn more about careers (You can't pigeonhole an 11 year old into choosing a specific trade area, but you can get them thinking about the ways they like to learn the the things they like to do!).  This will require even more collaboration with our sending schools and direct support from the state department of education.  Maybe with less testing time, there would be more time to fit this in?

Access also includes having modern vocational technical school buildings for our students.  While we work hard to keep our 53 year old school in tip top shape, it becomes increasingly challenging to maintain a building and ensure that we have current instructional technology and equipment.  To support our school, we have applied to the MSBA to fund a building expansion and renovation project.  It is a lengthy process but I will keep you posted

---Mr. Hickey

Important Information for Our Students: What Employers Look For When Hiring

Hello SSVT Community,

Recently a local employer who is a member of one of our vocational advisory committees answered this question: 

"What does an employer look for in a candidate?"

Here is his answer:

• Positive attitude
  
• Always taking care of the customer- no excuses not to follow up with customers and find answer in a timely manner.  Being solution driven will allow sales to follow because customers are happy.
  
• Respect for co-workers and management.  Know that if you do not do your job, a fellow employee will have to pick up your slack.  Feel empathy know how your actions can negatively and positively affect the work environment daily.
  
• Willingness to learn and be humble.  If unsure ask questions.
  
• Look beyond the immediate situation to see issues/answers in future
  
• Not being satisfied with just doing the minimum to not get in trouble at work.  Go above and beyond each time. [P]eople do notice.
  
• Be professional and arrive on time.

There are SO MANY skills beyond your technical knowledge that are important to employers.  If you can fulfill all of these characteristics and bring a solid technical foundation to each job you have, I know you will be successful!

---Mr. Hickey

Well Attended November Program Advisory Meeting

Hello SSVT Community,

Last night on November 5th we hosted program advisors for our annual Fall Meeting.  Culinary Arts students provided us with a wonderful meal!  The lecture hall was filled with students, parents, industry and post-secondary advisors.  Many of those in attendance were graduates who have continued to work in their trade area.

I want to thank all those in attendance for their commitment to SSVT and a commitment to long range planning for future curriculum and equipment needs.  It helps to keep our school's programs on the cutting edge.  We now enter the budget building phase for the 2016-2017 school year and the advisory committee input on vocational technical budget requests is very important.

We are always looking for new industry advisors so if you know anyone who is working in a field related to any of our 14 vocational technical programs who might be interested in volunteering to be part of one of our committees, please contact me.  Meetings are held twice per school year.

---Mr. Hickey