May Updates

Hello SSVT Community,

I have three updates to pass along:

1. The SSVT Hall of Fame Induction and Class Reunion, held on April 26 at Harmon Golf Course, was a great success!  We will upload some pictures later on for review. Thank you to the Hall of Fame committee members and volunteers, as well as graduates who attended from the past five decades.

2.  Additional congratulations are extended to our medalists from the State SkillsUSA competition held at Blackstone Valley VoTech in Upton:

Bronze 

Kelley Campanile- Graphic Communications

Silver

Alyssa McWilliams, Vanessa Saganetti, Mark Troup- Chapter Display

Tyler Devlin- Power Equipment Technology

Meaghan Swist- Cosmetology (over 500)

Gold

James Aiguier- Nurse Assisting 

 

As a gold medalist, James is headed to the SkillsUSA National Competition in Kansas City in June!

 

I would also like to thank SkillsUSA Coordinator and MFW instructor Bob Mello for his leadership, along with Assistant Coordinator Minnie Doherty and all our SkillsUSA Advisors who prepared our students for the competitions.  SkillsUSA is a student competition but it is a also celebration of the importance and critical role of vocational technical education!

 

3. Town Meeting Update & State Budget Update

Scituate and Cohasset held their town meetings in April and the SSVT budget was passed in both towns.  On Monday, May 6th, town meetings are being held in Whitman, Hanson, Norwell, Rockland and Hanover.

 

The legislature is in the process of developing its own budget proposals, along with the Governor's budget from January.  Currently the House of Representatives proposal provides less Chapter 70 state aid to SSVT. The Senate will develop its own budget proposal and it will likely end up in a conference committee later this spring.  Please contact me if you have further questions.

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Hall of Fame Update

Hello SSVT Community,

Here is the text of an article written by Mike Melanson of the Whitman-Hanson Express.  It was published in the March 28, 2013 edition of the newspaper.

*****

SSVT celebrates hall of famers, fit students

By Mike Melanson
express correspondent

The South Shore Vocational Technical High School will hold a reunion and Hall of Fame induction, at 7 p.m., Friday, April 26, at Harmon Golf Club, 168 Concord St., Rockland. On March 20, Principal Margaret Dutch told School Committee members that the reunion and induction is an exciting way to let those who graduated from or worked or volunteered for SSVT to come back and celebrate the school, and to build up an alumni network.

“The idea behind it is to establish a tradition,” said Principal Margaret Dutch.

The evening will include a meet-and-greet, light buffet and program, and dancing to the music of the Boomers.

Dutch said Hall of Fame awards would go to 10 outstanding individuals who contributed to the high school and strengthened the school community and who exemplify craftsmanship, citizenship, character and professionalism. This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Warren Anderson, school assistant superintendent and director from 1962 to 1992, who will be inducted posthumously 

 

• Gayle Holmes Cronin, Class of 1999, Cosmetology

• Angela Mariani Greene, Class of 2000, Electronics

• Rosemarie Hahn, secretary to the superintendent from 1975 to 2005

• Eileen Hayes, English teacher and Drama coach from 1983 to 2003

• William Laidler, Class of 1967, Electrical, and Electrical teacher from 1976 to 2007

• John Llewellyn, Class of 1975, Carpentry

• Edward Schneider, aide, coach and bus coordinator from 1969 to 2011

• Frank Snow, Class of 1976, Carpentry, and School Committee member from 1978 to 1983

• Frederick Teed, first superintendent, from 1962 to 1981, who will be inducted posthumously

 

Dutch said tickets cost $25. There will be a cash bar and attendees must be at least 21 years old. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets are available by contacting South Shore Vocational Technical High School; Marie Mariani; 476 Webster St.; Hanover, MA 02339. Tickets are also available by calling Mariani at 781-878-8822, ext. 413, or by email at mmariani@ssvotech.org.

 

In other business Thursday, Superintendent-Director Thomas Hickey said SSVT students are the fittest in Massachusetts, at least according to a state Department of Public Health report issued last December, based on body mass index. According to the state health department, BMI measures a person’s body fat based on average height and weight measurements for children of the same age and gender. Hickey said DPH collected BMI data statewide and sampled students who were sophomores in the 2011-2012 school year.

 

“I’m pleased to report that the school district with the lowest BMI in the state is this one,” he said. “I don’t claim to have an explanation for that.”

Hickey said continued development of the school’s wellness program and policies and the restoration of the physical education teacher from a part-time to full-time position would let SSVT continue to field physically fit students.

2013-2014 Program Openings for Students

Hello SSVT Community,

Please pass this along to families who will have 10th and 11th graders next year!  This ad will be running in local newspapers as well.

*****

Two Educations in One!

South Shore Vocational Technical High School

 

Announces

10^th and 11^th grade openings

For the 2013-2014 School Year

In the following programs:

 

Auto Body Repair

 

Drafting

 

Precision Machine Technology

 

For application information, please contact

Pam Titus, Pupil Services Director at 781-871-4153 or

ptitus@ssvotech.org

 

South Shore Vocational Technical High School, 476 Webster Street, Hanover.  www.ssvotech.org

 

*****

Jennifer Lee Named SSVT's Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year

Hello SSVT Community,

I would like to congratulate Culinary Arts Senior Jennifer Lee for being named SSVT's Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year!  There is a great article on Jen in this week's Abington Mariner.

Jen will be recognized at the Abington Board of Selectmen meeting on March 25th and at a state wide banquet in Worcester on April 4th.

March Updates

Hello SSVT Community,

I hope you are enjoying the melting snow!

I have a few updates from the past few weeks.

First, we want to congratulate Josh Kimball (CP, Grade 12) for being named the February Student of the Month.  Josh was recognized at the February 25 school committee meeting and the meeting was covered by the Whitman-Hanson Express in its February 28, 2013 edition.

Also, we were fortunate to host Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray on March 8th as part of our Winter Program Advisory meeting.   The Lieutenant Governor has been a strong advocate for vocational education and he spoke about a recent grant that was published that will help fund vocational equipment.  He also toured the school seeing several of our vocational programs, and met staff and advisors.  Thank you also to State Representatives Rhonda Nyman and Jim Cantwell for attending.  Finally, a big thank you to all advisors and staff for attending the meeting during the beginning of what was a very significant snowstorm!  WATD covered the event along with the Mariner newspapers.

The Whitman-Hanson Express also covered the event with an article on page 11.

Please check the school website for information on soon-to-be school calendars and information on our SSVT Class Reunion and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony!

Brass Lantern Featured in Whitman-Hanson Express

Hello SSVT Community,

The Brass Lantern restaurant and our Culinary students and staff were featured in an article this week in the Whitman-Hanson Express! Great job!

FY14 Budget Update

Hello SSVT Community,

The South Shore Regional School Committee met on Monday night and certified a FY14 Budget that represents  2.36% increase over last year's budget.  The original budget proposed was 4.92%, but in light of economic limitations conveyed by several of our sending communities, the committee opted to reduce the budget by $280,000.

The cuts in the budget avoided core instructional services such as staffing, equipment or supplies. supplies.  Cuts were instead targeted at capital items and funding of OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits).

Over the next month or so, we will begin meeting with town finance committees to further explain our budget.  The budget process then will move to town meetings, typically held in May or June, where each town votes on its spending for the next fiscal year.

The other important budget process is at the state level.  The state provides aid to all public school districts called Chapter 70 aid.  Final state aid numbers will not be confirmed until the state budget process wraps up in June.

If you have any questions, please let me know!  Thank you.