August School Update

Hello SSVT Community,

As we approach the end of August, one would typically expect an administrator to say that "the school is starting to wake up again", but truthfully, there has been a lot of activity here at SSVT all summer.  Teachers and administrators have been meeting with their departments, meeting about the new teacher evaluation system, working on our NEASC accreditation visit preparation, and getting their shops and classrooms ready for their students.

Our fall sports teams are underway with practices (including our new JV Cross Country team!) and scrimmages.

Vikings participating in a round-robin practice/scrimmage with
Sharon and Martha's Vineyard. Saturday August 25, 2013

Here are a few staffing and facilities updates:

Staffing

We have hired several new staff for this school year, including:

Mr. Michael Janicki, Director of Guidance and Admissions.  Mr. Janicki is a member of the administrative team and oversees the admissions process and our guidance department.

Mr. Jerry Shaw, Engineering instructor.  We are thrilled to be offering Engineering as an academic science department course.  Engineering courses will help students with concepts similar to what they learn in their vocational techincal programs.

Ms. Peggy Caggiano, Cosmetology instructor.  Ms. Caggiano previously served on our Cosmetology Advisory Board.

Mrs. Martha Paradis, Graphic Communications instructor.  Mrs. Paradis was serving as our long-term substitute in the program and we are happy to have her on board.

Mrs. Patty Squires, Allied Health instructor, is not brand new to SSVT, but she came on board after the 2012-13 school year started, so now is good time to re-introduce Mrs. Squires as a member of the SSVT faculty!

We are also very happy to welcome Mr. Matt Doyle as an instructional aide, Mr. Norman Nee as a custodian, and Mr. Joe Foley as a bus driver.

Our new teachers will be meeting on Monday August 26th for a teacher orientation session.  All staff will begin the school year officially on Tuesday September 3rd. September 3-4 will be devoted to professional development, including training on our new student information system, Power School.  Parents, you will be hearing more about Power School and how you can access the system very soon!  School starts on September 5th for students.


Facilities

Thanks to Facilities Director Bob Moorhead for overseeing so much activity this summer with a fantastic crew who accomplished so much!  Our facility enhancements are fantastic, and the most important, but least noticeable upgrade is a new water heater system, replacing the original 1960 water heater.

However, other improvements around the school will be more noticeable.  Here are a few more pictures and video clips

A video clip for Mrs. Bourgea's classroom, Room 104

A video clip of the new media lab built in our Library Media Center

The new Trak Lathe delivered to our Precision Machine program (with refinished floors)   

  

An almost finished floor in the Electrical shop

A repainted portion of the Graphic Communications shop where the paper storage area used to be

Our renovated Nurse's Office, with new a consultation room.

Parents, as we enter the last week of the summer, please do not hesitate to call us (or nudge your child to call us :) ) with any "start of the school year" questions that might help to ease anxiety or clarify areas of confusion.  Best wishes for the rest of the summer!

Summer Facility Upgrades

Hello SSVT Community,

I hope you are enjoying the summer months and the time to recharge and refresh before the new school year. We have had a busy summer on campus with parent and student orientations for our new 9th graders.

Several tangible signs of progress can be found in our various facility projects and the folks who are doing such great work to make our building even better.  Many thanks to our student helpers, custodial crew and instructors and support staff!

Here are some pictures

Room 103 Mrs. Keith's class (new lights, walls, cork boards)
We are also renovating Room 105

Carpentry Canopy posts being prepared. CP students will be working under
the canopy on various tasks in preparation for outside crew.

Precision Machine Technology Shop floor being sanded. 
New Trak Lathe being delivered soon
(Out of view) Walls painted and a new computer lab area is being built

Room 116: Mrs. Walsh's classroom renovated

HVAC Mezzanine being removed. More instructional space!

Graphic Communications paper storage area being relocated

More instructional space!

We are also in the process of ordering a new computer cart for social studies department, a new school bus, a new 14-passenger activity bus to be used by shops and for small group field trips, and we are upgrading the audio and technical capabilities of the lecture hall to make it a more modern media center.

Parents and students, if you have any summer questions please contact our main office or guidance office from 7-3, Monday to Friday, or via email anytime.  I can be reached at thickey@ssvotech.org.

Students, I hope you are enjoying your summer reading (subtle hint :) ).

More updates later this month!  Take care.