Open House Article in Whitman-Hanson Express

Hello SSVT Community,

The 2012 SSVT Open House was a fantastic success, as evidenced by the nearly 200 students and their families who attended, along with a great showing of alumni!  What attendees witnessed were our students and instructors in their shop settings doing what they do best.  Families also were treated to a fantastic culinary display in the cafeteria and also were provided important information from our guidance staff, academic department heads, and our athletics program.

Whitman-Hanson Community Access producer Kevin Tocci attended the event and with the assistance of our Vocational Director Deborah Collins, videoed clips from our shops during the Open House. That footage is being edited now and once finished, it will run on the Whitman-Hanson local cable access channel, and we will be able to distribute it to other local cable stations in the district and also link it to our website.

Thie Whitman-Hanson Express also covered the event and published an article this week  http://www.whitmanhansonexpress.com/whitman-hanson-news/9505-kicking-the-educational-tires.html

I hope you and your families have a restful vacation.  I'm off to the mall!

Thank you Mrs. Bumpus!

Hello SSVT Community,

As the school prepares to wrap up for our December vacation and look with ahead to the new year, this is also an important time for one of our faculty members, Mrs. Jeanie Bumpus.  Mrs. Bumpus is retiring after 27 years of service to the students of South Shore Vo-Tech.  More than anything, Mrs. Bumpus maintained a firm belief that all students can be successful, and many, many graduates can attribute their post-secondary success to her efforts.

We wish Mrs. Bumpus the very best in the next chapter of her life with her family and we thank her for her dedicated service!

Viking Football Featured in Ledger/Enterprise

Hello SSVT students, families and staff,

When you have a moment, please check out these photos from Thursday's football practice:

http://www.patriotledger.com/photos/x2105838787/A-memorable-season-for-South-Shore-Votech-football

We are all very proud of what our team has accomplished and hope to see you at the Thanksgiving Game at home vs Southeastern at 10AM!

Traffic Flow Patterns

Hello SSVT Staff, Students and Families,

In an effort to ensure consistent traffic flow patterns and provide parents, students, staff and guests with clear directions, we will be upgrading, relocating and in some cases removing some directional signs on campus.

A few helpful hints:

1. During school hours, there should be no vehicles driving around the back of the building except for authorized school business. 
2. For everyone's safety on campus we are asking all drivers at all times to follow the same counter-clockwise traffic flow pattern at all times, whether during school hours or not. 
3. Families arriving for an after school game who are likely to park in the back or near the library should bear right, driving around the back of the building toward the library parking lot.  There is no problem with turning left to remain in the front of the building, but those cars are limited to parking in the front of the building only.
4. Families idling on Webster Street picking up their children should avoid idling close to the school exit so that those cars leaving the lot can see clearly onto Webster Street when turning left.

Thank you!

Revised School Calendar

Hello SSVT Students and Families,

Our students and staff got right back to work without missing a beat after losing two days to Hurricane Sandy last week.

Here is a copy of the revised 2012-2013 school calendar in light of the October 29-30 days off.  In this version, which is on the school website, we made a slight adjustment to the list of holidays on the right of the calendar (there were two dates for Good Friday listed).

Thank you!

Draft Vocational Curriculum Frameworks Published; Public Comment Sought

In Massachusetts there is plenty of attention given to academic curriculum frameworks because of the high stakes nature of MCAS testing, and with Massachusetts moving toward alignment with national Common Core curriculum standards.

In the vocational community we consider the vocational technical curriculum frameworks to be equally important.   There have been state curriculum frameworks for our vocational programs for several years now, and our 14 vocational programs are aligned with the current frameworks.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently convened groups of educators and employers to write new frameworks which have been released in draft form .   For now, SSVT students will be taught in alignment with the existing frameworks until these new frameworks are adopted.

There is a public comment period on these curriculum frameworks and I encourage all SSVT staff, parents, advisors, alumni to share your perspectives on what a rigorous and relevant vocational curriculum should look like in all of our programs. I also encourage our current students to take a look and talk with your teachers about these documents and/or give feedback to our Vocational Director Mrs. Collins.

Each framework document is packaged around an industry area and may not match up with the titles of our 14 programs, so please contact me if you need assistance determining which framework matches up with our vocational programs.

We will be discussing this information with our Program Advisors at our fall meeting on November 8, 2012.

Notice to Parents: Online Option to Schedule Nov 1st Parent/Teacher Conferences

Hello SSVT Parents:

This letter is being mailed home, but here is an advance copy...

This year SSVT will be utilizing an on-line scheduling tool to book parent/teacher conferences.  To get started, visit the school website at http://www.ssvotech.org and click the link: “schedule a Parent/Teacher conference” located on the home page.  Once at the Conference scheduling page, follow the step-by-step instructions below:

1.    Check the box next to the name of the teacher you want to have a conference with.

2.    Enter your child’s last name, first name, your name, and your email address.  Click the submit button.

3.    You will receive an email at the address you specified in step 2.  You will have to click the link in the email message that says “click here to select conference time.”

***If you do not receive an email please check your Spam folder ***

4.    You will be directed to a website with a list of available meeting times for the teacher you selected.  Choose the time that best meets your needs by checking the box to the left of your selected time slot.  Times listed in RED are unavailable because they have already been booked by another parent.

5.    When done, click the button done choosing appointment time.

6.    On the next page you have 3 options:

a)   I am finished making appointments

·   Choose this option if you are done making appointments with each of the teachers you’d like to meet with.

b)   Yes, I need to register another conference for this student

·   Choose this option if you need to schedule a conference with another teacher.

c)    Yes, I need to register another student

·   Use this option if you have more than one student at the school and would like to schedule a conference for your second child.

7.    Continue following steps 4-6 until you have scheduled all the conferences you would like to schedule.  Choose I am finished making appointment when you are done.

You will receive email notifications of all of your appointments and will also receive reminders of your appointment times.  You may reschedule any of your appointments up until October 31^st, the day before the scheduled Parent/Teacher conferences.

If you do not have internet access or would like assistance in scheduling your conferences please contact your child's guidance counselor. Use the chart below to determine which counselor is assigned to your child.

Counselor Name	Student Assignments	Phone Number
Amy Dow	Auto Body, Culinary Arts, HVAC, Metal Fab, Cosmetology	781-878-8822 x440
Joseph Madera	CIT, Electrical, Electronics, Drafting, Graphic Communications, Allied Health	781-878-8822 x422
Todd Zahurak	All Freshman, Automotive, Carpentry, PMT	781-878-8822 x421

Save the Date: Craft Fair October 13th

The SSVT Parents Association is sponsoring its very popular Craft Fair on October 13th from 10-3 PM.    There are over 70 crafters this event, so people who attend will have many great creations from which to choose!

The proceeds from the craft fair go towards student scholarships and other Parents Association donations to the school throughout the year. 

Here are a few pictures from last year's fair, courtesy of PA Treasurer Judy Pucci.  It is a busy place!

MCAS Scores and Other Uses of Data

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently released the MCAS scores from Spring 2012.  Here is a look at recent trends in SSVT's MCAS scores. The scores continue to head in the right direction as they have for several years! One key indicator to review is the percentage of students scoring Advanced and Proficient. 

Our faculty will be spending time analyzing results and making instructional adjustments as needed, because such adjustments in curriculum and instruction will increase opportunities for students to be highly successful on MCAS testing.

MCAS scores generate a lot of attention to be sure.  But at SSVT, we collect data on student growth and achievement every day, and we place equal importance on student growth and achievement in all of our programs, regardless of whether it has a MCAS test.  Every time a car leaves our Automotive Shop or a client leaves our Cosmetology Salon, we have engaged students in high stakes, real world tests, where customer satisfaction and accuracy of the completed task are essential!  Furthermore, as a school district, we value the importance of collecting data and using it to make decisions, whether that is in setting a budget, planning a school lunch menu, or differentiating math lessons. 

The way data are organized also tells an important story.  Parents of 10th-12th graders may have noticed this when we altered our report card structure last school year.  Previously, just having a single letter grade of C+ did not clearly distinguish between success with the curriculum and the effort being put forth to achieve success.  By reorganizing the data collected in teachers' rank books and issuing two letter grades per course, we can clearly tell two stories: a letter grade for Achievement (what have they learned) and a letter grade for Work Habits (what effort and habits of mind do they exhibit in pursuit of learning).  

I'll post further comments later in the year regarding student assessment, data, the difference between "growth" and "achievement" in testing results and how SSVT is using data to make decisions.

Meet Your Child's Teacher Night, September 26

On Wednesday night, we held our annual Meet Your Child's Teacher (MYCT) Night.  If you attended, I hope that that you found the evening informative!  This event marks the beginning of an enduring connection between a caring teacher and a committed parent.  Administrators were thrilled to see so many parents in the halls and classrooms.

SSVT teachers and counselors value the importance of a strong home-school connection.  The purpose of MYCT Night was to give parents time to meet teachers and learn more about their course goals and expectations for the year---As a parent I know how helpful it is when my child's teachers set clear expectations and routines; it makes it easier to reinforce those expectations at home.

Aside from the face to face meetings, another way to stay connected is by using iParent, which allows parents to track their child's assignments, attendance and discipline records.  On Wednesday night, our technology director Crystal Paluzzi helped parents in our library media center register on iParent,   If you have not registered yet, please contact Mrs. Paluzzi. 

In closing, I'd like to thank our dedicated parents who staffed our Parents Association and Viking Athletic Association tables at the event.  Parent networking is another important facet to our regional school community!  Check out our website www.ssvotech.org for more information on upcoming Parent Association events and fundraisers.

NEASC Accreditation Visit for October 2013

South Shore Vo-Tech is in the midst of preparing for an October 2013 visit. Thirty educators from across New England will spend four days at the school as  part of the decennial accreditation process sponsored by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Below is a press release on this topic which includes our recently adopted school mission and goals.

I want to thank all of our faculty members who are undertaking this process as a means for reflecting on the school's strengths and areas for future growth.  This accreditation visit will help us chart the next 10 years of vocational technical education for the South Shore Vo-Tech community.

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South Shore Vocational Technical High School

Press Release

September 17, 2012

 

Superintendent-Director Tom Hickey announced that the South Shore Vocational Technical High School is undergoing a yearlong self-study process as part of its October 2013 accreditation visit from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

 

The NEASC self-study process involves faculty and the South Shore Vo-Tech community.  “We are committed to ongoing data collection and reflection on how our school fulfills its mission, and we welcome this review,” Hickey said.  On October 7-10, 2013, a team of 30 vocational and academic educators from New England will evaluate all aspects of the school’s operations.

 

Hickey noted that a Steering Committee was formed last year to oversee all aspects of this self-study and accreditation visit process.  The Steering Committee co-chairs are Math instructor Jane Lombardi and Electronics instructor Vincent Barba, along with Mark Aubrey, Jeanne Boretti, Toni Bourgea, Matthew Fallano, Christopher Johnson, Alison Thibodeau, and Bob Francis.

 “Our steering committee and entire faculty and staff are committed to getting the most out of this valuable exercise,” Hickey said.  Last school year the faculty and School Committee approved a revised school mission and goals statement.  The revision from 2007 preserves the school’s core vocational mission in the 21^st century.

 

SOUTH SHORE VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL MISSION AND GOALS

Mission Statement

To provide technical, academic, and social experiences so that our students can do the following:

■   be college- and career-pathway ready;

■   achieve competency in technical and academic standards; and

■   develop work habits that foster independence, self-awareness, civic-mindedness, and commitment to personal growth.

 

SCHOOL AND STAKEHOLDER GOALS

In order to fulfill our mission, the SSVT community will use the goals below as a guide to assess our current effectiveness and to plan for the future.

School Goals

1.       School Climate: Provide our students with a safe and supportive environment that empowers them to develop advanced technical, academic, and social skills for college and career pathways.

2.       Facility: Maintain a clean, safe, environmentally- and fiscally-conscious facility that meets the needs of the school and community.

3.       Community: Utilize multiple means of communication to engage current and prospective all students, parents, staff, and program advisors.

4.       Curriculum & Instruction: Teach current core content and technical standards to develop students who are college- and career-pathway ready.

5.       Assessment: Measure and report student achievement and work habits based on technical, vocational, and core content standards, and to use these results to improve instruction.

6.       Transfer Skills: Identify and develop skills that cross all content areas, such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, work ethic, and sense of personal responsibility.

7.       Literacy Practices: Identify and develop strategies to build strong content knowledge by responding to the varying demands of audience, task, purpose, and discipline in a variety of forms.  

8.       Equipment & Technology: Utilize current industry-standard equipment for our vocational technical programs, and current instructional technology tools and resources for all programs.

9.       Student Engagement: Help students develop strong, positive relationships with teachers and peers via co-curricular and extracurricular programs that shape their intellectual, physical, social/emotional development, and work ethic.

10.    Instructional Support: Provide a continuum of support services to help all learners meet their academic and technical goals.

11.    Student Recruitment and Retention: Implement recruitment and retention strategies that lead to sustained full school enrollment, steady student retention, and preparation for college- and career-pathways.

12. Staff Recruitment and Retention: Identify, recruit, develop, and support highly qualified administrators, instructors, and support staff dedicated to fulfilling the school’s mission.

 

Stakeholder Goals 

South Shore Vocational Technical High School’s success depends on its stakeholders: people who have a shared interest and commitment to the school district. South Shore Vocational Technical High School’s stakeholders will strive to meet the following goals:

1. Our School Committee, School Council, Parents’ Association, and Educational Foundation will support the mission of the school by advocating for resources and actions that ensure continuous school improvement. 
2. Our instructors, administration, and support staff will develop strong, positive relationships with our students and parents. Faculty and administration will stay current in program and academic standards, will use effective strategies to help students learn, and will support students’ enthusiasm for their studies. Instructors and administrators will assume the primary responsibility for achieving school goals. Support staff will provide essential services that assist in the overall school mission and function of the school district.
3. Our industry partners, area colleges, program advisors, alumni, and co-op employers can support our students with relevant and challenging experiences that complement their high school education. They will provide SSVT instructors and administrators with advice on how to consistently improve our capacity to fulfill our mission.
4. Our parents will develop strong, positive relationships with the school and their children’s teachers.  They will remain informed about school activities, and be active participants in the emotional and intellectual development of their children.
5. Our students will be college-and career-pathway ready, able to think critically, problem solve, and listen actively in their shop, workplace, and classroom setting. Our students will be self-aware, understanding the value of strong work habits. They will take initiative, and they will be innovative and tolerant.

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South Shore Vo-Tech was last accredited in 2003 by NEASC.  South Shore Vo-Tech serves the communities of Abington, Cohasset, Hanover, Hanson, Norwell, Rockland, Scituate and Whitman.  For further information on South Shore Vo-Tech’s self-study process, please call 781-878-8822.



Manufacturing on the Rise

According to a new state report, manufacturing jobs are on the rise in Massachusetts.  Governor Deval Patrick was in Avon recently to advocate for a new program which will promote manufacturing training in community colleges and vocational technical high schools.

At SSVT, we have a Precision Machine Technology program and a Metal Fabrication & Welding Program.  We will pay close attention to this initiative to see how SSVT can benefit from state funding for our 9-12 student population, and possibly to expand adult training using our facility after regular school hours.

SSVT Celebrates 50 Years!

Hello to the SSVT Community and welcome to the 2012-2013 school year!

Along with the excitement of the start of the school year we also note that SSVT has been providing high quality vocational techincal education for the past 50 years. The school district was formed in 1960 and began instructing students in 1962. We are planning several events this year, and we encourage alumni to visit our website at www.ssvotech.org for more updates.

For parents and families of students in the classes of 2013-2017, I want to welcome you back to SSVT. This blog will be an opportunity for me to share various updates on topics dealing with SSVT, our local communities, and public education in general.

How can you stay in touch with upcoming blog posts? Simple.  You can click “subscribe” at the right of the page and the SSVT Superintendent’s blog will show up in your reader. You will also receive an email notification each time an update is posted. There will also be a link to the most recent blog on our school website, http://www.ssvotech.org. Lastly, an automated email will be sent out using our Family Communication tool, iAutoalert, so be sure you have your email address on file with the school if you’d like to receive an email notification each time this blog is updated. To add your email address to our database, send an email to iparenthelp@ssvotech.org or call the guidance department at 781-878-8822 x419.