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.

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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

 

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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.

It's In the Mail: Mid Year Competency Reports

Hello SSVT Students & Families,

Early February marks the second half of the school year.  (If the Patriots had made it to the Super Bowl, this would have been a good place to insert football metaphors...but we'll punt on that idea until next year.)

Anyway, February is a good time for students to take stock of what they have accomplished thus far and set goals for the rest of the school year. 

To help start these conversations at home, we are providing families with a new mid year competency report which is being mailed home today. In this report, teachers provide feedback on students performance in specific skill and content standards, rather than relying on letter grades.  

We encourage you to review this FAQ Document on the Mid Year Competency Report.

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The mid year competency report is another example of our faculty's commitment to providing authentic and timely feedback on student performance beyond letter grades.  We want the conversation to focus on how students are learning, and not just whether they have earned a magic number of points! 

It will take an extra step, but we encourage students and parents of 10th-12th graders to follow the steps to log into VTCTS, which is the separate software program that tracks your child's vocational competencies in greater detail. More information will be on the competency report.  These reports will give you a sense of the breadth and depth of skills being taught in our vocational areas.

After reviewing this information, please reach out to teachers, counselors  or administrators with any questions.  Our staff welcomes conversations that will help our students develop strategies to for future success. 

SSVT FY14 Budget Update

Hello SSVT Community,

At the school committee's January 16th meeting, a public hearing was held on the school budget.  There were representatives from three towns finance committees in attendance.  The current budget proposal stands at a 4.92% increase.  The Whitman-Hanson Express covered the meeting if you would like further information.

Over the next few months, the state legislature will begin its deliberations on the state budget, which has a direct impact on how much state aid schools get (referred to as  "Chapter 70" aid).  Also in the next few months, we will begin to meet with town finance committees to discuss the individual town costs ("assessments") that pay for a portion of the overall school budget.

The budget process concludes in May/June when our individual towns hold their respective town meetings and ultimately vote on their assessment.

Please contact me if you have any questions!