Shop | Student | Town |
Automotive | Bret Avila | Freetown |
House & Mill Carpentry | Kyle Bray | Carver |
Computer Info Tech | Stephen Vicino | Mattapoisett |
Cosmetology | Tania-Raquel Clementino | Acushnet |
Culinary Arts | Brianna Hodgkins | Freetown |
CAD – Drafting | Jeremy Mare | Lakeville |
Electrical | Corey DeGrazia | Acushnet |
Electronics | Justin Zielke | Freetown |
Graphic Comm. | Frederick DeMoranville | Lakeville |
Health Careers | Jaime Pimental | Acushnet |
Machine & Tool | Steven Johnson | Mattapoisett |
Metal Fabrication | Brandon Faria | Acushnet |
Category: 2008
Old Colony receives continued NEASC accreditation
– (11/12/08)
At its November 6-7, 2008 meeting, the Commission on Technical and Career Institutions reviewed the report of its decennial visiting committee dated March 10-13, 2008, and voted continued accreditation for the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School with a Two-Year Progress Report due March 1, 2010, and a Five-Year Focused Visit in the Spring of 2013.
The Commission commended the administration and staff at Old Colony for many commendations identified by the visiting committee, and highlighted the following commendations:
- An atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation by staff and students that creates a safe, secure, and positive learning environment.
- Consistently high academic and technical achievement.
- A low drop-out rate and high average daily attendance rate.
- A well-maintained building and campus that supports and enhances all aspects of the educational program.
- The numerous articulation agreements with community colleges, businesses, and industry partnerships.
- The dynamic new teacher mentoring program.
The Commission also focused on several visiting committee recommendations that are of particular concern and to which the school should pay particular attention as it strives to reach excellence. These recommendations are:
- Develop a plan for facility improvement and equipment modernization.
- Develop and implement a technology plan.
- Adjust the master schedule to provide for flexibility in students’ course selections regardless of Pathway.
- Develop and implement a plan for replacement of textbooks.
- Address science laboratory deficiencies by repairing gas valves, drench showers, repair electrical outlets, and address plumbing issues.
The administration is working on a plan to address all of the visiting committee’s recommendations.
Questions should be addressed to Superintendent-Director, Gary Brown, at 508-763-8011, ext. 116.
Student of the Month – November 2008
Shop | Student | Town |
Automotive | Chance Avery | Carver |
House & Mill Carpentry | Jonathan Ferreira | Acushnet |
Computer Info Tech | Caitlyn Gagnon | Mattapoisett |
Cosmetology | Shanaye Green | Rochester |
Culinary Arts | Nolan Bernier | Freetown |
CAD – Drafting | Angela DaCosta | Acushnet |
Electrical | Kraig Pimental | Acushnet |
Electronics | Nicholas Aspden | Carver |
Graphic Communication & Design | Ashley Campbell | Freetown |
Health Careers | Magan Oliveira | Acushnet |
Machine & Tool | Michael Gagnon | Mattapoisett |
Metal Fabrication | Stacy DeTerra | Acushnet |
Power Mechanics | Myles DeMello | Rochester |
Student of the Month – October 2008
Shop | Student | Town |
Automotive | Evan White | Acushnet |
House & Mill Carpentry | Michael Hamel | Acushnet |
Computer Info Tech | Jade Worthington | Acushnet |
Cosmetology | Alexandria Sousa | Acushnet |
Culinary Arts | Brittanie Frye | Acushnet |
CAD – Drafting | David Hill | Carver |
Electrical | Jordan Schweidenback | Acushnet |
Health Careers | Chenice Branquinho | Freetown |
Machine & Tool | Cotey Perry | Acushnet |
Graphic Communication & Design | Nicole Lapham | Carver |
Metal Fabrication | Evan Verissimo | Acushnet |
Cyberbullying Workshop held at Old Colony
– (9/26/08)
On September 25, 2008, a Cyberbullying Workshop was hosted by the Title 1 Department at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School. Twenty four parents and staff participated. Stephanie Fanning, a parent educator from the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State College was the presenter.
Topics covered in the presentation included:
- What is cyberbullying?
- How can I prevent it from happening to my child or by my child?
- How can I address it once it has happened?
- Is a social website ever private?
A lively discussion generated by parents inquiries followed the presentation. Mrs. Jackie Machamer, Technology Integration Specialist at Old Colony, was on hand to discuss how the school is taking steps to increase student awareness around the topic of cyberbullying.
Fall Advisory Committees to meet Oct. 8
– (9/22/08)
The Fall meetings for the Chapter 74 Program Advisory Committee at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School are scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2008. One committee exists for each of the vocational technical programs at the school.
Under the requirements of M.G.L. Chapter 74, each vocational technical program at the school must have an Advisory Committee comprised of representatives of local businesses and industry related to the program area, organized labor, parents, and students. The Advisory Committee assists school personnel on equipment acquisitions, curriculum, instructional methods, and program evaluation.
The meetings of the various committees will begin with a dinner prepared and served by the Culinary Arts Department at Old Colony. The various committees will then meet in the respective laboratories with the Old Colony instructors.
Questions concerning the Advisory Committee at Old Colony can be answered by contacting Mrs. Rita J. Bretto, Old Colony?s Vocational Coordinator, at 508-763-8011, ext. 119.
SouthCoast Mobile Health Van to provide services
– (9/22/08)
The SouthCoast Mobile Health Van will continue to serve Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School students and faculty for the 2008-2009 school year. Services will include blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening, vision examinations, glucose screening, STD information, family planning referrals, teen resource information, nutritional education, and health education services.
The Van will provide services from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at Old Colony on the following dates:
- October 1, 2008
- Novober 5, 2008
- December 3, 2008
- January 7, 2009
- February 4, 2009
- March 4, 2009
- April 1, 2009
- May 6, 2009
Three appointed to 2008-2009 School Council
– (9/22/08)
The administration at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School is pleased to announce the appointment of three faculty members to the 2008-2009 School Council. The instructors are: Paul Brodeur (English Department), Gina Despres (English Department), and Jeanne Butler (Health Careers Department). The School Council meets monthly under the chairmanship of Old Colony?s Principal, Patricia Foskett.
School Improvement Plan adopted for 2008-2009
– (9/22/08)
The Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School District Committee adopted the 2008-2009 District School Improvement Plan, as required by the Massachusetts Education Reform Act, at its meeting on September 17, 2008. The Plan was prepared and recommended by the Old Colony School Council.
Copies of Old Colony’s 2008-2009 School Improvement Plan are available by calling Principal Patricia Foskett at 508-763-8011, ext. 118.
New faculty and staff members announced for 2008-2009
– (9/22/08)
The Old Colony school community is pleased to announce the appointment of new faculty and staff members at the technical high school. The new members join a highly-qualified professional staff dedicated to meeting the individual needs of each student.
The new staff members at Old Colony are:
- Crystal Andrade – Cafeteria Supervisor
- Aaron LeBeau – Computer Information Technology Instructor
- Dori Maher – Aide
- Madeline Medeiros – Aide
- Janice Michaud – Business Education Instructor
- Erin Murray – Graphic Communication & Design Instructor
- Deborah Ramos – Health Careers Instructor
- Zita Simas – Special Education
- Susan Soucy – Computer Office Technology Instructor
Health Careers seniors attend training
On September 5, 2008, the 13 senior students in the Health Careers class attended a Dysphagia In-Service Training at Shriver Habilitative Services in Lakeville, MA. The In-Service covered Dysphagia: Swallowing Disorders and Mealtime Intervention and Dysphagia Diets.
The In-Service was provided to us from the Department of Mental Retardation and was presented by Lise Gervais, OTR. The students were shown Radiology studies of Barium swallows that diagnosed aspiration and other swallowing disorders. Dysphagia signs/symptoms, problems and consequences were all discussed. Guidelines of mealtime, special diets, as well as food preparation were all included in the In-Service.
The students received five Continuing Education credits for attending this In-Service.
Two NHS seniors nominated for NASSP scholarship program
Jade Worthington (Acushnet) and Christopher Faustino (Rochester), both seniors at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School and members of the National Honor Society, have been nominated to compete in the National Honor Society scholarship. The National Honor Society is a program of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
This year the program will once again award $200,000 in college scholarships. As a feature of this program, special recognition awards will be presented to state and regional winners, along with the selection of one national recipient who will receive a $13,000 award.
Nominees from each high school’s National Honor Society chapter were selected based on their leadership skills, participation in service organizations and clubs, achievements in the arts and sciences, employment experience, and academic record. They also were required to write an essay.
“Students nominated for the NHS scholarship not only demonstrate academic excellence but also excel in the areas of service, leadership, and character,” said David Cordts, associate director, NHS. “In recognizing leadership in co-curricular activities, as well as academic performance, the NHS scholarship recognizes the importance of a well-rounded education. Co-curricular activities are an essential part of the school curriculum.”
The National Honor Society (NHS) and the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are the nation’s premier organization recognizing outstanding middle level and high school students who demonstrate excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character.
CIT students participate in BCC computer contest
Eight junior and senior programming students participated in the Bristol Community College Programming Contest on March 18, 2009. Our students were grouped into three teams. The juniors competed using the Visual Basic.NET development environment, while the seniors used a NetBeans Java environment. The competition had each team work on a set of problems of varying difficulty. The programming contest featured twelve teams from six local area high schools.
While competitive, Old Colony did not place in the contest. This was a good opportunity for the junior programming students observe how the contest was run and what to expect next year. The students now also have a good idea of how the competitive this contest is. During the bus ride from the contest, the students discussed key skills that would help them to do better next year. Among these would be a handling two dimensional arrays and string manipulation. With the sharpening of these skills Old Colony will do better in the future.
The following students participated in the programming contest for Old Colony:
- Drew Bartlett, Lakeville
- Robert Daniel, Acushnet
- Robert Dupre, Lakeville
- Kyle LeBlanc, Acushnet
- Stephen Mantia, Carver
- Eli Reznekervitz, Freetown
- Sara Sherman, Carver
- Alexander Tironati, Freetown
Culinary Arts juniors pass Serv Safe Certification Exam
Old Colony’s Culinary Arts juniors have recently been notified of successfully passing the Serv Safe Food Protection Manager Certification Examination.
The 15-hour training session is completed in the Related classroom. The Serv Safe Certification is required prior to a student being placed on Cooperative Education.
The following students received the required passing scores:
- Kaitlyn Dextraze – Acushnet
- Nicole Dexter – Carver
- Courtney Littman – Carver
- Timothy O’Malley – Carver
- Mikayla Langevin – Freetown
- Chad McIntosh – Freetown
- Kelsey Beecher – Lakeville
2009 Excellence in Effort winners named
Old Colony “Excellence In Effort” Award” winners are as follows:
Shop | Name | Town | |
Automotive | Raymond DuBois | Lakeville | |
CAD Drafting | Katherine Stellato | Mattapoisett | |
Computer Info Technology | Stephen Mantia | Carver | |
Cosmetology | Danielle Wolfer | Lakeville | |
Culinary Arts | Brianna Hodgkins | E. Freetown | |
Electrical | Jordan Casey | Acushnet | |
Electronic Tech | Robert Perry | Carver | |
Graphic Comm. & Design | Ashley Campbell | Freetown | |
Health Careers | Courtney Deneault | Acushnet | |
House Mill Carpentry | Tyler Steek | Lakeville | |
Machine & Tool | Timothy Turner | Lakeville |
“Excellence In Effort” Award” winners are chosen by shop and related instructors on the basis of effort … effort that is not restricted to a natural gift or talent, but based on the motivation to do well.
Students will receive a specially designed jacket with an “Excellence In Effort” logo, a framed certificate, and their names inscribed on a corridor plaque.
The in-school “Excellence in Effort” Award Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2009.