Welcome Blackstone Valley tech parents Class of 2022

21st c E N T U R y skills

Keep your doors open, seize all opportunities and make adjustments continuously and often.

Begin With the End In Mind BVT CLASS of 2014

Working toward common goals, regardless of discipline Working toward common goals, regardless of discipline. Through rigorous and relevant courses, formed through respectful relationships, students and faculty embody our mission and philosophy. Our goal is for students (regardless of their career plan – work, military or further education, to all end with the same common goal, to acquire high skills which translate into high wage opportunities. Academics has a continuous emphasis on workplace behaviors and expectations, regardless of the unique pathway and career plan of each student. Blended curriculum versus independent silos, resulting in a fusion of academics and vocational skills Integrated curriculum between academic departments and vocational shops Career Enrichment / STEAM are providing an integrated curriculum for all students Unit and lesson plans emphasize critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving strategies Across the Curriculum Initiatives enhance both the vocational shops and the academic departments. Students participate in Reading, Writing and Listening Across the Curriculum, the “Math Problem of the Month” “Reading Raffle” Continuum of services and education are provided through technological platforms like Moodle and Edmodo Dedicated and motivated faculty- they themselves are very much overachievers Tiered Interventions and supports are in place to monitor all students proactively Remedial efforts as needed, take a proactive approach versus reactive Our students are tested and challenged like all other freshmen in Massachusetts. We are held to the same standards including CCSS, MCAS, MA State Frameworks, Vocational competencies, AP and College Board requirements

Academic expectations Rigor Relevance Relationships

Academic Preparation Students, with the guidance of adults in their lives, should develop an understanding of their academic learning strengths and weaknesses Take challenging courses every year College Prep, Honors, Advanced Placement Improve study and note taking skills Develop organization and time management skills Manage strategies to ensure balance including maintaining positive mental health/coping Colleges are not just looking at grades for all four years, but course selection as well. Students should make an academic plan as early as possible in high school. Many advanced level courses require success in pre-requisites. Identify subject areas they excel in and encourage them to challenge themselves. Introduce the concept of mastering a subject and learning the material versus working toward a grade. Emphasize mental health and wellbeing! Use subject areas the student has trouble with or is struggling in as an opportunity to develop their study or note taking skills to learn the material. Encourage students to ask for help and study tips from teachers. Talk to students about cultivating relationships with teachers; introduce recommendation letters and how they will be requesting a letter from a teacher which needs to speak to their strengths as a students and motivation in the classroom. Explain how developing organization and time management skills will benefit them in college and beyond. Beat procrastination! Accomplish daily tasks More free time Less stress Encourage students to read for fun! Develop writing and language skills College or career interviews Standardized test prep/make flash cards of vocabulary words

Career Planning: Balance Rigorous Courses Healthy realistic expectations…emphasize the cliff Not Overwhelming

Organization & Time Management Keys to success Proper Course Selection Attendance Participation Organization & Time Management Supports Positive Thinking

Maintaining Rigor and Expectations Freedom to choose vs. holding true to advertised expectations Encourage your son/daughter to make reflective choices about courses Changing academic courses should be minimized BVT has a stellar track record for student performance by any measure Instituting “21st Century Rigor” and STEAM

Academic Planning Continuous education Students will participate in a one week academic schedule, followed by a one week in their respective vocational shop. Students will alternate between academics and shop, one week at a time. It is common for students to be working on their academic subjects during shop week and vice versa. Students are continuously learning and managing two curriculums simultaneously.

Academic Day Math Career Enrichment English Social Studies Elective Science Social Studies Career Enrichment During the academic week, students will be enrolled in the following academic courses for an 8 period day. Students will alternate each day with double periods on their core subjects English, Math, Science and Social Studies to expand upon their time in learning. Their academic day also includes one elective of their choice and career enrichment. Career Enrichment is an integrated course, on the academic side, which provides the vocational strands 4,5,6. Technical Competency, Employability and Entrepreneurship and Management. This is enhanced with an emphasis on 21st century skills, digital literacy, growth mindset and character development. Additionally, students participate in Occupational Health and PE, which is provided during their shop time once students are permanently placed in their shops in December. *P.E./Occupational Health classes meet during the shop cycle

Course selection Program of Study Proper Placement Placement Testing Course Selection Revisions Begin With The End In Mind Placement testing is critical Data points are reviewed Parent input is critical Drives conversations with families True sense of advisement Mass Model of School Counseling- College and Career Planning Emphasis on expanding electives- including foreign language offerings, art, music Students have flexibility to take challenging courses if so desired Master Schedule is a detailed matrix that gives

Plan With the End in Mind Another resource I wanted to point out, it is also a handout and very handy chart to keep on hand, is page 11. This is a snap shot of every course we plan to offer next year at BVT. The subsequent pages in the POS contain detailed info about each course, but this document is helpful for long term planning. I actually recommend that you start looking at senior year and work your way back to freshmen year. These are conversations what we’d like families to start having now, again, planning with the end in mind. When students start to formulate their goals, they need to work backward to see the necessary building blocks to help lead them to where they eventually want to be.

Plan With The End In Mind Course Registration Form English Math (Entry point into the pathway is critical) Social Studies Biology or Physics (Honors 1 year or CP Part I, Part II to be completed in grade 10) Elective Career Enrichment

English Honors English I College Prep English I English I English I* Course Offerings Information to Note Honors English I College Prep English I English I English I* Difference in level is attributed to pace, depth and rigor Focus on all aspects of communication (reading, writing, speaking) Aligned with Common Core Standards/Mandatory Curriculum Units Emphasis on MCAS/PARCC Preparation * Special Education students only

Math COURSE OFFERINGS INFORMATION TO NOTE Honors Algebra II College Prep Algebra I Algebra I Algebra I* Correct placement freshmen year is imperative! Placement testing is our most reliable indicator Start with the end in mind, even reviewing college admissions requirements Fully aligned with Common Core thus intensity and rigor and pace of each course is notably more challenging than prior to Common Core * Special Education students only

Social Studies Course Offerings INFORMATION TO NOTE Difference in level is attributed to pace, depth and rigor Focus on all aspects of communication (reading, writing, speaking) Emphasis on integrative technology and cross curricular initiatives Honors World History II: 1500-1800 College Prep World History II: 1500-1800 World History II: 1500-1800 World History II: 1500-1800* * Special Education students only

Science Course offerings Information to NOTE Honors Biology Lab (1 Year)- MCAS Gr. 9 College Prep Biology Lab Part I- MCAS Gr. 10 Biology Lab Part I* Honors Physics Lab (1 Year)- MCAS Gr. 9 College Prep Intro to Physics Lab Part I- MCAS Gr. 10 Freshmen enroll in either Biology or Physics. Students will take the “Big 3” before they graduate. Correct placement freshmen year is imperative! Start with the end in mind, even reviewing college admissions requirements, and future AP aspirations Students interested in taking Honors Biology as freshmen should have excellent reading and vocabulary skills. These students will take MCAS science in grade 9. Students interested in taking Honors Physics should have excellent math skills. These students will take MCAS science in grade 9. The two year CP Science allows for a slower pace and those students will take MCAS science in the sophomore year. All science options are lab sciences Curriculum is inclusive of newly adopted Next Generation State Standards (NGSS)   * Special Education students only

Electives Art 9-Introductory Art Studio Music 9- Music Appreciation I Writer’s Voice Spanish I Spanish II- Must take BVT Placement Exam) TBD Honors Immersion Spanish II Literary Lab Wilson Reading Please NOTE: Students may be scheduled in electives such as Literary Lab or Wilson Reading if diagnostic testing indicates such support is needed or if the IEP team recommends those placements. Honors Immersion students must have participated in an immersion program prior to BVT or is a native/heritage speaker.

What are the next steps? Discuss and review all materials regarding course selection (include current grade 8 teachers/counselors) Reach out to BVT staff as needed with questions about the curriculum/pace/what to expect Summer Reading will be posted on the website this weekend! All grade 9 students will read Peak by Roland Smith. Will be assessed in Career Enrichment

Student Support Services @ BVT School Counseling General Education Supports Special Education Supports School Based Health Center Yvette N Whitesell Director of Student Support Services

School Counseling Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School Grade 9 Supports Remind application/ In/out kiosk Exploratory Process-Career Enrichments Naviance Career Interest Profiler Decide Activity Depression Curriculum & screening

General Education Supports After School Help Academic and Vocational Weeks – Tuesday & Thursday 2:10 to 3:15 Learning Lab-before school, school day, after school Extended Leave Support – 5 + days absent

Special Education

Individualized Supports Transition Camp Exploratory Support Group Friendship Group Related Services *usually referred by an IEP/504 Team

Milford Regional School Based Health Center Mental Health Counseling/Case Management Primary Care • Diagnosis and treatment of minor and acute medical conditions • Counseling related to adolescent issues • Physical exams for sports, school, and employment • Mental health evaluations • Individual, group, and family counseling • Information about communicable diseases with testing and treatment (if needed) • Emergency assessments, including referrals • Prevention of pregnancy, including abstinence   Nutrition Education • Consultation with Primary Care Provider to provide onsite assistance with chronic illness.  • Counseling, including diet and weight control • Nutrition assessments  • Referrals for health services which cannot be provided on site  • Diabetes support BVT School Based Health Center

Questions? http://www.valleytech.k12.ma.us