1. Welcome Blackstone
Valley tech parents
Class of 2023

2. Rigor
Relevance
Relationships

3. Rigorous Courses Not Overwhelming
Healthy realistic expectations…emphasize the cliff
Not
Overwhelming

4. 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.

5. 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

6. English Difference in level is attributed to pace, depth and rigor
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)
Emphasis on MCAS Preparation
* Special Education students only

7. 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
* Special Education students only

8. 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:
College Prep World History II:
World History II:
World History II: *
* Special Education students only

9. 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.
Neither option provides students with an advantage over the other
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

10. Electives Art 9- Introductory Art Studio Music 9- Music Appreciation I
Writer’s Voice
Spanish I
Spanish II- (Must take BVT Placement Exam)
Honors Immersion Spanish II – (must take BVT Placement Exam)
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.

11. 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.

12. 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
All students take Career Enrichment at the same level

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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Special Education

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

19. 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

20. Questions?