Southwest Tech News Letter

SW Tech Updates

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Video & TV 2 and 3: They’ve completed eight episodes of Class Act, navigating a busy news cycle.

Keeping You ConnectedNovember 13th 2024

The Halloween special was a hit, and their partnerships with CAT-TV and the Bennington Banner have been invaluable learning

Law Enforcement ●

experiences. Check out their latest work on YouTube at

Year 1: Wrapping up the Criminal

SouthwestTechTV.

Law unit and moving on to Lawful Arrests, covering the rights of suspects and victims. ●

Year 2:

Students are reading Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion, exploring ways to handle confrontations and encourage

Human Services ●

like Head Start, Shaftsbury

cooperation. The class is

Elementary, and Growing Upright,

enthusiastically requesting

gaining valuable paid experience.

scenario role plays to apply these

They’re also taking Introduction to

skills.

Early Childhood Education as a college course and attended a

Video & TV Production ●

Video & TV 1: Students are learning video interview skills and creating cinematic montages, practicing with short documentaries.

Seniors: Working at placements

career fair and teacher’s conference. ●

Juniors: Applying for pre-apprenticeships and studying child development and lesson planning. They’re helping with

preschool activities, including nap

program. They volunteered with Habitat

time and outdoor play.

for Humanity, practiced interview

Medical Professions Medical Professions 2 had a virtual

techniques, and many are beginning job shadows.

Adult Education

meeting with a UNE admissions counselor, job-shadowing various roles,

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Introduction to Welding-

and some students are already receiving

Instructor Tim Mullen leads a

college acceptances.

group of four in basic welding skills, covering AC/DC Stick and MIG techniques. ●

Massage Therapy- Students recently learned about the respiratory system, using tattoo markers to identify muscles involved in

Special Education

respiration

Participated in state equity meetings,

each other!

gaining insights into statewide accessibility initiatives and brainstorming ways to enhance program access.

Work-Based Learning The WBL program has been actively connecting students to career resources.

They visited HVCC, receiving presentations on financial aid and disability services, and toured the HVAC

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directly on

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Tractor Operation- Eric Bishop is teaching safe tractor operation, brush hogging, tilling, and grading, thanks to a grant from the Town of Bennington.

Culinary Arts Students are producing lunch for the Bistro, mastering soups, stocks, and

sauces (Year 1)

they will begin learning Adobe InDesign, a

and baking and

desktop publishing and page design

pastry arts (Year

software used to create print and digital

2). They recently

media.

catered a Veterans Brunch, supported the Empty Bowls event with soups and focaccia bread, and are preparing for

Year 1: Students have started exploring Adobe Illustrator, focusing on the basics of creating, combining, grouping, and arranging shapes and elements in visually compelling ways.

a record-breaking Thanksgiving pie

Pre-Tech: Pre-tech students are diving

production.

into typography, designing their own

Cosmetology Students have completed their Barbicide

fonts and matching fonts to various projects to study how different typography classifications impact design.

IRC certification and are practicing

Special Recognition: The Bennington

hairstyling fundamentals (Cosmetology 1)

250th Coloring Book, designed by

and hair-lightening techniques

Graphic Arts students last year, was

(Cosmetology 2). They’ll be competing in

selected to be used in the state’s history

the Cosmetology in Action Hairshow and

curriculum. This milestone highlights the

updo competition on November 18 in

students' talent and the impact of their

Nashua, NH. Good luck to all participants!

work on education statewide.

Graphic Arts

Advanced Manufacturing

Year 2/3: Students are busy using the

Students are mastering the programming

button maker, t-shirt printer, and inkjet

of milling machines using G-Code, which

printers to fill the Vending Machine. They

controls machine movements. A newly

continue their partnership with Culinary,

added fiber laser is being used for

creating menus for Bistro 1761. Currently,

teaching 2D CAD and creating ornaments

they are finalizing the logo for the new TV/Video CLASS ACT show. Next week,

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and gifts for

designed for practical use in agricultural

family, as well as

settings.

being available to other classes for project use.

Building Trades 1: The class has begun constructing sheds, focusing on foundational construction techniques,

Recently,

including framing, roofing, and siding.

students visited

Recently, they completed detailed

the American

cabinetry work for Bistro 1761, where

Precision

their craftsmanship is being showcased in

Museum in Windsor, Vermont—the

the Culinary program’s kitchen and dining

birthplace of modern manufacturing. The

area.

trip highlighted the rich history of the "Precision Valley" along the Connecticut River.

Building Trades

Woodworking (Pre-Tech): Students are designing and building coffee tables and end tables, emphasizing precision, attention to detail, and finishing techniques. These projects are helping them develop a strong understanding of joinery and furniture design while exploring their creativity.

Upcoming…

November 1 – End of Quarter 1 Building Trades 2: Students are working on building free library boxes for the John G. McCullough Free Library’s spring auction, combining creativity with hands-on construction skills. Additionally, they are constructing horse run-ins, applying their knowledge of framing and outdoor construction to create structures

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November 11 – Veterans Day Observance (No School) November 18 – Cosmetology in Action (CIA) Hairshow and Updo Competition, Nashua, NH November 22 – Bistro 1761 Thanksgiving Pie Pre-Orders Due November 27-29 – Thanksgiving Break (No School)