SW Tech Updates
Keeping You ConnectedNovember 13th 2024
Law Enforcement
● Year 1: Wrapping up the Criminal 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 cooperation The class is enthusiastically requesting scenario role plays to apply these skills.
● Video & TV 2 and 3: They’ve completed eight episodes of Class Act, navigating a busy news cycle. The Halloween special was a hit, and their partnerships with CAT-TV and the Bennington Banner have been invaluable learning experiences. Check out their latest work on YouTube at SouthwestTechTV.
Human Services
Video & TV Production
● Video & TV 1: Students are learning video interview skills and creating cinematic montages, practicing with short documentaries.
● Seniors: Working at placements like Head Start, Shaftsbury Elementary, and Growing Upright, gaining valuable paid experience. They’re also taking Introduction to Early Childhood Education as a college course and attended a 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 time and outdoor play.
Medical Professions
Medical Professions 2 had a virtual meeting with a UNE admissions counselor, job-shadowing various roles, and some students are already receiving college acceptances.
Special Education
Participated in state equity meetings, gaining insights into statewide accessibility initiatives and brainstorming ways to enhance program access.
program. They volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, practiced interview techniques, and many are beginning job shadows.
Adult Education
● Introduction to WeldingInstructor Tim Mullen leads a group of four in basic welding skills, covering AC/DC Stick and MIG techniques.
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
● Massage Therapy- Students recently learned about the using tattoo markers to identify muscles involved in respiration directly on each other! 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) and baking and pastry arts (Year 2). They recently catered a Veterans Brunch, supported the Empty Bowls event with soups and focaccia bread, and are preparing for a record-breaking Thanksgiving pie production.
Cosmetology
Students have completed their Barbicide IRC certification and are practicing hairstyling fundamentals (Cosmetology 1) and hair-lightening techniques (Cosmetology 2). They’ll be competing in the Cosmetology in Action Hairshow and updo competition on November 18 in Nashua, NH. Good luck to all participants!
Graphic Arts
they will begin learning Adobe InDesign, a desktop publishing and page design software used to create print and digital media.
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.
Year 2/3: Students are busy using the button maker, t-shirt printer, and inkjet printers to fill the Vending Machine. They continue their partnership with Culinary, creating menus for Bistro 1761. Currently, they are finalizing the logo for the new TV/Video CLASS ACT show Next week,
Pre-Tech: Pre-tech students are diving into typography, designing their own fonts and matching fonts to various projects to study how different typography classifications impact design
Special Recognition: The Bennington 250th Coloring Book, designed by Graphic Arts students last year, was selected to be used in the state’s history curriculum. This milestone highlights the students' talent and the impact of their work on education statewide.
Advanced Manufacturing
Students are mastering the programming of milling machines using G-Code, which controls machine movements. A newly added fiber laser is being used for teaching 2D CAD and creating ornaments
and gifts for family, as well as being available to other classes for project use
Recently, students visited the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont the birthplace of modern manufacturing The trip highlighted the rich history of the "Precision Valley" along the Connecticut River.
Building Trades
designed for practical use in agricultural settings.
Building Trades 1: The class has begun constructing sheds, focusing on foundational construction techniques, including framing, roofing, and siding. Recently, they completed detailed cabinetry work for Bistro 1761, where their craftsmanship is being showcased in the Culinary program’s kitchen and dining area
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
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
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)