Sometimes we have to step away to see what takes place in our class.
epresenting our school, Katherine Pensak from Legal and Protective and Allyson Bettencourt from Carpentry, recently exhibited their senior projects at the Library Showcase on Legislative Day at the State House in Boston. This effort was put in place to show a broad picture of what gets done both in shop and in academic classes for the Senior Project. The goal was to showcase as an entire school what is only seen to students in a very small way. With the collaboration of Mrs. MacLeod, Mrs. Luksha and I we put together a plan to showcase all that happens within the entire school as well as the cooperative opportunities to the workforce in the larger community.
epresenting our school, Katherine Pensak from Legal and Protective and Allyson Bettencourt from Carpentry, recently exhibited their senior projects at the Library Showcase on Legislative Day at the State House in Boston. This effort was put in place to show a broad picture of what gets done both in shop and in academic classes for the Senior Project. The goal was to showcase as an entire school what is only seen to students in a very small way. With the collaboration of Mrs. MacLeod, Mrs. Luksha and I we put together a plan to showcase all that happens within the entire school as well as the cooperative opportunities to the workforce in the larger community.
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Our proposal read: Because Research Enables Ideas to Be Manufactured Into Reality.
The “Land of Opportunity” is perpetuated by craftsmen who turn dreams, ideas and concepts into tangible products designed to enhance our existence in some way. The cornerstone of learning at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School rests on our students’ ability to successfully integrate their academic and vocational-technical skills into real world applications. The Tri-County Senior Project does just that. It is a cap stone project which is a requirement for graduation. It all begins with an “idea”, formulated within the trade program area, but outside of the State Frameworks Curriculum. That idea is shaped by exhaustive research via school and community libraries. Web info, periodicals, technical papers, trade journals and code handbooks all contribute the fodder for product development. These Senior Projects are the result of this extensive collaboration between the student, the Library Media Center, the English department and the various program trade areas. Our students benefit greatly from state funded resources such as online access and a wealth of resources and support services provided by Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Mass Library Systems and Massachusetts School Library Association. The process of creating the product, although beneficial to personal learning, is of no benefit to the greater good if it lies dormant. In other words; “the next best thing since sliced bread” is totally useless unless it gets out to the universe. In light of this fact, students must present their product along with articulating their research, findings and thought process to a panel of adult judges. Once again, the library/media center is accessed for the creation of the Power Point, as well as construction of a “script”. Start to finish, the Tri-County Senior Project provides a valuable learning experience, inciting extensive thought processes, advocating independent research, promoting the value of experimentation and embracing learning garnered through trial and error. These are all vital workplace skills that begin to develop and become exhibited through The Senior Project. The Tri-County Senior Project is a vehicle which integrates learning between academic and vocational areas thereby promoting literacy, critical-thinking, intellectual curiosity and life-long learning. A few students will be on hand to walk any person through the steps they took. In the display there will be examples from the various stages done in the process from the first steps of the research to the final product. |
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One of the highlights of the event was when Kate and Ally got to present their projects to various state legislators including Senator James Timilty (D-Walpole). "It was great to meet Kate Pensak and Ally Bettencourt at the State House. I was very impressed with the quality of the craftsmanship in each of their senior projects”, said Senator Timilty. “Tri-County Regional High School consistently provides students access to an exceptional, well-rounded education."
“The cornerstone of learning at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School rests on students’ ability to successfully integrate their academic and vocational-technical skills into real world applications”, said Superintendent Stephen Dockray. “The Tri-County Senior Project does just that. It is a cap stone project which is a requirement for graduation.”
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The Massachusetts School Library Association's Bookmark Contest winners were also at the State House exhibiting their bookmarks. Tri-County student, Hannah Davis, received an Honorable Mention. A total of 4176 votes from 187 towns were tallied. Students were challenged to create a bookmark to the theme of " Beyond The Binding". This year winning bookmark images came to life by Aursama augmented reality. You can pick up Hannah Bookmark, see her illustration and flip over the bookmark to understand how to see it come to life. To view all 2017 winning bookmarks, visit http://www.maschoolibraries.org/contests.html. Congratulations Hannah! |
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