Invariably, adults pride themselves on their particular struggles growing up. Said struggles forged them into who they are. Yet, we seem determined as parents and educators to deny our youngsters those very experiences.

We’ve all heard the cliché from an elder, “When I was a kid, I walked to school, uphill… both ways… in the snow.” You’ve probably heard yourself proclaim some form of this sentiment to the young people in your life to bring about an awareness of just how good they have it. I remember hearing it as a kid, and I have countlessly echoed these sentiments, proudly, as an adult. It is universal. But why? Is it partly because we cherish the wisdom we gained from the proverbial school of hard knocks? Or are we proud of the fact that we go above and beyond to ensure that our kids have the best opportunities to be happy and successful? Regardless, the school of hard knocks provided us with resiliency, grit, determination, adaptability, independence,

self-reliance, and the strength to overcome obsta- cles. Yet, we are becoming increasingly efficient at eliminating anything of the sort for our youngsters. Our determination to shelter, protect, and provide for them—our fundamental duty as adults—is paradoxically shortchanging our youth.

The evidence of this is falling like snow, as are the unintended consequences. Speaking of snow, many school districts across the country, including BVT, are examining the use of technology and distance learning so that students and staff can work from home in inclement weather. That could be a great alternative to an inherently risky commute; however, when I began working at BVT 22 years ago, the District prided itself on almost never closing for weather because it was authentic to the practices

of business and industry. Over time, schools, including BVT, shifted the philosophy on snow day cancellations to stay in alignment with cultural norms and parent expectations. I can say without doubt that schools have a safer standard today regarding cancellations than they did 20 years ago, but whether it be closing school or working from one’s home computer, no one will be walking to school both ways, uphill, in the snow! I, like you, will always advocate for, and err on the side of safety. Nonetheless, an old adage comes to mind: “The safest place for a ship is in dry dock, and the safest place for an airplane is in the hangar; however, neither will fulfill its purpose in their safe places.” Grist for the mill.

Technology has provided some unintended consequences and a paradox of its own. It is commonplace that students have cell phones and use them to text their parents throughout the day. Some students enable GPS tracking so parents can keep a watchful, protective eye on them. Why not? The technology exists. After all, good parenting includes doing everything possible to ensure your son or daughter’s safe-ty. My parents did everything possible, but my experience as a latchkey kid in the early 1980’s yielded me a vastly different experience than

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Voter Registration Drive

Seven Years & Counting

Purple Ribbons Just Aren’t Enough

Our Annual Report is Here!

A Welcome Back Tradition

Important Dates in our Second Trimester

“We’ve Got Spirit!”

MCAS Scores

Order Your Yearbooks!

Check out what’s inside this issue...

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PARENT NEWSLETTER WINTER 2018 ISSUEthe Link

Transforming Education

Over the past few months I have been paying particular attention to one such challenge to our mission. It stems from an observed paradox in our culture, and I’ve concluded that it is not isolated to BVT, but more accurately to raising Generation Z across America.

Fit for Life

...We are creating a generation that has no idea

what to do when they actually encounter struggle.

Serving as the Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal of BVT is never a dull job, in part, because the educational landscape is always changing. I need to keep a keen eye and ear out for arising challenges to our mission, and as a school we must stay nimble in our responses. Ensuring that our students are career and college ready also means that they are fit — FIT FOR LIFE. Anthony E. Steele II — Principal

According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the five-year survival rate for those with pancreatic cancer is among the lowest of all major cancers at just 9 percent. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is working to create better outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients and their families with the help of fundraising efforts across the nation. On September 17th, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network recognized BVT’s Team Yancik Strong for their incredible work raising more than $15,000 to date to support pancreatic cancer research.

Our community began raising money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as a way to support and honor HVAC&R instructor and football coach, Derek Yancik. The HVAC&R students and football players registered for the Pur-pleStride Boston Walk to End Pancreatic Cancer, enlisted the help of the school and local community, and began raising money. Through apparel fundraisers, bake sales, restaurant give back nights, school events, and donations, the team continues to fight for the cause.

Sadly, Mr. Yancik lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in May, but our students and staff have made it their mission to build awareness for

Purple Ribbons Just Aren’t EnoughPurple Ribbons Just Aren’t EnoughStudents and staff honor HVAC&R instructor Derek Yancik by raising funds for pancreatic cancer research

Student Council returns to school early to welcome new students

When “back to school” commercials began air- ing, many students quickly changed the channel so as not to be reminded of the impending end to their summers. However, members of our Student Council were already deep within plan- ning their school spirit and community events for the new school year, including the ones that would require their already shortened summer respite to be even briefer.

Our Student Council Executive Board returned to school three days early to help prepare for and welcome 312 freshmen and new students. The Student Council plays a major role in the planning and implementation of the annual Welcome Barbecue and Freshmen and New Student Orientation events. “We really started thinking about the Welcome Barbecue in May,” said Student Council President Olivia Mahoney, a senior in Health Services from Sutton. “We talked about things we wanted to do differently at the end of last year, and, when we met in early August, solidified our ideas and now we’re putting things into place.” The Freshmen and New Student Barbecue was the unofficial kick off to our school year. New students had the opportunity to enjoy dinner with their families and new classmates while also receiving their exploratory schedules, filling out important paperwork, and becoming acc- limated to the new environment.

Almost 50 members of the Student Council volunteered to be a part of the event by handing out paperwork and t-shirts, serving food, and being a welcoming presence. “I think the barbecue just takes away a lot of the fear the new students have,” said Emily Donnelly, a senior in Health Services from Millbury. “I remember the barbecue making me less nervous for the first day of school because it was such a warm and welcoming environment. I hope we help these new fresh-men feel the same way.” The barbecue is also an introduction to one of the school’s values: giving back. Students and alumni of the Culinary Arts program also volun-teer their time and skills to cut watermelon, grill hamburgers and hot dogs, and dispense sides. “I rely on the students during the cookout,” said Culinary Arts team leader Matthew Williams. “With their training, my students really know what to do to successfully accommodate an event for upwards of 1,000 people.” The Freshmen and New Student Barbecue, along with the next day’s orientation, included time for the new students to interact with the Student Council, meet their teachers, learn the layout of the school, and interact with class-mates. The Student Council helped provide directions, introduced students and staff, and acted as familiar faces for new students.

Voter Registration Drive Part of helping our students become successful young adults is teaching them to effectively make their voices heard through completing their civic duty: voting. On National Voter Registration Day Tuesday, September 25th, the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society hosted a voter registration drive at the school. Students who were at least 18 years old were able to register to vote during their school day while those students who were at least 16 years old were able to pre- register, and local election officials will automatically register them to vote upon their 18th birthday. Thanks to the event, 100 students were able to register to vote in the November midterm elections.

Our Annual Report is Here!Thanks to our community, our students received a top-notch education during Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018). To demonstrate our gratitude for your continued support, we chose to utilize our Annual Report to highlight our students’ successes and District achievements. The report, titled Curious Exploration, will give you an inside-look at our operations and accomplishments over the last year, including:

• An alumni profile of Nicole White who is unafraid and curiously exploring the opportunities presented to her.

• The Construction Technology students building a train station-inspired playhouse for a local family.

• Students applying their STEM skills and competing in international competitions through our Robotics Club.

The annual report is available online: www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/annualreport and by contacting the Superintendent-Director’s office at 508–529–7758 x3037.

CALENDAR2018 – 2019

Nov 21 Early Dismissal – 11:00 a.m.

Nov 22 & 23 Thanksgiving Break – NO SCHOOL

Nov 26 First Day of Winter Sports Tryouts

Nov 28 Annual Admissions Open House – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (snow date Nov. 29th)

Nov 30 Sophomore Ring Ceremony & Dance –6:00 p.m.

Dec 6 SkillsUSA Charity Dinner – 5:00 p.m.

Dec 8 Gingerbread House Making

Dec 12 Teacher In-Service – 7:45 to 10:30 a.m. Late Start –10:30 a.m.

Dec 13 Winter Concert – 6:30 p.m.

Dec 21 Early Dismissal – 11:00 a.m.

Dec 24–31 Holiday Break – NO SCHOOL

Jan 1 Holiday Break – NO SCHOOL

Jan 9 Teacher In-Service – 7:45 to 10:30 a.m. Late Start –10:30 a.m.

Jan 10 SkillsUSA Charity Dinner – 5:00 p.m.

Jan 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – NO SCHOOL Mid-Term 2 Progress Reports

Jan 31 SkillsUSA Charity Dinner – 5:00 p.m.

Feb 1 Freshmen Application Deadline

Feb 6 Teacher In-Service – 7:45 to 10:30 a.m. Late Start–10:30 a.m.

Feb 18–22 Winter Break – NO SCHOOL

Feb 28 Career & College Fair –8:00 a.m. SkillsUSA Charity Dinner – 5:00 p.m.

Mar 8 End of Second Trimester

Mar 13 SkillsUSA District Competition

Mar 18 First Day of Spring Sports Tryouts

Mar 21 Early Dismissal–11:00 a.m. Superintendent’s Dinner

Mar 22 Teacher In-Service – 7:45 to 10:30 a.m. Late Start–10:30 a.m.

A Welcome Back TraditionA Welcome Back Tradition

“I promised Mr. Yancik last year that I would raise

money again this year and attend the walk even if he wasn’t here.

I feel like I’m honoring him by keeping my promise.

this important cause through their fundraising ef-forts and to help future patients and their families.

“I promised Mr. Yancik last year that I would raise money again this year and attend the walk even if he wasn’t here,” said HVAC&R Class of 2018 graduate Allyson Charpentier. “I feel like I’m honoring him by keeping my promise.”

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network noticed the team’s fundraising prowess and recognized the students and staff with a certificate of apprecia- tion and a letter from the organization’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Lynn Matrisian.

“I know that you became involved with PurpleStride Boston because of your high school football coach, Derek Yancik. Your team name says it best – you all are ‘Yancik Strong’ and you’re showing all of Boston and the nation that the students at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocation- al Technical High School are making a differ-ence,” Dr. Matrisian wrote in her letter. “Your coach would be proud.”

Purple ribbons just aren’t enough. Please con- sider donating to team Yancik Strong by visiting: www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/givingback.

Continued from page 1 kids today. From the 4th grade on, I had to lock up the house and get myself to the bus stop in the morning, and I was usually the first one home at the end of the day. No cell phones, texting, GPS. Just grandma’s phone number if I really got myself into a fix…and guess what, I liked it!

At the beginning of the new school year, we had a freshman come into the Main Office in a complete panic. He couldn’t access the wi-fi, and for the first time in his life, he was out of constant text and voice communication with his parents. We remedied the problem quickly, but it was eye-opening when I contrasted his current level of independence against the notion of getting him career and life ready in four short years. Likewise, our servers deliver hundreds of e-mails between parents and teachers daily ensuring that students are staying on task and doing their assignments. That is a wonderful capability we have at our fingertips, so we use it, but inherently the adults are shouldering a valuable responsibility that used to rest solely on the student. Examples are plentiful around parental involvement with their child’s social lives as well, especially when it involves conflict. Right or wrong, I can factually say that it didn’t used to be this way. There is a new norm. As a trend, Generation Z is exhibiting weakness in some areas that used to be the exception, not the norm. There is a definitive cultural shift with this generation, and we all need to respond.

USA Today recently published an article, “Meet the ‘lawnmower parent,’ the new helicopter parents of 2018” covering a viral internet op-ed piece coining the new phrase. The author as-serts that, “…lawnmower parents mow down all of children’s challenges, discomforts and struggles.” Similar to my observations and con-cerns prior to the article, the author states, “In raising children who have experienced minimal struggle, we are not creating a happier genera-tion of kids. We are creating a generation that has no idea what to do when they actually en-counter struggle.” Clearly, this is an observable cultural shift in our country, and we have all been guilty at one time or another as educators

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Seven Years & Counting The Boston Globe recently awarded BV T with the Scholastic Markham Award. This marks the seventh time we have received this award in the last 11 years. The Division 1 large school vocational title was awarded in recognition of our 67.13 percent winning percentage during the 2017–2018 school year. The highlights: our varsity football team’s undefeated regular season, our girls’ varsity basketball team finishing 21–5, and our girls’ varsity softball team finishing 18–5. Congratulations!

Order Your Yearbook!

Excellence is in the air at BVT! The Class of 2020 demonstrated mastery of several academic areas on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exams. According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 99 percent scored Advanced/ Proficient on the English Language Arts test; 90 percent scored Advanced/Proficient on the Mathematics test; and 94 percent earned Advanced/Proficient scores on the Science and Technology/Engineering exam. Additionally, 168 members of the Class of 2021 shined on the accelerated MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering test. They reached a 100 percent Advanced/Proficient achievement level. Congratulations to all our students!

Transforming EducationBlackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School65 Pleasant Street, Upton, MA 01568508–529–7758 www.valleytech.k12.ma.us

Link to us... As a Massachusetts Green School, BVT fosters an atmosphere of conservation. In that spirit, parents and guardians are reminded that all mandatory forms for the school year and information regarding events and various other happenings on campus are available on our website: www.valleytech.k12.ma.us

Other important resources you’ll find online: school year calendar, monthly lunch menus, café prepay, daily announcements, bus routes, and scholarship information. Be sure to take advantage of iParent, the software that allows you access to your child’s assignments and progress. Register through our website. If you are unable to access our website, please contact the main office at 508-529-7758.

MCAS ScoresMCAS Scores

On Friday, September 28th, our hallways were decorated in black streamers and posters courtesy of a very excitable senior class that spent time after hours creating a “black out” across campus as a way to kick start the Home-coming Festival. Our students wrapped up Spirit Week with a fun and energetic pep rally in the Competition Center celebrating school spirit, student success, and athletic accomplishments. The Student Council made everyone feel welcome by decorating the Competition Center with each class’ color: white for the freshmen, yellow for the sophomores, purple for the juniors, and black for the seniors. The colorful outfits added to the ambience. The pep rally served as the unofficial kickoff for the weekend’s Homecoming Festival and included recognitions, a performance by the cheerleading team, and games for all. The seniors were the champions of both the musical chairs and tug of war games. The winning spirit continued throughout the weekend as our Beavers swept the competition away by winning each sporting contest.

“We’ve Got Spirit!”

Our girls’ varsity soccer team kicked off the weekend with a 4–1 win that included two goals from Emma Ballard and one goal each from seniors Hailey Skowronski and Natalie Steeves. The girls’ varsity volleyball team took that momentum to the court and swept Assabet 3–0. They passed the ball on to the boys’ varsity soccer team who netted four goals in a 4–1 win. The girls’ varsity field hockey team won in a 4–0 shutout before everyone headed over to the football field where senior quarterback Scott Mackay ran for three touchdowns to cap off the Homecoming Festival with a 24–10 win. Many thanks to our students, staff, alumni, and the BVT community for helping us celebrate! We can’t wait to see you again next year.

Continued from page 2 and parents of perhaps going too far to help our youth. There is much to gain from simple awareness that a balance must be achieved between assistance and the value of struggle. Students across the country are critically lacking in: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. That is not my opinion, rather those are the five cornerstones of Social Emo-tional Learning (SEL). SEL started as a concep-tual response to student needs several years ago. Today it is a national priority in education that has become an important core component of one of the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s five strategic priorities. Schools are actively teaching these skills because a lack of them is a barrier to all other learning and subsequently a hindrance to the pursuit of a successful and happy life. Again, awareness and focus on these educational priorities goes a long way to remedy the problem.

Ironically, the focus on SEL and the emergence of terms like “lawnmower parent” are born out of the dedication and care to do the best we can for our children. The thematic weaknesses of Generation Z, was never out of neglect or lack of effort, rather an unintended conse-quence from the contrary— salted by a heavy dose of technology. We want our children to be strong, resilient, responsible, self-reliant, respectful, and someday be good parents themselves. If that is true, we as parents and educators must shift our efforts and allow our children to experience life’s challenges, give them opportunities and guidance to self- advocate and resolve conflicts on their own. In terms of fitness, no one would hire a personal trainer to demonstrate how to lift weights and never touch them himself. A good personal trainer wouldn’t allow it. We need to be great personal trainers and teach our children to lift properly during evey struggle — to feel the burn and gradually build their strength. We need to help them become fit for life. Feed your child a healthy balance of struggle and personal responsibility, and I promise you, not only will they be stronger and happier, but also proudly say, “When I was a kid, I…and I liked it!”

Seniors, don’t miss out on the chance to capture these memories of a lifetime. The deadline to order your yearbook is Thursday, January 31st. Yearbooks cost $75 and can be purchased in the Business Office or online at: www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/yearbookjostens. We sold out last year, so don’t wait. Order yours today!