BVT Earns National Engineering Program Recognition
Oct 28, 0004 06:00AM ● By Pamela Johnson
BVT named a distinguished school and awarded STEM Career Pathway Capacity Grant
UPTON – Blackstone Valley Tech’s educational philosophy centers on embracing new learning models and creating project-based curriculum that engages students. In 2014, the school found a perfect partnership with Project Lead the Way, a nonprofit organization that provides transformative learning experiences for students and teachers by empowering them to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through computer science, engineering, and biomedical science pathways. The partnership has created new learning opportunities for students and recently brought an accolade and a chance to expand programs to Blackstone Valley Tech.
The organization recognized Blackstone Valley Tech as a 2017-2018 Project Lead the Way Distinguished School for its commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW programs. The school is one of only 133 high schools across the United States to receive the honor.
“This year, we’ll be graduating our first group of seniors. This accolade is a testament to their hard work and dedication over the last four years,” said Engineering Technology instructor Matthew Connors. “I attribute the success of the program to the seniors who have paved the way for future generations or students.”
Blackstone Valley Tech currently offers six PLTW courses in Engineering where 79 percent of students earn top scores on the program’s End-of-Course Assessments, which allows students to receive college credits. With the success of the PLTW Engineering courses, Valley Tech committed to expanding PLTW offerings to other programs.
The organization recognized Valley Tech’s desire to provide additional transformative learning opportunities and awarded the school a $12,000 grant to offer additional high-quality science, technology, engineering, and math programs. The school will use grant funds to implement a new PLTW Computer Science pathway for the Information Technology program, support teacher professional development, and purchase materials and equipment used in the hands-on, activity-, project-, and problem-based course.
“Introducing project based learning activities through the new Project Lead the Way Computer Science curriculum allows our students to collaborate, create, and resolve problems that inevitably occur in the development process,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick. “Access to these Project Lead the Way courses will create new opportunities for our students and provide new pathways that will enhance post-secondary opportunities, including employment and higher education.”
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us
UPTON – Blackstone Valley Tech’s educational philosophy centers on embracing new learning models and creating project-based curriculum that engages students. In 2014, the school found a perfect partnership with Project Lead the Way, a nonprofit organization that provides transformative learning experiences for students and teachers by empowering them to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through computer science, engineering, and biomedical science pathways. The partnership has created new learning opportunities for students and recently brought an accolade and a chance to expand programs to Blackstone Valley Tech.
The organization recognized Blackstone Valley Tech as a 2017-2018 Project Lead the Way Distinguished School for its commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW programs. The school is one of only 133 high schools across the United States to receive the honor.
“This year, we’ll be graduating our first group of seniors. This accolade is a testament to their hard work and dedication over the last four years,” said Engineering Technology instructor Matthew Connors. “I attribute the success of the program to the seniors who have paved the way for future generations or students.”
Blackstone Valley Tech currently offers six PLTW courses in Engineering where 79 percent of students earn top scores on the program’s End-of-Course Assessments, which allows students to receive college credits. With the success of the PLTW Engineering courses, Valley Tech committed to expanding PLTW offerings to other programs.
The organization recognized Valley Tech’s desire to provide additional transformative learning opportunities and awarded the school a $12,000 grant to offer additional high-quality science, technology, engineering, and math programs. The school will use grant funds to implement a new PLTW Computer Science pathway for the Information Technology program, support teacher professional development, and purchase materials and equipment used in the hands-on, activity-, project-, and problem-based course.
“Introducing project based learning activities through the new Project Lead the Way Computer Science curriculum allows our students to collaborate, create, and resolve problems that inevitably occur in the development process,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick. “Access to these Project Lead the Way courses will create new opportunities for our students and provide new pathways that will enhance post-secondary opportunities, including employment and higher education.”
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us
