Blue Hills in the Headlines

By Judy Bass

Eighteen million dollars in funding for regional school transportation that was eliminated from the state budget last fall as part of an emergency budget-cutting strategy by Governor Deval Patrick has been fully restored as the result of intense lobbying by Rep. Cleon H. Turner (D-Dennis), Chair of the Regional School Caucus, as well as school and teachers’ advocates.

The funds were restored because of higher than expected state revenue. Since October 15, the state has collected $181 million more than anticipated.

Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton will have $200,000 in transportation money restored. The school, which has students in grades 9 through 12 from the towns of Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph and Westwood, is required by law like other regional schools to provide transportation to its students. Unlike municipal schools, regional schools cannot go back to their member towns for additional funds after the cut.

Blue Hills Regional Superintendent-Director Joseph A. Ciccolo said, “This restoration of funds helps us keep our educational process on track. Otherwise the $200,000 had to be covered within our operational budget. Once the budget is approved in the spring, we have to work within the approved amount. There is no going back to our towns for supplemental funds. We are very grateful for the Governor’s action.”

By Judy Bass

People’s learning styles are as individual as their fingerprints.  Some like sitting quietly in a classroom watching a teacher at the blackboard.  Others are hands-on learners who prefer to be actively putting their newly-acquired knowledge into practice.

Adele Kiklis of Dedham understands all this from personal experience.  She has three children – Joseph, 18, a Dedham High School Class of 2009 graduate who is now at the New England Institute of Art; Taylor, 17, a senior studying Culinary Arts at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton; and Andrew, 14, a student at Dedham Middle School – and each is unique in terms of what they wanted, or in Andrew’s case, what he seeks in the future, from high school.

Adele and Taylor attended a recent informational meeting at the Dedham Public Library at which staff members and Dedham students from Blue Hills described the school and what it has to offer students. 

“You get a lot out of it,” Taylor told the audience.  “You have four years of experience and there’s a lot of fun.  I’m happy I’m at Blue Hills.”

“The first step,” said Superintendent Joseph A. Ciccolo, who was also present at the meeting, “is deciding what kind of a high school you want.  “We have technical programs that are [career] stepping stones, they aren’t ‘hobby’ programs.  Ciccolo added that the selection of a high school hinges on what plans a student has for his or her future.  For example, if someone wants a combination of academics and career preparation in order to be, say, a child care specialist, cosmetologist, or chef, that person might choose Blue Hills.  If a student wants a career as an accountant or a musician, that individual would probably pick Dedham High.

Joey Kiklis, whom his mother characterizes as “a studious book reader,” knew exactly what he wanted to do and was very comfortable at Dedham High.  He studied TV film production there and in college, he’s doing 3-D media animation.  Taylor is “a doer,” according to Adele, and her family knew that Blue Hills would be an ideal educational environment for her.  Andrew also likes the hands-on approach to learning, so he is applying to Blue Hills.

“As a parent of three,” Adele said, “I can say that every parent knows their child.  You have to do what’s best for your child.  I think Blue Hills is absolutely perfect for Andrew.  At Blue Hills, Taylor gets the best of both worlds, academic and technical.  I can’t say enough about Blue Hills.”

For information on applying to Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, go to www.bluehills.org and click on Admissions on the home page.  The deadline for submitting preliminary application materials is January 2, 2010.

Come to a presentation on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at the Dedham Public Library, Church Street branch, at 4 p.m. to find out about Dedham’s other great public high school!  All are welcome!

Every middle school student in Dedham wants a fantastic career, but where can they go to train for one?

There are so many wonderful career-oriented educational opportunities for students at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton.  The school offers solid academics, outstanding technical education in 16 career pathways, sports, extra-curriculars, and much more. 

Our aim is preparing young men and women for college and careers so they can attain their professional goals, achieve success and maximize their potential to its fullest.  Blue Hills graduates are ready to meet the challenges of the future.

The public is invited to learn more about what Blue Hills Regional Technical School can provide for students from Dedham at an informational presentation at the Dedham Public Library, Church Street branch, on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 4 p.m.

The speakers will be Blue Hills Regional Superintendent Joseph A. Ciccolo, Admissions Director Marybeth Joyce, Blue Hills Culinary Arts instructor / Dedham resident John Haelsen, Blue Hills Regional District School Committee Representative from Dedham / Blue Hills alumnus Joseph Pascarella, and Communications Specialist Judy Bass.     .

For more information, call 781-828-5800 x333.

By Judy Bass

The Engineering Technology program at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, which earned prestigious national certification two years ago from Project Lead The Way (PLTW), an organization that works with middle schools and high schools to ensure that students receive outstanding, state-of-the-art education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), recently earned Chapter 74 status from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Chapter 74 status “recognizes our program as having met all requirements in the technical area of engineering,” said Dr. Michael Meyers, head of the Engineering Technology program.  “It makes us eligible for funding and gives students the opportunity to come to Blue Hills to receive a quality technical engineering education.”

The process necessary to earn Chapter 74 status was extremely rigorous, Meyers explained.  DESE reviewed Blue Hills’ Engineering curriculum, facilities, and the knowledge and professional certifications of the two instructors, Meyers and Mr. Daniel Hamill, to ensure that they have appropriate training.   Meyers is certified as an academic engineering instructor, as well as a vocational engineering instructor; the two, he pointed out have similarities, but differ as well. Academic focuses on theoretical concepts, while vocational emphasizes hands-on training.  Understanding these two aspects of the Engineering curriculum and teaching methodology provides Blue Hills students with an excellent Engineering experience.

The courses students take within the Engineering Technology Program at Blue Hills are accepted by many colleges for credit. To be eligible for credit, students must pass a comprehensive PLTW national exam for each course and maintain a grade of B or higher.  The challenging four-year sequence of courses includes Analog Electronics / Robotics and Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) in Grade 9; Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA), Aerospace Engineering (AE), Robotics / Computer Programming, and Mechatronics I (a discipline that combines mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, and control systems) in Grade 10; Digital Electronics (DE), Principles of Engineering (POE), Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Computer Programming / Robotics, and Mechatronics II in Grade 11; and Engineering Design and Development (EDD), Biotechnical Engineering (BE), Computer Programming / Robotics, and Mechatronics III in Grade 12.

The project-based engineering courses are demanding and utilize students’ creativity, grasp of fundamental concepts, ability to think critically and engage in complex mathematical problem-solving, work in teams, and communicate effectively through reading, writing, listening and speaking. 

One project that Meyers described involves tenth-grade students in the Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) course actually designing an Engineering wing for a building.  They must use surveying skills, complete 3-D drawings (using Autodesk Revit), and then construct their concept from foam board. This year, the project will be even more complicated by requiring the building to include renewable energy concepts such as photovoltaic panels, wind power and geothermal. Students will also apply their digital electronic skills while designing a security alarm system for the building.

Denise O’Loughlin, Director of Vocational Programs at Blue Hills, noted the excellence of the Engineering Technology program at the school, and the fact that Chapter 74 status will serve to further enhance its caliber. 

“Our curriculum goes beyond [state requirements],” she said.  “We are one of the top programs in the nation for Project Lead The Way.  Our engineering program is fabulous, and the teachers [Meyers and Hamill] have a lot to do with it.  It is a jewel for the [students in the] nine communities in the Blue Hills school district,” including Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Norwood, Milton, Randolph, and Westwood.

There will be an Open House at Blue Hills Regional Technical School, 800 Randolph St., Canton, on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.    Families of seventh and eighth graders from the towns of Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph and Westwood and the general public are welcome.  Come learn about the outstanding educational opportunities at your town’s other great high school for career and technical education!

Visitors will be able to tour the school and meet teachers, counselors, students and alumni who can discuss the outstanding academic and vocational programs at Blue Hills.  We offer technical training in: Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing, Automotive Technology, Computer Information Systems, Construction Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Design and Visual Communications, Drafting/CAD, Early Education and Care, Electrical Technology, Electronics, Engineering Technology, Graphic Communications, Health Assistant Program, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies. Demonstrations will be conducted in many of these programs.

Information will also be available about the school’s athletic activities, clubs and student organizations.

Please join us as we continue the tradition of building careers for students.

For more information, call the Admissions Office at 781-828-5800, ext. 231 or 229.

By Judy Bass

Blue Hills Regional Technical School Superintendent Joseph A. Ciccolo and Communications Specialist Judy Bass were the speakers at a recent meeting of the Canton Lions Club at Boston’s by the Viaduct Restaurant.  They both emphasized the excellence of the career training provided by Blue Hills and the numerous outstanding success stories of its graduates.

Calling career and technical education his favorite subject, Ciccolo said that things have really changed in that field.  He mentioned that many of the career paths offered at Blue Hills such as culinary arts, health care, and computer systems networking are among the fastest growing occupations in the nation, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Noting that 50,000 students across the state are currently enrolled in technical schools including the 26 regional technical schools like Blue Hills, Ciccolo said, “Depending on the career path of your youngster, that is how you should decide where their high school experience should be.”

Blue Hills has no trouble attracting applicants.  Ciccolo said that the school typically has over 400 students applying for slightly more than half that number of places in the freshman class. 

Hands-on, practical experience is the cornerstone of technical education at Blue Hills, he explained.  “We don’t do pretend things.  We try to give as realistic an experience to our students as we can,” citing the example of a house built on Bolivar Street in Canton three years ago by Blue Hills students in Construction Technology.

Bass spoke about the students and graduates she interviews for the stories she writes for local newspapers.  Among the notable successes she mentioned from Blue Hills were a student who was on Channel 5 as their “A+ Student of the Week” who is now a freshman at Worcester Polytechnic Institute studying robotics; Ari Polivy of Canton, a student at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis; and a Norwood sophomore who hosts her own cable TV cooking program on Norwood Cable Access TV and was a guest last spring on the nationally-televised Rachael Ray Show.

By Judy Bass

“Where would you go to high school if you wanted to be a nurse or become a chef ?” Blue Hills Regional Superintendent Joseph A. Ciccolo asked parents of Westwood middle school children who attended a recent presentation about Blue Hills at the Westwood Public Library’s High Street branch.  “Where would you go if you wanted to be a graphic artist or a child care specialist?

The point was that Blue Hills should be considered as an option for Westwood students seeking excellent hands-on training in 16 career pathways including the ones noted above, plus rigorous academic instruction, according to the speakers from the school.

Ciccolo summed up the value and versatility of a Blue Hills education by noting that “our students are job-ready, career-ready and college-ready.”

Several people from Blue Hills participated in the library presentation, each discussing the school from his or her unique perspective.  They included, in addition to Ciccolo, Charles Flahive, former Westwood High principal and current Westwood representative to the Blue Hills Regional District School Committee; Director of Admissions Marybeth Joyce; Ninth-grade Guidance Counselor Sarah Titus; Westwood resident and Blue Hills English instructor Wapaemi Wariboko; Communications Specialist Judy Bass; and Blue Hills senior Renee Ragucci of Westwood, who is in the Health Assisting program and plans to become a nurse.

Ciccolo began by refuting some prevalent misconceptions about Blue Hills, such as parents must pay tuition (they don’t); the school attracts primarily non-college-bound students (nearly three-quarters of Blue Hills graduates continue their education after high school); and there are widespread discipline problems (the students are typically polite, well-behaved, and intently focused on their studies and future goals).

Flahive, a longtime Westwood resident and educator, said that his eyes were definitely opened after he was elected to the Blue Hills Regional District School Committee in 2008.  “I was very, very impressed,” he said, adding that “the students love the school, which has a lot of offer them.”  He specifically cited Blue Hills’ 100 percent MCAS passing rate, the abundant educational technology available to students throughout the building, and the open enrollment policy with no acceptance quotas for any of the school’s nine district towns.

More reasons why students are eager to be at Blue Hills were described by Director of Admissions Marybeth Joyce.  She said they receive “two educations in one,” meaning they get both academics and career preparation while they are still in high school.  There is extensive career exploration as well, with incoming freshmen being given the chance to learn about all 16 career paths at Blue Hills before they choose one to concentrate in for the next three and a half years.

Joyce also mentioned that “real world experience” is a key component of being at Blue Hills. Students who meet all qualifying criteria are allowed to take co-op positions at local businesses and industries during their junior and senior years, this gaining useful on-the-job experience in their professional field.

That experience often translates into references from their employers, notable credentials to round out their resume, and an edge on the competition for jobs in the future.

Following up on Joyce’s comments, Guidance Counselor Sarah Titus, who advises the Blue Hills freshmen, talked about how she works with the ninth graders to create a career portfolio that takes into consideration their interests and options, the education they will need after high school, and potential earning power.

One of the most persuasive and enthusiastic voices at the presentation was that of Renee Ragucci, who is in her senior year and clearly savors life at Blue Hills.  She is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and has participated in the annual contests sponsored by a national organization for vocational students called SkillsUSA.

Concluding the remarks were teacher Wapaemi Wariboko and Communications Specialist Judy Bass, both of whom spoke appreciatively of the school.  Bass mentioned interviewing many alumni of Blue Hills who have gone on to especially illustrious careers.  One of them was the executive chef at Fenway Park, who told her that his freshman year in college studying culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island was a breeze because he already had all the fundamental techniques of cooking down cold thanks to his great education at Blue Hills.

There will be an Open House at Blue Hills Regional Technical School, 800 Randolph Street, Canton, on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.  All are welcome.  For information, call 781-828-5800, x231.  Please visit the Blue Hills Regional web site at www.bluehills.org.

By Judy Bass

When State Rep. John H. Rogers (D) visited Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton recently, Blue Hills Superintendent Joseph A. Ciccolo mentioned to him that the school’s excellence – and more broadly speaking, the remarkable success of technical education in Massachusetts –  is one of the best-kept secrets in education as far as the public is concerned.

Without missing a beat, Rogers said, “You want it to be a crown jewel rather than a hidden gem.”

Achieving that sought-after status, and brainstorming about ways to give technical education a more prominent “seat at the table” in education-related discussions on Beacon Hill, were among the key issues discussed when Rogers, who represents Norwood (one of the towns in the Blue Hills Regional school district) in the Twelfth Norfolk District and has served as House Majority Leader for nearly five years, visited the school for a tour and lunch meeting in the school’s student-run restaurant.

Also present were Blue Hills Regional District School Committee Representative Kevin Connolly of Norwood and Blue Hills Regional Communications Specialist Judy Bass.  Connolly, a longtime Norwood resident, was instrumental in working with Rogers’ staff to arrange his visit.

Three Blue Hills Regional students from Norwood were introduced to Rogers as well: sophomore Melisa Varitimos, who hosts her own cooking show, Oven Luv’n with Chef Melisa, on Norwood Cable Access TV and is studying Culinary Arts at the school; and two outstanding students in the Early Education and Care program, senior Tyler Ellett and sophomore Samrana Bertrand.

During lunch, the talk turned to the tremendous success experienced by many Blue Hills Regional graduates.  Connolly mentioned one young lady from Norwood, Beverly Woods ’05, who was the school’s first female football player, got selected by Channel 5 as one of their “A+ Student of the Week” honorees and then went on to study at Bridgewater State College. 

He also described some other exceptional Blue Hills graduates from Norwood for Rogers including Connolly’s own older brother, James, the Class of 1975 Senior Athlete of the Year, who retired as a Lt. Colonel in the US Marine Corps after 25 years of service; Moses Curry, Class of 2000, who was second in the state in scoring in football; and James Murphy, Class of 1993, the first student from Blue Hills Regional to attend the US Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Connolly told Rogers that Blue Hills Regional has a great track record with its students receiving John and Abigail Adams Scholarships, which are awarded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to high school students who excel on the MCAS.

Ciccolo noted the fact that some 50,000 students across Massachusetts are enrolled in technical programs and high schools, a number that is steadily growing.

Rogers said that he has not yet seen the tide turning significantly as far as the economic downturn is concerned, given the record number of home foreclosures and unemployment statistics.  With so many people retraining for new careers after their jobs were eliminated, and high school students learning valuable professional skills in schools like Blue Hills Regional, Bass said that technical education is finally beginning to get its long-deserved due.

She brought to Rogers’ attention the numerous services that Blue Hills Regional provides to the public at less-than-commercial prices.  Local residents can enjoy lunch at the restaurant four days a week, have their car repaired, enjoy the state-of-the-art Wellness Center, or come to the Day of Beauty to get top-notch cosmetology services and lunch for one low price.

Ciccolo ended the meeting by telling Rogers that the school was very grateful for the time he spent visiting and that he hoped Blue Hills Regional would forge an even closer relationship in the future with Rogers and other members of the Legislature who serve the school’s nine member communities.

Rogers expressed his immense appreciation for Blue Hills Regional and what it does for the young men and women who attend it, saying, “This is a vibrant institution of learning that is so fundamentally important to our schoolchildren and the economic growth of our Commonwealth.”

There will be an Open House at Blue Hills Regional Technical School, 800 Randolph St., Canton, on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.    Families of seventh and eighth graders from the towns of Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph and Westwood and the general public are welcome.  Come learn about the outstanding educational opportunities at your town’s other great high school for career and technical education!

Visitors will be able to tour the school and meet teachers, counselors, students and alumni who can discuss the outstanding academic and vocational programs at Blue Hills.  We offer technical training in: Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing, Automotive Technology, Computer Information Systems, Construction Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Design and Visual Communications, Drafting/CAD, Early Education and Care, Electrical Technology, Electronics, Engineering Technology, Graphic Communications, Health Assistant Program, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies. Demonstrations will be conducted in many of these programs.

Information will also be available about the school’s athletic activities, clubs and student organizations.

Please join us as we continue the tradition of building careers for students.

For more information, call the Admissions Office at 781-828-5800, ext. 231 or 229.

By Judy Bass

Most high school students who are studying Construction Technology would love a personal visit from renowned home improvement expert Bob Vila, who made his reputation on television with three consecutive successful programs: “This Old House,” “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” and “Bob Vila.”

The Construction Technology students at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton are nearly that fortunate because Vila has generously donated a VHS library of most of his past episodes consisting of approximately 15 seasons (about 26 episodes per season). The donation included denim shirts with the Bob Vila logo on them.

The video library is worth approximately $1,000 to $1,500, estimates Vila’s former TV production manager, John Troy of Pembroke, who now is an elementary school teacher in Halifax.

“I did suggest the donation to Blue Hills, however, Bob has always been involved in charity and giving donations to any number of causes,” Troy said. “He certainly has been a supporter of education, and a technical school such as Blue Hills certainly seemed like a good home for these materials. Over 25 years in television, you accumulate a lot of videotape, and since much of the footage from the show is now on DVD or streamed on bobvila.com, there wasn’t much need to hold onto those tapes. Bob was very committed to finding a good home for them, rather than simply destroying or recycling them.”

Troy continued, “I think the tape library is a great resource. We covered so many aspects of carpentry, home restoration, renovation, and construction that there are great tips and techniques throughout the episodes. ‘Home Again’ was a do-it-yourself show in many ways and it was geared towards an audience that might be interested in taking on these projects themselves. There is also a wealth of information on building materials, appliances, tools….the whole spectrum really. Not to mention the various historic homes and sights and sounds of the many locations the show traveled to.”

Blue Hills Construction Technology instructor Al Saviano expressed the school’s appreciation for the generous donation. “The tapes will be very helpful. There’s enough for three or four years. We certainly are grateful.”