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Greetings to the Monty Tech Community,
We are still a few weeks from the official transition but, in anticipation of the upcoming season, Happy Spring, Everyone!!
I am sure that we are all happy that winter calmed down a little since my last quarterly update in December, when we had three snow days already on the calendar. Still, we have dealt with some interesting morning commutes as life in the “Route 2 Corridor” can always be exciting during the winter season. Nevertheless, let’s hope that the warm-ish trends continue and the remainder of the winter allows us to finish up early in June. With the holidays, mid-year exams and February break, this quarter is more quiet then others in terms of events, but I certainly do want to highlight a few recent happenings of note –
Just before the holiday break in December, Monty Tech concluded our annual SkillsUSA Local Competitions, as we determined the students that would be moving on to the SkillsUSA District Competition at Bay Path Regional Vocational School in March. The medalists and district qualifiers are listed below and we congratulate them all –
Last Name
First Name
Grade
Town
Contest
Medal
Acevedo
Lucas
12
Gardner
CNC Milling
Gold
Ahlman
Jenna
11
Ashburnham
Aesthetics
Silver
Aldana
Ashlee
12
Fitchburg
Community Service
Gold
Alden
Chris
12
Ashby
Graphic Communications
Gold
Allread
James
11
Templeton
Mechatronics
Bronze
Almenas
Crystal
11
Leominster
Computer Applications
Gold
Alvarado
Jovanni
11
Lunenburg
TeamWorks-
Mason
Amparo
Jelizabeth
11
Fitchburg
Community Service
Bronze
Arsenault
Andrew
10
Winchendon
Advertising Design
Silver
Arsenault
Andrew
12
Winchendon
Welding
Bronze
Atkinson
Jacob
10
Baldwinville
Robotics & Automation Technology
Silver
Atkinson
Chyan
11
Gardner
HVACR
DQ
Baczewski
Gabriel
12
Gardner
Technical Drafting
Gold
Beauvais
Rylee
12
Westminster
Architectural Drafting
Bronze
Belliveau
Derek
11
Baldwinville
Mechatronics
DQ
Bilodeau
Sebastian
12
Fitchburg
Architectural Drafting
Silver
Binkauski
Ashley
12
Athol
Culinary Arts
Bronze
Bishop
Larissa
12
Westminster
Graphic Imaging Sublimation
Bronze
Boardman
Luke
11
Sterling
Cabinetmaking
Silver
Bornstein
Ryan
12
Gardner
Screen Printng Technology
Gold
Bridge
Macey
11
Fitchburg
Medical Assistant
DQ
Brouillet
Chad
12
Ashburnham
Plumbing
Gold
Brouillet
Matt
11
Barre
Technical Drafting
DQ
Buck
Joshua
11
Athol
Information Technology Service
DQ
Burch
Skyla
11
Holder
Urban Search & Rescue
Gold
Buzzell
Adrianna
11
Athol
Job Interview
Gold
Buzzell
Adrianna
11
Athol
Job Skill Demonstration-A
Silver
Caban
Colby
12
Barre
Plumbing
Bronze
Caron
Jaden
12
Hubbardston
CNC Milling
DQ
Carpenter
Michael
12
Holden
Plumbing
Silver
Carrasquillo
Joenys
11
Fitchburg
Photography
Gold
Carter-Egan
Hali
11
Winchendon
Urban Search & Rescue
DQ
Chase
Chris
12
Lunenburg
Digital Cinema Production
Bronze
Chura
Londen
10
Fitchburg
Graphic Communications
DQ
Cintron
Marcus
10
Fitchburg
Welding
Silver
Conrad
Riley
11
Gardner
3D Visualization & Animation
Gold
Conrad
Riley
11
Gardner
Computer Applications
Gold
Corbeil
Jaelynn
12
Fitchburg
Community Service
Gold
Corliss
Nicole
11
Templeton
Job Interview
Silver
Cormier
Michael
11
Royalston
Automotive Service Technology
DQ
Cullen
Michaela
11
Templeton
Community Service
Bronze
Cunningham
Olivia
10
Ashburnham
Prepared Speech
Silver
Darling
Courtney
12
Winchendon
Masonry
Darling
Courtney
12
Winchendon
TeamWorks-
Mason
Dauphinals
Jack
10
Westminster
HVACR
Bronze
Dean
Sam
10
Fitchburg
Graphic Communications
Bronze
Denio-Miller
Annalisa
12
Athol
Masonry
Bronze
Dienst
Piper
11
Winchendon
Mechatronics
DQ
Divoll
Anthony
11
Royalston
Collision Repair Technology
Gold
Divoll
Shea
10
Westminster
Engineering Technology
Silver
Dokulil
Natalie
12
Winchendon
Basic Health Care
Silver
Dokulil
Alexis
11
Winchendon
Community Service
Bronze
Dokulil
Natalie
12
Winchendon
Nurse Assistant
Silver
Doyle
Penelope
11
Princeton
Medical Terminology
Silver
Dubey
Paige
11
Gardner
Cosmetology (Under 500m hrs.)
Silver
Dunham
Ashton
10
Fitchburg
Nail Care
Gold
Durand
Adrianna
11
Athol
Medical Math
Gold
Eagle
Asher
10
Westminster
Mobile Robotics Technology
Gold
Egan
Joe
12
Ashburnham
Digital Cinema Production
Bronze
Egan
Joe
12
Ashburnham
Photography
DQ
Egan
Joe
12
Ashburnham
Screen Printng Technology
Bronze
Eileen
Nina
12
Fitchburg
Computer Applications
Bronze
Farr
Thomas
11
Princeton
Industrial Motor Control
DQ
Femino
Ashley
11
Hubbardston
Early Childhood Education
Silver
Ferazza
Nathan
12
Templeton
Masonry
Gold
Forte
Audrey
10
Hubbardston
Photography
DQ
Fortin
Mickael
11
Winchendon
Automotive Service Technology
Silver
Funnell
Morgan
10
Lunenberg
Cosmetology (Under 500m hrs.)
Gold
Gahagen
Nicholas
10
Winchendon
Mobile Robotics Technology
Gold
Gaulin
Nathan
12
Winchendon
Urban Search & Rescue
Bronze
Gauthier
Aiden
12
Winchendon
Automotive Service Technology
Bronze
Gendron
Amber
12
Winchendon
Graphic Imaging Sublimation
DQ
Geyster
Nicholas
10
Baldwinviille
Electronics Technology
Gold
Gondek
Josef
11
Holden
Web Design
Gold
Gorham
Lynaiah
10
Sterling
Community Service
Silver
Gould
Elliot
12
Athol
Culinary Arts
Gold
Gould
Camden
11
Athol
Culinary Arts
DQ
Goulding
Olivia
11
Ashburnham
Mechatronics
Gold
Griffin
Kyler
12
Gardner
Technical Drafting
Silver
Grimes
Alicia
11
Ashburnham
Medical Assistant
Gold
Grimes
Alicia
11
Ashburnham
Nurse Assistant
DQ
Grimes
Alicia
11
Ashburnham
Medical Terminology
Gold
Gunsalus
Violet
11
Westminster
Advertising Design
DQ
Haas
Cami
11
Winchendon
Job Skill Demonstration-A
Gold
Hadmack
Ashley
12
Royalston
Restaurant Service
Silver
Hailey
Emily
12
Winchendon
Cabinetmaking
DQ
Haley
Katelyn
12
Templeton
Photography
Silver
Hall
Lilly
12
Templeton
Cosmetology (Over 500 hrs.)
DQ
Hall
Dominic
11
Templeton
Mechatronics
Bronze
Hamel
Brian
12
Gardner
Graphic Imaging Sublimation
Gold
Hamisi-Payne
Munashe
10
Fitchburg
Robotics & Automation Technology
Silver
Hass
Camille
11
Winchendon
Related Technical Math
Silver
Hayes
Eric
12
Lunenburg
Graphic Communications
Silver
Hill
Anthony
10
Fitchburg
Electrical Construction Wiring
Silver
Howard
Sophia
10
Barre
Medical Terminology
Bronze
Howard
Sophia
10
Barre
Nurse Assistant
Gold
Howard
Dominic
11
Templeton
Masonry
DQ
Howland
Ethan
12
Athol
Collision Damage Appraisal
Silver
Howland
Alexandria
10
Athol
Community Service
Silver
Hursey
Trentin
12
Gardner
Computer Applications
Bronze
Jackson
Mark
11
Westminster
Engineering Technology
Gold
Jacobs
Sarah
12
Sterling
Cosmetology (Over 500 hrs.)
Gold
Jake
Ross
11
Winchendon
Engineering Technology
Gold
Jayd
Moreau
11
Westminster
Computer Applications
Silver
Jean-Baptiste
Abigail
11
Fitchburg
Dental Assisting
DQ
Jepson
Doug
10
Sterling
Cabinetmaking
Bronze
Johnson
Quinn
11
Ashburnham
Automotive Refinishing Technology
Gold
Johnson
Noah
11
Winchendon
TeamWorks-
Electrician
Johnson
Cameron
12
Winchendon
Web Design
Silver
Joyce
Cailin
11
Sterling
Dental Assisting
Silver
Joyce
Cailin
11
Sterling
Related Technical Math
Bronze
Keating
Kayla
11
Winchendon
Aesthetics
Bronze
Kirrane
Abigail
10
Fitchburg
Prepared Speech
Gold
Kitteredge
Garrett
10
Fitchburg
Collision Damage Appraisal
DQ
Kneeland
Quinn
11
Sterling
3D Visualization & Animation
Gold
Kneeland
Quinn
11
Sterling
Internetworking
Gold
Koula
Joshua
10
Fitchburg
Digital Cinema Production
Silver
Landry
Alex
11
Hubbardston
Cabinetmaking
Gold
Landry
Alex
11
Hubbardston
Job Skill Demonstration-Open
Silver
Landry
Sophie
10
Westminster
Advertising Design
DQ
Leblanc
Cassie
12
Fitchburg
Aesthetics
DQ
L'Ecuyer
Emma
10
Fitchburg
Mechatronics
Silver
Leger
Seamus
10
Gardner
Robotics & Automation Technology
Gold
Leider
Jalen
11
Fitchburg
HVACR
Gold
Leone
Isabella
10
Fitchburg
Medical Terminology
DQ
Magennis
Keaveny
10
Fitchburg
Digital Cinema Production
Silver
Maldonado
Frannellys
12
Fitchburg
Nail Care
Silver
Manderson-Matheson
Nia
11
Athol
Screen Printng Technology
DQ
Marhefka
Aaron
10
Holden
Welding
DQ
Marshall
Alex
12
Fitchburg
Technical Drafting
Bronze
McCrillis
Spencer
11
Baldwinville
Engineering Technology
Gold
McCullough
Kaleb
11
Princeton
Principles of Technology
Silver
McGivern
Deavin
10
Athol
Electrical Construction Wiring
DQ
McIntosh
Alex
11
Athol
Masonry
Silver
Mclaughlin
William
11
Holden
Industrial Motor Control
Gold
McNamara
Bailey
10
Sterling
Early Childhood Education
Bronze
Meattey
Jillian
12
Gardner
Medical Assistant
Silver
Melanson
Adrian
12
Athol
Web Design
Silver
Melendez-Rodriquez
Javier
12
Lunenburg
Urban Search & Rescue
Bronze
Mermanidis
Deaclan
11
Lunenburg
Collision Repair Technology
DQ
Meur
Zachary
12
Gardner
Carpentry
Silver
Michalak
Karlen
10
Sterling
Promotional Bulletin Board
Bronze
Michaud
Kevin
11
Ashby
Automotive Service Technology
Gold
Miller
Alison
12
Winchendon
Dental Assisting
Gold
Mills
Brandon
12
Gardner
Collision Damage Appraisal
Gold
Mojomick
Angelina
10
Fitchburg
Mechatronics
Silver
Morin
Paige
11
Jefferson
Basic Health Care
DQ
Morley Jr.
Rodney
11
Fitchburg
TeamWorks-
Plumber
Moua
KongMong
11
Fitchburg
Urban Search & Rescue
Gold
Moylan
Libby
11
Ashby
Aesthetics
Gold
Mueller
Katrina
10
Lunenburg
Automotive Refinishing Technology
Bronze
Nano
Brian
11
Athol
HVACR
Silver
Nestell
Zachary
12
Ashburnham
Principles of Technology
Gold
Newton
Mike
10
Gardner
Promotional Bulletin Board
Bronze
Oliveria
Devon
11
Gardner
Restaurant Service
Bronze
Olson
Evelyn
11
Phillipston
Nail Care
Bronze
Olson
Cassandra
10
Princeton
Mobile Robotics Technology
Silver
Osborne
Julian
11
Athol
Urban Search & Rescue
DQ
Ovalle
Christopher
12
Fitchburg
Computer Applications
Silver
Ovalle
Robert
11
Fitchburg
Web Design
Gold
Pacheco
Albenir
12
Fitchburg
CNC Milling
Silver
Pallotta
Angelyna
10
Baldwinville
Urban Search & Rescue
Silver
Pena
Aliyah
10
Fitchburg
Community Service
Silver
Peterson
Michael
10
Lunenburg
Electrical Construction Wiring
Bronze
Quaile
Jacob
10
Athol
Robotics & Automation Technology
Gold
Quirk
Kimberly
12
Fitchburg
Cosmetology (Over 500 hrs.)
Silver
Regan
Chris
10
Ayer
Electrical Construction Wiring
Gold
Richard
Shaeleigh
12
Templeton
Early Childhood Education
Gold
Roberts
Jordynn
11
Winchendon
Restaurant Service
DQ
Rodriguez
Laura
10
Fitchburg
Nail Care
DQ
Rosado
Elysia
11
Royalston
Commercial Baking
DQ
Ross III
George
11
Barre
TeamWorks-
Carpenter
Russ
Emma
11
Westminster
Graphic Imaging Sublimation
Silver
Russ
Emma
11
Westminster
Screen Printng Technology
Silver
Saint-Louis
Jayson
10
Fitchburg
Mobile Robotics Technology
Silver
Salafia
Tyler
10
Fitchburg
Automotive Refinishing Technology
DQ
Salame
Jace
12
Winchendon
Carpentry
DQ
Salerno
Patrick
12
Westminster
Culinary Arts
Silver
Sanborn
Kristopher
12
Winchendon
TeamWorks-
Carpenter
Sanchez
Jean
12
Fitchburg
Carpentry
Gold
Santana
Diosmar
10
Fitchburg
Collision Damage Appraisal
Bronze
Sauer
Arabella
11
Fitchburg
Early Childhood Education
DQ
Schults
Hannah
11
Gardner
Job Skill Demonstration-A
Bronze
Scotland
Alivia
10
Athol
Cosmetology (Under 500m hrs.)
Bronze
Scott
Kaitlyn
11
Winchendon
Digital Cinema Production
Gold
Scott
Kaitlyn
11
Winchendon
Photography
Bronze
Shepard
Jared
12
Templeton
CNC Milling
Bronze
Smith
Trinity
10
Ashburnham
Job Skill Demonstration-Open
Gold
Sonnabend
Jack
11
Athol
Basic Health Care
Bronze
St. Pierre
Luke
11
Ashburnham
Collision Repair Technology
Silver
Stebbins
Ethan
10
Holden
Urban Search & Rescue
Silver
Stewart
Kyle
12
Fitchburg
TeamWorks-
Plumber
Strumberger
Alana
12
Fitchburg
Collision Repair Technology
Bronze
Sutton
Damian
12
Templeton
Related Technical Math
Gold
Sweeney
Bryan
12
Hubbardston
TeamWorks-
Electrician
Teague
Conner
10
Gardner
Information Technology Service
Gold
Thompson
David
10
Hubbardston
Welding
Gold
Thorogood
Emily
12
Sterling
Mobile Robotics Technology
Bronze
Tousignant
Faith
12
Winchendon
Dental Assisting
Bronze
Valois
Katie
10
Hubbardston
Cosmetology (Under 500m hrs.)
DQ
Vazquez Jacques
Megan
11
Fitchburg
Advertising Design
Gold
Velazquez
Yashira
12
Fitchburg
Cosmetology (Over 500 hrs.)
Bronze
Voyer
Ryan
11
Templeton
Information Technology Service
Silver
Walker
Andrew
11
Fitchburg
Industrial Motor Control
Silver
Wallis
Mae
12
Athol
Architectural Drafting
Gold
Walsh
Sean
11
Lunenburg
Industrial Motor Control
Bronze
Warden
Shay
11
Holden
Digital Cinema Production
Gold
Warner
Tyler
10
Hubbardston
Promotional Bulletin Board
Bronze
Waterman
Cody
11
Baldwinville
Mechatronics
Gold
Weidmann
Lucas
10
Lunenburg
Information Technology Service
Bronze
Wendling
Mariana
12
Ashby
Restaurant Service
Gold
White
Hailey
12
Holden
Basic Health Care
Gold
White
Hailey
12
Holden
Medical Assistant
Bronze
White
Hailey
12
Holden
Nurse Assistant
Bronze
Whittier
Breanna
12
Fitchburg
Commercial Baking
Gold
Wilbur
Emma
12
Barre
Advertising Design
Bronze
Wilder
Evangeline
12
Fitchburg
Commercial Baking
Bronze
Wood
Amber
12
Fitchburg
Mobile Robotics Technology
Bronze
Wood
Sarah
12
Winchendon
Commercial Baking
Silver
Woods
Owen
12
Gardner
Carpentry
Bronze
Yablonski
Ethan
11
Baldwinville
Computer Programming
DQ
Yang
Joshua
12
Fitchburg
Community Service
Gold
Immediately following the holidays, Monty Tech hosted the winter session of our VIP Program. Once again, we were thrilled to welcome 222 students who visited a variety of programs during afterschool hours. The following districts participated in the winter session and visited the listed programs and instructors –
Sending Town
Number of Students
Ashburnham
2
Barre
1
Fitchburg
1
Gardner
5
Harvard
2
Holden
54
Lunenburg
34
Princeton
22
Sterling
32
Templeton
4
Westminster
2
Winchendon
53
Assorted Home Schooled Students
4
Assorted Parochial School Students
6
Participating Instructors:
Auto Technology – George Russell
Graphic Comm. – Katie Stocking
Cabinetmaking – Joe Bulger
House Carpentry – Shane Brogan
Cosmetology – Stephanie Delphia
Information – Rich Duncan
Culinary Arts – Sean Lowe & Melissa Lord
Media – Bill Gunsalus
Dental Assisting – Tracie Wright
Masonry – Ben Robinson
Early Childhood – Karla Boudreau & AnneMarie Cataldo
Welding – Heather Gray
Electrical – Alex Thibault
The Monty Tech Guidance Department continues to support our students with their post-secondary planning. First, at the beginning of January, all Sophomores and Juniors who participated in the fall administration of the PSAT Exam participated in assemblies that allowed them to review their results and access resources that will help them transition to the SAT Exam this spring or in the fall. Later in the month, the upperclassmen Guidance Counselors met with seniors who were interested in enrolling in a two-year college program to discuss financial planning for tuition as well as strategies to balance school and work. A few days later, Monty Tech was happy to host Decision Day with our partner Mount Wachusett Community College. During this event, MWCC admissions representatives met with 87 seniors who were offered acceptance into the college following graduation.
Also in January, Monty Tech participated in a mandatory wide-ranging review by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) known as Tiered Focused Monitoring and Coordinated Program Review. Similar to all vocational districts, Monty Tech participated in four required programmatic DESE reviews. Those reviews and the DESE chairs included:
Special Education – Michelle Hennessey-Kowalchek & Kenzie Chin
Title I – Elizabeth O’Connell
English Language Education (ELE) – David Valade
CVTE Programs – Larry DeSalvatore
CVTE Safety – Dave Edmunds
These reviews specifically assess the school district’s compliance with federal and state regulations but do not necessarily assess specific assessment or instructional practices. Each of the above officials will complete a report based on specific topics and standards over the next few months, which will share any specific remediation the district will need to complete to ensure full compliance.
During these reviews, the DESE representatives met with a number of our constituents and, on behalf of the administration and faculty of Monty Tech, I want to thank the numerous students, parents and members of our program advisories who shared their opinions and experiences regarding their efforts with Monty Tech.
Earlier in February, as part of our annual Motivational Speaker event, Monty Tech students learned how a teacher from California used unconventional methods to turn lives around for her students who many deemed “unteachable” and doomed to lives of violence. Erin Gruwell is known for her unique teaching method, which led to the publication of The Freedom Writers’ Diary. The book became an instant New York Times best seller and the basis for the 2007 movie “Freedom Writers,” starring Hilary Swank. Monty Tech students fortunately were able to watch the movie together in the PAC during the previous week.
Ms. Gruwell encouraged her students to write about what they knew and what was relevant to their lives, because “writing about it gives you the opportunity to write a different ending.” Through her efforts, Gruwell’s students were able to overcome many of their obstacles to success as they formed a diverse community they called the “Freedom Writers,” inspired by the 1950s and 1960s Freedom Riders. Through her efforts, all 150 Freedom Writers graduated in 1998, and many went on to higher education and successful careers. We were all very fortunate to hear of their journey to success.
Just prior to February break, Monty Tech was happy, once again, to host more than 360 members of our vocational program advisories for our Winter Program Advisory Dinner on February 12th. The important discussions regarding vocational admissions, equipment and co-op placements are great benefits to our students and we thank all of our community partners. In particular, we would like to welcome the representatives from the following new business partners of the listed programs –
CAD/Drafting
Gregory O'Connor Associates, Inc
CAD Drafting
J. Salmon Design, Inc.
Dental Assisting
Pediatric Dentistry
Early Childhood
Ashburnham-West Extended Day Program
Early Childhood
MOC Child Care & Head Start
Early Childhood
Klever Kids Preschool
Early Childhood
Little Explorers Day Care
Engineering Technology
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Graphic Communications
Learning Express Toys
Electrical
JP Electric and Son, Inc.
- As noted in our 2018-2021 District Improvement Plan, Monty Tech is working to ensure that all vocational instructors receive their Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement in a timely manner in order to comply with DESE licensure requirements. Last year, the first year of the Vocational SEI requirement, 40 of our vocational instructors completed the SEI Endorsement Course. This year, Monty Tech is sponsoring a class offered by Teachers21 that will run through the spring. There are 25 Monty Tech participants in the class including vocational instructors, paraprofessionals and vocational specialists. In support of our sending schools, there are six additional educators from those schools participating in the course as well. By May, fifty-three of our vocational teachers will have completed the course. In fact, we are pleased to share that, overall, 93% of our faculty will have earned their SEI Endorsement.
We now turn our eyes to look ahead to the warmer months of spring. In terms of upcoming events, students, parents and families should be aware of the following…
- March 6th & 9th – A select group of students will sit for the MCAS Math Retest during this two day test administration. These students have been working with dedicated instructors after school for the past several months at tutoring sessions to prepare for this assessment. We wish them the best of luck.
- March 6 – Progress Report grades for Quarter 3 will close on this date and families will receive their student’s Progress Report on March 13th.
- March 11th – The SkillsUSA District competition will be held at bay Path Regional Vocational Technical School. We wish all of our competitors Good Luck!!
- March 13th – Monty Tech will hold its final ½ Professional Development Day on this day, and students will be dismissed at 11:00am that morning.
- March 18th - Monty Tech will host the annual spring Open House from 5:30-7:30pm. The Open House includes a community Spaghetti Supper as well as an opportunity for families of prospective students to tour our shops, meet with our academic and vocational instructors, and get questions about the application process answered. Just in case the weather does not cooperate, there is a snow date for Open House set for March 19th.
- March 16th – The spring sports season kicks off with practices on this day. We strongly encourage all families to check the Athletics section on the web page to make sure all necessary paperwork and physicals are complete prior to the start of the season.
- March 24-25th – There will be a special schedule these days as Sophomores will sit for the MCAS ELA exam. Please look for that schedule as the testing approaches.
- March 25th – Our Guidance Department will hold its spring MEFA College Night, where questions regarding financial aid, and the college application process will be addressed. All parents and students are welcome.
- April 9th – Quarter 3 will close on this day with Report Cards being sent home at the end of the following week, April 17th.
- April 15th - Monty Tech will be decked with purple, gold and green as we hold our 33rd Annual Superintendent’s Dinner with a theme of Mardi Gras! Those interested in purchasing tickets should contact Katy Whitaker at ext. 5253.
- April 18-26 - April vacation will be held during this week with the building closed on April 20th in recognition of Patriots Day.
If you have questions about any specific events as we move through the end of winter, then please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. LaFalam at ext. 5205 for more information. I hope that everyone has an enjoyable and safe remainder of the winter season!
Best regards,
Tom Browne, Principal
