December 2024

It's hard to believe we'll be at the end of the first semester, just seven school days after our return from the upcoming school break. The fall has been packed with high quality learning experiences for students, and the second semester continues to be full of deep learning experiences. Classes that are currently offering dual enrollment college courses will be starting new dual enrollment options in the spring semester, and some classes will be starting their dual enrollment classes, after a fall of getting to know the learners in their programs.

Many programs have started their Industry Recognized Credentials (IRCs), and some programs will be starting IRCs in the spring semester. Some of the program IRCs are done within the classrooms and labs here at BTC, and others require some clinical time outside of the center. All of these are great opportunities for future employment, college application building, and resume building for positions in related fields.

Another exciting component of the second semester learning at BTC is the increase in work-based learning opportunities for some programs. Students will be working with a local industry partner in a paid internship in coordination with their teacher, BTC's Work-Based Learning Coordinator, and the supervior at the place of business. The on-the-job learning is based on a proficiency-based "training plan" that ensures the work is contributing to continued learning for the student.

As always, thank you for your continued support of your student here at BTC.

- J Reed

School Counselor James Yepez is hosting a Zoom presentation on the college decision-making process on Wednesday evening, 18 Dec, from 6-7 PM. It is targeted to juniors and their parents/guardians. He will offer key strategies for finding the right fit and point out some free online resources that will help navigate this process. Along the way, he'll dispel some myths and answer questions such as:

• Is there a difference between a college and a university?
• How hard is it to get in?
• How do I find out if a school is a good 'fit' for me?
• How many schools should I apply to?
• What parts of my application are most important?
• How much do students and families really pay?
• Does my choice of major actually matter?
• And much more...
• 
  

This presentation is designed to help you make sense of it all and is useful whether you're just getting started or have already been working through the process. The link for the presentation is:

Topic: How to plan for college - for BTC Juniors

Time: Dec 18, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/8462118538?pwd=aThnVjVKd0huV1I5UElYVjVqaWllUT09&omn=96042264340

Meeting ID: 846 211 8538

Passcode: 2EKXCM

• Medical Terminology (3 credits)
• English Composition (3 credits)
• Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
• Start Up 802: An Entrepreneurial Mindset (1 credit)
• Foundations of Info Security (1 credit)

Our students have been making great strides in their hands-on learning!

✈️ Landing Gear Unit: The Cessna 180 now boasts brand-new tires and freshly painted landing gear, thanks to the dedicated work of our students.

🔧 Sheet Metal Work: After completing three weeks of sheet metal training, students are applying their skills to real-world projects. Recently, two students installed a sheet metal patch on the Cessna 180, replacing an area where an unneeded antenna was removed.

Our students have been hard at work mastering skills and knowledge critical to the aviation industry!

✈️ Seniors: Recently wrapped up their aircraft fluid lines unit, where they built and tested multiple types of fluid lines. On an aircraft, these lines carry essentials like fuel, hydraulic fluid, coolant, de-ice fluid, potable water, and more.

🔧 Juniors: Gained hands-on experience disassembling and reassembling aircraft engines, rotating between engine styles to develop comfort with hand tools. They’ve also practiced key skills like organization, teamwork, and problem solving. After focused math lessons in trigonometry and scientific notation, they applied their learning by using tape measures, protractors, and calculations to determine the height of our building.

🔧 Reverse Engineering Project: Students have been focused on reverse engineering a stainless steel spatula. This hands-on project involved:

• Precision Measurement: Analyzing and measuring the original spatula.
• 3D Modeling: Using Fusion 360 to replicate the design and add custom cut-outs.
• Woodworking: Milling hardwood handles from maple, ash, and walnut.
• Laser Cutting: Partnering with Blodgett to laser cut stainless steel blanks using their 4,000-watt fiber laser, which took just 70 seconds per blank.
  Currently, students are sanding and polishing the blanks to a mirror finish and will soon use a finger brake to bend the blanks and attach handles.

📦 Morning Class Project: Students have also been designing and fabricating custom boxes. Highlights include:

• Design & Prototyping: Creating technical drawings and toolpaths in AutoCAD, and prototyping in cardboard.
• Laser Cutting & Woodworking: Building boxes with laser-cut parts and 1/2" thick pine bottoms, milled to exact specifications using various saws.
• Skill Development: Learning about the design process, laser cutting, woodworking, and documenting progress in engineering journals.

💡 Student Success: Students were thrilled to see their hard work come to life and proudly presented their finished products to the class. 🚀✨

Students in the Education Training and Leadership (ETL) program have been hard at work preparing for their upcoming experiences with children at Edmunds Elementary School:

📚 Research & Design: Over the past few weeks, they’ve researched, observed, sketched, and presented classroom setups and structures, focusing on how thoughtful design enhances student engagement, collaboration, and learning outcomes.

🛠️ Building Skills: They’ve also explored the connection between physical environments and teaching strategies, using these insights to plan for creating inclusive, welcoming spaces that support every learner.

✨ Real-World Application: This foundational work will guide them as they step into hands-on experiences, where they’ll apply their knowledge to create meaningful learning environments.

This month, students in the Health Sciences Academy have been hard at work:

📘 Morning Class: Juniors have started a college-level course in Lifespan Developmental Psychology, diving into the study of human development from prenatal stages to the end of life.

💼 Afternoon Class: Seniors have been busy submitting their college applications and participating in clinical shadowing experiences with healthcare providers throughout the community. The feedback from providers has been outstanding, highlighting the students' professionalism and engagement!

🌟 This Month’s Honoree: Esther Lokosso stands out for her unwavering dedication to the BSD community and her exceptional qualities of kindness, leadership, and hospitality.

💬 In the Classroom: Esther’s positive attitude shines as she works hard academically while also creating a welcoming environment for classmates and visitors.

🎤 In the Community: Esther shared her wisdom and perspective at the beam-raising ceremony and contributed her voice at the District Leadership Board.

💙 Why We’re Thankful: Esther embodies the spirit of the IHC community, and we’re so grateful for her contributions both in and out of the classroom. Keep up the amazing work, Esther! 🏅✨

🌟 High School Graduation Year: 2023

💼 Job Title: Advanced Fighter Aircraft Integrated Avionics
🏢 Organization: Vermont Air National Guard
📍 Residence: Vermont

What He Loves About His Job:
Victor is excited to begin his new role in Advanced Fighter Aircraft Integrated Avionics, where he looks forward to meeting his team, tackling new challenges, and gaining valuable skills and experience. He’s also looking forward to the excellent benefits that come with this opportunity.

BTC Aviation Program Impact:
“The aviation program introduced me to the world of aviation and opened my eyes to the wide range of careers available. It gave me a foundation in avionics and prepared me for the challenges ahead.”

BTC’s Overall Influence:
“BTC made me more confident in my skills and knowledge, showed me how much I enjoy hands-on work, and taught me to embrace challenges. It helped me see how learning new skills can make work fun and fulfilling.”

Victor is poised for success as he embarks on this exciting journey in the aviation field! 🚀✨