Welcome Back!

Over the past two days, I have toured through the building at the Burlington airport that will be renovated to hold four BTC programs for the start of the 25- 26 school year, and I have watched the last steel beam hoisted into place for the new Burlington High School/Burlington Technical Center building, which will house 5- 6 BTC programs in the following year. Over these past four years, BTC has been in temporary spaces spanning several miles. I continue to be amazed with the faculty and staff at BTC, and how they have taken these leased spaces and have turned them into dynamic learning spaces. This configuration has become our new norm, yet seeing the progress on the buildings that will be our permanent homes in the coming years creates excitement for the future.

As the 2024-2025 school year gets further underway, I see how the BTC students focus on their learning, build trusting relationships with their teachers and staff, and maximize the resources, tools, supplies, as they are develop community with their peers and engage in deep learning. Seeing these talented and focused young people working so hard each day made me realize that, while the new buildings will provide permanent space for our school, it is really the people who make BTC a special place to learn. Your students have shown that in this first month of school, and we all feel fortunate they are here. Thank you all for supporting them by including BTC as part of their educational path.

In this short video, students from Introduction to Healthcare compare the parts of a cell to the people who make up all the parts of BTC!

We had an incredible experience at the Green Mountain Aviation Field Days, where students and families explored the future of aviation right here in Vermont! Our airport hangar location was buzzing with activity, welcoming a steady stream of visitors eager to learn about our programs. Both high school and adult students were on hand to share their experiences and showcase the exciting career opportunities available in this dynamic industry.

A special thank you to BETA Technologies and all the amazing organizations that made this event possible. Your support helped create an inspiring day for our students and community.

We’re already looking forward to participating again in two years—this time from our new location at the airport, just west of the BETA manufacturing facility. We can’t wait to continue fostering innovation and educational opportunities in aviation!

This October, Career Pathways Coordinator Stacy Clark and School Counselor James Yepez are visiting programs to provide support for seniors in the process of applying for college. James advises students on completing their Common App and FAFSA forms, as well as providing strategies for maximizing their BTC experience in application materials. Stacy leads workshops on how to craft the written materials of the application, with a focus on the Common App Personal Statement and supplemental essays.

Stacy and James are excited to be providing these push-in workshops, and are available to meet with students 1-1 for additional support. As a team, they are here to make sure that every part of the college application effectively showcases all of the deep learning students have done throughout their high school and tech center career.

If you are the parent or guardian of a BTC student, and would like more information on how we support the college application process, please reach out to James at jyepez@bsdvt.org, or Stacy at sclark@bsdvt.org. We hope to host an evening workshop series specifically for parents who are interested in supporting their children in this process later in the school year, so stay tuned!

BETA visit with simulator @ East BTC: Automotive Technology, Aviation, & Design, Engineering & Fabrication students listen to BETA team explain how the simulator works.

Design, Engineering & Fabrication seniors at P.G. Adams - site visit.

Introduction to Healthcare students complete an introductory scavenger hunt at Cherry St.

Digital Media Lab students use Church St. as a backdrop for their photography lessons.

Health Sciences Academy students begin the year with a lesson in organ dissection.

Homeland Security/Criminal Justice students present on their first lesson in homeland security.

Design & Illustration students develop their screen printing skills.

Post-Secondary Aviation students rebuild the tail section (Empennage) on our new C180 aircraft.

Mon Oct 7, 2024

• Education Training and Leadership to State Education Conference @ Lyndon

Tue Oct 8, 2024

• SkillsUSA VT Fall Leadership Conference
• Aviation to Heritage Aviation

Wed Oct 9, 2024

• Monserrat College Presentation and Portfolio review for Design and Illustration & Digital Media Lab
• BTC Safety Committee Meeting

Thu Oct 10, 2024

• Parent/Guardian Conferences
• Women Can Do
• Intro to Healthcare and Health Sciences Academy to HOSA conference
• No School

Fri Oct 11, 2024

• Yom Kippur/Dashain (no school)

Tues Oct. 15

• Career Pathways @ Intro to Healthcare: Common App Essay Workshop

Wed Oct 16, 2024

• Homeland Security/Criminal Justice to Burlington Airport for TSA
• Faculty Meeting BTC

Sat Oct 19, 2024

• National Portfolio Day--Boston! Design and Illustration & Digital Media Lab

Mon Oct 21, 2024

• VIP Tire to Guest Speak at Auto

Tue Oct 22, 2024

• Career Pathways @ Design and Illustration & Digital Media Lab: Common App Essay Workshop

Fri Oct 25, 2024

• End of Q1
• Homeland Security/Criminal Justiceto Women in Cyber Summit

Mon Oct 28, 2024

• TEC: Academic Support Teachers
• USCRI Newcomer English Classes Start

Tue Oct 29, 2024

• Pretech TEC Meeting

Wed Oct 30, 2024

• Grades due 4pm
• Faculty Meeting BTC

Thu Oct 31, 2024

• Tim Leonard from FBI Albany to visit Homeland Security/Criminal Justice