Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School

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Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School is a trade/high school in Upton, Massachusetts serving the Blackstone Valley (13 towns). The school contains seventeen shops that students can enroll in to learn about a trade of their choice. This type of school was originally designed to serve students who could not or did not want to go to college. The school teaches you the knowledge you need to get a job right after school. The following shops are available to students:

Auto Body
Automotive Technology
Business Technology
Carpentry
Cosmetology
Culinary Arts
Dental Assisting
Drafting
Electrical
Electronics
Graphic Communications
Health Services
HVAC/R
Information Technology/Telecommunications
Manufacturing Technologies
Plumbing
Painting & Design Technologies

1 School District
2 School Mission
3 School Philosophy
4 Freshman Exploratory
5 Athletics
6 SkillsUSA
7 Accreditations and Associations
8 Other Information
9 External links

[edit] School District

The 13 towns in the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational School District are Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. It is located in a rural area with the largest city being Milford, with a population of over 27,000 people. Located in the heart of the region, it is easily accessible within an hour's drive of Boston, Providence, Worcester, and Hartford.

[edit] School Mission

To provide, in a safe learning environment, integrated academic and vocational technical skills, empowering each student to achieve world-class educational excellence, diverse career opportunities, and individual success in an ever-changing global society.

[edit] School Philosophy

Education is the process of developing an individual's potential. Our philosophy is to provide the individual with the academic and vocational/technical skills essential to achieve success in a productive career as well as to provide the global community with a highly qualified and prepared workforce. In order to accomplish this, BVT provides a safe learning environment with emphasis on integrating specialized vocational/technical training and academic learning. Promoting life-long learning and career development, the vocational/technical and academic staff has created "Across the Curriculum" efforts in Reading, Math, Study Strategies, and Respect. Individualized instruction recognizes diverse learning styles and incorporates the use of state-of-the-art technology so that each student can develop his/her evolving talents to the fullest. Challenging academic/vocational/technical programming is complemented by a comprehensive competency-based counseling program and a wide array of extracurricular activities. As a publicly supported institution, our approach fosters an atmosphere of tolerance, promoting equity and appreciation for diversity. Additionally, we strive to develop in our students an understanding of and a responsible commitment to the principles of freedom, respect, social justice, personal worth, economic independence, and concern for the environment. The realization of these goals would mean that each graduate would gain a confident knowledge of the fundamentals necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing, technologically oriented society.

[edit] Freshman Exploratory

During the freshman year, students explore seven of Blackstone Valley's seventeen technical areas. Following the completion of the freshmen exploratory, students choose the three technical programs they would most desire for permanent technical program placement. Based on grades and attendance, students are placed in their permanent technical programs. Each student is notified of his or her placement in mid-February and will remain in that technical area for the remaining 3½ school years of technical program training.

[edit] Athletics

Blackstone Valley students have the opportunity to participate in 16 various athletics. Blackstone Valley competes in the Colonial Athletic League.

[edit] SkillsUSA

Blackstone Valley has been involved with the SkillsUSA program (formerly known as VICA) for many years. Blackstone Valley is in the West District when competing on the district level, and is current host of the State Competition, often sending students to the National Competition. Blackstone Valley is typically a fierce competitor at the SkillsUSA competitions. Students from Culinary Arts, Health Services, and HVAC & Appliance Repair have a good record of winning medals at all levels of SkillsUSA competition.

[edit] Accreditations and Associations

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It is regulated by the Massachusetts Board of Education and is a part of the Massachusetts network of regional vocational high schools.