It's not always widely known that Hannaford Career Center students have access to a host of academic and support services that create a well-rounded educational experience for our learners. In the Academic Coaching Lab, Math Coach Wendy Pratt, Ed.D., and Literacy Coach Kate La Riviere, M.Ed., work with both students and instructors. Work with instructors involves a coaching model that promotes increased volume and rigor of Common Core Math and English/Language Arts standards in program curricula. This happens largely through team-teaching and co-planning. HCC's academic coaches are also available to work with students on coursework or as part of skill-based intervention groups to support success in their program. Our English course, Technical Communications, provides an English credit for any student in any program and students may take Math for credit if being enrolled in their program is contingent upon it. Our coaches are currently exploring ways to provide increased academic proficiency options. All HCC students can access the Student Support Center on Main Campus. Staffed by Mike Adaman, M.Ed., and Instructional Assistant Josie Masterson-Glen (B.A., English), the room is relaxed to foster productivity and achievement. Collaborating with students, instructors, parents, and associate schools, the SSC bolsters students’ confidence and enthusiasm for the work at hand. In the field, I.A. Seth Ross (B.S., Natural Resources Planning) works with our agricultural programs and helps manage Deep Roots Farm on North Campus. North Campus is also where I.A. Melinda Smith is at work with Diesel program students. The complement of HCC's academic support services not only opens doors for students to attend, but also ensures that they are appropriately challenged and successful. Our coaches, faculty, and staff are truly dedicated to making the HCC experience valuable and vital for every learner.
spotlight: Academic programs
As we close the first quarter, I want to express my pride in and appreciation for students and staff, including our coaches and support personnel who provide access to every program and for every student at our Career Center. Our programs provide a variety of learning opportunities to prepare students for future employment and continued education. At the recent Vermont Superintendents’ Association/Vermont School Boards’ Association conference, school board chair Jason Larocque and I received Pathways to Promising Careers: Vermont’s high-pay, high demand jobs, from the J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation and the Department of Labor. This brochure highlights the most promising careers in Vermont over the next decade, including education requirements, expected openings, and wage expectations (all at or above $20/hour). The Career Center can help students explore career pathways while they are still in high school. The current and future job markets are projected to require skilled training. In fact, 57% of all jobs fall into this category. We offer education, applied technical skills, industry driven credentials, and specific preparation for employment to help plan pathways to a productive and rewarding career for all students.
Vol. I, Issue 3 | {{date:MMMM d, yyyy}}
the trade
HCC's career connection Dana Peterson, interim superintendent
A Publication of the Hannaford Career Center
Students from the Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Sustainable Agriculture programs recently participated in the Vermont FFA Soil and Land Judging Competition, held at Vermont Technical College. The competition pitted students from 10 schools against each other in soil judging, which involved descending into pits to examine topsoil and subsoil. Looking at moisture levels, bedrock, and overall quality, students assessed the arability of the land and its viability for homesteading. “If the soil is poorly drained, it will cause flooding,” said Cody DeVries, HCC’s FFA Treasurer. Added his Sustainable Agriculture classmate, Brodie Martin, “If there are rust spots in the soil at about twenty inches, it’s poorly drained. You look at how deep the rust spots are to tell how drained the soil is.” In addition to determining whether or not land would be suitable for a homestead, the students judged how well it could be farmed. Said DeVries, “You have to decide whether you can use row crops like corn or soybeans or hay crops like alfalfa and Timothy-grass depending on [the] moisture in the soil.” HCC took second place, scoring 762 out of a possible 864 points. The winner overall was Mount Abraham senior and NRM student Lucas Livingston. Lucas scored 201 out of 216. Also at the top were NRM students Jonathan Alger (Middlebury, senior), Kevin Pearsall (Mount Abe, junior, above right), Jonathan Jennings (Mount Abe, senior), and Bayly LaRock (Mount Abe, junior, above left). Soil study is part of the NRM program and clearly gave HCC students an edge. Congratulations students and instructors on bringing home so many wins!
Ag students win big at land & soils judging competition
Engineering Design student Larkin Kenney (left, in blue) works with a team to design erosion-resistant roadways. Plant and Animal Sciences student Courtney Curler (center) took part in the "Solving Real Crime" workshop, and Human Services student Leigah Burbo (right, in grey) extracted DNA from fruit.
Recently, School Counseling Coordinator Ms. Logee and six HCC students joined more than 300 young women from all over Vermont to attend Women Can Do!, a conference promoting STEM and careers in the trades. The conference was presented by Vermont Works for Women. Major Ingrid Jonas, the highest-ranking female officer in the Vermont State Police and Commander of its Support Services Division, treated attendees to her inspiring story and participants attended two workshops from a list of more than 30 offerings. Options included "Save Our Rivers," "Women in the Lab," "Digging in the Dirt," and "Diesel Big Rigs." A career expo presented opportunities to change bike tires, climb a firetruck ladder in full gear, use flight simulators, drive excavators, operate a chainsaw, and more. Said participant Courtney Curler, "There was so much diversity. It showed we are really breaking the gender barrier."
the future is female: hcc students attend women can do!
Contact School Counseling Coordinator Ms. Logee at 382-1007 or blogee@pahcc.org to set up a visit or Shadow Day.
Citrus College produced Success in the New Economy, an overview of how the job market has changed and what qualifications are needed to access high paying, high demand jobs requiring a blend of academic knowledge and technical ability. All the more reason to make HCC a part of your education. Chart a course for your future! Watch the video here.
©2017 The Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center Questions? Comments? Input? Ideas? Contact Kate La Rivière, Literacy Coach, klariviere@pahcc.org.
HCC student Honors & Achievements
Earlier this month, Medical Professions II students went to Montpelier to observe the proceedings at the Vermont State Board of Nursing's monthly meeting. This is a regulatory proceeding under the OPR (Office of Professional Regulation) within the Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. The State Board of Nursing oversees licensing actions as well as policy for all levels of the profession: Licensed Nursing Assistants, LPNs, RNs, and Advanced Practice RNs. As students look to enter a medical profession, understanding the regulatory aspect of licensing as well as presenting oneself in a professional manner becomes a focus of the second year of the program. The photo above is of students in the program and instructor Barbara Thompson-Snow (left) debriefing at lunch after the meeting.
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Issue Archive Click to read more about us! Vol. I, Issue 1 - Sustainable Ag spotlight, FFA FAQ Vol. I, Issue 2 - Engineering Design spotlight, Diesel power certifications awards
upcoming Dates
It’s Conference Time! We are scheduling parent/teacher conferences for Thursday, November 2nd, from 4pm-7:45pm. If you would like to meet with your student’s program instructor, call Denise Senesac at 382-1004 to set up an appointment. If the date and/or time is not convenient, call 382-1012 to leave a message for your student’s instructor or contact the instructor via email to call you to set up a convenient time.
November 2nd: Grades close; evening parent-teacher conferences November 3rd: In-Service November 17th: Medical Professions & Engineering Design to Try A Major Day at VTC November 22nd-24th: Thanksgiving Recess December 7th: Early Release Day December 22nd-January 1st 2018: Holiday Recess
