Category: News

One competition dealt with physical strength and coordination, the other knowledge and teamwork. Translation: Game of Logging and Envirothon. Students in Stafford’s Forestry, Natural Resources, and Horticulture Program performed admirably in both competitions. On May 13th, Nick Coolidge, Hannah Poljacik, Tyler Laughlin, CJ McCullough and Justin Campanelli placed 2nd in the Forestry and 3rd in the Wildlife portions of the Envirothon Competition at the Farm and Wilderness Camp in Plymouth, Vermont.  The theme of this year’s Envirothon was sustainable agriculture. The Envirothon is a written exam in 4 different categories plus a 15 minute presentation about the current issue. The Game of Logging Competition took place on May 13th in Enosburg Falls, Vermont.  Nick Coolidge, Tyler Laughlin, and Jacob Carter placed in the top 10 out of 30 students, and Nick Coolidge placed 3rd overall. The Game of Logging is a precision and safety based competition. The students competed in a number of different events.

L-R: Foreground: Stafford Pre-Schooler, Autumn Cioffi-Willmann, Governor Shumlin, Stafford Pre-Schooler, Jacob Jepson and Representative Sarah Buxton. Rear-L-R: Stafford Human Services Students Jessica Alexzandrikc, Rutland County State Senator Kevin Mullin, Stafford Human Services Student Rachel Woodward, Johannah Leddy-Donovan, Vermont State Representative and Chair of the Vermont House Education Committee

RUTLAND: Gov. Peter Shumlin today signed into law legislation making at least 10 hours a week of high quality education available to every 3 and 4 year old child in Vermont. In addition, he released Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan, the result of a year-long, statewide collaborative effort led by the Governor’s office, the Vermont Agency of Human Services, the Vermont Agency of Education, and advocates for early learning initiatives. The new law requires communities to offer at least ten hours per week of high-quality, publicly funded prekindergarten education for 35 weeks annually to any “prekindergarten children” (defined as 3- to 4-year-olds). Prequalified prekindergarten programs include those operated by public schools, private early education and care programs, and Head Start.   The Governor signed the bill at the Preschool at Stafford Technical Center in Rutland, which has been offering quality education to young children with the assistance of the high school students at the tech center.   The Governor noted that 87 percent of Vermont communities already offer pre-kindergarten programs to their young children, adding, “This bill ensures that no matter where you live, your 3 or 4 year old will have access to high quality early education programs, and arrive at school better prepared to learn.”   Gov. Shumlin said that universal Pre-K  isn’t just good for children, but also great for taxpayers, working families, and employers.   “The children who aren’t ready to learn when they begin elementary school are very likely to challenge our resources throughout their school years and potentially throughout their lives,” the Governor said. “We know that high-quality Pre-k is far less expensive than remediation, retention, and special education later on.”   “On average, children who attend intensive, high quality preschool programs are less likely to repeat a grade, drop out of high school, commit crimes or be placed in special education,” said Education Secretary Rebecca Holcolme. “They are likely to get better jobs and earn more money over the course of their work lives. We see universal preschool as integral to Vermont’s future economic vitality and to the ability of our youngest and most vulnerable to thrive in school and their communities.”   “Getting our youngest children off to a good start is the best prevention program we know,” agreed Human Services Secretary Doug Racine. “Having kids ready for kindergarten pays long-term dividends in school success and reduction in problems later on in childhood.” Among the benefits of the law:

• Parents who work in towns outside their home communities can access Pre-k for their young children closer to their jobs and with more regular hours.  No longer will parents have to forego enrolling their children in high-quality early education programs because they can’t transport their child to-and-from the irregularly scheduled available hours. Now they have flexibility in enrollment, transportation, and wrap-around care.

• Employers will have a quality workforce in the future, employees who are more comfortable with their child-care arrangements, and a state policy making Vermont attractive to young talent who are seeking employment in a family-friendly state.

• Low-income children who have attended a Pre-k program are more likely to be ready for kindergarten.  Specifically, Vermont children from low income backgrounds who don’t attend Pre-k have a 30 percent probability of being kindergarten ready, while Vermont students from low income backgrounds with one or two years of PreK have up to a 55 percent probability of being kindergarten ready.  This relationship is also present for more affluent students, although it is not as pronounced.

Universal Pre-k was a priority strategy included in one of the goals of the Action Plan released today. Vermont’s Early Childhood Framework, together with this Early Childhood Action Plan, lay out a collective vision for a high-quality, accessible early childhood system for Vermont chart an ambitious and exciting course for how to get there. The goals of the Action Plan include: •           A Healthy Start for All Children •           Families and Communities Play a Leading Role •           High-Quality Opportunities for All Children •           Invest Now for Our Future •           Know We’re Making a Difference •           An Innovative and Connected System   Building Bright Futures, Vermont’s state and regional early childhood governance body which works to promote improvements in access, quality, and affordability of prevention and intervention services for families and young children,  will assume responsibility for coordinating, monitoring and reporting on implementation of the Action Plan.   To read the action plan, visit http://buildingbrightfutures.org/just-released-vermonts-2014-early-childhood-action-plan/.   “I am confident that we will be able to carry out the work envisioned in the Action Plan,” the Governor said. “In fact, much of that work is already underway.”

Children from the Stafford Children’s Center with students in the Human Services Program.

Stafford’s Children’s Center held it’s annual “Graduation Ceremony” complete with diplomas in the Rutland High School Theater on May 22nd.  Family and friends gathered to hear musical performances by the children and their “Big Friends”, the students in Stafford’s Human Services Program.

On May 2, 2014 students of the Stafford Technical Center Video Communications and Digital Arts program attended the 19th Annual Castleton State College VideoFest. The two programs submitted eight different videos ranging from commercials to animations. Stafford Technical Center walked away with three different awards.

Experimental/Animation

1st place – Brendan Tardiff (Digital Arts) for his video animation “Program.”
2nd place – Kiernan Lackney (Video) for his music video “The DeLorean.”

Public Service Announcement/Advertisement 2nd place – Tori Cates, Chris Ryan, Peter Turunen, Zach Lenser, Anthony Sherburne, and Sydney Euber (Video) for the commercial “2014 Stafford Technical Center Commercial”

Curt Casper, Stafford Video Communications Instructor, displaying his speech that was published in the 12 edition of George Rodman, Ronald B. Adler, and Athena du Pre’s textbook, ” Understanding Human Communication”.

Stafford Video Communications Instructor Curt Casper was very surprised to learn recently that the speech he delivered as a college student would now be featured as a teaching tool in a highly regarded textbook to be used nationwide in college and high school communications classrooms.  The book, in its 12^th edition, is entitled “Understanding Human Communication” by George Rodman, Ronald B. Alder, and Athena du Pre. It discusses different communications strategies including how to write an effective speech.

In 2011, Casper, who competed on the Hastings College (Hastings, Nebraska) Speech team, placed 2^nd in the nation at the Interstate Oratory National Tournament at James Madison University. His speech focused on “Survivor Support; getting help for friends, family, and loved ones who have lost someone to suicide.” In his speech, Casper talked about his father who committed suicide in 2007. Casper wanted to make sure other families didn’t experience the same grief his own family went through.

The author, George Rodman, reached out to Casper about a year ago requesting to use Casper’s speech in his newest edition, and asked him (Casper) to write about how speech and broadcasting relate to one another. At the time Casper was working as a news and sports reporter for Fox TV Affiliate KPTM in Omaha, Nebraska.

Rodman profiled Casper in the 12^th chapter of his book, which talks about organizing support. The book explains how important it is to find credible sources in both speech and broadcasting. Rodman shared this quotation from the text “As Curt Casper learned as both a public speaker and newscaster, knowing what you are talking about, and communicating that knowledge isn’t the same thing.”

“When he first asked to publish my speech I thought it was just going to be a little mention somewhere,” Casper said, “But, then I opened the book to find out he used my speech for an entire chapter! This was really a dream come true. My message will continue to be shared. Hopefully someone out there who is struggling will read my speech and know that suicide is never the answer!”

Casper is in his first year as a Video Communications Instructor at Stafford Technical Center, and is also the Assistant Public Speaking Coach for Rutland High School.

2014 Vermont DECA Conference

Stafford Technical Center DECA Chapter

Stafford Recreation, Resort, and Small Business Management Program 2014 DECA Medal Winners
Front Row L-R: Erika Loomis (Fair Haven), Natasha Royce (RHS), Kristina Shaw (RHS), Savannah Fredette (West Rutland). Back Row L-R: Abi Fowler (Home Schooled), Sydnee Petty (Poultney), Curstin Hemple (Otter Valley), and Haley Genier (Fair Haven)During the dates of February 10^th and 11th, 2014, Stafford Technical Center Recreation, Resort and Small Business Management students participated in the annual Vermont DECA Career and Development Conference.  Events include various role plays and written tests.DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

The following students participated in their respective categories:

Abi Fowler – Home Schooled Sophomore

Retail Merchandising

Honorable Mention Overall

Savannah Fredette- West Rutland High School Senior

Apparel and Accessories

Gold- Written Test

Bronze- Promotional Selling Role play

Honorable Mention- Overall

School Based Enterprise Re-certification

Haley Genier-Fair Haven Union High School Senior

Principles of Hospitality

Curstin Hemple-Otter Valley Union High School-Junior

Bronze- Written Test

Bronze- Professional Selling Role Play

Bronze- Overall

Erika Loomis- Fair Haven Union High School-Junior

Sports and Entertainment

Bronze- Written Test

Sydnee Petty- Poultney High School-Junior

Hotel and Lodging Management

Silver- Written Test

Silver- Customer Service  Role  Play

Silver- Professional Selling Role Play

Silver- Overall

Natasha Royce- Rutland High School- Junior

Principles of Hospitality

Kristina Shaw- Rutland High School Senior

Quick Service Restaurant Management

Gold- Written Test

Gold-  Promotional Selling Role Play

Gold-  Customer Relations Role Play

Gold-  Overall

School Based Enterprise Re-certification