Chef David Turin the owner of David's Restaurants: David's, David's Opus Ten (both in Portland), and David's 388 (South Portland) visited our Culinary Arts program today. He spoke to the students about their ProStart curriculum, restaurant management/entrepreneurship opportunities, post-secondary learning opportunities, organizations that support chefs and the culinary arts industry, workplace opportunities, food competitions, and much more. Chef David, we deeply appreciate the generosity of your time and the culinary insights that you shared with our students today.
Medical Occupations along with their helpers were honored today for raising $127, 055 from the 10,000 goodie bags they made that were sold at five Spirit Halloween stores! Please read more in the "NEWS" section. :)
Several of our Business students are attending the State Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competitive events in So. Portland. The competitive events include case studies, presentations, and objective tests that demonstrate students' ability in critical thinking and business skills. Our students have participated in 9 different role-playing competitions today, and have been doing a great job. We are so proud of our students and Mrs. Dolloff!
SkillsUSA Update- Opening Ceremonies was a blast! Check out these super cool sweatshirts generously provided to us by MELMAC! :)
Criminal Justice students debated the topic of "Should there be safe injection sites". The students had one week to research and prepare for a formal formatted debate. The English-Language Arts Bonny Eagle HS teacher, Mrs. Jones, worked with both programs alongside the teachers to teach the students how to prepare for this type of debate. Both sides, "con" and "pro" these sites, were well prepared, pervasive, and provided their audience with data/facts from both perspectives to help their audience make an informed decision themselves. Kudos to the students for your great research, preparedness, and your courage to debate in front of a good-sized audience! Teachers your collaboration provided a rich and high-level learning experience for your students... Way to go!
Culinary Arts students participated in an MRE (Meals-ready-to-eat) challenge. Our local Westbrook-based Army Reserve service team presented our students with an interesting challenge. The students had to take a "generic and basic tasting" MRE and "kick it up a notch" with tasty flavors and a creative appearance. Please check out the photos and the challenge rubric. Thank you, Westbrook Reserve Team, for partnering with us for this terrific event! C.A. students... you dazzled your judges!
Connor, a senior in the Culinary Arts program was preparing for the upcoming Maine SkillsUSA competition which takes place in Bangor next week. Contestants are not made aware of the specific ingredients they will have to prepare; therefore, Chef Ogden is exposing this budding chef to many meat, vegetarian, and sides that may present themselves. Connor made his first duck dish that had a scrumptious citrus sauce and a farro wheat side dish. Doesn't it look fabulous?!!!
Today's lab in Medical Occupations was "discharging patients". Look how happy our "patients" and "nursing" staff look!
THANK YOU, USM MIST TEAM!
The Business Tech II students are so thankful to the director of the Maker Innovation Studio and team of experts at the MIST lab at USM. This team created our prototype for the Youth Business Summit Trade Show students will be attending at the Javits Center in NYC in April. For more information about the Youth Business Summit, Click Here... https://veinternational.org/2024-ybs/
Since September, Tech II business students have been part of a virtual enterprise program where they have the opportunity to develop, launch, and manage a company in a digital world. Students conduct business with other VE “firms” throughout the country and complete tasks like preparing sales reports and standard financial statements, developing marketing material and a website, preparing payroll, and participating in online trade shows.
CELEBRATING THE WONDERFUL MR. PLOWMAN! We will forever be grateful for Mr. Steve Plowman's service to our country and for his service to our students and school community. Mr. Plowman was our beloved bench substitute these past two school years and sadly passed away unexpectedly. His smile, caring demeanor, random acts of kindness, and brilliant mind will be incredibly missed. To learn more about this AMAZING person, please take a moment to read his obituary. https://www.pressherald.com/2024/02/23/obituarysteven-e-plowman-2/
Today, Director Fields attended a special recognition celebrating CTE Month at the Maine State House in the Hall of Flags. He showcased the 15 awesome career and technical (CTE) programs we offer at the Center. "If you have a trade, you have it made!"
Cosmetology first and second-year students enjoyed a special day at Salon Mimosa in Scarborough. The Tech II students provided their "clients" (Tech I students) with a full-service experience of washing, drying, and styling their hair. Thanks to the generosity of MELMAC, the students enjoyed a delicious lunch! Thank you, Ms. DeCosta, for opening up your salon and providing your students with this rich and fun learning experience.
Visitation Day was a huge success! Today we had close to 400 students visit our 15 programs. The visiting students were engaged, polite, and a joy to have at WRVC. Future students will be able to apply this Thursday, February 1st! Many thanks to MELMAC for helping to sponsor this event! We also appreciate the student ambassadors, our culinary arts program for the lovely lunch, and our dynamic staff for all they did to prepare for this visit.
WRVC's Integrated Credit Committee was invited to present their work which involved aligning English/Language Arts, math, and science standards to the South Portland High School's staff on Wednesday. The presentation showcased the rigor and cross-content learning WRVC's career and technical education (CTE) programs offer. This thoughtful work of cross-walking and aligning state and national content learning standards vetted by certified ELA, math, and science teachers/coaches was recently recognized and accepted by regional sending schools. Furthermore, this amazing work led by the committee and WRVC staff will now provide CTE students an opportunity to receive integrated content credit as well as remove credit barriers.
It is truly an exciting time for WRVC and CTE centers across Maine! Thank you to our sending school administrators, school counselors, teachers, and partners who supported this vision. Together, we have made the vision a reality for our students, staff, and the CTE community.
Roads are very icy this morning but they are being treated and expected to improve. Because of this, we will have a two hour delayed start of school in Westbrook today, January 25. That means that schools will open two hours after their scheduled times and buses will pick up students about two hours after their usual time. There are no before school activities and PreK classes are canceled. Please be careful walking and driving this morning!
Building Trades students learned to design and make specialty cutting boards using an array of woods. A few examples of the specialty woods used for this project were black walnut, purple heart, cherry, and maple. The boards were absolutely STUNNING! Please take a look at the picture to see the array of designs.
Cosmetology Tech I students are in the process of learning and experimenting with hair design. This week students are creating beautiful roller sets.
Ms. Lewis' Medical Occupations class is learning about the musculoskeletal system including cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue. The students use skeletal models and colored clay to identify the differences between the appearance, structure, and placement of the musculoskeletal system. Did you know that the musculoskeletal system gives your body its structure and support and lets you move around? Another interesting fact... the parts of the musculoskeletal system grow and change throughout life.
WRVC wishes our students, staff, families, and partners in CTE learning a healthy, joyous, and laughter-filled year! Classes resume tomorrow, January 2nd!
The Criminal Justice program loaded up all of the donated toys, blankets, clothing, gifts, personal items, and gift cards they received to help community children and families in need. Megan Perry, the Frenchtown Community Policing Coordinator, will orchestrate the distribution of the items. A huge thank you to the Criminal Justice program, the Westbrook Police Department, and the many generous donors who helped make this act of kindness a reality.
“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say it’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem, then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”
— Fred Rogers
