TOM GLABACH REACHES 1,000 POINT MILESTONE

Tom Glabach realizes his dream of reaching the 1,000 point mark in boy's basketball. In the game against Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical School, Glabach actually surpassed the 1,000 point mark.

Congratulations to Tom for such an achievement!

2/09

AUTO STUDENTS ATTEND BOSTON CAR SHOW

Franklin County Technical School Auto Body and Auto Technology students recently attended the World of Wheels Car Show in Boston. The show featured hundreds of custom cars and motorcycles of all years.

Photo, from left, front row: John Fortin (Auto Technology instructor), Christine Hawley from Greenfield, Nick Olander from Greenfield, Cory Therien from Erving, Tyler Ahearn from Montague, and Philip Foisy (Auto Body instructor). 2nd row from left: Illyana Perkins from Erving, Michael Britt from Deerfield, Hector Arroyo from Charlemont, Veronica Rathburn from Warwick, Richie Bauza from Greenfield, Katie Curtis from Greenfield, Garrett Fournier from Orange, Tommy Senethavisouk from Montague, Anna Kendrick from Greenfield, Justin Hughes from Orange.

1/09

FCTS SPONSORS VETERANS EDUCATION PROJECT

Fifty FCTS seniors sat in rapt attention as 12-year veteran Tyler Boudreau related his experience as a former US Marine who served in Iraq. The talk was the culminating event in 2 senior classes studying the impact of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on US soldiers. Boudreau was able to add a personal voice to news articles and documentaries covered in the classroom.

Boudreau told FCTS students how he led his infantry unit through Camp Suicide, irregularly being hit with mortars with nowhere to safely hide, and along Route Jackson, where the mission was to ride back and forth, clearing the road of improvised explosive devices (IED’s) to enable the safe delivery of supplies. Committed to military life and the Marines, Boudreau left the service when he realized he had “more concern for my Marines than the mission. I knew I had to get out”.

Tyler Boudreau of Leeds speaks with the Veterans Education Project in schools and community groups across Western Mass., but he has received much national attention with the publication of his memoir and healing book, “Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of a Marine”. Boudreau’s return home was punctuated with the stress and turmoil of adapting to civilian life and he hopes to help other veterans heal while exposing civilians to a perspective of the battlefield and the soldier. 

SKILLS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE RESULTS

FCTS students competed at the 35th annual Fall State Leadership Conference. 491 students across the state competed at the conference held in Marlboro, MA.

FCTS students came away with two gold medals, two silver medals, two 1st place ribbons and one second place ribbon. Michelle Bills, a Business Technology student from Turners Falls, captured a gold medal in Total Quality Management. Jay Clarke, an Auto Technology student from South Deerfield, won a gold medal in R3 (Reuse-Recycle and Reclaim). Aleta Smith, a Culinary Arts student from Greenfield, and Brendon Stoddard, a Culinary Arts student from Orange, won the Silver in R3. First place ribbons were attained by Amy Griffith, a Welding/Metal Fabrication student from Orange and Tracy Styles, a Health Technology student from Warwick, for their work in Team Quality. Mark Foshay, Jr, an Auto Body student from Orange, earned a second place ribbon in Team Quality.

Congratulations to all of our students who competed!

FCTS AUTO BODY STUDENTS WIN TOOLS

Recent FCTS grads, Nick LaPan (left) and Jimmy Beck pose behind their tool boxes presented to them by the Mass Auto Body Association.

Each year the organization chooses 1-2 winners from vocational schools in Western Mass based on student shop performance, co-op job performance and instructor recommendations. Students must indicate a commitment to work in the trade.

The tool box is packed full of various tools that are donated by tool manufacturing companies and local auto body supply stores and is valued around $2,200.00

Photo by Phil Foisy

LANDSCAPING PROGRAM PURCHASES ZERO-TURN LAWNMOWER

Landscaping students in the 2008-2009 school year review the operation and safety procedures for use of the new Scag, zero-turn lawnmower. This new piece of equipment will be an asset to the program as students are prepared for the many employment opportunities available in the landscaping and horticulture trades.

The Scag mower was purchased through the Perkins grant.

BAYSTATE HEALTH SERVICES, GREENFIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND FCTS TEAM TOGETHER FOR HEALTH CARE EDUCATION

Freshmen students exploring the possibilities of a career in health care were treated to a visit from licensed paramedics, EMTs and an ambulance from Baystate Health Services.

Students choosing the Health Technology program will be eligible to complete six credits of college instruction from a GCC Paramedics instructor. When the six credits are completed, the students are qualified to sit for the EMT Basic Licensure Exam and can take those six credits and use them to further their education at GCC.

Students graduating from the Health Technology shop leave high school with an impressive list of certifications:

• First Aid certification
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification
• Home Health Aid certification
• Health Care Provider CPR certification
• Alzheimer's Care certification
• Feeder certification
• OSHA certification
• EMT Basic (eligible to take the exam)