Minuteman Regional School Committee 2004
Charles Olmstead of Acton Rosalie Barton-May of Lancaster
Dr. Erin Phelps of Arlington Marjorie Daggett of Lexington
William Gates of Belmont Kemon Taschioglou of Lincoln
Kileen Burgoyne of Bolton Jeffrey Stulin of Needham (Chairman)
Donna Corey of Boxborough Alice DeLuca of Stow (Secretary)
Nancy Weiss of Carlisle Atty. Paul Lynch of Sudbury (Vice-Chair)
Dr. Michael Rudd of Concord Mary Ellen Castagno of Wayland
Frank Gobbi, Jr. of Dover Mary Shaw of Weston
Student Representative – Kaleb Abebe of Arlington
After several years of dedicated service, three members left the Regional School Committee in 2004. The entire Minuteman Regional School District thanks Joseph White of Belmont, Steven Koral of Bolton and Dr. Philip Cheney of Concord for their years of service and leadership.
Class of 2004 Graduate Achievement Highlights
§ 94% of the Class of 2004 graduated into either college or employment in their field of study.
§ 100% of Dental graduates passed the National Dental Board examination.
§ 100% of Cosmetology graduates passed the state board examination.
§ 100% of Early Childhood Education graduates were fully certified by the state Office for Child Care Services.
§ Health Occupations graduates achieved 100% placement in either college or a job in the field.
§ Science Technology graduates achieved 94% placement in either college or their field of study with 100% of biotechnology and electromechanical engineering students attending college.
§ Commercial & Human Services graduates achieved 93% placement rate in either college or their field of study with 63% attending college.
§ Construction-Trades graduates achieved 97% placement rate with 17 of 47 (36%) enrolled in college and 29 of 47 (61%) entering the workplace in their field of study.
§ Sam DeLuca, a Biotechnology Academy student from Stow, was honored as an Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year by the Minuteman Regional School Committee, the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, the State Board of Education and state Commissioner of Education, Dr. David Driscoll.
§ John Ehlke, a Computer Programming student from Lexington, graduated Valedictorian in the Class of 2004 and earned the prestigious University Scholar status for enrollment at the University of Massachusetts.
§ Student speakers at the Class of 2004 graduation ceremony were Valedictorian John Ehlke of Lexington, Salutatorian Sam DeLuca of Stow and Class President Natashia Williams of Arlington.
Belmont Class of 2004
Last Name |
First Name |
Home Town |
Career Major Program |
McHugh |
John |
Belmont |
Electrical Wiring |
Sam Deluca of Stow – Outstanding Student of the Year, 2004
Sam DeLuca, a Biotechnology major from the Class of 2004 at Minuteman Regional High School, was honored as “Outstanding Vocational Technical Student in Massachusetts,” along with 45 others, at an awards banquet in Mechanics Hall in Worcester in April. A resident of Stow, Sam is the Son of Alice and Edward DeLuca.
2004 Students of the Month
January Brittany Rice, Stow, Landscape Management
February Kathy Montrevil, Cambridge, Cosmetology
March Patrick Maloney, Stow, Electromechanical Engineering
April Sam DeLuca, Stow, Biotechnology Academy
May Cynthia Azua, Watertown, Graphic Communications
June Jenna Caporiccio, Watertown, Office Technology
September Sarah Priante, Stow, Culinary Arts
October Kevin Maloney, Stow, Biotechology
November Nyomi Russell, Cambridge, Graphic Communications
December Lynise Currie, Lancaster, Drafting & Design Technology
Academic Division Highlights
§ Minuteman Regional High School sophomores tied for second place in Massachusetts among regional technical schools on MCAS test performance.
§ Forty-five students took advantage of college level pre-calculus and calculus courses under an articulation agreement with Middlesex Community College.
§ Minuteman students on the Math Team competed strongly at all levels against academically diverse groups of area schools finishing the year ranked in first place in the state vocational conference for the second year in a row.
§ A Latin course was expanded to serve the growing number of students interested in medical careers, biotechnology and science.
§ A freshman seminar course is being taught on-line with students receiving training in Internet research, writing skills, software application usage and time management.
§ The Minuteman Players, the school’s drama students, produced and performed a full production of Ira Levin’s thriller, “Deathtrap”.
§ The Special Education Department teamed with mainstream teachers to help students achieve one of the highest levels of special education MCAS “pass” scores in the state.
§ Faculty members from English, Guidance, Social Studies and several vocational fields designed another series of Character Education curriculum for use throughout the school.
Science & Technology Division Highlights
§ The Biotechnology Academy was again designated an outstanding high school program by the National Center for Career and Technical Education at The Ohio State University in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC.
§ The Biotechnology Academy formed a new partnership with Harvard University Molecular Biology Laboratory and Children’s Hospital and introduced three new components into its curriculum, namely bioethics, cell graphing and forensic science.
§ The first state-approved high school pre-engineering program entered its fifth year and graduated its first class of students.
§ Electromechanical Robotics students Alex Hatherly of Lexington and Patrick Maloney of Stow took National Third Place in Skills USA National Competition on Team Robotics and Automation held in Kansas City, MO in June 2004.
§ Many new business/industry projects were achieved, including - - Verizon supporting with after-school technology training for middle school students, Cognex Corporation of Natick providing weekly on-line interactive training on Visions Systems, GTE helping with new physics units for biotechnology, the Northeast Center for Telecommunications providing grant assistance, a $80,000 gift from Adept Robots for the Electromechanical Engineering/Robotics program, etc.
§ The Environmental Technology students were active in numerous off-campus service projects for such agencies as the MWRA, Cambridge Water Department, Bolton Conservation Commission, Sudbury Valley Trustees, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Northeastern University Marine Biology Research Laboratory, and the United States National Park Service, Minuteman National Historic Park.
§ Minuteman staff members are active and taking a leadership role in working with the Department of Education in developing the vocational Certification of Occupational Proficiency (C.O.P.). They include Maryann Ham serving as state chair for Office Technology, George Taliadouros as state chair for Engineering and Richard Caruso as state vice-chair for Telecommunications.
Construction – Power Mechanics – Building Trades Division Highlights
§ The Automotive Technology Department won the industry’s Most Outstanding Automotive Program in Massachusetts award for the fifth year in a row.
§ Students in Carpentry, Electrical Wiring, Plumbing and HVAC completed construction of the three-bedroom colonial home for the Lexington Housing Authority in partnership with the Lexington Rotary Club.
§ Carpentry and Drafting students designed and constructed classroom improvements for the Brooks Elementary and Middle School in Lincoln.
§ The Drafting & Design Technology students completed plans for a large garage to be built by Minuteman’s construction students in Lexington.
§ Student teams completed the reconstruction – from design to construction and installation of the historic cannon stands for the Town Common in Belmont.
§ The Automotive Technology program earned the top honors 5-year recertification through the National Automotive Technical Education Foundation (NATEF).
§ The Automotive Collision Repair program also earned the NATEF certification.
§ The Landscape Management Department won several awards again, including their seventh consecutive First Place at the Annual New England Flower Show in Boston.
Commercial & Human Services Division Highlights
§ The Child Development Center and the Early Childhood Education department was recertified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Many commercial centers do not receive this certification for excellence and good practice in curriculum implementation.
§ The Culinary Arts Department became a certification site by the American Culinary Federation, awarded in June 2004.
§ For the second year in a row, Culinary Arts students won first-place in the annual culinary competition at Newbury College and in so doing earned $7,000 in scholarships for enrollment at Newbury College.
§ As a community service project a team of junior Graphic Communications students worked with the Lahey Clinic in designing and printing a 2005 calendar incorporating artwork drawn by elementary age students who are patients in the “young hearts” clinic.
§ Kerry Meister of Arlington, a Culinary Arts Baking student won National First Place in the Skills USA skills competition held in Kansas City, MO in June 2004.In 2003, she earned National Second Place in the same national competition.
National Honor Society
The Minuteman Chapter of the National Honor Society proudly served the school and the community with thousands of volunteer hours maintaining a solid and diverse membership while inducting thirteen new members.
Overall School Highlights
§ The Boys Basketball team won the division IV state championship after defeating Cathedral 56-47 at a game played on the Boston Celtics parquet at the Fleet Center in Boston.
§ A new Freshmen Exploratory program was designed and implemented as a means to ensure that members of the Class of 2008 have a full opportunity to experience each of Minuteman’s twenty-three technical programs before choosing a major. This new exploratory program runs half of grade 9 and allows students to develop a better understanding of their talents and interests while exposing them to diverse careers.
§ New and/or updated college articulation and advance credit agreements with numerous top colleges in 26 different career areas.
§ Community Education services, including After School programs for middle school students, Adult High School services, Evening and Continuing Education courses and Summer School programs and camps, provided to member town residents continued at one of the highest participation and success levels in the state.
§ The Facilities Management Department completed major campus renovation and facility improvement projects including conversion to gas heating, upgrading athletic fields, and renovation of the school’s administrative offices.
§ Numerous staff development efforts focused on obtaining national rather than just state certification in graphics & digital media, culinary arts, and collision repair (ASE).
Minuteman Students Take Gold and Bronze Medals at National SkillsUSA Competition
Nine students from Minuteman Regional High School represented their school and Massachusetts at a national competition, the SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, MO in late June. Three came home with medals and two returned with top ten placements.
Kerry Meister of Arlington took first place and a gold medal in Commercial Baking, edging out other state winners in an all-day competition, during which visitors could watch contestants preparing, baking and displaying more than a half-dozen types of pastry and assorted confections. Kerry accepted her award on stage in the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, among a crowd estimated at 11,000, including competitors from all 50 states and several U.S. territories, advisors, parents, and hundreds of business partners.
In addition to the medal and the cheers of the crowd, Kerry was awarded a full tuition scholarship at the Culinary Institute of America for her first-place win. This was the second trip to nationals for Kerry, who competed in 2003 as a junior and took a silver medal and second place in the country. She admitted that the primary reason for her return was to win the scholarship at the prestigious CIA, where she will continue her studies in baking.
The team of Alex Hatherly of Lexington and Patrick Maloney of Stow took their skills in Robotic and Automation Technology to the national level, and emerged as bronze medal winners, placing third in the country. Alex and Patrick’s competition area, where they worked all day on Thursday to produce a medal-winning project, was directly below the sign announcing the competition, and drew many onlookers, but the experienced team seldom looked up, concentrating on their work. Members of the Class of 2004, both are headed to college in the fall.
Keynote speaker at the Friday night awards program in Kansas City’s vast Kemper Arena, was Newell Rubbermaid CEO Joe Galli, who called the SkillsUSA Championships “one of the most impressive events on the planet.” More than 240,000 students compete in 10,000 competitions “to earn the right to make this pilgrimage,” he said. He told contestants that each one of them is “in the top two percent in the country just by making it here.” He reiterated his company’s support of SkillsUSA through a video, a listing of contests the company finances, and by presenting a giant check for $100,000 to national SkillsUSA director Tim Lawrence.
Two in National Top Ten
Following the awards ceremony, where the top three finishers were called on stage in an Olympic-style ceremony, a program was held for Massachusetts competitors, to recognize students who had placed in the top ten. Josh Cyker of Harvard, who won the state contest in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) to compete at nationals, placed fifth in the country and was given a certificate by the Massachusetts leadership team. Adam Weiss of Carlisle, a state winner in Related Technical Math and a member of Minuteman’s Class of 2005, placed sixth at the nationals and also was given a certificate recognizing his efforts. Other national competitors from Minuteman, all state winners, included James Sproul of Stow, Office Computer Applications; Michael Forhan of Stow, Collision Repair
Technology; and Eleanor Murtagh of Stow, Prepared Speech.
Through leadership events and competitions on the district, state and national level, the organization helps students excel in their education and future technical, skilled and service careers, including health occupations. SkillsUSA serves nearly 265,000 high school and college/postsecondary students and their chapter advisors who are professional members.
Students Create Mobile Kitchen for Boston Crusaders
As the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps left in June for their 40-state summer tour, they departed with a new food trailer, thanks to a collaboration with Minuteman Regional High School. Students enrolled in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, welding and carpentry career majors transformed an empty trailer into a state-of-the-art mobile kitchen.
In addition to practicing the skills they have learned at Minuteman, students got an education in other areas, since the kitchen is traveling interstate. “We must follow Department of Transportation regulations,” said Ernie Houle, welding instructor and co-project manager with Leo DeSimone, who is also Minuteman’s division coordinator for the Building Trades and Power Mechanics Division. “Normally when we build something, we must get permits,” Mr. Houle added. “In having to follow federal guidelines, this has been a learning experience for the Boston Crusaders as well.”
Students applied problem-solving techniques and called upon their background in science and math to make sure the kitchen plan turned into a workable reality. Boston Crusaders sat in on Sam Cetrano’s Applied Physics class, for example, to see five student presentations that sought to answer the question, “What would be the best insulation system?” The trailer provides “cool projects for all departments,” said Mr. Houle, bringing together students from different career majors and also integrating technical skills with academic applications. “All four grade levels have had some connection,” Mr. Houle said of his welding students. They fabricated a beverage rack system and a compartment to hold propane tanks and also created two sets of portable aluminum stairs.
Future electricians worked on all the wiring, which included installing outlets and lighting, wiring kitchen equipment and putting in the main electrical panel. Plumbing students installed water and gas lines for the cooking center. Carpentry students constructed all the metal and wood framing for the trailer and built kitchen cabinets. HVAC students installed the ventilation system and the walk-in cooler.
Boston Crusaders said they expected the trailer kitchen to serve 56,000 meals to more than 200 touring members and volunteers. The trailer is an 18-wheeler donated by a moving company, and which carries Crusanders equipment as well as the portable kitchen. It replaces an out-of-date kitchen. “Many, many thanks for all the fantastic work by the students and teachers at Minuteman,” a spokesperson wrote on the www.crusanders.com web site. Minuteman’s school logo will be placed in two locations on the trailer as a “token of how much the Corps appreciates their hard work.”
RETIREES
Dr. Ronald J. Fitzgerald Retires as Minuteman Superintendent-Director, 1976 - 2004
William Callahan, Appointed Superintendent-Director
| 
