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Friday, February 9, 2018

Aggie Weekly-February 9th

Aggie Weekly
Good Afternoon Students, Parents, and Community Members:
This week our Sophomore’s took their first of three MCAS tests, and this week it was Biology.  We feel confident that our students were prepared for their exams and they worked hard to demonstrate their proficiency.  Last night, the Bristol County Advisory Board once again voted to support the Bristol Aggie Building project.  See below for more details.  

Next Phase for Seniors:  We are proud to share with you our senior’s plans for their next step in their college and career exploration.  Based on the knowledge and skills,  learned during their 4 years at BA, we are excited to publish acceptances into colleges, universities, military plans, and any career pathways each week.  Please let Ms. Dias know in Student Services, so we can update our list weekly.  Thank you for your dedication to excellence and drive to maintain Bristol Aggie Excellence.  

Spring Expo: Bristol Aggie will be hosting their 6th Annual Spring Expo on Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 10:00 - 3:00, Rain or Shine!

Meet members of our local, agricultural community, promoting exciting products & services at this 1-day, free - family event.  Highlights include:  BA Grows Farmer's Market & Vendor Expo, Live Animal Exhibits, Gourmet Food Truck, live entertainment, and more!

Just in time for Mother's Day, check out the Bristol Aggie Plant Sale, hosted by the BA Floriculture and Landscape Design & Construction students!
Interested in attending Bristol Aggie?  Join Us!
A Prospective Student Tour for 6th & 7th Graders will run from 9:00 - 11:00.  This is a great way to learn all about what Bristol Aggie has to offer!  The tour starts in the Gymnasium at 9:00.  To sign up, by clicking here.  



Bristol Aggie improvement project receives near unanimous approval: By Charles Winokoor

Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter

DIGHTON — In a near-unanimous vote Thursday night, representatives of Bristol County towns and cities approved a nearly $104 million improvement project for the campus of Bristol County Agricultural High School.
“I’m delirious,” said Bristol Aggie Superintendent Adele Sands after the vote was recorded.
“It’s clear that they know and value the school and are committed to it and their students,” she said of the 13 municipal representatives who voted yes.
The two towns voting no were Seekonk and Freetown.
The vote authorizes the three-member Bristol County Commission to petition Beacon Hill for special legislation to accept the measure.
The commission has said that the Massachusetts School Building Authority has agreed to pay for $50.5 million with the balance of $53.2 million falling to the 20 towns and cities that constitute Bristol County.
The project would result in construction of a new building that will accommodate a variety of classes and disciplines — including small and large animal science; natural resource study; and science classes.
The library would also be reconfigured and included in the building.
Other improvements would be to the school’s main academic and administrative building known as Gilbert Hall where the size of classrooms and labs would be enlarged to comply with standards set by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Thursday’s vote was a replay of an earlier one taken on Jan. 6.
The commissioners quickly called for the new vote after discovering a possible legal discrepancy related to what they said was “a strict interpretation” of a state statute, after the administrator — instead of an elected official — for the town of Freetown included himself in that day’s quorum.
Raynham selectman Joseph Pacheco, who was voted as the advisory board’s new chairman, said increased enrollment will help contain the amount of money required from each municipality in terms of annual assessment based on number of students coming from the respective cities and towns.
School Principal Kevin Braga said the waiting list for students who want to attend Bristol Aggie has been perennial.
Braga said it should take about four years for the current level of just over 450 students to rise to a projected 600.
Pacheco reiterated that the advisory board, on which he’s served for 11 years, has always done its best to inform members of upcoming public meetings and votes.
There was at least one complaint from a town administrator subsequent to the Jan. 6 vote that the commission had not made enough of effort to publicize the day the vote was to be held.
ALICE:
Over the next two weeks, we will be training our student body on our emergency protocols using the  ALICE training.  On Friday, February 9th, we will be educating the sophomores, juniors, and seniors regarding the safety protocols that are to be followed in the event of a school intrusion.  Freshman were trained in September and this is a follow up refresher for the remaining student body.

On Wednesday, February 14th we will conduct a school wide soft drill for our ALICE safety protocols.  We will not perform any barricades during Wednesday’s drill.  Our goal is for our students to have self-awareness and to evaluate their surroundings.  In addition we want to have conversations with our students about environmental tools that could be used in the event that there was a threat in the building. We will collect feedback from students and staff for any improvements.

As you know, safety of students and staff is the highest priority at Bristol County Agricultural High School. The past several years have seen a dramatic increase in school violence and intrusion across the country.  

Expert security-analysis of these events has resulted in development of new protocols for school-wide response to them.  These protocols have been incorporated into Bristol Aggie’s response protocols in order to provide students and staff with the necessary and most up to date procedures should such an event occur.

A.L.I.C.E. is a safety protocol created by national security experts and the response protocol adopted by Bristol Aggie, in the unlikely event an intruder enters into one of our buildings.  Phase 1 of our training on Friday will be led by administration, and the soft drill will be led by teachers in the classroom.  Both are discussion based to ensure students questions are answered.  

A.L.I.C.E. stands for ALERT, LOCKDOWN, INFORM, COUNTER, EVACUATE.  ALICE does not involve a cookie-cutter approach; it is a set of response options that empower staff and students during an intruder event. The Bristol Aggie community has been trained and partnered with the Dighton Police Department in appropriate responses utilizing the techniques specific to the A.L.I.C.E. protocol.

Click here for FAQ sheet for your review of the provisions of the A.L.I.C.E. response protocol.  However, should you have any specific questions regarding this emergency response protocol feel free to contact Robin VanRotz at 508-669-6744 ext. 152.

  • Friday’s Refresher Trainings: On Friday, Mrs. Van Rotz provided training for students to ensure they understood our safety protocols.  Next Wednesday, we will conduct a soft drill (see information above).  

Casting Call for Students: As part of the Leading the Nation celebration, Department of Education is working with several vocational technical high schools to produce television and radio spots. The student producers are looking for other students to be in the pieces, and the producers are holding a casting call on Saturday, February 17 at Nashoba Valley Technical High School in Westford.  Click the links above for more information.  


In the Classroom:
  • Flori: Flori students created several different natural habitats over the last couple of weeks.  This week, they presented their findings to their peers.  Check out the amazing creativity! #BAPride
  • Arbor: In Mr. Cook’s senior Arbor class students were conducting a pre-trip inspections on school vehicles as part of the CDL prep course.
  • Physical Education: On Thursday, PE held the Vo-Ag Volleyball Tournament.  It was a hard fought battle, but in the end Animal Science took the title.  Nice work everyone!
Teen Safety Summit: If any student is interested in this summit, please seek an advisor of a student organization to sponsor this conference.  If you have any questions, please ask Mr. Braga.  
Activities and Athletics:
  • FFA Flori team is hosting their annual Valentines Day rose sale. Roses will be sold during lunch periods until Monday Feb. 12 or swing by flori and see Mrs.Fornari.
  • Yearbooks: Seniors- to reserve a personalized copy of the yearbook please place your order with Mrs. Ward by Friday, February 16th. Yearbooks are $40 payable by cash or with a check made out to BCAHS Class of 2018.
  • Peer Mentor Program: will be in the the library on Wednesday, February 14
  • Boys Basketball: On Thursday the Boys team played Old Colony at home.  Nice effort boys.  

Week Ahead: A Week

  • Monday, February 12
    • Assembly- Report to the Gym
    • Extends: 2:30-4:00 pm (Library)
    • Boys Basketball vs Diman (HOME)
    • Late Buses- 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday, February 13
    • Late Buses- 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday, February 14
    • ALICE Presentation/Soft Drill: 12:46-1:37
    • Boys Basketball vs Atlantic Charter (HOME)
    • Late Buses- 5:00 pm
  • Thursday, February 15
    • Extends: 2:30-4:00 pm (Library)
    • Late Buses- 5:00 pm
  • Friday, February 16
    • Girls Basketball vs Norfolk (HOME)
    • Late Buses- 5:00 pm

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