Aggie Weekly
Good Afternoon Students, Parents, and Community Members: Please click here for the Aggie Weekly
This week we returned after the Nor’easter, and we hope that everyone is well. Our Arbor students were able to learn first hand how to work with trees that have been damaged during a storm (see below for photos). We are fortunate to have a knowledgeable and dedicated staff that came in on Monday regardless of their home situation without power, water, etc. This is how and why we produce Bristol Aggie graduates that have the admired trait of grit and determination that you will not find in most school districts. Than YOU Bristol Aggie! #BAPride
Fire Drill-Drug Prevention:
As part of Bristol County Agricultural High School Drug Prevention program, Dighton Police, Dighton Fire Department, and BCAHS administration requested assistance from the Bristol County Sheriff's Office (Lt. Douglas who is a BA alumni) to conduct a search using K-9 dogs (12 teams). Today at 8:28 am the Dighton Fire Department conducted a fire drill. The drill was completed by 8:44 am. When the students exited for the drill, the K-9 teams entered the facility to check classrooms, lockers, locker rooms, and common areas. No contraband was found during our search. We appreciate everyone's patience and dedication to safety.
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. 
- University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA
- Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA
- University of Findlay, Findlay, OH
- Mount Ida College, Newton, MA
- Curry College, Milton, MA
- Mass Bay Community College, Framingham, MA
- Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA
- Springfield College, Springfield, MA
- Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
- Framingham State University, Framingham, MA
- University of Maine Orono, Orono, ME
- University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- Penn State University, University Park, PA
- Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA
- Noah Pacheco- United States Air Force
- Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
- Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
- Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA
- Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, MA
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA
- Worcester State University, Worcester, MA
Parent Bulletin: There is a lot of misinformation surrounding vaping and the effects it has on your health. A few months back, we worked with our health and wellness department to discuss how we would discuss vaping in our health curriculum. We also included this as an initiative for our Wellness Committee. I received this article this week from a colleague and thought it really provided a good narrative to the “Extreme Dangers of Vaping.” Parents, please speak with your child regarding these risks and if we can provide any support, please do not hesitate to contact us.
HEALTH BULLETIN:
The Extreme Dangers of Vaping
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Parents,
Across the country there has been a dramatic increase in adolescent use of e-cigarettes or vaporizers. Vaping, as it has become known, has been promoted as a healthy alternative to smoking. Unfortunately this is not the case, as many health hazards have been reported. The chemicals that are inhaled through e-cigarettes, sometimes referred to as jules, have many health effects that include lung disease, increased heart rate and blood pressure and potential to stunt brain development. These devices have also been used to smoke a highly addictive marijuana oil known as "dabs." The Cape Cod Tech Wellness Committee has developed a goal to inform parents and students about the dangers of vaping. We are working with local health officials, parents, teachers, staff and of course our students to inform the Cape Cod Tech Community about the dangers of vaping. We are inviting parents to make this their 2018 New Year's Resolution to speak with and inform their children about the extreme health risks from vaping. Please join us in keeping our communities safe.
Below is our first of many articles to inform parents and students. This article was published by Silver Hill Hospital and written by Dr. John Douglas. It includes many great links for parents and students. We will also bring forward future discussion topics and questions for parents to share with their children. Please join us in our efforts to keep our children safe.
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Vaping and Your Teen: What Parents Need to Know
John Douglas, M.D., MBA
Service Chief, Outpatient Addiction Program
Vaping is inhaling a water vapor that is produced by a battery-powered electronic cigarette, commonly referred to as an e-cigarette. The device has a cartridge of fluid, e-liquid or e-juice, which often contains nicotine and/or flavoring. The liquid is heated and converted into a mist that people "vape."
Currently, e-cigarettes are the most commonly used form of tobacco among teens and young adults, more common than smoking cigarettes. Teens report they have used e-cigarettes because they are curious and they like the taste. They also believe that they are less harmful than traditional tobacco products. However, research proves otherwise.
E-cigarettes Are Not Harmless
Everyone knows traditional cigarettes are bad; they are the number one cause of preventable death in the US. Just because e-cigarettes don't produce tar or other toxins found in cigarettes, doesn't mean they're risk-free. E-liquids that contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical, cause an elevation in heart rate, blood pressure and changes in the brain. The brain continues to grow until the age of 25 and nicotine can interfere with brain development, which can contribute to learning problems, including ADD. Young people who use e-cigarettes are also at an increased risk of going on to smoke tobacco and develop addictions to other drugs.
In addition to the risks associated with nicotine, there are other chemicals found in e-cigarettes that can lead to serious health problems. The flavored liquids that are popular among teens, contain diacetyl, a chemical that can cause a severe lung disease.
Also problematic is "dripping," a new trend teens are engaging in. Dripping is when the user drips a few drops of the e-liquid directly on the hot coils, while on the highest heat setting, and then immediately inhales the vapor. This is done to produce a thicker, more flavorful smoke. If the liquid contains nicotine, dripping increases the levels of that as well. A recent study of Connecticut high school students found about a quarter those surveyed used e-cigarettes for dripping, which is problematic due to the health risks. The danger of this behavior is when e-cigarettes are used on the highest heat setting, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, known carcinogens, are produced.
Some people attempt to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking. However, inhaling the nicotine vapor from e-cigarettes actually perpetuates addiction to nicotine and interferes with quitting smoking. To quit smoking, multiple FDA approved treatments exist and using e-cigarettes is not one of them.
E-cigarettes Can Be Used to Deliver Other Drugs
A study published in the medical journal, Pediatrics, found that 1 in 5 high school students used e-cigarettes to vape concentrated THC extracted from marijuana, called hash oil. . Vaping hash oil, which is analogous to "freebasing marijuana" causes an intense rapid high and increases the risk of addiction. It also increases the risk of severe side effects such as panic attacks and hallucinations.
Hash oil though isn't the only drug that can be abused in e-cigarettes. Others include, opiates, flakka, and synthetic marijuana (K2 and Spice). Therefore, you really don't know what someone is smoking when you see him or her using an e-cigarette.
What Parents Need to Know
Resources
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Parent Information Meeting:
On Wednesday evening we met with parents to discuss our safety protocols. We explained that all of our students have been trained in our ALICE protocols.
- Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate
- ALICE is NOT linear progressive response
- Alert: This refers to how you learn about the dangerous situation
- Lockdown/Barricade: Lock doors & lights off
- Inform: Continued real time information allows you to make decisions as the situation unfolds
- Counter: Anything can be a used to defend yourself. Be aware of your environmental surroundings.
- Evacuate: If the intruder is on the inside. Get out if safe to do so.
- Evacuation Locations: We have two evacuation points that students and staff will evacuate to in an event of an emergency. You will be notified of these locations if we were to evacuate to these or other locations if necessary. In the event we do evacuate, students will need to be dismissed to their parent/guardian or their emergency contact that was determined at the beginning of the school year. No exceptions will be made. In order to sign out a student, the parent/guardian or emergency contact must have a photo ID.
We appreciate meeting with families on Wednesday night to go over our security protocols. A request was made to provide families with information that would be beneficial to parents regarding our safety protocols. Although it is our protocol not to publish our safety procedures, we will work with the safety team to see what type of information we can share with families.
PTO Family Fun Night:
In the Classroom:
- Arbor: Arbor students removing a storm damaged Northern Catalpa in our Arboretum.
- NRM: Zach hones his radio telemetry tracking skills after-school. Biologists use this equipment to track many species of wildlife. Radio tracking often takes much more time and effort than it appears to in our favorite wildlife documentaries. Practice helps make a wildlife technician more efficient. Check out the video on youtube.
Floriculture:
Students in our junior flori class took a contemporary class with Robert Whitney AIFD. Bob has been in the floral industry for many years and became an accredited AIFD member. This is the highest accreditation given in our industry. Bob was able to work one on one with students and give students constructive criticism. Bob also taught the students about leaf manipulation and how less is more!
Community Service Opportunity:
The Somerset Open Air Market is excited to start its second season on June 2nd but is looking for volunteers to help out. We have several areas where we can really use some help:
- Vendor Arrival & Check in
- Vendor setup (must be able to lift 40lbs)
- Children’s Activities
- Vendor visits & flyer distribution
- Parking
- Breakdown and loadout (must be able to lift 40lbs)
From June to August the market is held every other Saturday. However, in September & October the market is held every Saturday (except for one Sunday 10/7) with the hours of 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. If anyone is interested you can apply to volunteer on our website by clicking here.
Project Dress Up:
Student Services: Bristol Community College will be coming back to our campus to host another On-Site Admissions day on Friday, April 13! If you have yet to apply or are thinking about applying this is perfect event to attend! The admissions representative will be onsite to answer questions and meet with students to hand out acceptance letters. If you have any questions or would like to sign up, see Ms. Costa in Student Services.
- Calling all Juniors! University of Maine -Machias will be visiting us on Wednesday, March 21 at 1:00 p.m. If you would like to sign up for the presentation visit Student Services and sign up before March 21! Click here to check out the majors that they offer!
Activities and Athletics:
- FFA: Last week, Jenna Gouveia and Hannah Medeiros attended the Bristol County Farm Bureau Legislative Breakfast. There, they had the opportunity to share what Bristol Aggie has been up to and our plans moving forward. Both young ladies would incredible representative for our school and the agricultural education community. The picture below from left to right: Jenna Gouveia, Animal Science Senior, Commissioner John Lebeaux, Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and Hannah Medeiros, Natural Resource Management Senior.
It is State Convention time! Over 50 students will be leaving after school on Tuesday to head to the Massachusetts State FFA Convention in Sturbridge, MA. We will be returning on Friday at approximately 2:30PM. Student will need to secure a ride home from Bristol Aggie on Friday because school will not be in session.
Thank you to our school community for their support in our Backpack for Troops Drive. Check the next Aggie Weekly to see how big of an impact we, the state association and the chapters across the Commonwealth will have on the military families across Massachusetts.
- SAT Prep with Mr. Sitarski on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. in Room 206. Drop-ins are welcome. Strategize, study and prepare for either the May or June 2018 exams.
- Ocean Bowl: The Salmon Cannons, our Bristol Aggie team, competed in the regional Blue Lobster Bowl last Saturday, March 3rd at MIT in Cambridge, MA. Our A team (Emma Knox- captain, Abby Bruno, Alex Cameron, Madison “Sharkie” Kruger, and Jessie Power, Blythe Doroch-alternate) won 2 out of the 5 round robin games. These games consisted of short buzzer rounds of ocean trivia questions and longer form written team challenge questions. They went on to win the McDowell Science Challenge competition, which this year was a group activity identifying various aspects of photographs of marine life. Their prize, aside from the shiny trophy, is a trip to MIT for a sailing lesson and to work with marine robotic vehicles. Ocean Bowl will not be meeting for the next several weeks, but we will be resume meetings and be open to new members joining during weekly Wednesday meetings, 3 to 4pm in B-23, starting in April. Ocean Bowl is currently planning several field trips for the spring!
Bristol Aggie is looking for students interested in helping to organize our first Annual Anti-bullying/Cool to Be Kind Week! All interested students should sign up with Dr. DiGioia in Student Services.
Week Ahead: B Week
- Monday, March 12
- Extends: 2:30-4:00 pm (Library)
- Tuesday, March 13
- Assembly- Report to the Gym
- FFA Students Leave for State Convention 3:00PM and will return on Friday at approximately 2:30PM.
- School Building Committee Meeting 5:30 pm (Keith Hall)
- Board of Trustees Meeting 7:00 pm (Keith Hall)
- Wednesday, March 14
- Late Buses- 5:00 pm
- Thursday, March 15
- Wrestling Banquet 6:00 pm (Auditorium)
- Friday, March 16
- No School- Evacuation Day
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