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News...Events...Activities
Bus
Routes
School
Council
School
Calendar & Events
Envt. Tech Boosters Club
ON THIS PAGE....
School TOURS for
prospective students and their parents
Plant Sale scheduled for May 8th to 10th
Breakfast Program a resounding success!
New Computer lab installed in the School Library
School Trustee minutes now available
MCAS 2007 results show tremendous progress
Updates
concerning the proposed school merger
Students can receive internet
access in their own hometowns
Extension service answers home and garden questions
Innovative technology programs
enhance student learning
Ongoing
Programs
School TOURS for
prospective students and their parents
Interested students and their parents who are considering
enrollment at Essex Aggie are encouraged to attend a SCHOOL TOUR. The free
tours last about 2 hours, from 9AM until 11AM ,and will provide you a
complete view of our campus programs. Parents and school groups must
call and reserve a spot as group size is limited to 15-18 students and parents.
Please wear comfortable shoes! Call ahead to reserve a space to Ronald
Vercellone, the admissions
coordinator at 978-774-0050 ext. 210, or email him at
ronvercellone@agtech.org. Tours to
be announced.
Plant
Sale scheduled for May 8th to 10th, 2008
The Plant Science department will hold its annual plant sale
at the campus farm stand on Rte. 62 this year on Thursday and Friday, May 8 and
9 from 9AM to 4PM and on Saturday, May 10th from 9AM until 2PM. The public is
invited to purchase all types of landscape and flowering plants as well as
vegetable plants. For more information contact Richard Collins, department head
at 978 774-0050 ext. 247.
Breakfast Program a
resounding success!
Superintendent Roger Bourgeois
has instituted a Breakfast
Program for our students that began in late November. Students who travel from
far and near on our many school buses now have the opportunity to eat breakfast
in our cafeteria before they start classes for the day. Assistant
Principal, Peter Dolan, reports that both programs have been a huge success so
far with many students taking advantage of this new feature.Students will also
have a greater opportunity to visit the Library or the school gymnasium before
and after classes since both facilities have increased their hours of service.
New Computer lab installed in the School Library
Right after the Thanksgiving break in November the faculty and students were
pleased to learn that a 30 seat computer lab has been created in the School
Library. To make space for the lab, the entire collection of books and magazines
was consolidated in the library by Head Librarian Debra Murphy and library clerk
Linda Wendell. The computers with flat screen monitors were configured and ready
to go on schedule by technology specialist Glenn Dagley. The lab boasts a
ceiling mounted digital projector, an interactive mimio smartboard , full
network access and shared color laser printing. Teachers can access any lab
desktop from a central site and display the student's' work on the projector.
Technology Integration Specialist, Eva Rajczyk, wis providing tech support
to both faculty and students so that full use of the lab takes place.
School Trustee minutes now available
Minutes of past meetings of the Board of Trustees are
now available at this site, starting with
the December 2006 regular meeting.
MCAS 2007 results show
tremendous progress!
In 2007 98% of our students met the competency determination in the English
Language Arts test. The state average was 95%. Since 2005 our student
scores have improved by 19% in ELA for first time test takers. For 2007 93% of
our students met the competency determination in mathematics. Again, we beat the
state average of 91%. Since 2005 our student scores in mathematics have improved
by 30% for first time test takers.
Updates concerning the proposed
school merger
The Massachusetts legislature has approved a formal
study concerning the possible merger of Essex Ag-Tech High School with
North Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School in Middleton and Peabody
Vocational High School in Peabody. A joint committee has been appointed that
meets regularly. For updates on the merger study progress click
HERE.
Students
get free Internet access right in their hometown
Here's a reminder to our students who use the
internet at Essex Aggie- nearly every local public library in our area has
free Internet access available to you, merely for the asking. From your local
community you can use the Internet web browser to search for reference sites
that are invaluable in completing homework assignments and other projects.
Just go to the following site and follow the links to search for the address
of your town's local library and hours of operation:
http://www.mlin.lib.ma.us/about_libraries/ldap_search.shtml
Extension Service answers home and garden
questions
Many old time friends of the Aggie may remember when the Cooperative
Extension Service had a local home base on the Aggie campus. Residents came in
by the droves with their questions on home gardening, insect pests and soil
samples, and much more. In recent years funding cutbacks have forced the
agency to cut back its services. For soil testing information however,
you can call Coop Extension at 413-545-2311.
University of Massachusetts Extension is
part of a nationwide public university research and outreach network linked
through its federal partner, the United States Department of Agriculture. Its
mission is to serve the public good through the creation, communication, and
application of knowledge
Technology
Innovations for students
The
school instructional technology program has now deployed a wireless laptop
computer lab for classroom use on every departmental area of
campus Each curricular major also has available digital projection
systems and digital cameras as valuable tools to enhance learning. Starting in the 06-07 school year , a
Technology Integration Specialist was hired to work
with students, teachers, and staff in order to more fully implement
instructional technology tools, practices and software into the academic and
vocational courses at the school. Portable "smart board " devices called
Mimio systems were secured for each department that enable a teacher to
completely manipulate an Internet computer from a projected large screen image
from the front of the classroom.
Our school Internet Use Policy
contains rules for all students using
technology equipment on campus . Parents must sign a waiver for their students to use the internet on school
computers unless the student is 18 years of age or older.
Ongoing
Programs
Essex Ag-Tech High School participates wholeheartedly in local programs such as the Topsfield Fair and other fairs and
conventions. The Science Fair Exposition, Tractor Driving Contest, and Public Speaking
competitions are enthusiastically supported. The creation of our student newspaper The Round-Up, and our yearbook, The Ram, command great attention
and interest.
