WHAT'S HAPPENING AT NCTC?
December 19th, 2025
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT NCTC?
Announcements, Program Highlights and Events
As of May 29th Volume # 10
Hello NCTC Families,
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we’re helping students explore, grow, and discover what inspires them.
For information on Work-Based Learning, please scroll down for Rob Thayer's contact information.
To stay informed about future updates, please click "Subscribe" at the end of this newsletter.
Enjoy the updates!
😀 Important Dates😀
⭐Friday June 5th- NCTC Appreciation Night -Doors open at 5:30🏅
🧭Questions about NCTC Programs and Career Planning? Contact Susan Bosland, the School Counseling Coordinator at sbosland@maplerun.org
Skilled Trades Signing Day - June 5th @1pm
👷🏻♂️Friday June 5th 1pm-2:30 in the BFA Gymnasium🧑🏻⚕️
*Students will be signing their "letters of intent" with their future employers. They will be recognized for their hard work, dedication and future after high school. We are proud to celebrate our students along with their families, teachers & friends.
Here's the Year-End Schedule for Your Student
Employment Opportunities - Come Join a Fun Energetic Team
Math Integrationist and Geometry in Construction Instructor
Please share this opportunity. Here's the job posting on SchoolSpring. Please share and spread the news! https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=5624063
Hiring Guest Instructors
You don't need to be a builder to support in Building Trades, you don't need to be an engineer to support in Engineering. You just need a willingness to support a NCTC program when a teacher needs to be absent. Teachers leave detailed plans and you get to connect with some amazing high school students focusing on their future!
Highlights from our Programs
Automotive Technology
Students in the Automotive Technology program have been hard at work building technical skills and preparing for careers in the automotive industry. Auto 1 students recently completed an in-depth study of fuel systems and are now entering the final stretch of the year with a new focus on Electrical Theory, learning the fundamentals of automotive electrical systems and diagnostics.
Auto 2 students recently completed their ASE certification testing, which serves as their Tier Two Industry Recognized Credential (IRC). ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certifications are nationally recognized assessments that measure technical knowledge and career readiness within the automotive industry. This year, 10 students successfully passed a combined total of 51 ASE tests — an impressive accomplishment that demonstrates both skill and dedication. Following testing, students are now beginning their next unit of study focused on automotive air conditioning systems.
Not to be forgotten are our Automotive Pre-Tech students, who are entering the home stretch of the school year by completing the final assembly of their single-cylinder motors. This hands-on project gives students valuable experience with engine components, mechanical systems, troubleshooting, and precision assembly while helping build a strong foundation for future automotive studies.
Building Trades
First year students in the "Geometry in Construction" program are working diligently on two 8'x12' burn Sheds for the Vermont Fire Academy that are to be delivered by the end of next week to their facility in Alburgh. These sheds will be burned at the academy for training purposes. For sheds that are being burned they have a high level of finish on them, to include; Functioning electrical outlets and lights wired to a switch, sheetrock mud and tape, asphalt shingle roof, and an exterior door. I also have a group of students working on a dollhouse for the fire academy as well, this will be used as training for them to show how air flow affects the fire inside of a structure.
Building Trades 1 students currently have 4 on-going projects to wrap up by end of year, to include; a 10'x12' board and batten sugar shed, metal roof, 2 windows, man door, and an insulated garage door. The entire shed is insulated to protect sugaring equipment from freezing. The interior finishes are better than most garages, OSB sheathed walls, windows and doors trimmed out.
We're also finishing a firewood box for Hard'ack with board on board siding, metal roof and custom barn doors, and a 2'x3' wood sign kiosk for Hard'ack with a roof over the top of everything finished with cedar shingles.
Lastly there's our fence project for the town of Georgia. It's a split rail cedar fence around the cemetery on Polly Hubbard Rd.
Cosmetology
Culinary Arts
Tribute to a Student
As many of you know, our Culinary Arts student, Jacob Carter, passed away just before his 17th birthday.
In the days following his passing, the Culinary Arts students decided they wanted to keep Jacob's locker intact as a way to remember him. We have placed a nameplate on his locker and would like to invite students and staff to leave notes, memories, messages of support, or words of kindness over the next few weeks before summer break.
Please let your students know about this opportunity. Whether they knew Jacob well, knew him in passing, or simply want to share a kind thought, all messages are welcome. Sometimes a few heartfelt words can mean a great deal.
Our hope is that this small tribute will give students a chance to reflect, support one another, and celebrate the impact Jacob had on our school community.
Thank you for helping us honor Jacob's memory.
Digital Media
Uriah "Elliot" Neabar & Kiley Baker were part of team 1339 for the SkillsUSA Vermont Digital Cinema competition, where they won silver and 3 scholarships each. The film was written, filmed, and edited in less than a week and a half. Here's the link to the movie.
Summary: Following a traumatic accident, Miguel is left in a fractured psychological state where memory, perception, and imagination begin to overlap. As fragmented recollections surface-anchored by emotionally significant moments with a close friend-he struggles to distinguish between what is real and what is constructed by his mind. Seeking clarity, he attempts to organize these experiences into a coherent internal narrative, treating them as disjointed pieces of a larger unresolved whole.
- IMDb
Awards: SkillsUSA Vermont, Digital Cinema, Silver & VTSU Castleton: VideoFest 1st Place
Additional notes: Our student short film "Fragmented" was made for SkillsUSA Vermont's Digital Cinema, where we were awarded silver and additionally submitted to VTSU Castleton VideoFest, where it won first place.
Collaborators: Uriah "Elliot" Neabar (Director, Writer, Lead Actor, Editor, Composer), Lindsey Johnson (Actor), Kiley Baker (Camera Operator, Team Member)
Engineering Technology
Students in the Engineering program are wrapping up their dual enrollment college course, Introduction to CAD, offered in partnership with Central Maine Community College. Through this opportunity, students have earned valuable college credit while developing technical drafting and design skills used in the engineering and architecture industries. As a final project, students are completing detailed sketches and CAD designs for an entire house, showcasing their understanding of technical drawing, precision measurement, and computer-aided design principles. This hands-on experience gives students a strong foundation for future studies and careers in engineering, construction, and design fields.
Human Services
HS1 students completed a full day training in Basic Specialized Care learning about the social/emotional development of young children and the importance of collaborating with parents and families. Students are also in their final rotation learning about Adulthood and spend a week at Care Partners assisting staff and interviewing older adults.
HS2 students are in the final weeks of their spring senior internship experiences. Our seniors have been interning and co-oping at SATEC and SACS school as well as at Northwest Counseling and Support Services and CVOEO this spring. Students also presented their in-depth research papers about Education and Human Services current topics and are preparing for their final portfolio showcase.
Medical Professions
Students in Medical Professions 1 are wrapping up their study of the Cardiovascular System through a variety of hands-on learning experiences focused on the heart, blood, and blood vessels. Throughout the unit, students have been developing important patient assessment skills and techniques, including taking vital signs, performing EKGs, and practicing phlebotomy procedures. Students are learning that safe and effective blood collection involves far more than simply drawing blood and it also requires proper patient identification, infection control practices, communication skills, safety procedures, and an understanding of anatomy and specimen handling.
Meanwhile, students in Medical Professions 2 are preparing to present their professional portfolios to classmates and family members next week. These portfolios serve as a culmination of their learning experiences and showcase the knowledge, technical skills, certifications, clinical experiences, resumes, reflections, and career goals students have developed throughout the program. The presentations provide students with an opportunity to highlight their growth, professionalism, and readiness for future careers or continued education in the healthcare field.
Outdoor Technology
In partnership Mark Hoben and Dan Deslaurier, teachers in the Vision program at St. Albans City School, the students in the Outdoor Technology program recently celebrated the culmination of a hands-on science unit by releasing brook trout they had raised in the classroom into local waters in Montgomery. Throughout the project, students learned about water quality, aquatic ecosystems, wildlife management, and the important role humans play in protecting the environment. By monitoring and caring for the trout from eggs to release, students gained a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship and the delicate balance required to support healthy habitats for native species.
Public Safety & Law Enforcement
Students in the Public Safety and Law Enforcement program recently welcomed a special visit from the Army National Guard Civil Support Team, a highly trained unit that responds to hazardous materials incidents and potential chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. Team members shared how they are called upon to enter dangerous environments involving unknown or toxic substances while supporting emergency responders and protecting communities.
During the visit, students had the opportunity to see specialized training hazmat suits and radioactive detection equipment used in the field. Guardsmen explained how these protective suits allow responders to safely enter hazardous environments by bringing their own breathable air and protective systems with them. Students learned about the extensive training required to operate in these bulky, high-risk conditions and how specialized teams prepare to respond quickly and effectively during emergencies involving weapons of mass destruction or other dangerous materials. The hands-on experience gave students valuable insight into advanced emergency response careers and the important role these teams play in public safety.
Interested in Career Training?
Know someone who is?
The Adult Career Development Center at the Northwest Career & Technical Center offers hands-on training in welding and medical fields right here on campus—plus access to hundreds of online career courses.
If you, a family member, or someone in your network is looking to build skills, switch careers, or explore new opportunities, we’re here to help!
Counseling Corner
If you have questions about post-graduation plans, please contact Mrs. Bosland at sbosland@maplerun.org or 802-527-6512.
Northwest Career and Technical Center
Community Resources
We want to remind our community that support is always available
If you or someone you know needs assistance, please reach out to the resources below.
Crisis and Emergency Support
- Northwestern Counseling & Support Services (NCSS) Crisis Line: 802-524-6554 press 1
- Howard Center Crisis Line: 802-488-7777
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: dial 988
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
- The Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ+ Support): 866-488-7386
- Trevor Lifeline Text/Chat: Text START to 678-678
- Crisis Text Line: Text VT to 741741
Additional Community Resources
- Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (Food, Housing, Fuel): 802-527-7392
- Division of Economic Services (Utilities Assistance): 800-479-6151
- Martha’s Community Kitchen: 802-524-9749
- Reach Up: 800-479-6151
- United Way 2-1-1 (Community, Health, and Human Resources): dial 211
- 3SquaresVT: 800-479-6151