January 2026
The Start of Second Semester and Outreach for for the 26-27 School Year
Happy New Year!
It was a busy week back at BTC after the long break, and this week will conclude the first semester. As we move into the second semester of the year, BTC will be engaging with prospective students and families as we accept applications for the 2026-2027 school year. If you have family or friends who may be interested in attending BTC, please be sure to let them know to connect with their school counselor about attending, and to visit our website to sign up for visits, and to apply. https://btc.bsdvt.org/programs/
As a result of prospective student visits, our current students will not have school on Friday, January 23, 2026. This is a unique day off for BTC that does not align with the region’s school calendars, so I wanted to be sure to point it out specifically.
It is always exciting to start meeting our future students who will carry on the long tradition of career and technical education at BTC. Each of our current students leave their own unique mark here, and helps to maintain the high standard for future students.
Thank you. If you have questions at any point during the coming semester, please feel free to reach out to us.
-J Reed
Counselor's Corner
Copp/Weaver Scholarship Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the Copp/Weaver Scholarship for BTC Aviation & Aerospace Technology second-year students. This scholarship provides financial support to help students continue their training and move forward in the Airframe & Powerplant pathway to our postsecondary program and beyond.
Mr. Yepez recently visited the aviation classes to explain the opportunity, and students can pick up an application in Mr. Cooper’s classroom. Completed applications are due by April 30, with award decisions announced by the end of May.
The Copp/Weaver Scholarship is designed to recognize students who demonstrate strong commitment to learning, professionalism, and persistence in a demanding technical field. Funds are used to offset the cost of tuition for students in the Airframe and Powerplant program and support students as they work toward an A.A.S. in Aviation Maintenance from VTSU.
Second-year students are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to support the next step in their aviation journey.
Student Support Services
The second semester often feels like a whirl of activities. Seniors are getting into full mode of applying to colleges, looking for employment, or enlisting in one of the branches. Juniors are getting excited to be getting closer to becoming Seniors. We have two more vacations coming up in February and April, then the seasons start to change and things seem to just start happening left and right. Remember to take time to do something for yourself, even if it is something small like sitting in peace and drinking your favorite warm beverage or taking time to read something for pleasure instead of a school assignment. If you feel like you are over the dark days and the often freezing weather you are not alone! This too shall pass (just maybe not as soon as we hope it will).
Career Pathways
Stacy is currently on leave. We look forward to her return in February or March. Any questions about college or career pathways can be directed to Mr. Yepez or Ms. Bundy.
Multilingual & Academic Support Team
The EL team is gearing up for WIDA ACCESS testing, completing their annual administration training and certification and thinking of ways to help students prepare to take the assessment next month. What is the WIDA ACCESS? It is a largely computer-based assessment administered yearly to English learners that measures English language proficiency in four key areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Why is this test important? It helps to track and match students' language needs and growth to available programming and support. Students' composite score on the WIDA ACCESS is also the primary way for students to show when they have gone beyond the need for EL programming and services.
One of the other functions of BTC's EL teachers is to help students to develop technical vocabulary related to their chosen programs of study. In first-year Design, Engineering and Fabrication, for instance, students are learning how to program and use CNC routers, gaining multiple first-hand exposures to abbreviated terms such as G-code, V-bit and RPM. Meanwhile, second-year Automotive Science and Technology students gained multifaceted experience with electrical quantities such as voltage drop, helping them develop conceptual understanding alongside technical vocabulary. Meanwhile, in the Introduction to College and Careers portion of the Pre-Tech program, which is facilitated by one of the student support teachers, students examined strategies they currently use or could adopt to manage stress, compared and discussed study practices across cultures, and evaluated and practiced different note-taking strategies.
Besides supporting English learners, academic support is provided to BTC students in need of additional guidance and time to develop their skills and confidence in mathematical areas such as reading micrometers and other precision measurement devices, and converting fractional measurements to decimals. One practice families of EL students can adopt to help support both their students' learning and educational experience as a whole is to ask their students questions–in any language–about what they are learning at BTC. Your students can draw pictures or act out what they are learning and creating in their program. Doing so provides an opportunity for them to gain additional practice explaining concepts, procedures, calculations, materials, tools and machines while sharing their enthusiasm.
Registrar's Desk
Welcome back! We are already almost halfway through the academic year, with the second quarter ending on January 9th. Students are working hard to finish the quarter strong! On January 15th, I will be sending students’ second quarter grades to their sending schools. Sending schools are then responsible for tracking BTC grades and awarding credit when appropriate.
It’s important to note that our BTC programs are full-year courses so the grades and credit your student get are not finalized until the end of the academic year in June. The grades that we report from BTC to a sending school at the end of Quarter 1, Quarter 2/Semester 1, and Quarter 3 are just for progress reporting and are primarily a way for you and your student to know how they are doing in their BTC program.
If you or your student have any questions or concerns about their grades, I encourage you to reach out to their instructor. As always, I am happy to answer any questions or address any concerns relating to accessing grades within PowerSchool.
Best,
Cara Lamothe
Show Your BTC Pride with Official Gear!
Burlington Technical Center now has an online store where you can grab official BTC apparel and accessories! From hoodies and T-shirts to hats and more, you can rep your program and show off your school spirit in style.
Check out the full selection and place your order today: BTC Online Store.
Snow Days!
Potential snow day season is here! How do snow days work at BTC?
If your sending school calls a snow day, you’re not expected at BTC even if Burlington schools are in operation. The same is true for a late start. If a school has a delayed opening, those students will not be expected at BTC's morning classes. Those districts will resume transportation to BTC for the afternoon classes.
For students who drive to school, and their sending school has called a snow day, we certainly do not expect them to drive in inclement weather to Burlington. If the roads are bad enough to call off school, we don't want students in dangerous situations on snowy roads.
To check for snow day closings at BTC, listings on news media sites will indicate that all Burlington schools are closed. This includes BTC. BTC does not issue its own closure alert. On the morning of a snow day, I will publish a banner alert on our website, and push it out on social media.
CVU PreTech students will follow CVU’s snow day determinations.
Adult & Continuing Ed
(Below) Adult and Continuing Education is excited to celebrate the first two recipients of the Copp/Weaver Scholarship from the Adult Aviation & Aerospace Technology program: Justin Finn and Riley Farmer.
Justin and Riley were selected for this inaugural scholarship in recognition of their strong commitment to learning, persistence in a demanding technical program, and clear dedication to pursuing careers in aviation. Both students have demonstrated the work ethic, professionalism, and curiosity that the Copp/Weaver Scholarship was created to support, and they are excellent representatives of the adult aviation community at BTC.
This milestone marks an important step in expanding financial support for adult learners pursuing Airframe & Powerplant pathways, and we’re proud to see Justin and Riley set the standard for future recipients. Congratulations to both students. We look forward to seeing where their aviation journeys take them next!
Aviation and Aerospace
During November and December the Junior Aviation class worked on their math and physics skills including mechanical advantage experiments such as first class levers and gear ratios. They also calculated changes in gas volume, pressure and temperature. They also continued to teardown and rebuild multiple aircraft piston engines.
The Senior class studied aircraft mechanic privileges, built and tested rigid and flexible fluid lines, and started off their turbine engine unit by testing out our new pulse jet engine.
Design, Engineering, & Fabrication
AM DEF students have been learning about CNC milling, specifically using a CNC router to create one-of-a-kind wooden toys. Students have learned all about tooling, toolpaths, and speeds and feeds necessary to successfully program an end mill to create axle holes and inside and outside profile cuts. Students are also nearing the completion of their 10 hour OSHA training. Upcoming events include a visit from Tori Kushner, engineer at Hallam-ICS, and site visits to Beta and Revision.
PM DEF students have been working on Fusion 3D modeling training in order to successfully pass the AutoDesk Fusion Certified User exam. Upcoming project work includes studying DC motors, OHM's law, and a review/revisit of soldering. This project work will culminate with students designing and fabricating a custom bluetooth stereo amplifier. Many students have begun work-based learning at local businesses such as Design Signs, Blodgett, Vermont Furniture Design, and Rennline.
(below) Students in DEF had the opportunity to visit Hazelett in Colchester. During the tour, students saw firsthand how complex engineering and precision manufacturing come together at Hazelett’s Colchester facility. They learned about the company’s century-long legacy of innovation in casting technology and how highly skilled technicians and engineers work collaboratively to design, build, and test cutting-edge machinery that serves industries around the world.
Design and Illustration
Year 1:
This fall I received a grant through the Vermont Art Council to host an artist in residence for two weeks. Eben Schumacher, a digital concept creator and art lead for Unchained Entertainment, is teaching Year 1 students how to use Blender, a 3D modeling program. Today students learned to use modifiers to create complex shapes. At the end of the residency students will bring their works into Photoshop, and we will transition into digital illustration and painting.
Year 2:
Students are currently working on various forms of printmaking for their CCV Printmaking I coursework: Screenprinting, linocuts, and drypoints on plexiglass. Simultaneously, they are working on AP work or independent projects; as well as finishing college applications and portfolios. They are busy - to say the very least.
I also wanted to pass along information from the Agency of Education:
Free online CCV courses for BTC students:
February 3 – May 18
PSY-1050 Human Growth and Development (3 Credits)
BIO-10300 Nutrition (3 Credits)
BUS-1010 Introduction to Business (3 Credits)
ENG-1061 English Composition (3 Credits)
March 3 – April 6
BUS-1125 Startup 802 - An Entrepreneurship Mindset (1 Credit)
CIS-1714 Special Topics: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) (1 Credit)
The courses are free to college-ready students in any Vermont technical center program and were selected based on your survey responses and conversations over the fall semester.
There are no dual enrollment vouchers or Fast Forward tickets required. To begin the process, students should fill out the interest form by using the link below.
This is an interest form only, it is NOT a registration form. An advisor will reach out to the student and let them know the next steps to take to apply and be registered. https://admissions.ccv.edu/register/26SPFastForwardOnline
It's important for students enrolling in these courses to be college-ready and motivated learners. They will be using Canvas and interacting online with their instructor and students. CCV strongly recommends all students take the Canvas Basics workshop to begin the semester with the tools to succeed. A link to the workshop will be sent to you and students when they enroll.
These course sections will be open to technical center students only, and on a space available basis. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Natalie Searle (natalie.searle@ccv.edu) or Tricia Temple (tricia.temple@ccv.edu).
Education Training & Leadership
Our BTC Education, Training and Leadership (ETL) second-year students are currently working in classrooms with young children throughout the surrounding communities, where they are bringing their learning to life while building meaningful relationships with students and teachers. In both internship and co-op placements, ETL students create and implement engaging lessons that support young children’s growth and development. These hands-on experiences allow ETL students to observe, support, and take on increasing responsibility in authentic classroom settings. Through our co-op placements, students are paid for the work they are doing in these classrooms, making the experience more exciting and meaningful.
Introduction to Healthcare
The reproductive system is always a highlight of the year because of the opportunity to simulate being eight months pregnant. Students attempt to tie their shoes, get comfortable in bed, and walk up a flight of stairs with a 25 lbs. vest on. It’s humbling to say the least and always provides some good laughs and TikTok videos!
Pre-Tech
As part of the construction unit, Pre-Tech students begin by framing model houses with balsa wood for practice, then build a full chicken coop that will be donated to the Make-A-Wish fundraiser auction.
