Spaulding High School

Local Rotary Donates $2,400 to Support Spaulding High School’s Advanced Manufacturing, Finishing and Bonding Program

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Rochester Public Schools
Michael L. Hopkins, Superintendent
31 Wakefield St.
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, June 24, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Local Rotary Donates $2,400 to Support Spaulding High School’s Advanced Manufacturing, Finishing and Bonding Program

From left: Superintendent Michael Hopkins,  Rochester Rotary President Robert Magnusson and Assistant Superintendent Kyle Repucci. (Courtesy Photo Rochester Public Schools)

ROCHESTER — Superintendent Michael Hopkins is pleased to share that the Rochester Rotary Club donated $2,400 last week to support the district’s Advanced Manufacturing, Finishing and Bonding program through Great Bay Community College.

The Rochester Rotary Club gave the donation to the district on Monday, June 17.

This school year, eight Spaulding High School seniors were the first to graduate from a pilot Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) program, through which they were able to train for careers in advanced manufacturing, finishing and bonding while pursuing their high school diplomas.

The students attended classes at Great Bay Community College three times a week, and took courses including Business Communications and Introduction to Computers at Spaulding High School.

Students in the program gained experience with machinery and processes used in many high-tech industries, and also earned advanced composites manufacturing (ACM) certificates in bonding and finishing and OSHA 10 certification. Upon completion of the program, each student was also guaranteed an interview at Safran Aerospace Composites, an aerospace manufacturing company in Rochester.

“Our partnership with Great Bay Community College is an exciting new opportunity for our students to train to join the workforce and acquire valuable skills that are in demand, right in their own community,” Superintendent Hopkins said. “Thank you to the Rochester Rotary for their support of this program, as well as to our partners at Great Bay and Safran for their contributions to creating diverse opportunities for our students.”

Rochester Rotary’s donation will pay a portion of tuition to Great Bay Community College for 12 students who will undertake the program next school year.

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Spaulding High School Students Visit SAFRAN Plant as Part of Ongoing Collaboration

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Rochester Public Schools
Michael L. Hopkins, Superintendent
31 Wakefield St.
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 26, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Spaulding High School Students Visit SAFRAN Plant as Part of Ongoing Collaboration

ROCHESTER — Following months of hard work constructing parts for SAFRAN, a group of Spaulding High School students recently visited the company’s local manufacturing plant to see the impact of their efforts.

On Friday, April 19, a group of 13 students in Spaulding’s special education program were treated to a tour of SAFRAN’s Rochester location. Along with their teachers, the group also collected a check for $2,500 to further support the ongoing collaboration between the Rochester Schools and the aerospace manufacturer.

Since the middle of 2018, the students have been contributing to SAFRAN’s work building engine parts and other supplies that combine to make the world’s most prolific aircraft, including those made by Boeing and Airbus.

“We’re trying to make the community a smaller place for these students, and we’re really fortunate to have these kinds of relationships in town,” said Spaulding Goal Oriented Student Transition (GOST) teacher Kevin Boyle. “This visit let kids see how they’re contributing.”

Over the course of the last seven months, Spaulding students have been reconditioning dremel bits and cutting sandpaper to SAFRAN’s specifications. The sandpaper is  installed into SAFRAN sanding tools that ultimately touch every product the company makes in Rochester.

“The schools have worked really hard to make this happen, and this is great for these kids,” HR Manager Sean Hoeing said. “Some of the outcomes, which I think are important, are that they have a tangible skill and they’re making a meaningful contribution.”

During the visit, SAFRAN employees shared their insight on how jet engines — like the ones they’ve helped build — work. They also shared the news that the work done will assist SAFRAN in making one of the largest commercial jet engines in the history of aviation.

Last Friday’s visit was part of a larger collaborative effort among area school districts, including Rochester, and SAFRAN. In addition to the partnership with the GOST program, SAFRAN offers job training through Great Bay Community College, and also works with the technical centers at local high schools.

Several Spaulding High School graduates who embody the success of that program were on hand to greet the students when they arrived.

Since the inception of the SAFRAN-Spaulding partnership, students in the GOST and LITE (Learning Independence Through Experience) have reconditioned more than 4,500 dremel bits and cut more than 1,000 pieces of sandpaper. Students have also begun to expand their responsibilities, including taking on the challenges associated with quality control and managing inventory, billing and receiving.

“Our goal is to support workforce development for the whole community,” Hoeing said. “There’s always a job for somebody, they just have to have the skills to do it.”

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Spaulding High School’s Extended Learning Opportunity Program Thrives

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Rochester Public Schools
Michael L. Hopkins, Superintendent
31 Wakefield St.
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, Feb. 4, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Spaulding High School’s Extended Learning Opportunity Program Thrives

ROCHESTER — Superintendent Michael Hopkins is pleased to announce that the Spaulding High School Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) program is thriving, thanks to the support of numerous Strategic Partners.

The Spaulding High School ELO program seeks to provide students experience in the workforce while also training capable future employees for local organizations, and connects students to diverse opportunities, including internships, job shadows, job fairs, and medical mentoring.

More than four years ago, Dean Graziano, extended learning opportunities coordinator at Rochester Public Schools, started a strategic partners group to support the ELO program.

Today there are 22 Strategic Partners, including business, academic, and government leaders, who have helped grow the program and continue to do so by providing funding, offering paid and unpaid internships, attending career fairs, giving mock interviews, and helping the school to implement soft workplace skills into its curriculum.

“The Strategic Partners have been incredible supporters of the ELO program,” Graziano said. “I intentionally reached out to businesses and other local groups when I started the Strategic Partners to expand support for the program outside of the school district, and to better connect the students to the larger Rochester community.”

A group of 10 Spaulding High seniors are currently halfway through a year long ELO pilot program that will allow them to earn an Advanced Composites Manufacturing Certificate at Great Bay Community College while also earning credits for their diplomas. Students that complete the program are also promised an interview at Safran Aerospace Composites, an aerospace manufacturing company in Rochester.

“It’s wonderful to see students earn a certification that will prepare them for a successful transition into the workforce after they graduate,” said Jennifer Marsh, Economic Development Specialist for the city of Rochester. “Moreover, these students aren’t incurring any cost to obtain that certification, and they will have the chance to interview at a notable local organization. It’s an amazing opportunity, and a huge success for Rochester.”

Legislators and educators alike are pushing to start similar ELO initiatives statewide, like the Spaulding/Great Bay certification program. In particular Gov. Chris Sununu has said he aims to create a program for New Hampshire students to earn their associates degrees, at no cost.

On Friday, Jan. 25, Strategic Partners met to discuss their latest initiatives.

“The big takeaway from our last meeting is that we have a healthy, driven group supporting this program today,” Graziano said. “This group will be a huge help by allocating resources, as well as by bringing together business leaders, local government, and schools to develop programs to create workforce opportunities for students.”

A representative from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s office also attended the meeting, and read aloud a congratulatory letter from the legislator.

“I want to thank all of the students, faculty and staff as well as the participating businesses, for coming together to shape a program that is quickly becoming a model for schools around the state,” Sen. Shaheen wrote. “Extended learning opportunities are not only  a crucial component of modern education. They also represent a pathway through which local businesses and manufacturers can train and eventually hire capable employees they need to grow and thrive.”

“These programs are a win-win for students who can refine essential skills and confidence outside the traditional classroom and a workforce hungry for talented workers,” she added.

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Spaulding High School Freshman Day Offers Students an Empowering Look Into Their Future Choices

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Rochester Public Schools
Michael L. Hopkins, Superintendent
31 Wakefield St.
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Feb. 1, 2017

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Spaulding High School Engineering Teacher Jason Eberl discussed the engineering program with freshman during a tour of Creteau Tech. (Courtesy Photo Rochester Schools)

ROCHESTER — Spaulding High School freshmen participated in a day-long event yesterday that featured a visit from an inspiring two-time Olympian, as well as opportunities to start charting their futures.

Molly Sullivan Sliney, a two-time Olympic fencer who represented the U.S. in the 1988 and 1992 summer games, spoke to freshman about her journey and the power of imagining possibilities for themselves.

“If you can imagine something happening in your head,” she said. “It can happen.”

Sullivan Sliney began her presentation with a visualization exercise that took students on a journey to the Olympic opening ceremonies, which she used to reveal that her road to the games and beyond was at times marred by setbacks due to her lifelong struggle with dyslexia.

Though she started fencing as a way to build her self esteem, the sport ultimately helped her earn a full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, allowed her to see the world and set her on the path to where she is today.

“It’s not about where you end up, it’s the road to get there,” Sullivan Sliney said. “It’s the story that happens along the way.”

Organized by Spaulding High School Staff and Rochester Bridging the Gaps, the event allowed freshmen to spend the day exploring their options for the rest of their high school careers and beyond while upperclassmen participated in all-day testing.

In addition to Sullivan Sliney’s visit, two groups of freshmen toured the Creteau Technology Center and learned about the 15 Career and Technical Education programs it offers to Spaulding juniors and seniors.

Freshman Day represents a departure from the approach of past years during upperclassman PSAT day, when freshmen participated in a less structured day of activities. This year, the Olympian’s visit, the Creteau Tech tour and a career fair enabled freshmen to spend the day being empowered to take their futures into their own hands.

“We wanted to focus more on keeping them engaged by letting them know that the choices they make now will help them in the future,” Assistant Principal and co-organizer Jason Bushway said. “I hope they leave today with a renewed belief in themselves and an understanding of the options available to them inside and outside of the classroom.”

Extended Learning Opportunity Coordinator Dean Graziano was one of the driving forces behind making the event happen as well.

“This was an excellent opportunity to use a day when freshmen are out of class to give them a sense of the kinds of career paths that they can pursue,” Graziano said. “It would not have been possible without the support of all of the businesses who worked with us to make it a reality.”

Numerous Rochester businesses and organizations participated in the event, including:

  • Federal Savings Bank
  • Profile Bank
  • Paul Mitchell Schools
  • YMCA
  • Rochester Police
  • Home Depot
  • Frisbie Hospital
  • McDonalds
  • Empire Beauty School
  • Hannaford
  • GBCC
  • Rochester Community Center
  • New England Pizza
  • Lilac Mall
Former Olympian Molly Sullivan Sliney addresses members of the freshman class. (Courtesy Photo Rochester Schools)

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