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Middle School Pathways for Exploration Policy - CTE

MIDDLE SCHOOL PATHWAY EXPLORATION POLICY

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District affirms its commitment to ensuring all students have equitable access to information about CTE opportunities both within as well as outside of the school district. In accordance with 603 CMR 4.00, the following Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy ensures that middle school students are made aware of and gain exposure to career and technical education (CTE) schools and programs available to them.

High School Pathway
Miles River is the only middle school in the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District. The school shares a campus with Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School, the only high school in the district. HWRHS offers a number of CTE courses, including Intro to Engineering, Small Engine Repair, CAD, Manufacturing, and Fabrication Technology. Additionally, Hamilton-Wenham is a sending district to Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School. Essex Tech offers a fully articulated set of CTE Pathways in the following categories:
 
  • Agriculture (Animal and Plant Sciences)
  • Construction
  • Health Sciences
  • Manufacturing, Engineering, & Technology
  • Services (Automotive Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts and Hospitality, & Marketing)
Middle School Career Exploration
In order to promote exploration and awareness of secondary school options, Miles River Middle School takes the following steps:
 
  • All parents are notified of the opportunity for students to apply to the Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School via electronic newsletters.
  • Information is sent to families in their home language, as requested.
  • A representative from Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School gives an in-person presentation to the entire 8th-grade class during an assembly held in October of each year. The representative explains the variety of opportunities available at the school, as well as the admission process. Students are given the opportunity to ask any questions they may have.
  • Printed materials provided by the receiving school are made available to families in the school lobby.
  • Information about Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School is linked on the Miles River Middle School website by October 15th.
Furthermore, Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School hosts an Open House for prospective students, during which students and families have the opportunity to learn about all courses available at HWRSD.
 
Middle School CTE Tour Policies
Essex Tech offers two open houses for prospective students, which take place on Saturdays in November. Additionally, small group tours are available for prospective students in December. Any Miles River Middle School student who participates in a tour during school hours will receive an excused absence, provided Essex Tech confirms the student’s participation in the tour.
 
Providing Records to CTE Schools and Programs
Miles River Middle School staff provide contact information for 8th graders to the Essex Tech admissions office annually. The counseling staff at Miles River has a strong working relationship with the admissions office at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School.
 
Maintenance of Records
The counseling department maintains electronic records of every student who takes a tour of and/or applies to the Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School. School counselors update these records as students are accepted, as well as when they determine whether the student will attend. This allows for a timely transfer of records between schools.

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