River Valley Technical Center Options: A Myriad of Choices for Learning

As a freshman, I can clearly state that I have no idea what my options are for tech center classes this year. So I did some research and reached out to some people from the River Valley Technical Center (RVTC).

“RVTC would have two options for this year for students. Students could take short Intro Elective classes that start the second semester,” said Kelly Broker-Campbell, the RVTC Outreach Coordinator. “And there are some of our regular programs (2 hours a day) that will accept mid-year enrollments.”

RVTC Registrar Coralee Choiniere also had information about tech center enrollments. “For Semester Two, we are offering several 40 minute electives in the following areas:Intro to Audio Video Production, Intro to Business, Intro to Carpentry, Intro to Culinary Arts, Intro to Information Technology,” Choiniere said. “These classes run from 9:57 to 10:37 each day. Interested students should see their SHS counselor to sign up. These intro classes are open to all grades.”

Choiniere had other things to say about tech center options for Springfield High School students. “As far as our two-hour, year-long programs, we have four areas that are willing to take students for Semester Two,” she said. “The programs are: Audio Video Production (11:40 - 1:40) everyday, Business & Financial Services (7:45 - 9:45) everyday, Culinary Arts (either one of the time frames above), Hands On Computer Systems (11:40 - 1:40) everyday, Technology Essentials (7:45 - 9:45) everyday. Students must be in grades 10, 11, or 12 to access these two-hour programs. Students should see their SHS counselor to sign up and complete the online application.”

SHS freshman Michael Coleman, who is currently a student in the RVTC Criminal Justice program taught by Orlando Alvarez, is quite enthusiastic about his work in his tech center class. “There is a lot of stuff we do in tech classes,” Coleman said. “The way of high school is they have classes on the basic stuff, math, social studies, etc. The tech center, on the other hand, has classes for a specific field you want to be in. Not everyone in the class wants to go into that field. It's just fun. When I've been in them [his tech center class] it’s less grades-focused, less assessments, mostly about learning. High school has a lot more tests, quizzes and graded assignments.”

SHS 9th grader Kylie Nadeau will be enrolled in a tech center class next semester. “I signed up for Audio visual production (AVP),” she said. “I can use that class to get into the profession I want. I want to work in the film industry and I believe that AVP can get me there.”

SHS 9th grader Maddy Downing was also positive about tech center options. “I chose to take business because I think it will help me in the future when I am building my baking business,” Downing said. “I am excited to learn how to do things like marketing and finance.”

13 fields of study are identified as options on the River Valley Technical Center website. These include Advanced Manufacturing/Engineering, Audio and Video Production, Business & Financial Services, Carpentry, Co-op, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Health Sciences, Horticulture & Natural Resources, Human Resources, Industrial Trades, Informational Technologies, and PreTechnical Studies.

“I really like the tech center classes because they allow students to do something that they wouldn't usually be able to do in a normal class,” concludes freshman Kai Parkhurst.