Dear Parents, Students, and Families,
This month we want to highlight our new programs for the 2022-2023 school year: Travel, Tourism and Hospitality and Athletic Training/Sports Medicine. We also want to highlight the return of our Engineering/Architectural Design.
TRAVEL, TOURISM, AND HOSPITALITY
Whether it’s going out to eat, visiting a local coffee shop, recommending hotels to out-of-town guests, traveling to other countries, planning a family reunion or wedding, road-tripping throughout New England, organizing camping adventures or helping your friends and family plan their annual summer trip to the Maine coast, we all interact with people working in the hospitality industry on a regular basis.
Hospitality is one of Maine’s top industries. It contributes more than an average of $11 billion annually to our economy (Source: boulos.com). Businesses in this industry are often known for providing youth with their first jobs, like working at restaurants. These businesses are also creating opportunities for long-term career pathways.
In Biddeford and our surrounding communities, we have seen a huge increase in food services, lodging, event planning, and recreational excursions. This industry is continuing to grow. As we prepare our students for the workforce, we want to provide them with opportunities to become knowledgeable and gain skills in communication, customer service, and management to meet standards in this field.
Students in this program will visit local businesses, hear guest speakers, including successful business owners, will help plan community events, promote various aspects/businesses within our communities, and will learn the ins and outs of what it takes to be successful within this industry. Students who have taken the Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Program will have many advantages when entering the workforce in this industry.
ATHLETIC TRAINING/SPORTS MEDICINE
Maine’s health industry is growing. Athletic Training/Sports Medicine programs are becoming more popular at the college level with many potential career paths. Athletic trainers are highly skilled professionals who focus on the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of various injuries.
This program is designed for students interested in healthcare fields such as athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, fitness, kinesiology, nutrition, personal training, and other sports medicine-related fields.
The course includes class work and practical hands-on application in the following areas: prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries, taping and wrapping of injuries, first aid/CPR, emergency procedures, nutrition, sports psychology, anatomy and physiology, and sports medicine careers. This program will include opportunities to earn industry certifications. Students are encouraged to include this course in part of the medical science career pathway at COT.
ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
After a brief hiatus, we are expecting to once again offer our Engineering and Architectural Design program again for the 2023-2024 school year. This program is a catalyst for a wide array of careers. Jobs in these fields are evolving, and career opportunities are growing in Maine and beyond.
This program is great for students interested in career fields that use Computer Aided Design, known as CAD. These career fields include: All disciplines of Engineering--mechanical, computer, electrical, nuclear, civil, etc., Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Industrial Design, and more.
Students will learn the newest versions of Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) software and also learn hand drafting, sketching, and architectural model building. This course also uses the most powerful design software like Revit Architecture, Solidworks, and Inventor. You can be a part of “The Next Industrial Revolution,” designing and making complex objects with our state-of-the-art 3D printer, joining the rapidly emerging field of Additive Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping that will revolutionize the way we live.
In addition to inventing, designing, and creating while potentially earning six college credits in addition to high school credits, students have opportunities to attend field trips to local engineering and architecture firms, host engineers and architects as guest speakers, participate in community projects and experience job shadowing at local engineering and architecture firms, experiencing first hand what their future careers will look like.
We are currently accepting applications for these and other programs. To start your application today, please visit our website or scan the QR code below.
If you are unsure what program interests you the most, you can still come for a program visit. If you need help with the application process, want more information, or want to schedule a visit, contact your guidance counselor at your sending school or Ms. Scribner at BRCOT.
Notice of Acceptance to BRCOT programs will begin in April and continue into the spring.
Best Regards,
Paulette Bonneau
Director
Want to learn more about BRCOT?
BRCOT's NEW Course Catalog is Available
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UMA & FMI
Skills USA
On Friday, March 17th, sixteen students from COT competed in the Skills USA competition in Bangor at Eastern Maine Community College and the United Technology Center. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.
"SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens. We improve the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace, and technical skills grounded in academics. Our vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member with the opportunity for career success. SkillsUSA offers many opportunities for growth through career competitions. Students can compete at the local or state level. State winners go on to the national competition: The SkillsUSA Championships."
-SkillsUSA.org
Students from across the state competed in various skills competitions. Our students made us proud by representing our school and communities well. Two of our students, both juniors, medaled in their competitions!
Congratulations to Forrest Hanvey for winning the Bronze medal for Information Technology Service and Taylor Pendleton for bringing home the silver in First Air/CPR. (See photos below.)
BRCOT Medalists
Dates to Remember
- March 22: Biddeford's School Committee Meeting 7:00 pm (@ Little Theater, BHS)
- March 23: National Technical Honor Society Induction 6:00 p.m. (@ Little Theater, BHS)
- March 26: Quebec Style Breakfast 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (@BMS) See flyer below.
- March 31: Quarter 3 Ends
- March 31: US Air Force Band Concert 7:00 p.m. (@BMS Performing Arts Center)
- April 3: 4th Quarter begins
- April 5: Early Release
- April 13-21 School Vacation
The United States Air Force Band from Washington, D.C., is heading out on tour to the Northeast and will perform on Friday, March 31st at 7pm at the Biddeford Middle School Performing Arts Center. Free tickets are available via Eventbrite at http://bit.ly/3mblnCa. The concert is open to the public with general admission seating and doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
The U.S. Air Force Band is the premier musical organization of the U.S. Air Force. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., the United States Air Force Band honors those who have served, inspires American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and connects with the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States of America.
Concerned about Drug Misuse in our Community?
Attention Parents and Guardians:
Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition’s Project Alliance needs your help! If you are concerned about substance misuse issues facing our youth and would like to get more involved with local youth drug prevention, consider joining our coalition. As a member, you can learn about available local resources, develop strategies for talking to your kids, and make a lasting impact on your community. Our coalition meets once a month via Zoom and is comprised of parents, teachers, law enforcement members, business and religious leaders, healthcare providers, and other community activists, all working together to make York County safer, healthier, and drug-free.
If you are interested in joining our coalition, please fill out your information here: https://bit.ly/PAMembership. CHCC also encourages parents and guardians to subscribe to their monthly newsletter, included below, for future community updates.
