A few years ago, when I was just finishing up 10th grade (it was 1985, more than a few years ago), you probably won’t believe it, but I got in a physical fight with a mean girl on the last day of school. I went home and told my mother that I was never going back there again, and I think I meant it. Dropping out wasn’t really an option, and private school was definitely not an option, so my mother got right to it, and in a life-changing turn of events, she got me in to Monty Tech, where I started in 11th grade.
Sometimes I wonder what I’d be doing today if I hadn’t made that one pivotal move. I was 16, about to get my license, and I really hated the school I was in. Back then, if you had a pulse, you could go to Monty Tech. If you had behavior issues, you could go to Monty Tech. Wow, have times changed! About 30 years later, my youngest son wanted to attend Monty Tech. Their admissions process involved grades of course, but also recommendations, a personal interview (Yikes! What 13 year old boy is good at that?), and a thorough review of his behavior and attendance records.
Ironically, after months of going through all of the shops offered (now numbering 21 vocational areas) he eventually decided on in the same shop I had gone through–what was called Graphic Arts when I graduated in 1988 is now called Graphic Communications. I’m now 30+ years out of college (with a further graphic design degree) I’ve never had a job that involved designing things for anyone else, but every job I’ve had, every volunteer role I’ve had, all have benefited from the skills I learned and my overall vocational experience at Monty Tech. My real estate marketing pieces, this newsletter, signs, etc. all started with Monty Tech. A few more quick fun facts: Yes, that is me as the Monty Tech Bulldog mascot in the photo above. And Jay and I were married about 15 years before we realized we were both our high school yearbook editors.
I recently connected with an electrician who I’ve now hired to do a few projects at my house. He also went to Monty Tech! And better still, I loved that the team who came to work at my house consisted of a young Monty Tech alumni and a co-op student. They were professional and communicative, were able to troubleshoot our random electrical issues, and had us set up with Ring floodlight cameras in no time. Highly recommend Batallas Electric. Read my review here.
Here are a few things I’d like to highlight upcoming and ongoing at Monty Tech:
Monty Tech Open House: Thursday, March 7, 2024 (snow date is the following week, Thursday, March 14, 2024) at 5:00pm (overview of school), 5:30pm – 7:30pm tour all shops and meet with academic teachers and counselors.
LINK TO MORE INFORMATION HERE
Monty Tech MVP Academy
“A new partnership between Monty Tech, Fitchburg Public Schools, Gardner Public Schools, and Narragansett Regional School District, is making it possible for Juniors and Seniors in these school districts to learn a valuable trade.
–Stay enrolled in your home district.
–Take academic courses for one week, and then travel to the MVP Academy for vocational instruction the following week.
–Learn in a state-of-the-art training facility, designed specifically for this program and your use!
–School hours are similar, so you can stay involved in sports or club activities!
–Transportation to classes on vocational weeks will be provided by Monty Tech.
–You’ll earn industry-recognized credentials, and have an opportunity to participate in on-the-job training through the school’s Co-Op Program (in your Senior year).”
Quoted information from the Monty Tech website
LINK TO MORE INFORMATION HERE
Monty Tech VIP (Vocational Interest Program)
“Want to explore the amazing programs Monty Tech has to offer? VIP (Vocational Interest Program) is a great way for students in grades 7 and 8 to spend some time in our shops, meet our fantastic instructors and students and use some top-of-the-line equipment!
Transportation is provided from each public sending middle school for one of the three VIP sessions offered each year. Visiting students spend from 3:00-4:45 p.m. in a different shop one afternoon a week for each of the four weeks they attend VIP. We do our best to accommodate requests for shops they would like to visit but there is no guarantee they will see each of their choices. Families are highly encouraged to attend Open House on March 7th to visit any shop they are interested in.
We only post one registration at a time to avoid families registering for the wrong session.
Session 1 – Oct. 19th, 26th, and Nov. 2nd and 9th
Participating schools – Gardner, Murdock, Narragansett, and Overlook
Session 2 – Nov. 30th and Dec. 7, 14 and 21
Participating schools – Bromfield, Chocksett, Lunenburg, Mountview, Quabbin, Thomas Prince
Session 3 – Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 8 and 15
Participating schools – Athol/Royalston, Hawthorne Brook, Fitchburg, Mahar, Sizer
Session 3 is now full. Send an email to leamy-christine@montytech.net if you would like your child to be placed on the waitlist.”
Quoted information from the Monty Tech website
LINK TO MORE INFORMATION HERE
Don’t have kids, but just an adult who wants to learn? They’ve got something for you, too! Here’s the Monty Tech Nites Spring 2024 catalog. I’d love to hear about any classes you take.
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School (Monty Tech) website