Minuteman Hosts Visit from High-Ranking Official and Delegation from Thailand

Minuteman Hosts Visit from High-Ranking Official and Delegation from Thailand

LEXINGTON – As a nationally-recognized vocational-technical school, Minuteman High School is accustomed to seeing visitors from across the United States.  This month, Minuteman played host to an international delegation from Thailand.

Led by the nation’s Minister of Science and Technology, a five-member delegation from Thailand visited Minuteman on March 1.  The delegation was hoping to learn about Minuteman’s STEM initiatives and innovative vocational-technical education programs. 

Officials met with teachers and students and toured Minuteman’s Engineering and Robotics programs.  Teaching in both programs adheres to national curriculum guidelines established by Project Lead the Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading provider of K-12 STEM programs. 

Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Thailand’s Minister of Science and Technology, visited the school’s Engineering, Robotics, Carpentry and Plumbing programs and talked with Minuteman students.  He later sat down with Dr. Edward Bouquillon, Minuteman’s Superintendent, to share thoughts about education in Thailand and the United States.

“We need to find innovative ways to change education,” said Dr. Durongkaveroj.  “I want to put more emphasis on the ‘E’ in STEM,” he said. 

The ‘E’ in STEM stands for Engineering.

The Minister indicated he wanted to increase the number of workers in Thailand who are trained in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields, increase awareness of STEM education, and set STEM education as a key national agenda.

“Students want to do something meaningful, instead of just memorizing facts” he said. 

Becky Quay, one of Minuteman’s Engineering Technology teachers, told the Minister:  “Project-based learning is key.”  Quay said hands-on learning brings academic subjects to life and demonstrates their relevance to students.

Minister Durongkaveroj told Dr. Bouquillon that he would like to encourage more businesses to invest in new educational programs.  He said Thailand encouraged such private sector investment through its taxation policy.    

The Minister pointed to Thailand’s Work Integrated Learning program as one way to make learning more meaningful for students.  Through that program, students get hands-on training at private companies, under the supervision of their schools.  

He said educators can also use the Internet to help students learn.

The officials from Thailand were also interested in learning about the structure and organization of career and technical education, how Minuteman determines which programs to offer, and how the school is connected to business and industry.  They also talked about Minuteman’s efforts to build a new school.

At the end of the visit, officials from Minuteman and Thailand agreed to stay in contact.  Dr. Bouquillon said Minuteman would be helpful in any way possible assisting the Minister with workforce development issues from a vocational-technical education perspective. 

“We can learn from each other,” said Minister Durongkaveroj.

David Dimmett, Senior Vice President at Project Lead The Way, said his organization has been focused primarily on advancing applied K-12 learning in the U.S.  However, “we enjoy learning about education from a global perspective so that we can better prepare our students to thrive in a changing world. We all benefit by better understanding our common challenges and the innovative solutions to those challenges,” he said.  

Earlier in the day, the delegation from Thailand visited Harvard University’s Innovation Lab in Allston.  During the week-long visit to the United States, the Minister of Technology and Science was also scheduled to speak at Harvard Business School and at MIT.   

The visit to Minuteman was arranged through Project Lead the Way.

Minuteman is an award-winning regional high school that integrates robust academic and career & technical learning to deliver a revolutionary competitive advantage. The school serves a diverse student body with multiple learning styles, expanding opportunities for college and career success.

Minuteman has been spotlighted in major media outlets, including The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and National Public Radio.  It was featured in a book, Job U: How to Find Wealth and Success by Developing the Skills Companies Actually Need.

Last year, Minuteman’s Girls in STEM initiative won a national Grand Prize award from SkillsUSA, the organization that sponsors skill and leadership competitions for career and technical education students in the United States. 

3/3 will be the 9th Annual Massachusetts White Ribbon Day

What do Governor Charlie Baker, Andre Tippett of the New England Patriots, Middlesex Sherriff Peter Koutoujian, MassHousing Community Affairs Director Thaddeus Miles, Newburyport High School student, slam poet Charlie Lake, DraMatik Hip-Hop performer Andres Gonzalez, and U.S. Coast Guard Captain Brett Millican all have in common?

These are the newest White Ribbon Day Ambassadors in Massachusetts and each will be speaking (and in two cases performing!) at the State House on Thursday, March 3 at 1 PM at the 9^th Annual Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Proclamation Event.  Details here:  https://whiteribbonday.splashthat.com/

Daily stories of sexual violence and domestic abuse continue to fill the airwaves in cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth and across the globe.  We can and must do better. These men have taken a pledge to be part of the solution in addressing violence against women and all gender-based violence by reimagining manhood and by acknowledging the important role  men play in perpetuating it, even if they are not the ones committing it. This solution requires a wholesale change in how we think about masculinity, aggression, power, and status.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FIVE BPS SCHOOLS WILL PARTICIPATE IN CHILDREN'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT (CSA) PILOT

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FIVE BPS SCHOOLS WILL PARTICIPATE IN CHILDREN'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT (CSA) PILOT

BOSTON - Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the Children's Savings Account (CSA) program will launch at five Boston Public Schools (BPS) in fall 2016, giving families the opportunity to create a long-term savings plan for college, post-secondary education and training. The five schools are part of a learning cohort to help the city design a universal roll out in fall 2019, and this pilot phase will allow the City to troubleshoot before the full launch. "One of the most important things we can do for our children in the City of Boston is put them on a pathway to success by bridging education and financial opportunities, and planning in advance for their future," said Mayor Walsh. "A Children's Savings Account is a tool that every family should have access to and I am thrilled to launch this pilot program to help level the playing field for students of all backgrounds and make their dreams of college and post-secondary education become a reality." Selected as the result of an open application process, the CSA pilot program will be launched at the Harvard Kent Elementary School in Charlestown, the James Otis Elementary School in East Boston, the McKay K-8 School in East Boston, the Franklin D. Roosevelt K-8 in Hyde Park and Conley Elementary School in Roslindale. The program, run by the Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE), has three goals: 1.  Create a college-going culture in Boston and set expectations that every child in Boston will enroll in and complete some form of college post-secondary education or training. 2.  Increase the percentage of Boston's children who graduate from high school and the percentage of BPS graduates who enroll in and complete college or some form of post-secondary education or training. 3.  Increase Boston's children and families' financial capability to help create lifelong savings and investment habits, a key for success in college and beyond. Possessing a children's savings account can positively impact children's and families' mindsets towards post-secondary education and training. Research and practice across the country strongly suggest that CSAs are an effective tool in impacting higher education outcomes: families with CSAs are more likely to see college as a goal for their children, and low-income children with $500 or less in a savings account, dedicated to higher education, have been shown to be three times more likely to enroll and four times more likely to graduate from college. All Kindergarten (K2) students at the selected pilot schools will have an initial seed deposit set aside for them. Families will be able to save for post-secondary education and training, and will have opportunities to earn incentives along the way. "Preparing for educational and career paths are so compelling when it is integrated at an early age," said Trinh Nguyen, Director of the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development. "Every child, regardless of income, race, and gender deserves to make their dream of post-secondary education and college come true.  The CSA is a powerful tool to align community partners, parents, teachers and students' to work towards building this culture." "We are grateful for the support of the Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment and the EoS Foundation for helping our students and families in this important area," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang. "Financial literacy and empowerment are important factors to success in college, career, and life, and must be an essential goal for every student and family in Boston Public Schools." CSAs are expected to be rolled out city-wide in fall 2019, and the three-year pilot will allow the City to troubleshoot before the full launch. The pilot program is supported by various private foundations, including theEoS Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by investing in children's futures. Building on OFE's mission to build, grow and reinforce a holistic financial inclusion strategy for the City of Boston, OFE has been awarded a two year grant from the National League of Cities' "Cities Building Systems to Promote Financial Inclusion" to support the CSA program.  Boston was one of eight cities chosen and will participate in a Mayors' Institute on Financial Inclusion in April 2016 and receive in-depth technical assistance. The participating cities are invited to apply for up to two rounds of funds from a grant pool from $15,000 - $50,000 based on the proposed project and budget.

麻州眾議會議長 DeLeo 在波士頓商會致詞文稿

Speaker DeLeo: 2016 Address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 1 Thank you, Miceal for the kind introduction. I’d like to acknowledge my esteemed colleagues here today. Whether in business or in government, we all know that an organization is only as effective as the partnerships within it. I am proud of the work that each member of the House has undertaken to foster collaboration and forge consensus. Thank you. Jim, thank you for having me. I was proud to work with you at the Convention Center, and I’m proud to be with you here today. In the months since you started, you’ve preserved the Chamber’s clear voice on items vital to the region’s economy, built a strong team, and signaled your enthusiasm to partner with government. Whether lending the House your expertise and insight on MBTA matters, explaining the Convention Center’s position in the national and global environment, or serving as a cheerleader for our region, your friendship has been invaluable. Your experience and ambition are a perfect pairing for this role. My colleagues and I are very enthusiastic about the strong relationship between the Chamber of Commerce and the House of Representatives. The Chamber remains a key contact for our conversations with the business community. Our relationship is one that works and one that supports the House in fostering consensus-based solutions. Together, we helped our state weather the great economic downturn. We created a new entertainment and gaming industry in the Commonwealth, a key generator of thousands of blue-collar jobs with more soon to come. We reformed our municipal health insurance, saving hundreds of millions of dollars for our cities and towns. We raised our minimum wage and improved our unemployment insurance system. Last year, we gave the MBTA vital tools to cut costs and get its finances in order. All of these actions have reaped rewards. Within the last year, Massachusetts has been named the most livable state, the best state for education, and, according to the Bloomberg U.S. Innovation Index, the most innovative state in America. Our state economy outperformed the national economy in the last quarter of 2015, as the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute reported in “MassBenchmarks.” Our journey together is two-fold. While our region is increasingly recognized as a global leader, we stand poised for a larger role on the international stage. At the same time, we must support each Massachusetts resident. Our journey, therefore, begins right here, in our own hometowns. About a year ago the House began its efforts to expand the circle of prosperity to each corner of the Commonwealth and bring together diverse industries for a stronger tomorrow. With that, let me echo the Chamber’s vision which we, in the House share: we “do not believe there are two economies – the old and the new, the established and the emerging – there is just one Massachusetts economy operating successfully in the 21st century and driven by innovation at every level.” Today I am pleased to announce a partnership with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce to reinvigorate those efforts which will formally begin this spring at the Baystate Business Link forum. Earlier this year Jim Rooney and I held a roundtable in Springfield to hear about the challenges facing Western Massachusetts. From that discussion, the Baystate Business Link will concentrate on connecting businesses across the state, highlighting B2B opportunities and encouraging mentorships. I am proud today to welcome former Secretary Rick Sullivan, CEO of the Western Mass Economic Speaker DeLeo: 2016 Address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 2 Development Council; Scott Bailey, Managing Director of MassChallenge; and Jack Healy from MassMEP. These gentlemen, among others, will form a working group to advance the work of the Baystate Business Link and help weave together untapped potential in Massachusetts. The Commonwealth excels at producing champions. Let’s take the next step. Let’s leverage our existing successes so that energetic entrepreneurs, promising students and small but worthy businesses outside of Boston are no longer overlooked. We also want to translate the Commonwealths’ success in the innovation economy to rebuild our historically-strong industries, like manufacturing, in an effort to provide jobs to individuals of all skillsets. In Massachusetts we are heirs to a tradition of discovery and invention. We must now embrace reinvention as well. For validation we need to look no further than General Electric, which has written the playbook on corporate evolution. The Commonwealth’s greatest strengths – our intellectual capital and innovative spirit – are inherently compatible with GE’s mission “to invent the next industrial era, to build, move, power and cure the world.” As GE has indicated, the economy of tomorrow will fuse together disparate sectors and create new industries like the industrial internet and smart-connected-products. Big Data is the next exciting step in this continuum. It is an industry that’s inclusive of Massachusetts’ most formidable sectors. We have the brainpower and economic infrastructure to guarantee that the Commonwealth is The Big Data Hub. That’s why this year the House will fund a $2 million Big Data Innovation and Workforce Fund to promote the use of big data and analytics, and bring together the public and private sectors to prepare the innovators of tomorrow for game-changing careers. As technology progresses, we have come to learn that many of history’s best inventions were indeed, discovered by accident. Take Penicillin, for example, or the commercial microwave, which was invented in Massachusetts. Similarly, I am convinced Big Data will unlock discoveries we cannot fathom as we sit here today. I want those breakthroughs to happen right here, in Massachusetts. Let’s seize this opportunity. Let’s make the decision to propel our economy to new heights and give ourselves the tools to address social concerns about public health, transportation and energy. One of the first steps in this effort is to maximize the potential of all our students in Massachusetts; not just those with the means to afford private education. That is why I am so focused on connecting community college students to the Commonwealth’s dynamic economy. And our efforts are resonating. Aware that companies need tech workers across all levels of educational training, the House created the STEM Starter Academy program. Last fall, the Petit Family Foundation recognized a team of five STEM Starter participants at Springfield Tech Community College enabling them to attend the annual Women in Engineering Conference in Tennessee, the world’s largest conference and career fair for women in that field. Mass. Bay Community College has developed a STEM Mentor Program under the auspices of the Academy. Students are paired with mentors from companies, such as Genzyme, who counsel them on career opportunities in STEM areas. I’m proud to welcome a group of students, administrators and Genzyme mentors here today. I’ve seen firsthand the work you’re doing and I look forward to following the bright futures ahead of you. Let’s give them a hand folks . . . Speaker DeLeo: 2016 Address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 3 While we expand our prosperity across geographic regions and all educational levels, we must be aware of the rapidly changing global economy. We must make sure Massachusetts remains a welcoming climate for investment, ingenuity and innovation while supporting our core employers. In recent years, the House of Representatives has sought to target key issues that have cried out for consensus-driven solutions. A key such issue is that of non-compete reform. We believe an economicallyhealthy Commonwealth relies on balancing the concerns of all our business sectors. I think I speak for many people in this room in saying we should reach a compromise on non-compete reform, to build upon our legacy as a leader in technology and innovation. That’s why the House will take up non-compete legislation this session. Our goal will be to protect businesses here and improve Massachusetts’s reputation as the premier incubator for talent. Our legislation will strike an appropriate balance on non-competes, and create a more desirable environment for both employers and employees. The idea behind our compromise is as follows:  We understand the benefit these agreements often bring to our core employers and will allow for businesses to have the option to enforce them, but we will limit their use to a 12-month restricted period.  Our bill will also include a requirement of notice. Employees should know whether they will be asked to sign a non-compete before they agree to work somewhere, and that shall include a stated right to counsel;  To eliminate the stories we’ve all heard about the sandwich shop maker not being able to pay off his student loans, or the camp counselor not being able to work somewhere else the following summer, the House will be on record opposing non-competes for low-wage workers and those without a voice. When implemented, I am confident that these changes and the other provisions in our bill will improve the overall business climate in Massachusetts. These measures reflect the type of compromise that makes this region so unique, and I can’t thank many of you enough for your support in building consensus and helping us to keep the elite talent our universities and start-ups produce within the state. This is a signal that Massachusetts is and will continue to be open for all types of business. I rarely leave a meeting with an employer or potential employer without hearing about the role energy plays in influencing business decisions. We are at a unique moment in time, when significant changes are occurring in how we power our homes and businesses. Energy affects every individual, every family, every company, but we often take it for granted, or shirk at the immense responsibility of updating our current systems. This session the House will take up comprehensive energy legislation that will promote resource diversity and cleaner energy; contain costs; and ensure that we maintain a reliable electric grid. We will protect our hardworking residents while structuring a promising future for the next generation. Massachusetts energy efficiency programs are ranked first-in-the-nation. We are leaders in supporting the growth of solar power. At the same time, we need to keep the lights on at a reasonable cost to our families and businesses. That’s why, much like in the non-compete area, our plan hinges on a careful balancing act. Speaker DeLeo: 2016 Address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 4 By embracing a variety of approaches, resources and programs our legislation will seek to heighten our national standing and meet the Commonwealth’s ambitious environmental goals. They include the following:  To provide a significant amount of energy at reasonable prices, our legislation will create a competitive procurement process to allow hydroelectricity and renewable energy to play a greater role in the region’s energy mix;  Hydroelectricity is a low-emission, renewable and reliable source of energy. When partnered with wind resources, hydropower can provide energy when the wind doesn’t blow. The two are complementary; they are a natural pair;  We will also encourage the development of our own, local energy resource: offshore wind power;  Massachusetts’ coastline provides unrivaled offshore wind resources and it’s encouraging that the federal government’s auction of offshore leases has attracted interest both locally and internationally. This resource has the additional benefit of creating local jobs. We have the opportunity to launch a new industry that is successful in other parts of the world, right here at home;  Because competition is the fairest and surest way to achieve our goals, the procurement process outlined in the House’s bill will reflect a commitment to require providers to compete;  Project developers will have to demonstrate cost benefits, feasibility, and a guarantee that their power will be delivered during critical times like the terrible winter we experienced last year;  And by requiring competition among developers, projects will need to keep their costs low. I believe that by fostering healthy competition, having people to come to the table and demonstrate the value of their proposals we will encourage diversity. It will help replace the energy infrastructure currently scheduled to go offline, while allowing ample room for the marketplace to fill additional needs the region may require. And propel us forward as we create a healthier and more sustainable Commonwealth. While speaking to a chamber of commerce in 1977, the former publisher of The New York Times, asked the executives in the room: “Why are there so few business heroes.” Looking out at this group I know that that question is no longer relevant. When taken at face value, early education and care may not seem like a business or labor issue. But make no mistake, it is. Those of you here today should recognize that; you know firsthand how significantly childcare affects your work and the work of your employees. The benefits of high-quality programing for our youngest residents are undisputable and the House will continue its focus on building a strong workforce, while also pushing for heightened access. Although access is important, we need to ask ourselves “access to what?” Without support for a quality workforce there is no access to meaningful programming. Therefore, we must build on the foundation we have laid. We must move upwards and give early educators, parents, and, most of all, our children a system they deserve. We do this by finding better Speaker DeLeo: 2016 Address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 5 ways to support those who make it their business to educate and care for our youngest and most vulnerable residents. I’ve no doubt my colleagues and I can benefit from your expertise. That’s why today I am calling on you. I am inviting business leaders from here and across the state to join in the creation of an Early Education and Care Business Advisory Group so we can discuss how the business community can help us address the critical needs of the early education and care field. I believe in the great potential of those in this room today and I know that with your input we can find ways to build and provide ongoing support for a strong EEC workforce. My friends, this has the potential to be one of the most productive legislative sessions in my tenure as Speaker. With important energy legislation; substance abuse and economic initiatives all in the balance, the House of Representatives will remain a voice of balanced, practical and most importantly, workable, progress. We will courageously defend the policies we believe are in the best interests of the people of Massachusetts. Thanks to the foundation we have built over the last decade, Massachusetts is in a position to capitalize on our advantages. Now is the time to consolidate our progress and make lasting policy decisions that prepare us long into the future. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this morning. I’d be happy to take a few questions.

紐英崙至孝篤親公所慶猴年 麻州長、波市長、聯邦參眾議員先後現身

摩頓市又添一家華人食肆 Ming海鮮二百萬裝修

摩頓市又開一家華裔經營商舖了。

這回是店東Ling Zhang和 Jay Chen斥資兩百萬元，精美翻修改造，座落在愉悅街（Pleasant）上的“名海鮮（Ming Seafood）“，不但有新鮮海味，蔬菜肉類，還供應點心，酒水。

摩頓市市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson），第三區市議員John Matheson，麻州眾議員Paul Donato，摩頓商會的Hilda Torres，Lisa O’Loughlin，以及店東 Ling Zhang, Jay Chen等人在華林功夫太極學校的醒獅表演後，一起為新店開張剪綵。

摩頓市長葛帝生為這家店給摩頓市帶來40個工作機會，促進該市經濟成長，很是感到高興。

品貴高中生華埠學華語 駐波士頓教育組鼓勵赴臺留遊學

美國麻州品貴高中 (Pingree High School) 辦理校外中文教學，由中文教師呂圣筑帶領師生29名於本(105)年2月25日到波士頓華埠進行課外教學，安排喝珍珠奶茶，逛中國超市等活動，讓學生從生活中應用所學華語。駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處教育組特別為他們辦理「赴臺留遊學說明會」，準備了包括中華民國教育部獎學金、各大學校院開設的英語課程及暑期華語夏令營等資料，鼓勵這群正學習中文的高中生到臺灣進修華語或攻讀學位。

駐波士頓教育組組長黃薳玉在致詞中表示，教育部設置「華語文獎學金」及「臺灣獎學金」鼓勵外國學生到臺灣進修華語或研讀學位。她也進一步說明，臺灣保有完整且豐富的中華傳統文化，可從日常生活中的節慶、建築、戲曲、舞蹈等生活脈動，感受臺灣獨特的風俗人文。臺灣社會民主開放，人民熱情，許多外國學生到臺灣留遊學都留下深刻回憶，相信臺灣可以成為品貴高中學生學習華語的最佳選擇。

這次說明會，駐波士頓教育組也準備港式點心，讓品貴高中學生從飲食學習華語，瞭解中華美食文化。面對琳琅滿目的亞洲食物，有些學生好奇每樣食物的味道，勇於嘗試新事物；有些學生則望之卻步。為了鼓勵學生勇於品嚐中華美食，呂圣筑老師特別設計「美食大挑戰」活動，端出鳳爪讓學生挑戰，成功者可獲得獎勵，現場因而歡聲四起，熱鬧不已。值得一提的是，活動當天是在場某位同學的生日，呂圣筑老師用中文請全體學生，歡唱中文的「生日快樂歌」一起為這位同學慶生，展現大家平時學習華語的成果。

品貴高中與台中惠文高中為姐妹校，兩校近年進行多場互訪交流。本次活動中不少學生曾參加品貴高中在2015年3月到臺灣與惠文高中交流的活動，在臺交流期間，品貴高中學生參訪臺北、臺中與臺南各地名勝古蹟，對臺灣留下良好的印象。駐波士頓教育組希望透過兩校頻繁的交流活動與本次說明會，增進品貴學生對臺灣的認識，進而鼓勵這群學生未來到臺留遊學。