• Shawsheen Valley Technical High School

    Shop Selection Information

    Friday, March 21, 2025

     

    The following message is from the SVTHS Guidance Department, and is also being shared in the Guidance Department's March Newsletter and via an email sent directly to sophomore families:

     

    Next week marks an exciting milestone for our freshmen! Students will begin selecting their top three shop choices through their Aspen account. Permanent shop placement for all freshmen will be based on the grades they received in their top 3 shop exploratory classes, space availability, and demand (based on other students' selections).

    Key Dates and Information:

    • Thursday, March 27: Freshmen will attend an assembly led by our freshmen guidance counselors. The session will build on previous guidance lessons, helping students reflect on their skills and interests as they make their selections. During this assembly, students will also receive detailed instructions on how to choose their top three shop preferences in their Aspen account.

    • Aspen Portal Access: The Aspen portal will open at 6:00 PM on Thursday, March 27, and will close at 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 30. Students will select their top three shop choices during this window.

    • Shop Placement Begins: Shop placement will begin on April 7th and will be determined by the grades students received in their top 3 shop exploratory classes, available space, and demand based on other student selections.

     

    How Permanent Shop Placement is Determined:

    Permanent shop placement for all freshmen will be determined by several factors:

    1. Grades in Top 3 Shop Exploratory Classes: The grade students received in their top three exploratory shop classes will play a significant role in determining their permanent shop placement. This ensures that students are placed in a shop that reflects their current level of skill and performance.

    2. Space Availability: While we strive to accommodate all students' preferences, the final placement will also depend on the availability of space in each shop. Some shops may have more or fewer openings depending on the number of students selecting them.

    3. Demand (Other Students’ Selections): Shop placement is influenced by demand—meaning the number of students selecting a particular shop. Popular shops may fill up quickly, and students will be placed in their next preferred option if their first choice is unavailable.

    We encourage all students to discuss their shop choices with their parents/guardians prior to making their selections. If this conversation hasn’t already taken place, we strongly recommend having this discussion before submitting their final choices. In addition, on March 27th, we will send a reminder email with step-by-step instructions on how students can log into their Aspen account to select their top three shop choices.