Students describe leadership retreat as school reports rise in co-op participation
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Summary
Students who attended the High 5 leadership program described team challenges and personal growth to the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School Committee. The committee also heard a student activities report and an updated cooperative education total: 163 seniors, or about 30% of the Class of 2026, are on co-op placements.
The Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School Committee on Thursday heard students describe a three-day “High 5” leadership retreat in Vermont and received reports on student activities and cooperative education placements.
The student representative for 2025–26, Anna Debono, outlined extracurricular activity and club highlights, including SkillsUSA access to the Pathful career platform for students and instructors, a National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society induction planned for Nov. 13, and several student fundraisers and events. Debono said the freshman and sophomore planning committees hosted an outing that drew about 190 students.
Five students who attended the High 5 leadership training — Gabrielle Ndivo, Exadrian (Exadrian Infante Diaz), Nehemiah Nieves, Annalise Themelis and one student who could not attend in person — told the committee the program pushed them outside their comfort zones and built teamwork and communication skills. Gabrielle Ndivo, a sophomore in the electrical program and a student ambassador, said the trip “felt like a whole week” and helped her “learn how to be more open minded” with peers. Annalise Themelis, a junior and SkillsUSA officer, said the program “helped me discover a new side of myself” and that she volunteers to take on leadership tasks more readily after the experience.
Ron Vercellone, the school’s dean of students and High 5 facilitator, told the committee the program relies on teacher nominations and that the district works to remove barriers to student participation. He said 24 students attended this year and four returned as peer facilitators.
On cooperative education, the superintendent/director reported that 163 senior students are currently participating in co-op placements—out of a class of 532—representing about 30% of the Class of 2026. The full cooperative education report is in the committee packet.
Committee members and administrators noted the High 5 program’s perceived benefits and discussed efforts to replicate some leadership activities locally for students who cannot travel to Vermont.
The committee also thanked students and staff for presenting. The meeting moved on to other agenda items after the reports.