prepare a résumé, a budget that takes
into account how income affects lifestyle.
The culminating research project will be
the compilation of a career portfolio to
use as a resource.
Entrepreneurship
0.5 credit
Grades 10, 11 and 12
Want to be your own boss? Would
you like to start your own company?
In this course students will study and
practice entrepreneurship. Student
teams will create a technology/productbased startup and write a business plan
that includes all the building blocks
of creating an enterprise. In order to
create a successful startup, student
entrepreneurs will be required to address
various issues in startup creation such as
product development, market research,
technology viability, fund raising,
competitive analysis, team formation,
and marketing and sales strategy. The
course will feature guest lecturers who
are successful local entrepreneurs,
investors and business leaders with
strong experience in creating and
running startups. Students choosing this
course are likely to major in business or
wish to start a business of their own after
high school.
Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG)
1 credit
Prerequisites: a desire and ambition to
develop the skills to achieve a successful
future, recommendation from a faculty
member or current JMG student,
application completion, interview, and
final approval of the JMG specialist
Students are encouraged and advised
in areas of achieving better grades,
improving personal outlook and
self-esteem, experiencing strong
‘connectedness’ to school, and gaining
valuable understanding of multiple
pathways to future success. They will
explore a range of career options while
developing the “employability” skills
demanded by the 21st century labor
market. Students will learn how to
attain a job, how to be successful in
that job, and how to manage personal
finances. In addition, students will
develop an understanding of non-profit
organizations, philanthropy, and the
grant process.
JMG students at TA will also be a part of
a larger statewide/national organization
and benefit from a personal graduation
coach.
National Tooling & Machining
(NTMA)
2 credits
Thornton has formed a relationship with
the National Tooling and Machining
Association to create this opportunity
for students who would like to begin
training for precision tooling. See
Educational Partnerships for more
information about this program.
Students will ideally begin this
program in grade 10 and continue for
three years. In that time students will
complete six semesters of study in the
NTMA-U curriculum and will have the
opportunity to undertake an internship
and earn a journeyman’s license.
Auto Body Technology I
4 credits
Grades 11 and 12
Biddeford Regional Center of
Technology (BRCOT)
The Center of Technology provides
career and technical education that
supports and guides students on
their career paths, whether they are
entering the workforce or continuing
their education following graduation.
Students learn occupational skills
under industry recognized standards
and in some programs they may gain
industry certifications that lead to
employment opportunities. They may
also earn college credits -- many of the
BRCOT programs have agreements
with Maine colleges whereby students
earn free college credits by successfully
completing these programs. Detailed
course descriptions are found in the
BRCOT brochure or online at http://
biddeford.mainecte.org/programs/
Building Trades I
4 credits
Grades 11 and 12
Prerequisite: Strong math, grade-level
reading and interpersonal skills
Auto Body Technology II
4 credits
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Auto Body Technology I
Auto Mechanics I
4 credits
Grades 11 and 12
Auto Mechanics II
4 credits
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Auto Mechanics I
Building Trades II
4 credits
Grades 11 and 12
Prerequisite: Building Trades I
Business & Financial Management
Four 1-credit courses
Grades 11 and 12
This Business Academy program within
BRCOT includes four