Culinary Cornucopia benefits people with disabilities
Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students and staff spent Sunday, Nov. 9, helping raise funds for Living Resources by assisting at the 2008 American Culinary Federation (ACF) Chefs Competition at the Albany campus and a gala fund-raising dinner at the Marriott Hotel. Living Resources provides life-enhancing services to individuals with disabilities in the Capital Region. Pictured in the photo above (from left): Kayla Wojtowecz (Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake), Ashley Matthews and Ryan DiMaria (Shenendehowa), Cody Dennis (Watervliet), Chef Brucker, Chef Brucker's ACF competition student assistant Rob Ryan(Guilderland), Chef Haas, Jim Romand (Colonie Central), Director of Career & Tech Ed Dr. Hank Stopinski, Karl Connor (Shenendehowa), Chef Rother and Chef Dolan.

Honors for Children & Education Career Academy teacher
Children & Education Career Academy teacher Deb Hall was named Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year by the New York State Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers. Ms. Hall's classroom is located at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School. which offers the Children & Education Career Academy in partnership with the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School.

Great pumpkins appear in Albany
Thanks to the generosity of local business partners Price Chopper, WF Ryan Produce and Lansing's Farm, Colonie, more than 70 pumpkins were transformed from generic gourds to cool, career-themed creations by Albany campus students. After judging by SkillsUSA officers and school staff, the winners were announced and awarded delicious prizes. Read more about the winners and link to photo gallery

Bodies: The Exhibition keeps it real for students bound for medical careers
Students from Career & Tech's Practical Nursing, New Visions: Health Careers and Nurse Assistant programs gained a wealth of knowledge by viewing Bodies: The Exhibition in November at the South Street Seaport Museum in Manhattan. The world-famous exhibit features actual human bodies, organs and systems that have been specially preserved and treated and respectfully presented.

Adult Nursing student Alison Shuler (pictured (from left) with fellow students Michelle Washburn and Kathryn Gotcsik) comments, "What we expected and what we saw were two very different things. When you think human bodies, you think about actual cadavers from an autopsy point of view. But, it was just the opposite. Even though they are actual human bodies, it was done in a way that wasn't scary or gross. You could actually see how the human body is really made. As nursing students in the Adult Practical Nursing program, seeing the exhibit helped us to understand more of what we learned in Anatomy and Physiology class. I would recommend this exhibit to anyone interested in how the human body works."

The more you learn, the more you earn: Schoharie campus college fair set for December 2
What are you doing after high school? The more you learn, the more you earn. Schoharie Career & Tech will host several colleges on December 2 so students can meet with representatives about how they can take their education and careers to a higher level. On board to date: SUNY Alfred, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Delhi, SUNY Morrisville, Hudson Valley Community College, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Schenectady County Community College, and Bryant & Stratton College.

CSX workers put welding skills on the right track through custom Career & Tech program
CSX railroad machinist Matt Clark positioned an electrode into a holder as he prepared to practice vertical sheet metal arc welding. Suited in a protective coat, leather welding gloves, safety glasses, face shield and helmet, the railroad machinist focused intently on his assignment, one of many he'd tackle during an intensive week of training at Career & Tech's Albany campus. Clark and several colleagues from rail transportation company CSX Corp. in Selkirk advanced their professional skills this past August through a special 40-hour course developed and taught by Career & Tech Welding & Metal Fabrication teachers Michael Todd and Christopher Lanese and coordinated by our Adult & Continuing Education department. Want to know more? Link to a pdf of the Oct/Nov. BOCES Bright Futures newsletter.

Nurses are needed! Part-time evening study program begins Dec. 1
Attention adult learners: Begin an exciting new career through our Practical Nursing for Adult Students program! The part-time, evening study program begins December 1. Interested? A pre-entrance exam is required. Call 862-4709 for exam and program info.

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Internship Profile

Jessica Sterling is an RCS senior in the New Visions: Journalism & Media Studies class, which meets at the Times Union. Learn more.

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Alumni Profiles

Successful Cosmetology grad never stops learning, growing
"My work is fun, and I do what I love. I feel like the luckiest person in the world." Cyndy Slyke's passion for Cosmetology is as boundless as the opportunities the field presents and rivaled only by her enthusiasm for Career & Tech. The class of 2000 Cosmetology alumna has worked as a hairstylist, cosmetics rep, makeup artist, consultant, writer and volunteer. She has won awards, been published and is a popular guest speaker who is dedicated to advancing her own professional education. Read more

From Knox to Maui, Electrical Trades alumnus says Mahalo for a terrific career
For most of us in the Northeast, the Hawaiian islands are a dream destination, a place of natural beauty that is rivaled only by the expense of living far from the mainland. Yet Kenny Clapper has built a successful business in Maui, one that affords his family a comfortable lifestyle and a solid future in a wavy economy. KC Electric is prospering, having its best year ever, in fact, and Clapper says he owes it all to the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School. Read more

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This is your school: Keep it safe and clean
Silence your cells please . . .
A reminder: Cell phones should not be used during school. Parents/guardians needing to reach students should call the school office - 862-4800 for Albany, 295-3000 for Schoharie. Students' cell phones (and other electronic devices) should be silenced during class time.

And no smoking
New York State law prohibits smoking - by anyone - in schools and on school property.
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Accreditation process promotes student success
The Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. To earn this nationally recognized accreditation, our school successfully completed an intensive stakeholder survey, which includes self-study by staff, students, parents, component school district representatives. Such self-assessments are comprehensive and provide data to be used as a tool for continuous improvement and positive change. Indeed, to maintain our accreditation and prepare for a visit by a Middle States team in the spring of 2012, Career and Technical Education (CTE) staff, students, business partners and other stakeholders are involved in ongoing accreditation activities. Read more

Business & Education Partners are invaluable
Strong business and education partnerships enable Career & Tech to keep apprised of employment needs and trends. Hundreds of representatives of business, industry and secondary and higher education serve on our school's Advisory Committees, work closely with our faculty and staff and provide students and alumni with valuable opportunities for job exploration, shadowing, internship, apprenticeship and part- and full-time employment.

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Career & Tech Education by the numbers
The Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School serves students from 25 school districts, which include 22 public high schools, private and parochial schools and home-schooled students. We also serve students from neighboring BOCES through cross-contracted enrollment and adult students both individually and through local employers. How many students are enrolled at our school? At each campus? What about adult vs. high school enrollment? Learn more at our Enrollment page.
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Helping out in our community
Community service is a big part of the Career & Tech experience, with students and staff supporting many worthy causes throughout the year. Some good deeds:

Students from the New Visions: Human Services & Elementary/Special Education program at Wildwood School participated in the Fiddles Walk for Wildwood on Saturday, Oct. 18. The program moved this year to a brand-new classroom at Wildwood School on Curry Road Extension, where 14 students from 10 different school districts participate in internships with children with autism andother developmental disabilities. The students are experiencing honors and college level academic work designed to help prepare them for careers such as social work, psychology, music and art therapy, occupational and physical therapy, and elementary and special education.

New Visions: Human Services & Special/Elementary Education students (from left) Erin Montrello (Niskayuna), Elishia Marocco (Scotia-Glenville), Christine Cary (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) and Michelle Fraser (Scotia-Glenville) Walk for Wildwood.

Current high school juniors interested in finding out more about this New Visions program may email Happy Scherer, teacher, and attend an open house in February.

Vocational Training & Transition students trick or treat for Unicef
A group of students from Mrs. Bernard's Vocational Training & Transition class volunteered for a good cause on Halloween, when they trick or treated for Unicef. The students visited their peers in their Albany campus classrooms and accepted cash donations for the international relief organization. Thank you VT&T!

Upcoming:
New Visions: Law & Government students will be volunteering at WAMC Northeast Public Radio's February Fund Drive, answering calls and logging pledges. They also will be taking part in an upcoming WAMC Town Meeting.

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Career & Tech on the road
Career & Tech students and staff promote career and technical education through numerous community events and working with our school and business partners. Our students also provide fun demos for younger students at middle school career days and fairs throughout the year. Staff are available all year round. Contact Monique Jacobs, Communications Coordinator, for details.

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GET AHEAD THROUGH ADULT ED

GED, ELL, CTE, GRASP, PN, CNA:
An alphabet of learning for today's adults
Our Adult Education program offers many learning opportunities for adult students. Visit the Adult Ed Web page to learn more.

For questions about Practical Nursing for Adult Students, e-mail Brenda Jones at the PN/Health Careers office at bjones@gw.neric.org or call (518) 862-4709.

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Downloads

Download the 2008-2009 Career & Tech Student & Parent Handbook

View our Career & Tech Video

Read our Vision, Mission & Values Statement

Download our Course Guide course catalog for '08-'09

Download our New Visions Guide/The College Advantage

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Job Opportunities for students, alumni & staff
Visit our new Employment Opportunities page.

Interested in employment with the Capital Region BOCES, including the Capital Region Career & Technical School? Visit: Jobs at BOCES (www.capregboces.org/jobopenings/jobs.htm)

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It's a fact
More education and training mean higher earnings and greater job satisfaction. Where are you going? If your destination is success in career and in life, Career & Tech can help you get a great start!

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Archives & News Releases
Past home page items other than full news stories may be found on the
2008-09 School Year Home Page Archive
2007-08 school year home page archive
2006-07 school year home page archive or the
2005-06 school year home page archive.

For current news releases, see Latest News