Archive of home page articles 2007-2008 school year

April 2008
A bouquet of winners at floral competition
Career & Tech's Floral Design & Botanical Services team brought home a bouquet of awards from a competition at the annual Capital District Garden & Flower Show, held March 28-30 at Hudson Valley Community College, including:
Anna Munafo (Floral Design/Niskayuna H.S.), first place in Candle Ring
Barbara Winters (Floral Design/Hudson H.S.), first place in Yellow Monochromatic Arrangement
Mahogany DeGroff (Floral Design/Schenectady H.S.), first place in Vertical Arrangement
Gabriella Williams (Botanical Services/Bethlehem H.S.), second place in Candle Ring
Terry Bacchi (adult student), second place in Yellow Monochromatic Arrangement
Cheryl Marr (Floral Design/Shenendehowa H.S.), second place in Vertical Arrangement
Meghan Enright (Floral Design/Schenectady H.S.), third place in Candle Ring
Ashley Dorch (Botanical Services/Shenendehowa H.S.), third place in Yellow Monochromatic Arrangement
and Cassandra Delbene (Botanical Services/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk H.S.), third place in Yellow Monochromatic Arrangement.
Congrats to the students and their teacher, Ms. Bugler. Read more about Floral Design and Botanical Services. Read news release

New Visions: Health Careers students rock HOSA competition
Students in Mr. Paravella's New Visions: Health Careers class brought home top awards from the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) Conference, March 26-28 at the Syracuse Doubletree Hotel. Seven New Visions students competed against more than 175 students from 20 HOSA chapters from across the state  and rocked the competition, bringing home first place in Medical Math, second in Medical Spelling, second in Extemporaneous Medical Poster, and third in the HOSA Bowl, a four-person "Jeopardy"-like competition of medical knowledge.

Competing were New Visions students: Jenna Lohre (Niskayuna), Weston Shapiro (Scotia-Glenville), Keith Herrington (Scotia-Glenville), Mike Gwiazdowski (Duanesburg), Joan Kanarkiewicz (Duanesburg), Rachel Gurney (Duanesburg) and Vicky Lau (Schenectady). Shapiro won first in Medical Math; Lohre took second in Medical Spelling; Lau scored second in Extemporaneous Medical Poster; and bringing home third place in the HOSA Bowl, after going into quadruple overtime, were Lohre, Gwiazdowski, Shapiro and Herrington.

The winning New Visions students were awarded medals and all of the students received much-deserved recognition from the judges, teachers and their peers at the competition. According to Paravella, "The students prepared for the HOSA competition by studying on their own and by utilizing their knowledge from class. They learned more about their subject, of course, and about the organization and competitive pressure." Paravella added that the national HOSA competition is in Dallas, Texas, though his class is not planning to go at this time.

Science in the Ms. Jennings' room:
Early Childhood Ed alumna brings her Van Corlaer first graders to Career & Tech for special lessons
Career & Tech Early Childhood Education alumna and Van Corlaer Elementary School First Grade Teacher Kim Bushey (pictured above) brought her class to campus in March to work on science units. The children learned about the interaction of solids, liquids and gase from current Early Childhood Education students in Ms. Jennings' room and through baking with Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students, including Johnathan Best (Schenectady), below. See the photo story

Science in the kitchen: First grade students from Ms. Bushey's class at Van Corlaer Elementary School learned about the interaction of solids, liquids and gases through baking with Career & Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students, including Johnathan Best (Schenectady), above. Ms. Bushey is an alumna of Career & Tech's Early Childhood Education program.

Knowledge ist gut!

Culinary Arts Tech Prep and Schalmont senior Ryan McLoughlin speaks with Schalmont High School Principal Terence Nash about his Career & Tech trip to Austria, as fellow students Charles Nadler (Mohonasen) and Maggie O'Mara (Guilderland) discuss the presentation the three had just made to the Schalmont Board of Education. A group of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students traveled to a culinary and hospitality school in Bad Gleichenberg, Austria, in June 2007, learning about both their chosen careers and Austrian culture.

Career & Tech rules at SkillsUSA Regionals
The results are still coming in, but a number of Career & Tech students rocked the '08 SkillsUSA Regional Competition March 19, taking home a busload of trophies and awards from Schenectady County Community College. Congratulations to:

First place winners:
Mike D'Agostino (Duanesburg HS) - Heavy Duty Truck Repair
Maggie O'Mara (Guilderland HS) - Food and Beverage Service
Chuck Nadler (Mohonasen HS) - Culinary Arts
Justin Waldron (Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake HS) - Welding
Bryan Parks (Mohonasen HS) - Residential Wiring
Anna Munafo (Niskayuna HS) - Floral Design
Kayla Williams (Duanesburg HS) - Food Prep Assistant

Second Place:
Matthew Hudson (Middleburgh HS) - Commercial Baking
Heather Keigle (Berne-Knox-Westerlo HS) - Pre-school Teaching Assistant
Ryan McLoughlin (Schalmont HS) - Culinary Arts
Reba Donnahie (Colonie Central HS)- Cosmetology
Mahendra Kapoor (Schenectady HS) - Collision Repair

Third Place:
Tim VanderWouden (Mohonasen HS)  - Auto Service Technician
Esther Singh (Schenectady HS) - Nursing Assistant
Karmen Smith (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk HS) - Food and Beverage Service
Ashia Valente (Watervliet HS) - Commercial Baking
Jeremy Fobare (Scotia-Glenville HS) - Internetworking
Joshua Culhane (Scotia-Glenville HS) - Residential Wiring

4th Place-
Kraig Skarka (Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake HS)- Welding
Katrina Shea (Shenendehowa HS) - Food Prep Assistant
Christina Zullo (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk HS)- Commercial Baking

5th Place-
Chris Lyons (Niskayuna HS) - Small Engine Service
Mahogany DeGroff (Schenectady HS) - Floral Design

A special recognition/honorable mention award was presented to Nurse Assistant student Samatha Sponable (Schalmont HS). Recently retired Office Operations and Computer Applications Teacher Sandie Flynn was also recognized for her many many years of service to SkillsUSA.

Chef, student cook up success at Cuisine Magic to help Eddy Visiting Nurse Association
Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology teacher Chef Paul Rother and Culinary Arts Tech Prep student Maggie O'Mara (Guilderland) cooked up some magic, earning a bronze medal, while raising money for a good cause on March 9 at the American Culinary Federation's Cuisine Magic competition at the Crowne Plaza, Albany. A number of Career & Tech students volunteered as servers at the event, including Charles Nadler (Mohonasen), Ryan McLoughlin (Schalmont), Dan Sala (Cohoes) and Meghan Stilson (Schenectady).

At the benefit for The Eddy Visiting Nurse Association, they cooked four plates of food from scratch in 45 minutes under the watch of three kitchen judges. Their entry featured pistachio crusted red snapper, turmeric/fennel sauce, and a potato /apple /celery puree and sauteed spinach with baby leeks.

"We cooked and were judged in the morning," reported Chef, "and received a bronze medal  that evening. The students helped serve 300) people. Maggie was the only student who competed; other restaurants came with seasoned pros. However, one master chef judge said, 'I can't believe how well Maggie performed at her age', during the critique."

Building career skills along with furniture
Leonardo Barrera, student in Bill Rouleau's Building & Grounds Maintenance class at Career & Tech's Schoharie campus, works on an Adirondack chair. Barrera is also a junior at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School. 
 

Participation in government, plus
New Visions: Law & Government students lobbied for education funding and programs on March 4 at the State Capitol with the Legislative Forum Consortium. Members of the consortium include: The College Board, the N.Y.S. Association for College Admission Counseling, New York Counseling Association, N.Y.S. School Counselors Association, SUNY College Admission Professionals, City University of New York, N.Y.S. Financial Aid Administrators Association, SUNY Financial Aid Professionals, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, and Liberty Partnerships. On February 7, Mr. Bader's class took part in a Youth Media Project Town Meeting with public radio station WAMC. To listen, go to http://www.wamcstudenttownmeetings.org/NewVisions11_20_07.htm
 

March 2008

Schoharie Culinary team is #1 in New York State - again!
Watch out America: Team Schoharie is headed to the 2008 National ProStart Competition in San Diego, CA, this April after winning the New York State ProStart Competition on February 9. Cooking their way to first place at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park were Schoharie Hospitality Technology & Culinary Arts students Katrina Gannon and Matthew Hudson, both of whom also attend Middleburgh High School; Aaron Giebitz (Berne-Knox-Westerlo H.S.), and Kayla Williams (Duanesburg H.S.). Supporting the team at the event was alternate team member Michael Cushman (Schoharie H.S.). This is the second year in a row Team Schoharie has won the state event. Their teacher Chef Nancy Iannacone, also was honored in the competition program as the 2007-08 ProStart Teacher of the Year. Read the news release

Lodging Management team takes 3rd
Congratulations to Lodging Management students Jeneza Ramnarine and Rebecca Imfeld (Schenectady H.S.), Heidi Bendick (Voorheesville H.S.) and Justin Puvogel (Guilderland H.S.) and teacher Steve Stofelano on their third-place finish in the February 27 N.Y. S. Lodging Management Program Competition in Albany. Our team practiced with business partner Albany Marriott and Lodging Management alumni and competed in night audit, knowledge bowl, case study and room inspection.

Science in the kitchen:
Culinary students teach Van Corlaer first graders
First grade students from Ms. Bushey's class at Van Corlaer Elementary School learned about the interaction of solids, liquids and gases through baking with Career & Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students, including Johnathan Best (Schenectady), above. Ms. Bushey is an alumna of Career & Tech's Early Childhood Education program.

Schoharie Culinary team is #1 in New York State - again!
Watch out America: Team Schoharie is headed to the 2008 National ProStart Competition in San Diego, CA, this April after winning the New York State ProStart Competition on February 9. Cooking their way to first place at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park were Schoharie Hospitality Technology & Culinary Arts students Katrina Gannon and Matthew Hudson, both of whom also attend Middleburgh High School; Aaron Giebitz (Berne-Knox-Westerlo H.S.), and Kayla Williams (Duanesburg H.S.). Supporting the team at the event was alternate team member Michael Cushman (Schoharie H.S.). This is the second year in a row Team Schoharie has won the state event. Their teacher Chef Nancy Iannacone, also was honored in the competition program as the 2007-08 ProStart Teacher of the Year. Read the news release
           

The more you learn, the more you earn:
Schoharie campus college fair set for March 5
There are lots of college options for today's high school graduate, including full-time enrollment, part-time study, individual courses and non-credit classes. Career & Tech's Schoharie campus will host a College Fair for our students March 5, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Joining us: SUNY Cobleskill, Schenectady County Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Connecticut Culinary Institute, Fulton Montgomery Community College, SUNY Delhi, SUNY Morrisville, Bryant & Stratton, and SUNY Alfred. Questions? Contact Schoharie Campus Guidance Counselor Ellen Sherman.

Want to work with children? Born to teach?
Join us Monday March 3 in Cobleskill!
Save the date: On March 3 from 6-8 p.m., all are invited to an Open House for Career & Tech's Children & Education Career Academy at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School. The Academy is a unique, full-day program for juniors and seniors interested in becoming preschool or elementary school teachers, child care or family services professionals. The Open House is informal, fun and features current students and staff and tasty refreshments. Pictured at right: Happy '07 Academy grads.

Getting more fiber

Students in Dave Patzarian's Computer Network Technician class learned hands-on about the latest in fiber optic technology on February 6 from guest lecturers Raymond Nanni (above, left, with Computer Network Technician student Alden Fischer, a Mohonasen H.S. senior) and Bill Patterson of Corning Cable Systems. Nanni is a sales engineer for private networks and was showing Fischer how to terminate fiber optic cabling. Patterson is private networks northeast regional manager.

Thank you SUNY Cobleskill!
Thanks to Business & Education Partner/Advisory Committee member SUNY Cobleskill, students in Paul Clavette's Equipment Operation & Landscaping Services program and the Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology program, taught by Mr.Clavette and Kevin Simpson, at Schoharie campus have some new additions to their classroom. The college donated a John Deere tractor (pictured), four industrial, diesel engines and a moveable engine stand for use in the students' education and training.

Do you want to help make others beautiful?
Sign up for an Albany campus Cosmetology student assessment with your guidance counselor
Students interested in enrolling in Cosmetology for the 2008-09 school year at the Albany campus (only) are required to pass a hands-on assessment to gauge their readiness to learn in this program. During the assessment, the students observe a demonstration of a four-part section and roller placement and are then asked to complete these tasks to the best of their ability. The assessments are conducted in the Cosmetology classrooms. To sign up for the assessments, students should contact their high school guidance counselors. Assessments will be held on Fridays Feb. 1, 8 and 29 and March 7 and 14. (Note: Assessments are not required for Schoharie campus students at this time.)

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.

February 2008

Capital Region BOCES, CSEA, U-Albany team up to bring ESOL class to college campus
Great teamwork means these students learn where they earn. Read their story.

Going floral at the State Museum
Floral Design and Botanical Services Teacher Meg Bugler reports, "Two of my Floral Design students and I are entering NY In Bloom at the New York State Museum on February 22-24. We all have good spots: two are in the Adirondack section, and I have the big orange taxi in New York City." Don't miss their fragrant creations.

Want to work with children? Born to teach?
Join us on February 26 in Cobleskill!
Save the date: On February 26 from
6-8 p.m., all are invited to an Open House for Career & Tech's Children & Education Career Academy at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School. The Academy is a unique, full-day program for juniors and seniors interested in becoming preschool or elementary school teachers, child care or family services professionals. The Open House is informal, fun and features current students and staff and tasty refreshments. Pictured at right: Happy '07 Academy grads.

Now appearing: You! at our Theatre Arts Tech Open House, Feb. 14, day & evening at Proctors Theatre
All are invited to our Theatre Arts Technology program Open Houses at Proctors Theatre, Schenectady, on February 14: from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. for interested students, teachers and school administrators, and from 6-8 p.m. for students, parents, guardians and families. Parking in the rear of Proctors is free for two hours. Come for tours of the theatres, see our students' work and enjoy refreshments in Proctors beautiful new performing arts and education center.

The published chef
Four recipes created by Chef Mark Brucker, Albany Campus Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology teacher, will be published in the February 13 Daily Gazette. Besides sharing his knowledge with Career & Tech students, Chef Brucker is an adjunct professor at Schenectady County Community College.

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:
- Floral Design and Botanical Services students planted 8,000 tulip bulbs in Albany's Washington Park. Watch for their work in the spring!

Attention high school juniors, parents, guardians, guidance:
Save the Date for New Visions Open Houses '08
Dates are set for our annual Open Houses for our New Visions programs as follows:
Monday, Feb. 11, New Visions: Health Careers
Tuesday, Feb. 12, New Visions: Law & Government
Thursday, Feb. 14, New Visions: Journalism & Media Studies
Friday, Feb. 15, New Visions: Human Services & Special/Elementary Education (rescheduled from Feb. 13)

The Open Houses are held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in the Capital Region BOCES Administrative Building, board conference room, across the parking lot from the Albany campus. The street address is 1031 Watervliet-Shaker Road, just east of New Karner Road. New Visions teachers and students present an overview of their classes, units of study, college credit, etc., including opportunities to study in cooperation with our neighboring Questar III BOCES.

An evening open house will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the same location, for all New Visions programs, for students and parents/guardians who were unable to attend the above daytime open houses.

January 2008
Fuel for thought on Cap News 9
Want to know the latest about E-10 fuel and your car's engine? Reporter Erin Billups of Time Warner Cable's Capital News 9 interviewed Auto Trades Technology Teacher Matt Millard today (February 6) and the story will air beginning at 3 p.m.

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:
- The Womens Club of Albany's fund-raising Festival of Trees will be much more festive, thanks to the efforts of Floral Design and Botanical Services students. The students created beautiful arrangements and decorative greens, with which they decked the halls, banisters and mantels of the mansion in Albany.

Off-campus spotlight

New Visions prepares students for "a different world"
New Visions alumni often cite the program as giving them an edge in their college studies. Molly McCann, New Visions: Health Careers Class of ‘07, recently wrote the following to her former teacher, Mrs. Dorothy Negri:

"College is definitely a different world, but I believe that you prepared me quite nicely for it. My time management is keeping me up on all my studies, and lessens the stress. The writing skills you have taught me have brought in all A's on every paper I have written so far. For that, I can never thank you enough. I am ahead of the game here, which surprised me. But thank you nonetheless!

As far as the New Visions program, I am forever indebted. The program has not only solidified my career choice, but it has also given me the experiences I will need in order to fulfill my goals. When I tell my peers or my professors, they are shocked that such a program exists. They can't believe that I have so much experience going in as a freshman in college. I know what I want out of my life, and I am such a huge advocate for the New Visions program."
Career & Tech Auto Tech teams make strong showing at regional ENYCAR Competition
Career & Tech made a strong showing at the annual Eastern New York Coalition of Automotive Retailers (ENYCAR) Regional Automotive Technician Student Competition on January 11 at Hudson Valley Community College. Taking third place, the team of AYES Auto Tech student Matt Cowan of Voorheesville and Auto Tech Prep student Lewis Gelinas of Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake competed on a Mini Cooper. They trained hard at Keeler Motors in Latham. The team of Auto Trades Tech students Rich Gorman of Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake and Dan Wood of Watervliet made a strong showing against tough competition. They trained at Orange Mazda in Albany. Read more

Good Citizens, great people
Good Citizen awards recognize students who contribute something positive to either their school or community. Examples include helping another student prepare for an exam, supporting and encouraging other students, assisting adults with projects or activities, mediating student arguments, demonstrating leadership and urging other students to participate in school or community activities. Career & Tech faculty and staff nominate students for Good Citizen awards, which they receive as a certificate during quarterly assemblies. Students are also entered in a drawing for movie tickets.

Congratulations to the following 2nd quarter Albany campus Good Citizens, to be honored on January 16:
am session
Terry Coville (Scotia-Glenville) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Randy Jaggernauth (Schenectady) Lodging Management
Josephine Kalihu Queh (RCS) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Vincent Nicchi (Niskayuna) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Jesse Ochsner (Mohonasen) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Derek Palmatier (Scotia-Glenville) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Terrell Reeves (Schenectady) Lodging Management
Shane Ricciardi (Colonie Central) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Meghan Stilson (Schenectady) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Nicole Tommasone (Mohonasen) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech

pm session
Alex Carusone (Mohonasen) Culinary Arts Tech Prep
Kiley Gross (Schenectady) Nurse Assistant
Amanda Kishun (Schenectady) Early Childhood Education
Megan Lorette (Colonie Central) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Meagan Markessinis (Guilderland) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Ryan McLoughlin (Schalmont) Culinary Arts Tech Prep
Charles Nadler (Mohonasen) Culinary Arts Tech Prep
Neeta Rajpaul (Schenectady) Nurse Assistant
James Romand (Colonie Central) Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech
Dan Sala (Cohoes) Culinary Arts Tech Prep
Mandini Senanan (Schenectady) Nurse Assistant
Karmen Smith (RCS) Culinary Arts Tech Prep
Samantha Sponable (Schalmont) Nurse Assistant

Convening for Criminal Justice
Career & Tech's Criminal Justice teachers will join with their peers from across the state at the 6th annual New York State Conference for Criminal Justice Studies Technical Education Career Instructors on January 23 - 25, 2008  at the Desmond Hotel in Albany. The teachers will share best practices, lesson plans and student portfolios and participate in a dragnet of professional development workshops.

Students get heavy with Schoharie Central Schools projects
The grounds of Schoharie Central Schools are becoming more attractive and functional thanks to the efforts of students in Career & Tech’s Construction Technology and Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology classes from our Schoharie campus. Building on last year’s efforts, when they improved and graded an area for expanded parking, the students are now working to rehabilitate a footbridge, excavate a stump while protecting existing pavement, and improving drainage behind the track. The students are also constructing a mezzanine for a storage building, installing park benches and repairing bleachers. Read more.

Can you dig it? - Brendon Brizzee, a student in the Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology program at Schoharie Career & Tech, operates a Bobcat mini-excavator to carefully remove a tree stump from the Schoharie Central Schools entry area. Brizzee is also a senior at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School.

December 2007

Presenting Kustom Kickz
November was a whirlwind month for Career & Tech's International Virtual Business students. In presentations to the BOCES Board of Education and administration, they spoke about their class, which features the global Virtual Enterprise curriculum, and their business plan for Kustom Kickz athletic shoes, their virtual company. On November 28, the students made a presentation about their program and business to staff at First New York Federal Credit Union in Colonie. The students spoke to credit union executives about their roles and responsibilities and were paired with executives who hold similar positions. The students are now being mentored by the First New York professionals, are in regular email contact, and are receiving valuable guidance and feedback. Read the news release

Kindness blooms on Helping Hands tree
Albany campus staff and students help out their own each holiday season through a towering and colorful Helping Hands tree. Hung in the main office, the paper tree sports tracings of hands which contain gift wishes and needs of anonymous families. School Social Worker and SkillsUSA Advisor Debbie Toy reports:
“Through the kindness and generosity of the staff and students on our campus, we were able to provide a wonderful holiday for five families this year. The families we assist are those of students on our campus. As we walk into their homes with bags of wrapped boxes, we are met with huge smiles and gratitude from the adults in their lives.
“The support SkillsUSA receives for this project each year is overwhelming. Staff and students not only take hands and donate money but design the tree, cut the helping hands, type and print labels, wrap and organize boxes and of course, help me shop. (That's the fun part!!) I could not possibly coordinate this effort without all the many people who help in so many ways. Thank You! Lastly, Skills USA wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to continuing to work with everyone in 2008."


Schoharie campus students score awards
Congrats to many of our Schoharie campus students on their excellent work and good citizenship. During a recent ceremony, 44 a.m. session students received a total of 70 awards, and 75 p.m. session students received 107 awards. The students received Excellence awards pins for honor roll and high honor roll, as well as awards pins for perfect attendance and student of the month. Pretty impressive, since more than half the a.m. and nearly 3/4 of the p.m. students were honored!

Gingerbread houses go modular for SkillsUSA
A gingerbread barn raising? Albany campus Culinary and Food Services students raisied funds for SkillsUSA  by creating and selling nearly 50 gingerbread houses and kits for their construction. The project was a tasty hit for students and staff alike.

$200 raised for student who lost home
A ziti fund raiser to benefit a student and his family who recently lost their home in a fire generated $200 in donations. Albany campus Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students and staff held the event the week of December 10, with 70 of the tasty dinners headed home with donors that Friday. Cash donations were also received.

Boscoving and serving others
Fashion Studies students demonstrated products and modeled at Boscov's, Colonie Center, where they also helped senior citizens as personal shoppers as part of a Senior Citizens Helping Hands project. The students have performed many hours of community service over the past few months.

Make yourself beautiful for Make-A-Wish, student field trip fund
On Thursday, Dec. 13, senior Cosmetology students at Career & Tech's Albany campus will hold an all-day (and into the evening!) clinic to benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation and the students' educational field trip fund. The clinic will run from 8:30 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. at their classroom in A building The students will also hold a drawing for door prizes that night, including a $150 gift certificate from Kimberly's Day Spa, $50 gift certificate from the Cheesecake Factory, gift baskets and other certificates. Donations for the drawing are $5 per ticket. Please call 862-4716 for an appointment or door prize tickets.

Building theatre experience, play by play
Theatre Arts Technology students are working as technicians and running crew for the Play By Play Festival at Proctors' new 440 Theatre on State Street in Schenectady, November 28 - December 9. The festival is a collection of short, one-act plays produced by Hudson Stageworks, a local theatre company from Columbia County. The entire class is assisting in building the set and setting up lighting and sound systems. Theatre Arts Tech tudents Carter Sullivan-Irwin (Scotia-Glenville H.S.), Sarah Bernard (Schenectady H.S.) and Carson White (Middleburgh H.S.)  are also working during the presentation of the plays.

Congrats to Albany campus Good Citizens
The following students received Good Citizen Awards first quarter at Career & Tech's Albany campus:
Heather Kiegle, Early Childhood Education, Berne-Knox-Westerlo
Kristin Riccio, Nurse Assistant, Mohonasen
Kaiya Keeler, Nurse Assistant, Guilderland
Ryan Mcloughlin, Culinary Arts, Schalmont
Margaret O'Mara, Culinary Arts Tech Prep, Guilderland
Dan Sala, Culinary Arts Tech Prep, Cohoes
Derek Mollnow, Culinary Arts, Cohoes
Hardley Pierre, Auto Body, Niskayuna
David Sim, Auto Body, Guilderland
Ian Pengel, Web & Graphic Design, Berne-Knox-Westerlo

Helping children harvest knowledge
New Visions: Human Services & Special/Elementary Education students gave back to their host agency, St. Catherine's Center for Children in Albany, by volunteering at science stations for the Harvest Science Festival at the R. and E. May School on October 31. Students helped prepare "oobleck," supervised arts and craft projects, did face painting and helped with food booths including "graphing your favorite apple" after tasting five different varieties. Read more

A delicious way to help out
Albany campus Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students and staff are holding a ziti fund raiser to benefit a student and his family who recently lost their home in a fire. Offered for $5: choice of ziti with two meatballs, ziti with two sausages, or ziti with one meatball and one sausage. Order by 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12; pickup at Albany campus Culinary Arts between noon and 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14. Order forms are available, or email Chef Rother.

Lodging Management alumnus & state champion rallies current students

Vish Mangroo of Schenectady, a 2007 alumnus of Career & Tech's Lodging Management program and current Johnson & Wales University student, visited his old classroom November 20, where he spoke of college, careers and competitions. In 2007, Mangroo and teammate Michelle Kraft, now a student at SCCC, won the New York State Lodging Management Competition and placed 4th in the national competition despite their facing teams with more students and two vs. one year of preparation. Both Mangroo and Kraft earned national certification through Lodging Management work in the lodging industry in addition to attending college.

In-class interviews net students job-search experience, potential employment
Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Repair students put their interviewing skills to a real-world test when representatives from businesses including Albany Truck Sales, City Auto Service of Albany and CDTA visited their classroom. Pictured above, seniors Austin Brasmeister (Duanesburg, at left) and Faraz Nabibaksh (Schenectady) discuss career options with Vincent Szemplinski, owner of City Auto Service and an alumnus of Career & Tech. Read more

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:
- The Womens Club of Albany's fund-raising Festival of Trees will be much more festive, thanks to the efforts of Floral Design and Botanical Services students. The students created beautiful arrangements and decorative greens, with which they decked the halls, banisters and mantels of the mansion in Albany.
- Floral Design and Botanical Services students planted 8,000 tulip bulbs in Albany's Washington Park. Watch for their work next spring!
- Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students from the Albany campus will spend Sunday, Nov. 11, helping raise funds for Living Resources by assisting at the 2007 ACF Chefs Competition on their campus and the gala dinner at the Marriott Hotel.
 

November 2007

Student, teacher work at Culinary Cornucopia benefits good cause
More than a dozen students from the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology and Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology Tech Prep programs spent Sunday, November 11, volunteering for a good cause, the annual Culinary Cornucopia ACF Chefs Competition and Gala. The event benefits Living Resources, a local organization that provides services to individuals with disabilities. Career & Tech hosted the ACF (American Culinary Federation) Chefs Competition at the Albany campus culinary kitchens, where the students both assisted as needed and observed and learned as the region's leading chefs created meals for judging. Read more

New wheels for Career & Tech, thanks to CDTA and Constantine Construction

Students in the Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Repair program are inspecting and restoring to new condition a shuttle bus donated to Career & Tech by the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA). Chris Bielecki of Constantine Construction (pictured above, at right, with Marc Peimer, Career & Tech's coordinator of business & education partnerships) donated transport of the bus on a lowboy (flatbed) from CDTA to our campus. 
 

Helping out in our school
5 families will have a happier Thanksgiving
SkillsUSA advisor Mrs. Toy reports:
"SkillsUSA  would like to thank all of the staff and students at the Albany Career and Technical School for your generosity and efforts during our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
"This year we had a large number of families referred to our program and for the first time, we had to prioritize families based on need. Each of the five families we adopted received the workings for a full Thanksgiving dinner, as well as a great deal of non-perishable food to fill their cupboards for the upcoming months.
"This incredibly important tradition could not continue without the caring and generosity of the staff and students at CTE. Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!"

Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Repair student and Duanesburg H.S. junior Michael D'Agostino is rebuilding a Cummins diesel engine at Career & Tech.

New Visions students gain college essay advantage at joint workshop
On October 29, students in the New Visions: Human Services & Special/Elementary Education and New Visions: Journalism & Media Studies programs joined for a seminar on writing the college application essay. Guest speaker Harry Wood shared tips from his many years of experience as former director of undergraduate admissions and enrollment at U-Albany, director of admissions at Siena College, vice president of enrollment at Marist College, and work in the admissions offices at Holy Cross and Clarkson colleges. Read more

Chef inspires middle schoolers to take school and personal interests seriously
Chef Haas, teacher of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology and Food Services at the Albany campus, recently spoke to students at Page Middle School in Cohoes about school, careers and life. Haas emphasized planning, pursuing one's passion and becoming a lifelong learner.

Helping out in our school

Culinary Arts students host Advisory dinner; Floral Design & Botanical students create centerpieces
Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students planned, prepared, plated and served a packed Albany campus dining room on November 7, when they hosted a dinner attended by more than 100 area businesspersons, educators, administrators and other professionals who serve on Career & Tech's Business & Education Partnership Advisory Committees. Floral Design and Botanical Services students created original centerpieces for each table, adding a festive flair. A delicious meal capped a productive evening of meetings, where advisory members discussed curricula, work-based learning opportunities and ways to enhance programs of study. 

SkillsUSA food drive shifts into gear
SkillsUSA students launched their annual food drive at the Albany campus on October 24. According to Tom Masse, p.m. SkillsUSA president, the drive will "help families in need from our own school. Last year we helped seven families. We encourage students and staff to donate non-perishable food . . . and other items. We also can accept money donations to buy turkeys and Price Chopper gift certificates." Donation boxes can be found throughout campus, with the drive ending November 14.

Helping out in our community
-  Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students Bryan Gannon and Meghan Stilson (Schenectady HS), Maggie O'Mara (Guilderland HS) and Ryan McLaughlin (Schalmont HS) helped to raise funds and awareness for the Northeastern Food Bank by volunteering at the annual Chef & Vintners Dinner at the Glen Sanders Mansion in late September.
-  Cosmetology students participated in the October 21 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Albany's Washington Park and raised more than $1,100.
-  Early Childhood Education Teacher Cindy Jennings and Career & Tech School Teaching Assistant Alyce Lyons raised funds and awareness through the 2007 Capital Region AIDS Walk.

Electrical Trades student Alan Brisson, who also attends Schalmont H.S., wires a circuit breaker in class at Career & Tech
 

Students to fashion a busy November, cook up community service
Real-world learning and helping others are on the busy November calendar of Fashion Studies and Culinary Arts & Hospitality students at the Albany campus. On the schedule for Fashion Studies: working with Colonie Center's public relations director to set up Santa's Village and holiday displays, special lesson and networking at Rotterdam Square Mall, and a field trip to Woodbury Commons. In December, they demo products and model at Boscov's, Colonie Center, where they also will help senior citizens as personal shoppers as part of a Senior Citizens Helping Hands project. Not to be outdone, our Culinary Arts & Hospitality classes are hosting the annual ACF Chef's Competition on campus and assisting in meal preparation and service at the Albany Marriott to raise funds and awareness for Living Resources, on November 11.
 

October 2007

H a p p y   H a l l o w e e n !

Happy Halloween from the staff (some of whom are pictured above) and students of the Capital Region Career & Technical School, a ghoulishly great place!

ACF re-certification recognizes "excellence" of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology programs
The American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission (ACFFAC) has approved Career & Tech's Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology programs for renewed certification. According to the American Culinary Federation, "Institutions and programs that earn approval from the ACFFAC show a commitment to excellence to both students and leading employers in the culinary-arts industry, as well as distinguishing themselves from hundreds of other postsecondary schools and secondary programs in the nation and abroad." Read more

Learning by teaching - Culinary Arts and Guilderland senior Lisa Fink instructs visitors Melissa Haas of Bethlehem Central Schools and Tara Dessingue of Cohoes City Schools in plating desserts. Administrative staff from several school districts toured Career & Tech on October 18 and spent time with students in Culinary Arts, International Virtual Business and Theatre Arts Technology.
 

Culinary Arts students Keontae Cooks (Colonie Central H.S.) and Krystina Zeppieri (Career & Tech /Shenendehowa) take photo break during a busy day in Chef Haas' class.

In good company - International Virtual Business students convene for a staff meeting

Minding the world's business
Virtual Enterprise, an internationally developed business education program that will be offered by the Capital Region Career & Technical School beginning this fall under the name International Virtual Business. Read how this unique program changed one student's life.

Computer Technician students can now earn even more college credits
Career & Tech works closely with many colleges and universities to enable our students to earn credit while still in high school. Computer & Network Technician students are now eligible for 3 credits for ELET 120 at Hudson Valley Community College when they complete Cisco IT Essentials as part of their studies at Career & Tech. "This brings the total to 9 credits over a two-year program," reports teacher Dave Patzarian. Learn more
 

Network professionals never stop learning
Career & Tech alumnus reflects on education, experience, environment
Interested in a career in computer networking? Be prepared to learn - constantly. Technology is always changing; what one learns today will have to be re-learned in just a few years. That's the advice offered by Nathan Wood of Voorheesville, a 2006 alumnus of Career & Tech's Computer & Network Technician program, SUNY Morrisville sophomore and 2006 and 2007 summer intern/clerk at the Northeastern Regional Information Center (NERIC) in Albany. Read more

New Visions students take some "amazing" field trips
Real-life, experience-based learning is a hallmark of Career & Tech education and the New Visions programs are no exception, where immersion into subject matter can include some "amazing" field trips. This past May, students in Happy Scherer's New Visions: Human Services & Special Education class culminated their unit on deaf culture with what Scherer describes as "an amazing visit to the Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens." Read more

ACCOLADES & HONORS
National School Public Relations Association honors Career & Tech
Career & Tech's outreach publications, the Where Are You Going Course Guide and New Visions: Take a Closer Look/The College Advantage guide, and Where Are You Going video have been honored by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). Career & Tech won an Award of Distinguished Achievement in the category of Individual School - Marketing Material, Honorable Mention, in the national competition.

Stow it in a student-built shed
Students learn and you can benefit: Building Trades students at the Albany campus offer for sale wooden, shingled-roof storage sheds for $459 each, including sales tax. Each shed is 8 ft. wide by 4 ft. deep; height at peak is 9 ft., sloping to 7.5 ft. at the front. Buyers must pick up and move the sheds themselves. Currently, they can be seen outside F Building at Albany campus. Interested? Call 862-4800 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
 

Building career skills - Shawn German of Middleburgh finishes his first project in Building & Grounds Maintenance class, taught by Mr. Rouleau at Career & Tech's Schoharie campus. See more photos

Green learning - Reniquiwa Bell of Schenectady, a junior in Floral Design, adds greens to a basket during a recent lesson. Reniquiwa and her Floral Design classmates and students in the Botanical Services program operate Bloomers flower shop on the Albany campus during school hours.

September 2007

Future teachers at work - Early Childhood Education students (from left) Amanda Urys and Megan Avery of Schalmont H.S. and Denise Willsey of Berne-Knox-Westerlo H.S. work on instructional materials in Ms. Jennings' class at Albany campus.

Making the cut--Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students learn knife skills. From left: Mike Wooster, a Schenectady H.S. junior; Mark Seeberger, a Shenendehowa H.S. senior; Chef Rother and Charlotte Gicewicz, a Shenendehowa H.S. junior.

That competitive edge
Business etiquette was the lesson on the first day of school for Fashion Studies students. After learning how proper behavior, attire, communications and work ethic give them an advantage in college and the professional world, the students created a life-size image of a positive first-impression student. Pictured clockwise from top are Career & Tech seniors Yesl Um (Shenendehowa HS), Lauren Murphy (Scotia-Glenville HS), Lindsey Bratcher (Niskayuna HS), Taylor Matthews (Scotia-Glenville HS), Taylor Mann (Watervliet HS), Kaela Steve (Scotia-Glenville HS) and Candice Willsey (Shenendehowa HS).

Alarm malfunctions; normal fire drill procedures followed
A local alarm malfunctioned in building B, Albany campus, during the between the a.m. and p.m. sessions on Tuesday, Sept. 18. All buildings were evacuated as a precaution, following fire drill procedure, and busses entering the campus were held until the all-clear was signaled.

Fashion Studies students stage show at Colonie Center
Fashion Studies student and Shenendehowa grad Jamal McBurnie (left), and Fashion Studies and Niskayuna student Lindsey Bratcher modeled new designs and helped stage a Back To School Fashion Show in August at Colonie Center mall. Fashion show production is a unit of study in their Career & Tech program where students gain practical experience while implementing what they learn in class. Read more.

New Visions: Health Careers
Take two rotations and call me in the morning
Choosing a career is a challenge for most people. Defining an educational path to achieve one's goals can be equally stressful, particularly if the career requires years of specialized training, technical school or college. Career and Tech students gain a distinct advantage by experiencing firsthand the specific qualities, opportunities and requirements of a particular profession. Such learning can take place in some unusual places, particularly for New Visions students. Read more

August 2007

Tech Valley Summer Camp a hit with local middle schoolers

SmartBoards like those used at Career & Tech are a big hit with Hugh Butteri (pictured here pointing to one in the Office Operations classroom), an Algonquin Middle School 8th grader and son of Fashion Studies teacher Judy Hicks. Hugh learned about SmartBoard technology, video game development, nanotechnology and other high-tech topics at the 2007 Tech Valley Summer Camp. The camp was offered jointly this August by the Capital Region BOCES and Questar III BOCES, and supported by a host of area businesses and educational institutions. Hugh's favorite part of Tech Camp was visiting the creative work environment of video game producer Vicarious Visions, and he recommends the camp to other students. "If they are really interested in technology and computers, they'd love it." For more information, visit the Capital Region BOCES Web site.

Dr. Clegg named teacher extern by Chamber; working at GE
Career & Tech Science Teacher Dr. Joanne Clegg has been selected to participate in the Tech Valley Teacher Externship program sponsored by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce. There were 130 applicants for 19 positions. Dr. Clegg reports, "I am working at GE Global Research in Niskayuna for 8 weeks building a table-top analyzer to measure the components of a film used in digital mammography. I'll have lots to share in September with the teachers, administrators and students at Career & Tech about working in a cutting edge technology research setting as part of this program."
Helping out in our community
Community service is a big at Career & Tech. Floral Design and Botanical Services Teacher Meg Bugler volunteered her talent and time on July 24 with a team of fellow professionals at floral supplier Seagroatt-Ricciardi Ltd. in Latham to create 600 arrangements to brighten local hospital rooms as part of Teleflora's national observation of Give Someone a Smile Week.

July 2007

700+ complete their Career & Tech studies - read their stories
Download our Bright Futures newsletter, 2007 Graduation issue, to read more!

112 grads of Adult PN program will meet the rising call for nurses
June is a capstone month for those enrolled in Career & Tech's rigorous Practical Nursing for Adult Students program. Some studied full-time for 10 months, others part-time for a year and a half, but all 112 of the students earned their places of honor on Proctor's Theatre stage at a June 28 graduation ceremony. Read more

Culinary Arts Tech Prep grad, state winner Larissa Townley scores high in national competition
Culinary Arts Tech Prep and Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School grad Larissa Townley placed 7th out of 41 in the in the SkillsUSA National Competition in Food and Beverage Service, held in late June in Kansas City, Missouri. Townley qualified by taking first place in the New York State SkillsUSA Competition in Syracuse this April.

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