Pre-Tech Studies an exciting, new option for 9th graders
A new, half-day, Regents-based Pre-Technical Studies program will be offered to incoming 9th graders at the Albany campus of the Capital Region Career & Technical School (Career & Tech) in Fall 2008. It will combine hands-on career education and exploration with team-taught, integrated academics and support from guidance, social workers and student management staff. Students will earn one credit each in English, Social Studies, Design and Drawing for Production (art or technology credit), and in a CTE elective. Students will develop a 10-year plan, be engaged in community-based experience and be exposed to career and technical education and work-based learning opportunities. Read more!

Also new for Fall '08: Full-day Senior Career Academy Alliance in Hospitality & Automotive
A full-day Senior Career Academy Alliance in Hospitality & Automotive, to be piloted at the Albany campus next Fall, will unite the best qualities of career and technical education and academic study with the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. The new program will offer high school seniors a full day of study, including a half day of academics and a half day of career and technical education in one of the following programs: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology, Lodging Management, Automotive Trades Technology, AYES Automotive Technician, Auto Body Collision or Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Repair.

A team-teaching, contextual learning approach will relate academics and career & tech education, promote development of 21st Century skills, and offer work-based learning and college-credit-bearing coursework. Learn more

21st Century Skills a national  and Career & Tech effort
According to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, "Americans increasingly recognize that the U.S. education system can and should do more to prepare our young people to succeed in the rapidly evolving 21st century. Skills such as global literacy, problem solving, innovation and creativity have become critical in today’s increasingly interconnected workforce and society."

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is an advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st Century skills into education by working with business, education leaders and policymakers. To learn more, visit http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php

Thanks, pardner!
More than 300 representatives of local business, industry and higher education partner with Career & Tech as members of our Advisory Committees. They provide our students with opportunities to intern, job shadow, secure employment and explore many pathways to success. Business and educational partners also guide Career & Tech in designing and revising programs to meet the changing demands of a global economy.

Some recent good works:
Representatives of Corning Cable Systems recently worked with Computer Network Technician students, teaching them, hands-on, about the latest in fiber optic technology. Sharing their time and expertise as guest lecturers were Raymond Nanni, sales engineer for private networks, and Bill Patterson, private networks northeast regional manager.

Thanks to SUNY Cobleskill, students in the Equipment Operation & Landscaping Services program at Schoharie campus have some new additions to their classroom. The college donated a John Deere tractor, four industrial diesel engines and a moveable engine stand for use in the students' education and training.

Proctors Theatre, site of our Theatre Arts Technology classroom, recently welcomed visitors to open houses for interested students, parents/guardians, teachers and school administrators. They were treated to tours, displays of student work and refreshments in Proctors beautiful new performing arts and education center.

Cobleskill-Richmondville High School will welcome visitors interested in learning more about our Children & Education Career Academy at an evening open house on February 26. 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.

Neighboring BOCES and their Career & Technical Education staff work with our school, which is operated by the Capital Region BOCES, on joint efforts toward student success. Career and Technical Education staff and administrators from the Capital Region BOCES (Albany, Schenectady, Schoharie, southern Saratoga counties), Questar III BOCES (Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene counties), HFM BOCES (Hamilton Fulton Montgomery counties) and WSWHE BOCES (Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton, Essex counties) would together frequently as well as with other BOCES' staff through the state and national associations for Career and Technical Education.

ENYCAR, local auto dealers and automotive businesses: See story below.

Auto Tech teams make strong showing at regional competition
Two teams of Career & Tech students made a strong showing at the Eastern New York Coalition of Automotive Retailers (ENYCAR) Regional Automotive Technician Student Competition January 11 at Hudson Valley Community College.

They competed in written. work station and hands-on, 'fix the bugged car' events. 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.

The students were awarded numerous prizes by ENYCAR and sponsoring businesses. The annual event tests the skills and nerves of Auto Tech students from throughout our region, with winners going on to national competition, which Career & Tech's team won in 2004.

SkillsUSA kicks into gear
Hard to believe it's time already for SkillsUSA competitions on campus and in preparation for the March Regionals, April States and June Nationals! Students are hard at work practicing and preparing at both campuses. When does it all happen? Check out the dates in our calendar page.

Is there a nurse in the house?
The Practical Nursing program for Adult Students is one of our school's most popular offerings. Want to learn more? Download our one-sheet flier featuring the latest info, fees and class calendars for full- and part-time programs or call 862-4709.

Survey says . . .
Career & Tech completed its first comprehensive, online senior survey in June 2007. We found that overall, our students are happy with their educational experience. Follow-up surveys are in progress with these now alumni students via Web, mail and phone. Want to learn what our seniors said? Download the Senior survey report

Capital Region BOCES divisions, including Career & Technical Education (CTE), annually measure four quality indicators - customer satisfaction, effectiveness, efficiency and employee development - to gauge performance and identify strengths and areas needing improvement. For the 2006-07 school year, CTE achieved a 99% customer satisfaction rating and a 100% efficiency rating (changes in CTE program rates were kept below component school tax increases). Employee development indicators included: an average of 84% of employees were retained, 88% of employees felt that enough training opportunities and resources are available for them to effectively do their jobs, and 85% of employees felt they're provided with support and assistance to effectively do their jobs.

Move to Wildwood to expand New Visions opportunities in '08-'09
Career & Tech’s New Visions: Human Services & Special/Elementary Education program will relocate to Wildwood School on Curry Road Extension, Schenectady, for the 2008-09 school year, pending final approval by the Capital Region BOCES Board of Education. St. Catherine’s Center for Children in Albany, where the class is currently located, will remain an active and valued partner in providing internships and experiences for students in the program.

 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. We are currently in the second of six phases of the Middle States Reflections on Standards of Quality (CTE Version) protocol, which involves self study and information gathering. When each CTE program has completed its individual self study, we will analyze data and identify priorities for growth and improvement. Our overriding goal is to promote student success in school, career and life.

Interesting Middle States facts
* The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools was established in 1887.

* The association is a non-profit, peer-administered organization.

* The activity now known as accreditation is traceable to the guild orientation of the medieval academic communities. The word "accreditation" is derived from middle French, old Itallian usage. The first meaning of its root term is "trustworthiness."

* Accreditation agencies enjoy a unique "public trust" role in the United States. In other words, accredited institutions can be trusted by the public to be what they claim they are and to do what that they claim to do.

* Middle States accreditation is voluntary and it is a volunteer-driven process.

* The focus of the Middle States accreditation is on overall institutional and organizational issues, rather than on a specific program or operation.

What's happening?
Check out our school calendar.

Visit our school Web site: www.bocescareertech.org

Read our vision, mission and values statements.

How to reach us
Contact information for Career & Tech

Comments?

We welcome your comments! Email  Monique Jacobs with your feedback, ideas or reactions. Thanks!
 

C T E-Notes mission statement
C T E-Notes is a Web-based e-newsletter for Career & Tech School parents, guardians, students, families, school board members and component school staff.
C T E-Notes celebrates the accomplishments of Capital Region Career & Technical School students and uses the power and convenience of the Web to keep readers informed of the good things happening at our Albany and Schoharie campuses.