Thirty-nine students from across the region who recently earned their High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma through GST BOCES participated in a graduation ceremony on January 14 at the Bush Campus.

This was the first group of students to graduate since New York State replaced the GED® exam with the TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion™) as the path to a HSE diploma in 2014. More than 80 students were eligible to participate in the ceremony, according to Nicole Elston, Adult Literacy coordinator.

To be eligible, students attended preparation courses offered by GST BOCES Adult Education and Career Services and successfully completed either the computerized or pencil and paper version of the TASC exam.

The new test series (TASC) measures common core standards in math, reading, social studies, science and writing. Preparation programs are funded by NYS Adult Education Department grants and are available for adults 18 or older who are out of school and committed to increasing their literacy and career readiness skills.

For more information on Adult Literacy programs offered through GST BOCES, please call 739-7684.

Sergeant William Ernest of the Army National Guard visited the Criminal Justice class at the Wildwood Education Center recently. He explained to the students the Guard qualifications and the duties and responsibilities of the Guard. Sgt. Ernest performed various marching methods, line up formations and commands with the students. The highlight of the day was the outdoor physical training activities the class participated in. Students took part in competitions against one another and won prizes including National Guard T-shirts and water bottles.

"The next day, many students were nursing sore muscles," said Criminal Justice Instructor Tim Quinlan. "This was an excellent learning experience for the class."

GST BOCES and Schuyler County Public Health are teaming up to offer Active Living Every Day (ALED). ALED classes are designed to help you make simple lifestyle changes that will allow you to incorporate activity into your everyday life. Classes are practical, personalized and designed to help you overcome barriers to physical activity, set realistic goals, stay motivated and build confidence.

Classes will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays from February 23 to June 8 at the Watkins Glen High School. The cost for the class is $80. For more information or to register, call 739-4296 or register online at www.gstboces.org/adulted.

Students from the SkillsUSA chapter on the Coopers Campus recently baked, decorated and delivered cookies for the Steuben ARC Holiday Party. At the party, students mingled, danced, served cookies and went on horse rides.

SkillsUSA members also were treated to lunch, then took a tour of the ARC's administration building and workshop.

Nurse Assisting students at the Bush Education Center took part in a workshop recently that demonstrated the challenges some people face in providing food for themselves and their families.

Representatives from the Food Bank of the Southern Tier presented Hunger 101 - The Reality of Hunger in the Southern Tier to the class. The event was coordinated by the GST BOCES Career Development Council. The workshop began with a discussion of the terms hunger and poverty, and then moved into a simulation where students role-played members of a food-insecure community. Participants were given an identity, income and number of people in their household. They were then challenged to secure one day's worth of food for everyone in their household using a combination of the money they had on hand, donations from a local food pantry, assistance from Department of Social Services and what they could purchase at a convenient store. In the photo at left, a student (standing) tries to decide how to best use her cash and DSS assistance to feed her family for the day at the convenient store.

"The experience was very informative and made me realize that you can't tell what people are going through just by looking at them from the outside," said one student. "Before this workshop, I never understood how difficult it can be to feed a family."

Animal Science students recently learned about an interesting career path in their field from guest speaker Christa Heyward, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University. Heyward conducts research on preeclampsia in mice in hopes of discovering why the condition affects five to eight percent of women who are pregnant in the U.S. She shared information about her education, how she became interested in the research field and what activities her daily work includes.

"This experience gave students the opportunity to learn about the research side of our field," said Instructor Valerie Heywood. "They also learned that careers in animal care may include caring for animals involved in laboratory research, which is an aspect they may have not considered previously."

In December, the GST BOCES Distance Learning Service provided exciting read-aloud sessions to Addison Central School District students. Santa (aka Distance Learning Coordinator René Carver) took time from his busy holiday schedule to read to students in PreK through second grade right from his workshop (aka his office).

Both last year and this year, the GST Distance Learning Service provided read-aloud sessions to more than 2,000 area students in support of early childhood literacy. In collaboration with the Family Reading Partnership of Ithaca (FRP), the read-aloud sessions provided participating students with a yearly "Read to Me Calendar." The calendars are produced by FRP in order to promote family reading at home and a positive home-to-school connection.

Photo at left: Addison Central School District students hear a story read by Santa (inset).

Juniors in the Criminal Justice program at the Coopers Education Center recently donated items that will be used in gift boxes for less fortunate children this holiday season. Students brought in new puzzles, crayons, coloring books, remote controlled cars, stuffed animals, clothing, books and other items that will be distributed by the Hammondsport First United Methodist Church.

"The students decided to help children who may not receive gifts for the holidays," said Assistant Teacher Erin Boyle. "They were excited about this effort and had fun buying items for the gift boxes."