Students in Rob Lemay's Building Construction class at the Wildwood Education Center recently constructed two new dugouts at the Canaseraga Central School baseball fields. The installation was the final phase of a project that began last school year, when the first two of four total dugouts were built.

"Students researched different ways and materials for dugout construction and created quotes for the job," said Lemay. "This was an excellent real-work learning experience for them."

The dugouts were fabricated in the shop at Wildwood, then disassembled, transported to Canaseraga and reassembled on site.

Landon Gilbert, one of two students in Lemay's class who are on the Canaseraga baseball team, enjoyed working on a project that will benefit his teammates and school. "It was great to be able to work on a project at my school," he said. "The dugouts look so much better than what we had before and I’m happy I had a part in it."

Students in John Forenz's Automotive Technology class on the Wildwood campus in Hornell are learning every aspect of auto repair, from routine maintenance to complete engine overhauls.

High school juniors and seniors travel from their home schools in the greater Hornell area to attend this class, either in the morning or the afternoon of each school day. In this modern, well-equipped garage, students get hands-on experience in auto maintenance, suspension, steering, brakes, NYS inspections, engine repair, drive lines, fuel systems, auto electrical systems, ignition systems, 4-wheel alignment, computer system operation and troubleshooting. Classroom learning is combined with hands-on experience.

"My classes are very full this year," said Instructor John Forenz. "The junior class is full of energy and very excited for the hands-on learning. The seniors are serious and dedicated to getting the job done."

Auto Technology is a popular CTE program offered on all three GST BOCES campuses. Students get to work on many types of cars and trucks in a setting similar to an actual auto repair business. After graduation, students are technically trained to step into any number of auto specialities. Career possibilities include engine technician, master mechanic, parts manager or shop owner, just to name a few.

CTE students from the Bush Education Center SkillsUSA chapter recently collected and donated food to Meals On Wheels of Chemung County. This was the first time the club had ever conducted a food drive for Meals On Wheels. The food was specifically collected to stock "blizzard bags" with non-perishable food that housebound and elderly clients would turn to in times of bad weather, when normal hot meal delivery wouldn't be available. Students collected a total of 824 food items.

Student organizers challenged fellow CTE students to donate and boosted participation by offering a pizza party to the class with the most donations. The Welding class won the prize.

"The Skills officers got together and decided how to do this," said Amy Warner, SkillsUSA advisor and Early Childhood instructor. "They decided to make it a classroom competition and agreed on the prize to offer. This really showed them the needs of the community and taught them how to help. They did a great job."

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

Its mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. At the Greater Southern Tier BOCES, CTE students elect officers and empower members to perform community service projects as well as participate in regional competitions in their subject area.

Animal Science, the newest GST BOCES CTE program, teaches students all aspects of small animal care. The current unit includes the study of lagomorphs, herbivore mammals that include pikas, hares and rabbits. In this photo, three students are socializing with different breeds of rabbits, which have now taken up residence in the classroom along with a growing number of other small animals.

"I love it. It's a very hands-on class," said Gabbi, a Southside High School junior enrolled in the class. "We're learning about their bone structures, their muscles and the care they need. It's a lot of fun." Gabbi plans to become a veterinary technician assistant, and is even considering becoming a veterinarian if she decides she wants to go further with her education.

"Our animal population is growing," said Instructor Jessakka Schermerhorn. "We have rabbits, a gecko, guinea pigs and now assorted fish, with more to come."

Animal Science is currently offered only at the Bush campus. It teaches students proper care, handling, feeding, cleaning and grooming of small animals, including care for sick animals and much more. The pilot class is full, with 15 students enrolled in the morning session and 16 students in the afternoon session. The curriculum is a combination of in-class learning as well as field trips to area vet clinics, grooming/boarding facilities, kennels and shelters.

Cosmetology is one of the most popular Career and Technical Education classes offered to area high school students on all three GST BOCES campuses. Without any out-of-pocket educational expense - which means no student loan debt - students who attend this two-year program during their junior and senior years of high school are ready for a career after graduation as a beautician, hair stylist or barber.

In this photo, a junior from Jennifer Wacenske's class at the Bush campus is styling a friend's hair in the newly-remodeled Bush campus salon classroom. Eleventh-graders learn the basics during their first year. Because this is a 1,000-hour program, juniors are required to attend a summer training program to gain clinical experience before entering their senior year to complete advanced studies in hair, skin and nail care.

During their senior year, students learn advanced hair shaping and styling, permanent waving, coloring, straightening, waxing and facials. Students perform many hours of practice on mannequin heads before advancing to working on actual clients. This program prepares students to take the New York State Cosmetology Licensing Exam. Cosmetology also is offered to adults through BOCES Adult Education and Career Services. The tuition for the adult program is $8,400.

Recently Karen Mecum, CTE Culinary Arts instructor on the Bush campus, learned that the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation was accepting submissions for a national video. The NRAEF invited ProStart classrooms like hers to create a short video clip featuring their program. Creators of selected clips will win $250.

Mecum contacted fellow Bush Audio Media Instructor Allen Orshal, whose students are learning video production. The instructors decided to put the students in charge of the project.

The final product of this collaboration can be seen here: http://vimeo.com/77970398.

Culinary students held a rehearsal to practice what they wanted to say and to determine what would be in the background and how long the clip would be. When they were ready, Audio Media students served as cameraman, boom mike operator and director. The clip was submitted and students are waiting to hear if it was selected for the national video.

ProStart is a special program for high school students learning culinary skills that teaches safe food service practices, sponsors contests and produces curriculum for culinary programs throughout the United States. Winning funds would be deposited to a Student Activities account and used for class expenses such as entrance fees for culinary competitions.

GST BOCES Building Construction students from the Coopers campus are helping remodel the AIM Independent Living Center office building in Corning. In this photo, students prepare to cut the trim for new windows being installed on the building's second floor. The work began about a month ago and will continue throughout the school year.

"Our programs and staff have grown considerably in recent years," said John Zick, AIM's governmental and public affairs coordinator. "We simply ran out of space. We explored our options and found that renovating our current building would be sufficient. We reached out to BOCES because of its reputation for doing community service projects. BOCES agreed to help. We believe it's mutually beneficial - the students are getting real work experience, and the work they're doing is saving AIM about $70,000 in labor costs."

"I like the hands-on work and I'm glad I can help the community," said Jacoby, a senior from Addison High School. "The work I'm doing here is what I'll be doing at an actual job site."

Building Construction is a popular CTE program for high schoolers offered at all three campuses. Students are taught an introduction to construction trades in two years, attending the BOCES program for half a day. Students learn carpentry, masonry, electrical work and plumbing and are well prepared for more education in a specific trade, or for work right out of high school.

Seniors at Addison Central School got a reality check recently about life after graduation, thanks to a program presented by Corning Credit Union and the Career Development Council called "Mad City Money." This simulation teaches basic money management in a safe, fun setting.

Participants were assigned a personal profile, complete with salary, student loan debt, credit card debt and payments for medical insurance. Some were assigned a spouse and children. Students had to decide their priorities and move around stations to buy:
    • Housing
    • Transportation
    • Food
    • Clothing
    • Household necessities
    • Daycare and
    • Entertainment.

In this photo, a "married couple" is tempted into buying a new car by high school teacher Brett VanWoert.

"I'm happy my school is trying to prepare me for the life in addition to just academic subjects," said one participant. "I've found it's harder to budget money than you might think."

Mad City Money is just one program the CDC coordinates for area high school students. The CDC is a community partnership with business, industry and education. Staff provide career exploration activities for students and educators in order to enhance classroom learning and ensure future workplace success for students.