"Help me!" said the caller. A Criminal Justice student on the Bush Campus took this call in early February, launching a mock murder investigation staged in the Nurse Assisting lab in Building #12. The call started a six-week unit on forensic science for seniors, and a two-week unit on interviewing skills for juniors in the Criminal Justice program. This photo shows three juniors interviewing a Cosmetology student about her recollection of that day and knowledge of the "victim."

"Most witnesses were staff and students within the GST BOCES community, but we had others planted throughout the United States... and even two in foreign countries provided pieces to this puzzle," said Tammy Lotoky, instructor. "Students interviewed assigned subjects, spoke with diverse populations of people and listened to the nuances of language, while recording and calculating truthful versus deceptive comments. They learned, first-hand, the value of paying attention to detail."

A mock crime investigation is an annual event for this class, although there were new twists this year, including the addition of social media investigating. Approximately 170 people were involved in this elaborate simulation.

Criminal Justice is a popular CTE class offered at all three GST BOCES campuses. It's just one of approximately 20 CTE programs offered to area high school students. These programs train students for a specific career right out of high school and provide hands-on learning and advanced standing for college, the military or other vocational training.

Are you an adult looking for a new career with an excellent employment outlook? Consider enrolling in Precision Machining, which starts March 17 at the Greater Southern Tier BOCES Bush Campus.

"We've had some phenomenal success in job placement from this class," said Steve Decker, who has been teaching this class for ten years. "That's really encouraging. I believe our hire rate, right out of this program, is 98 percent."

CNC (computer numerically controlled) machinists work in a variety of metal fabrication fields. They are responsible for using expensive CNC machine tools and lathes to create parts in a manufacturing setting, where productivity and precision are crucial. This includes setting the machine up for precise product specifications, programming, positioning, checking the power and running it efficiently and accurately. This skilled trade is ideal for people who are looking for a steady career with good income. It's best suited for people who are able to follow complicated instructions with precision and who are detail oriented. According the Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, on a national average, entry-level machinists can expect to make around $22,000 per year, mid-range machinists make around $30,000, and experienced machinists’ salaries range from $40,000-$50,000.

This class teaches all the skills needed by local businesses for immediate hire after completion. It runs Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for six months, starting in mid-March and ending September 22, 2014. There are pre-admission requirements. This program provides a total of 400 hours of instruction and gives an individual the knowledge of blueprint reading, precision measurement, lathes and mills, CNC and basic programming skills.

The tuition is $4,350. Qualified applicants may be eligible for financial aid. For more information call (607) 739-7905.

Students from four Career and Technical Education programs at the Bush Campus in Elmira had the opportunity to meet with potential employers at the eleventh annual Construction Trades Employers Day on February 12. In this photo, a student from Building Construction meets with a representative from John Mills Electric, an electrical contracting company based in Elmira Heights. Four CTE classes participated:

     • Building Construction
     • Conservation
     • Welding/Metal Fabrication and
     • Diesel Equipment Technology.

More than 100 students met with 46 representatives from 33 area businesses involved in construction trades. For a complete list of participated businesses, unions and municipalities, click here.

This is an opportunity for students involved in the construction trades to meet potential employers in one busy morning. Students moved from station to station with their resumes and took place in simulated job interviews. Students learned from visiting employers and union representatives about local businesses, hiring procedures and workplace expectations. New this year to the list of employers were the City of Elmira Public Works Department, Hilliard Corp., International Union of Operating Engineers, M&J Building Contractors, Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, The Cabinet Joint and Wagner Hardwoods. The program was organized by Carolyn Connelly, CTE work-based learning coordinator, and Lee Saginario, CDC career education resource specialist.

CTE students enrolled in the Nurse Assisting program learn the proper procedures, regulations and ethics for treating patients in a modern healthcare facility.

In this photo, students are practicing the proper way to use a mechanical lift to transfer an immobile patient from a bed to a chair. Two people are required for a safe transfer in this method — one team member always faces the patient and controls the lift, while the other guides the patient's body in the sling, ensuring proper hand and feet positions for optimal safety. In addition to the technical aspects of medical care, students also learn to work as a team with good communication skills, and how to calm a patient who may be agitated or distressed.

Nurse Assisting is taught to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in entering the medical field as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). Foundation skills are taught in the junior year. In the senior year, students are placed in supervised clinical experiences. They are taught to apply critical thinking skills in real-life situations. Successful completion of this program enables students to take the NYS Nurse Assisting certification exam, making them ready for work after graduation or a step ahead if they decide to continue their education.

"This is an excellent stepping stone for further education in healthcare, especially nursing," said Cinda Dodge, Nurse Assisting instructor at the Bush Education Center. "It's very rewarding to see my students succeed in this program."

Nurse Assisting is just one of more than 20 CTE programs offered at GST BOCES. It is taught on all three campuses. It offers students integrated academic credits in English and science, and articulation agreements with Corning Community College and Broome Community College.

Students in the Conservation program are planning to build a new playground in the area between Buildings #12 and #10 on the Bush Campus.

In this photo, a group of students are on their way back to their classroom after digging to find the exact location of gas lines that run through the targeted site. They marked and mapped the area that will eventually become the playground for the Head Start and Early Childhood Education programs.

Conservation instructors Don MacNaughton, Matt Bryant and Fred Kelly knew that, in order to prepare the land for the playground, the first step was to check with Dig Safe to determine gas lines locations. Some areas were marked. These students carefully used shovels and picks to determine the exact areas to be avoided.

In the spring, when the weather breaks, the class will go back and use a mini-excavator to level and prepare the area for playground equipment installation.

Conservation teachers place major emphasis on safety in digging and operating heavy equipment. They teach forestry, wildlife, land, soil and water conservation, surveying and aquaculture. The two-year program also teaches students how to operate and repair bulldozers, backhoes, dump trucks and other heavy equipment. Students who attend this program are fully trained to step into many careers right out of high school, or they may choose to attend college to pursue desirable and popular "green" careers that require more advanced degrees, such forestry, golf course management or environmental conservation.

Interested in a career in healthcare? The job outlook is excellent… locally, regionally and nationally! Adult Education and Career Services offers a variety of training programs in this high-demand field, including:

     • Personal Care Aide - a 40-hour program leading to PCA certification
     • Home Health Aide - a 110-hour program leading to HHA certification
     • HHA Equivalency - a 12-hour class and test for those with documented experience
     • Nurse Aide/Home Health Aide - a 165-hour program leading to dual CNA and HHA certification
     • PCA to HHA Conversion - a 70-hour program only for PCAs
     • Phlebotomy Technician - a 128-hour program leading to certification
     • Clinical Medical Assistant - a 300-hour program leading to CCMA certification
     • Practical Nursing - a 1,200-hour program leading to LPN certification.

This photo shows two women in the Bush Campus Nurse Aide program, practicing bedside skills such as taking blood pressure readings.

"I found this class very helpful," said Kate Zajac, 25, from Elmira Heights (photo, left). "It's definitely going to be a stepping-stone towards a lifelong career in the healthcare field."

Health programs are offered at all three GST BOCES campuses. For details about these programs, click here or call 739-7905.

GST BOCES Dental Assisting students learn all the skills needed to assist a dentist in the examination and treatment of patients. In this photo, two juniors learn how to safely take digital X-rays using state-of-the-art radiologic equipment. Students learn both traditional radiology using films, as well as the newest techniques using computerized digital imaging.

In this comprehensive, two-year Dental Assisting program for high school juniors and seniors, students learn dental anatomy, chair-side assisting, charting, tooth restoration procedures, dental specialities, lab skills and office skills. They learn to communicate effectively in dealing with anxious patients, maintain confidentiality in a healthcare setting, adhere to good personal hygiene and a clinical dress code, and work safely around sharp objects, heated equipment and potentially-hazardous chemicals and equipment.

"It's exciting to teach enthusiastic students about the dental profession," said Amy Limoncelli, instructor. "Dental assisting is a fast-growing field with a bright job outlook. Students can graduate from this program and go right to work as a dental assistant."

Seniors participate in a clinical experience one day a week in area dental offices. Upon successful completion of the course and 200 hours of internship, they qualify to take the New York State Dental Assisting Certification Exam.

Dental Assisting is offered only at the Bush campus. The classroom is well equipped like a modern dental office. Since students do clinical rotations in local dental offices, many are offered employment right out of high school. Some go to college to train for a career as a dental hygienist, dental lab technician or dentist, just to name a few career opportunities.

This Hornell High School senior in the Digital Media Arts class at the Wildwood Campus is learning how to use a TriCaster™, a high-tech video switching production system. The TriCaster allows students in the control room to create video programs with multi-camera switching, audio mixing, titles, clip playbacks and much more. This system allows the skilled user to record a television network-style production. In the studio background is Gary Acker, the class instructor.

Learning this level of video production prepares the Digital Media Arts student for entry-level work at a TV or radio station immediately after graduating from high school. Or, the student will be a step ahead toward getting a college degree in media production or digital arts.

Digital Media Arts is a popular two-year CTE program offered at all three GST BOCES campuses. All classrooms are well equipped with industry-standard equipment. Students learn:

     • Commercial and Studio Photography
     • 3D Animation and Game Design
     • Video Production and Visual Effects
     • Graphic Design
     • Vinyl and Print Graphics
     • Professional Software: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere/Final Cut Pro, AfterEffects and more.

Along with the core requirements, students can choose specialized coursework that aligns with their individual career goals. Work is done in teams and individually through self-paced learning modules. Highly-motivated students can complete multiple Adobe Creative Suite certifications during the program.