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‘So this is
what you did at school today’
Career and Tech Open House answers the universal parent
question
 Several
hundred students, parents, and guests attended an Open House
at HFM BOCES on Thursday, Oct. 16. The staff of the Career
and Technical Education Center hosted the event to showcase
their programs and student work for parents and the
community.
BOCES students guided their parents to
classrooms and work areas throughout the facility to see
exhibits and demonstrations of the 18 courses of study offered
by the Career and Technical Center.
Students and teachers had prepared displays in advance of the
training materials and projects that teach the theory and
practical knowledge students need to succeed in their chosen
field. However, the hands-on, student-led demonstrations of the
skills and processes they are mastering were the highlight of
the evening.
 “It’s
not like you can bring a backhoe home and say, ‘See what I did
in school today,’” said School Counselor Kathleen Daly. “Parents
are often surprised to see the caliber of real-life experience
their teens get in our classes.”
The
open house gave parents the chance to ask questions and discuss
coursework with their child’s instructors, while gaining a
better understanding of the BOCES programs.
The
Career and Technical Center provides a stimulating learning
experience in 18 technical courses that combine core academic
skills in science, math and language arts with practical
instruction to prepare students to pursue post-secondary
education or to enter the world of work, according to Career and
Tech Director Jay DeTraglia.
 Culinary
Arts students treated visitors to an assortment of refreshments,
while students from the Practical Nursing program offered complimentary blood
pressure screenings.
The cosmetology classroom of Julie Mead and Colleen Fuhs seemed very crowded
all evening, but a head count revealed many “heads” were
mannequins decked out in various hairstyles created by the
students. Students decorated their workstations in a theme that
matched their hairstyle design, making for a very colorful and
lively display.
 David
Lamphere of Canajoharie quizzed his son James on the inner
workings of computers in the Computer Information Technology
classroom. James confidently answered while guiding his parents
through the student projects exhibited there.
“I’m very interested in what he’s interested in,” Mr. Lamphere
said.
Some members of the community just dropped by to look over the
facility. “Our building is still new for a lot of people,” Ms.
Daly said. “They like to drop in to see what’s going on.”
 HFM
BOCES serves 15 school districts in the three-county area.
Career and Technical Education programs teach skills needed for
careers in education, health care, computer science,
construction, criminal justice, digital multimedia, equine
science, food service, cosmetology, auto technology and repair,
and environmental conservation.
The
state legislature created Boards of Cooperative Education
Services (BOCES) in 1948 to enable school districts to share in
services that would otherwise be uneconomical, inefficient or
unavailable. No two BOCES are alike. Each has evolved to
accommodate its region, the changing characteristics of the
student population, and the shared educational needs of the
school districts it serves.
Leaving a classroom, a parent turned to their teen and said,
“Now when I ask you what you did in school today, I’ll know what
you’re talking about.” |
