HFM BOCES welcomes students back to class
First day of school brings excitement and uncertainty
 Some
of the faces that appear at the school bus door betray
the feelings of students arriving for their first day of
classes at HFM BOCES. There are smiles, some anxious
looks, and a couple of frowns as juniors from 15
component schools get their first taste of the Career
and Technical Education program they have chosen.
As students file off the buses and head toward the main
entrance, most are excited about the start of the
2009-10 school year. The morning session of Career and
Tech classes is primarily made up of juniors embarking
on a two-year program in one of 16 course options. The
afternoon session brings seniors completing the second
half of their BOCES program.
 The
new students are met in the main lobby by guidance
counselors and teachers that direct them to their
classrooms. The unfamiliar territory will soon be
routine as students become familiar with their
surroundings and schedule.
"This is our largest group ever," Career and Tech
Assistant Director Robert Roth said about the 560
students enrolled for the 2009-10 school year. Criminal
Justice and Digital Multimedia have seen the largest
growth. "The Criminal Justice program alone has 44
students in the morning session."
Many students see the transition from their traditional
high school schedule to a half-day at BOCES as a step
toward a college-like environment.
"I can't wait to get in class," Fonda-Fultonville junior
Jordan Grosse said about his first day in Computer
Information Technology. His friend Steve Quandt added
that earning college credits through the program was
also "pretty great."
Other students didn't really know what to expect, but
were ready to get started.
"I want to get into PhotoShop (digital graphics editing
software)," Mayfield student Jay Sullivan said as he and
his friend Ritchie Abel walked toward their Digital
Multimedia classroom.
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