Seniors enrolled in the Cosmetology program at the Ormsby Educational Center recently treated their moms or other special people in their lives to a spa day and breakfast.
As part of a tradition going on 30 years, students were able to celebrate Mother’s Day by inviting a parent or relative to the Cosmetology classroom at Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES. Guests could get their hair washed and cut or nails painted, among other services learned by the Career & Technical Education students.
“These special ladies are able to come in and have a nice morning,” Cosmetology instructor Cheryl Russell said. “The students make a gift for their mom, and we also order flowers.”
Added Denise Heary, also a Cosmetology instructor at Ormsby, “We really want to provide a salon experience to the moms coming in right before Mother’s Day.”
Orchard Park senior Ava Farina brought her mom, Chris, to this year’s Mother’s Day event. Chris Farina beamed as she got her hair curled by her daughter.
“I absolutely love this, especially because it’s Mother’s Day. She does such a great job,” Chris Farina said of her daughter.
Following the morning spa, students brought their moms to the Culinary Arts classroom, where they were treated to a breakfast buffet. Options included pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, pastries, and orange juice.
Seniors in the Culinary program spent the morning preparing the delicious spread.
Andrew Suffoletto, teaching assistant in the Culinary classroom, along with Jamie Slawinowski, substitute teaching assistant, and Paige Bernhardt, student teacher, helped oversee breakfast.
“This is a great opportunity for Culinary Arts students to help Cosmetology students take care of their mothers,” Suffoletto said. “This is a very meaningful day for everyone, because, of course, we all have our own moms who we love. But it’s even more meaningful because the mothers get to come in and see what their child does every single day.”
In the fall, Cosmetology seniors hold an in-house clinic for Culinary students. The annual invitation marks the first opportunity Cosmetology students can work on other individuals while also thanking them in advance for helping out during the Mother’s Day event.
