Fourth- and fifth-graders at Dunkirk and seventh- and eighth-graders at Gowanda recently had the chance to become bakers, hair stylists, automotive detailers, construction workers, and nurses.
Career & Technical Education students from Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES helped provide the experience.
Career Exploration Days brought student ambassadors from the LoGuidice Educational Center to the gymnasiums of Gowanda Middle School on May 23 and Dunkirk Intermediate School on May 28.
“We are really pleased some of our own CTE students were on hand to introduce our middle school students to some of the options available through BOCES,” said Patty Krajewski, middle school counselor at Gowanda. “Hopefully, seeing some of their familiar faces will help our younger students imagine the possibilities and start thinking more about their futures.”
The following CTE programs, available to juniors and seniors in high school, were highlighted at both events: Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Construction Technology, Conservation/Natural Resource Management, Criminal Justice, Automotive Technology, Automotive Body Repair, Small Animal Science, Health Careers, Sports Conditioning & Exercise Science, and Welding/Metal Fabrication.
Julie Wakelee, counselor with the Dunkirk City School District, said the in-house event allowed students to experience different career options through hands-on demonstrations and interactions with high schoolers currently enrolled in the different CTE programs at LoGuidice.
“I think one of the things that we do well here is talking about college and those kinds of options. But I think it’s also essential for kids to understand there are other pathways as well,” Wakelee said.
Representatives from WNY P-TECH, including Counselor Nicole Donato, were also present to highlight pathways available to students: Welding Technology, Mechatronics, and Mechanical Technology, with concentrations in Machine Tooling and Computer-Aided Design.
At the May 23 event, Gowanda High School students Landen Ashley and Colin Barnes manned the Conservation table; Mackenna Furlet helped out at the Cosmetology table; and Danielle Miller assisted at the Culinary table.
CTE students from Brocton, Dunkirk, Forestville, Fredonia, Lake Shore, and Silver Creek also oversaw program tables.
At both Career Exploration Day events, students could use an airbrush to paint a decal onto the hood of a car at the Auto Body Repair table; at Culinary Arts, they were able to frost pre-made sugar cookies; and at Construction Technology, they took turns hammering nails into pieces of wood.
“I think it’s invaluable for our students to hear from others who are still in school,” Wakelee said. “They get a chance to see that it could be them in just a couple of years. I can stand in front of a class and tell them what these programs are like, but when they see it up close and get some hands-on experience, that’s another thing altogether.”
Dunkirk intermediate student Guiliana Desmond, 11, said she most enjoyed Cosmetology. “I really like what they are doing with everyone’s hair,” she said. “It looks like a lot of fun.”
Aubrey Kuras, 11, said she enjoyed the Construction Technology table, while Emersyn Krzanowicz, 11, said she most liked Health Careers, where students could listen to their heartbeats using a stethoscope.
Alycia Lacki, school counselor at LoGuidice, has been expanding recruitment efforts for CTE programs over the past couple of years with similar hands-on visits to other area school districts.
“It isn’t always easy for everyone to narrow down a career path that aligns with their personal interests,” Lacki said. “What is nice about taking our Career & Technical Education show on the road is that we have all these fields represented in one place, so the students really get an up-close look at the programs. It’s also nice to see our CTE students really take ownership of the skills they’ve developed and the confidence they’ve gained.”
She added, “The younger students considering attending BOCES really take to heart the advice and encouragement they get from the older students.”
