YOUTH ON THE GO
Eight Ulster BOCES students from four local school districts came in first, second or third during careerspecific competitions at a virtual SkillsUSA regional competition that took place Monday, March 22, through Thursday, March 25.
The students excelled in the categories of Internetworking, Internet Services, Job Skill Demonstration Year 1, Trade-Related Math, Prepared Speech, Carpenter’s Assistant, and Action Skills Basic. Students from Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, Rockland and Westchester counties took part in the annual event, which usually takes place in person somewhere within the region.
Four students finished in first place. CISCO and Cybersecurity student Collin Biegel, from Saugerties High School, placed first in the Information Technology Services category. CISCO and Cybersecurity student Patrick Ruger, from Rondout Valley High School, took top honors in the Internetworking category. Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing student Nicholas Keglovitz, from Wallkill High School, was first in the Job Skill Demonstration Year 1 category. CISCO & Cybersecurity student Barrington Lewis, also from Wallkill
High School, took top honors in the Related Technical Math category.
There were a pair of second-place finishers. Cosmetology student Campbell Curcio, from Kingston High School, placed second in the Prepared Speech category. CISCO & Cybersecurity student Braydon O’Connor, from Rondout Valley High School, finished second in the Internetworking category.
Two students came in third. Transitional Occupations Program C student Steven Schouten, from Kingston High School, placed third in the Carpenter’s Assistant Category. Transitional Occupations Program C student Joshua Santiago, from Rondout Valley High School, finished third in the Action Skills Basic category.
The students qualified to compete at the virtual Area 4 SkillsUSA State Competition scheduled from Wednesday, April 21, through Friday, Aapril 23.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry representatives working together to ensure that the USA has a skilled workforce. With more than 300,000 members, SkillsUSA promotes technical expertise, skills, and leadership.
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This year, due to the pandemic, Plattekill Elementary
School’s popular Family Math Night went virtual. But the event was just as fun-filled — and educational — as ever, thanks to the efforts of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association.
“Since we were unable to have our in-person Family Math Night, which is always a huge hit, we searched for a fun, virtual educational activity that was appropriate for all grade levels, K through 6,” PTA President Nikita Davis said in a press release.
The PTA’s goal, Davis said, was to engage families in hands-on math fun in their own homes. Participants in the Thursday, March 11, event used their personal and/or school-issued computers as well as math-related materials that had been previously distributed to all registrants.
“The math kits included everything that the students needed for the event, from the paper for the Origami Station to the board games and game pieces for the Games Galore Station,” Davis said. “Our students and their families enjoyed trying something new and educational.”
Fifth-grade student Noah Davis said he especially enjoyed the Scavenger Hunt, one of five learning stations offered during the event. “I did not realize that math was all around me,” he said in the release. “I had to find something spherical, a numerical palindrome, something that shows the fraction ½, and something cylindrical in my house. It was fun running around looking for everything. With my Mom’s help, I was able to complete a row.”
Isabella Burte, a sixthgrade, was happy to learn a new way of using math to make art. “The Origami Station was fun,” she said in the release. “My Mom and I used triangles and rectangle shapes to make the origami animals, and the frogs that we made jumped better than we expected!”
Principal Monica Hasbrouck had presented the idea for the virtual math night to the school’s PTA, and was thrilled when the group decided to lend its support. “During remote learning time, it was important to promote fun, social interactions among our students,” she said in the release. “I am truly grateful to the Plattekill PTA and all of its members for the hard work, dedication, and support they consistently offer our school.”