Historical Preservation

Historic Preservation is an instructional program that prepares an individual for employment or continued education in the occupations of carpentry, electrical wiring, masonry or plumbing. Historic Preservation is a basic course teaching fundamentals of safety, tools, math and basic carpentry, basic electrical, and masonry.  Certification by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): This curriculum has been aligned to modules in the contren learning series as endorsed by the national center for construction education and research (NCCER).  Contren Learning Series materials under the supervision of an instructor who has been certified by the NCCER are eligible to be tested on each module. Students who successfully pass these tests may be certified to the NCCER by the instructor and will receive documentation from NCCER.

Digital Design

The CTE Digital Design course provides a hands-on introduction to the technical and creative skills of a professional designer. In order for students to receive their seal on student’s diploma’s and access to college credits, they need to receive at least one Certiport Certificate on an Adobe Software. All of the content in the Photoshop certification will be covered in class and students will have the opportunity to take practice exams during class time. This will be accomplished with zoom lessons/handouts and online videos/assignments which students can access on google classroom.  

The course will be taught in 2 parts, in the 9th and 10th grades Students will be introduced to design principles/thinking, through learning user Interface and User Experience (UI/UX), basics of 2D and 3D design as well as basics of web design, including; FTP protocol, coding in HTML/CSS/ JS and template based alternatives like Wix.  The software that will be used include Mouse create (which will have online various software), Tinkercad, Text Based Coding, CPannel, wix, Cura Slicer and 3D printing standards. For 11th and 12th grades students will master the basic principles of design, color theory, typography, copyright and industry standards. Students will be able to implement design based solutions, including creating a logo, video work, business card, and collateral design created for a client. 

Students will explore the types of careers available to graphic designers today and the skills/steps needed to achieve these positions. The software that will be used include Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Premier Pro, After Effects, Stop Motion Studio and IMovie (or alternatives when computers aren’t available). 

Urban Farming

Through a combination of course work and hands-on learning at Morris Campus Farm, Urban Farming students become equipped with the technical knowledge, experience and training for entry level jobs in urban farms. Students will be able to earn a certificate in Plant and Soil Science by successfully completing all coursework, technical exams, and a major project or portfolio. This certification shows that students are work ready and they will reserve a seal on their diploma upon graduation. Students may also earn 3 credits at SUNY Cobleskill through our program if they choose to continue their learning at the college level.

Students that choose the Urban Farming CTE Track will take courses in soil science and plant science, learning about topics such as soil fertility, plant identification, irrigation, pest management, and careers in agriculture. During their course work, students learn proper plant management techniques by applying their knowledge in the Morris Campus Farm. Here, students practice hands-on skills, learning how to compost and grow crops such as eggplant, broccoli, tomatoes, okra, and more alongside herbs and ornamental plants using organic and regenerative practices. Students also have an opportunity to work with our partners at the New York Botanical Garden through field trips, classroom visits, and possible internships. 

We believe proper land management is vital to providing for future generations and that it’s important for students to connect to the earth and environment in this work. Therefore we include in our coursework important social justice topics such as climate change, food security, water conservation, and natural earth-based practices in farming. Through the integration of course topics and hands-on learning, we hope to provide our students with practical skills and career opportunities to make a positive lasting impact on earth.

Career and Financial Management

Career and Financial Management (CFM) is a one-half unit Career and Technical Education (CTE) course required for students in all New York State Approved CTE Programs. It is also commonly included in locally developed CTE sequences. CFM provides information about career planning. Students will gain knowledge to assess their skills, values, needs and lifestyles enabling them to discover paths they may take in their future. Problem solving steps will be introduced to aid the process. Students will be able to identify resources to conduct career research, explore the different career clusters and particular careers in each cluster, brainstorm how part-time jobs and volunteerism impact future career choices, explore Civil Service test opportunities and analyze the role that networking plays in career research. Students will also investigate and evaluate possible paths as they transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. They will research post-secondary educational options, including trade schools, certificate programs, and two- and four-year colleges, explore employment opportunities including apprenticeships, labor unions, and full- and part-time employment c. Explore government (competitive civil service) and military careers.