DID YOU KNOW?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, depression and anxiety have increased in adolescents since the COVID-19 pandemic. So it is critical that students have access to—and feel comfortable seeking—professional help.
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Bilingual Social Worker Educates on
Mental Health Issues
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Estefany Vargas’ main goal is to normalize mental health needs for as many students as possible. The new bilingual social worker at the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center at PNW BOCES said that education is key to normalizing mental health and promoting awareness.
“Mental health is often overlooked due to stigma, limited resources, or lack of awareness and understanding,” Vargas said. “I believe educating students about mental health and normalizing these conversations is by and large the most effective way to eradicate the stigma and to ensure those in need receive the appropriate supports.”
Globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents, according to the World Health Organization. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), depression and anxiety have increased substantially in adolescents since the COVID-19 pandemic. So it is critical that students have access to—and feel comfortable seeking—professional help.
Vargas, who lives in New York City, said she is excited to work at CTE because every day provides an opportunity to meet and support different students. Before joining CTE, she worked as a social worker in a foster care agency in the Bronx, where she supported children and youth by providing care management and clinical services to address mental health needs.
“I believe we set students up for success when we provide each and every one with the skills and knowledge to develop multiple options and opportunities for success,” she said. “CTE presents students with the skills they need to create their own path toward prosperity.”
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The Farm Is the Classroom for Tilly Students |
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Alex Pring, Yorktown High School, and Briana Laurenzano, Mahopac High School, work with the animals at the Tilly Foster Educational Institute. |
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Cat Ludwiczak’s Animal Care students are getting to know all about the animals at the Tilly Foster Educational Institute, where the farm is their classroom. Career and Technical Education students from Putnam | Northern Westchester BOCES learn about animal behavior and care at the facility, and participate in hands-on work with the animals.
“It is great to be here, because there is such a broad range of animals and wildlife,” said Ludwiczak, who added that the students are gaining a general understanding of all different facets of animal care.
Ludwiczak, a Wappingers resident, has worked as a veterinary technician as well as an environmentalist before coming to work for BOCES.
“Every day, we walk the farm grounds to identify animal tracks,” she said. Among the animals the farm boasts are horses, pigs, ducks and chickens.
Students are excited about working with the animals, in addition to learning about animal safety, behavior, zoonotic diseases and animal rights and welfare.
“Safety is really important when working with animals,” Ludwiczak said. “How to approach them and interact with them affects the way they react. A career working with animals can be dangerous, so they really need to learn the proper ways to relate to them.”
So far this year, the students have been working on dog training, animal observation and the correct ways to approach animals. They will move on to interacting further as the year progresses.
“I want my students to gain a complete understanding of what it is really like to work with animals in a variety of jobs,” Ludwiczak said. The growing field of animal care includes jobs in the veterinary, vet tech, veterinary surgeon, conservationist, environmental education and animal-training fields among many others.
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Nursing Assistant Alum Wins
‘Love Takes Action’ Award
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Former Nursing Assistant student and Croton-Harmon High School senior Kirsten Lynch was recently honored with a New York Life Foundation’s Love Takes Action award, which recognizes 35 community members from across the nation embodying “love taking action” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kirsten was nominated for the award in recognition of her work with Croton-on-Hudson’s Skyview nursing home. Kirsten, who was attending the Career and Technical Education Center’s Nursing Assistant program at PNW BOCES, started volunteering at Skyview before the pandemic as a way to give back to her community and gain firsthand experience in a medical facility. Kirsten volunteered Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and her passion and dedication impressed Skyview staff and residents from the beginning.
Once the pandemic struck in March, Skyview was forced to pivot to emergency sanitary disease control protocols. Despite changes in staffing, Skyview immediately offered Kirsten a position. Throughout the spring and summer, she showed incredible bravery as she risked COVID-19 infection to help staff and residents any way she could. Whether it was spending hours disinfecting supplies with bleach or teaching residents to use Zoom or Skype to call their families, who could no longer visit them in person, Kirsten was on hand for what was needed.
“Volunteering changed overnight, and suddenly I was a nursing home employee during a global pandemic,” said Kirsten. “As extreme infection control unfolded in front of me, I committed each protocol to memory, knowing my actions could save lives.”
Now a high school senior who plans to pursue nursing in college, Kirsten is continuing her work at Skyview. She has developed close relationships with many of the residents, some of whom consider her an honorary granddaughter.
Veronica Farlow, Nursing Assistant instructor at PNW BOCES, said that Kirsten was an excellent, attentive student who showed great dedication and compassion.
“Nursing is a calling, and Kirsten showed her passion for it from day one,” said Farlow. “She was determined to find a way to help during this difficult time, and she did; she made this world a better place.”
The Love Takes Action award recognizes those who have shown an extraordinary commitment to community service during the COVID-19 pandemic, with each winner choosing a nonprofit to receive a grant of $50,000. Kirsten selected the Center for Court Innovation, which works to create a fair, effective, and humane justice system around the world.
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Urban Forestry Students Prepare Interactive Trail |
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Urban Forestry students prepare the trails at PNW BOCES for use by various programs. |
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Now more than ever, it is important for students to get outside whenever they can. Urban Forestry students at the Career and Technical Education Center at PNW BOCES are busy working on trails on the 250-acre BOCES campus that can be used by the Center for Environmental Education as well as special education students.
“After the storm (Tropical Storm Isaias), there was a lot of damage to trees and the trails,” said Urban Forestry teacher John Madden. “My students are out there climbing trees to get rid of dead branches, removing branches that have fallen onto other trees and are teetering, and clearing the debris.”
Somers High School student Eamon Hayashi said that working on the project has benefited his class as well as the students who will use the trails. “It is really cool to be able to do tree climbing and work with all different types of equipment to help clear the trails and make them safe,” he said. “Plus we are helping people at the same time, which makes it even better.”
The Urban Forestry program offers students the opportunity to explore arboriculture, landscape design, construction and construction management. Students learn to safely operate heavy machinery and proper tree climbing techniques. They also learn business management.
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Vet Science Students Study Characteristics of Life
in Living Organisms
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First-year Veterinary Science students reviewed the characteristics of living organisms, such as homeostasis, metabolism, and reproduction in class recently. These principles are “the backbone of the program,” according to Career and Technical Education teacher Christina Urbanski, who also reviewed the differences between warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals. Students were present both in class and via Zoom.
Veterinary Science students study animal anatomy and physiology, animal nutrition, animal reproduction, animal ethics and welfare issues and veterinary office practices. They also learn about careers in the animal science field including veterinarian, veterinary technician, veterinary assistant and others.
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200 BOCES Drive
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
914.248.2420
Editor: Karen Thornton Designer: Valerie Laudato
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