They may be in the midst of their summer vacation, but that’s not to say students in the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center summer cosmetology program are not having fun learning in school.
More than 40 teens hailing from districts as far afield as Bethlehem and Middleburgh, Scotia and Shenendehowa are spending several weeks at BOCES this summer earning hours towards the 1,000 that are required by New York state for them to take the state licensure exam.
“I like the summer program because you meet new people from other classes and get to do what you enjoy,” said Eastlynne Byra, a rising cosmetology senior from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
Classmate Isabella Battista from Shenendehowa concurred.
“It’s not that bad. It’s actually fun to come and see my friends and work on new things,” she said.
This summer’s program started June 30 and concludes July 28, giving students a little more than a month of recess before the 2025-26 school year begins. Students are working on skills ranging from styling to facials and manicures.
Kayla Turner of Niskayuna said she is not only enjoying the summer program but appreciating it.
“I feel like this is really helping me gain new skills and it’s helping me get the hours I need to be successful,” she said.
Summer learning is nothing new for students enrolled in the Cosmetology program. Prior year’s graduates often ranked the summer session as the most enjoyable memory of school.
“My favorite time at CTE would have to be the summer program. These mandatory days during the summer were both fun and educational,” said Class of 2015 graduate Samantha Flavell of Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District.
Class of 2023 graduate Haley Boniecki, who attended the program from the Scotia-Glenville Central School District, sounded a similar message last year.
“I don’t mind it at all,” she said. “I can focus more on my learning than I did during the school year and we get to do more hands-on work.”