The Mount Vernon High School Culinary Arts program provides students with a comprehensive educational experience that includes real-life experience, community engagement, and opportunities for internships and networking. Principal Dr. Pauline Pearce encourages students to take rigorous courses like the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) while enrolled in CTE. Culinary students have numerous opportunities for internships and networking, including catering and cooking at district events. The Board of Education Trustees were impressed with the students’ presentation at their meeting and expressed interest in having them back for future events. Overall, the program prepares students for successful careers in the culinary industry and beyond.
Mount Vernon High School’s Culinary Arts Scholars Amaze With Their Talents
On March 15, 2023, scholars from Mount Vernon High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program presented their culinary arts skills at the Board of Education meeting. The scholars impressed everyone in attendance with their cooking skills by preparing a delicious dinner and dessert consisting of a key lime parfait and homemade cookies, respectively.
The presentation was a joint effort that included students from the print shop who created and designed the bags for the cookies, as well as those who made CTE keychains for the trustees.
Noel Campbell, the director of CTE, took advantage of the opportunity to showcase the program’s overall benefits, which include career exposure, exploration, engagement, and empowerment for students. Additionally, the school has partnered with Westchester Community College, Rockland Community College, Iona University, Universal Technical University, and Monroe College to provide students with more resources and expertise. Moreover, the teachers in the department are not only certified, but they also have prior experience working in or owning businesses in the fields they teach.
The CTE program provides community-based partnerships for students to obtain internships and jobs from organizations such as Arts Westchester, the Westchester Parks Foundation, and Ashley’s Sweet Treats.
In the last year, New York State has approved three CTE programs, which include Automotive Technology, Graphic Arts Design, and Nursing Assistant Training. Culinary arts was the only approved pathway since 2002, but MVHS is planning to expand its certified career pathways to include barbering, cosmetology, and cybersecurity programs in 2024, giving students more options.
According to Samantha Cohen, a culinary arts teacher at MVHS, “Culinary is really a multisensory, interdisciplinary subject. There’s math when we are costing recipes and converting formulas. There’s English when students are writing menus and resumes. There’s science when they’re learning about caramelization and what sous vide is. There’s history and culture when we introduce new ingredients and foods from a variety of countries in our cooking. And there’s art when I let my students be creative in their dishes.”
Over the past few years, the culinary arts program has grown from a small science lab in 2019 to having its kitchen. Currently, the program has 67 students enrolled and is one of the most popular programs when students register for classes.
MVHS Culinary Arts Program Provides Real-World Experience
The Culinary Arts program at Mount Vernon High School offers students more than just cooking skills. For senior Sajay Mullings, the program has taught him about different cultures and backgrounds, allowing him to communicate more easily with others through his love of cooking.
Principal Dr. Pauline Pearce encourages students to take rigorous courses like the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) while enrolled in CTE, so they can pursue their passions while also receiving a comprehensive educational experience.
In addition to classroom learning, culinary students have numerous opportunities for internships and networking, including catering and cooking at district events. The Board of Education Trustees were impressed with the students’ presentation at their meeting and expressed interest in having them back for future events.
For 11th-grade student Sade Logue, the program has provided real-life experience and community engagement opportunities, such as volunteering for events like Kids in the Kitchen and the Spanish and Latino Heritage event. Overall, the program prepares students for successful careers in the culinary industry and beyond.
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