Herkimer BOCES READiTEC students learn culinary skills, develop business plans

Ninth and 10^th graders in the READiTEC program at Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES recently completed a culinary unit that covered everything from food safety and cooking to developing a restaurant or food truck business plan.

“Our READiTEC students put all of these skills into practice and prepared a pasta and meatballs dinner from scratch,” Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson said. “The spaghetti and meatball dinner was a complete success that everyone enjoyed – including Technical Education administrators.”

READiTEC, an acronym for Real Experience and Designed Instruction in Technical Education Careers, is a pre-vocational exploratory program for ninth and 10^th grade students. READiTEC gives students access to all 14 Herkimer BOCES Career and Technical Education programs, the ability to learn trades jobs and the opportunity to then join one of the CTE programs for 11^th and 12^th grade if they choose to.

“READiTEC is a way for students to expand their high school experience and discover if they’re interested in Career and Technical Education programs,” Wilson said. “If students follow the READiTEC and CTE path, when they graduate from high school, they will have the trades knowledge and skills that will allow them to immediately go out and apply for work.”

The recent READiTEC culinary unit was conducted under the guidance of Brandie Reid and Nathan Purinton, who are READiTEC teachers in the BOCES Technical Education program

Students started with the basics of kitchen safety. They learned about food-borne illnesses, cooking and storing foods at safe temperatures, cleaning and sanitizing in the kitchen, knife skills/safety, converting measurements and how to read and double recipes. Additionally, they learned how to make noodles from scratch and how to use the Kitchen Aid noodle press. They made bread, marinara and Alfredo sauces and meatballs.

READiTEC students worked in small groups during the culinary unit. While one group was learning about the application of the culinary arts, the other groups worked on writing a business project. Students in each group had to decide if they wanted to open a restaurant or a food truck and then come up with a full business plan to support their ideas. They were required to do research and put together a presentation of their plan.

“The culinary unit was very successful – and delicious,” Wilson said.

READiTEC class participating in a culinary unit

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: 10^th graders Matthew Cotton and Chase Harrer (both of Little Falls City School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: 10^th graders Chase Harrer (Little Falls City School District) and Aiden Prokopienko (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: ninth graders Daniel Stoffolano (Herkimer Central School District), James Grazieno (Central Valley Central School District) and Andrew Gilbert (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader James Grazieno (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Ryliee Johnston (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: ninth graders Payton Wilson (Central Valley Central School District) and Kathleen Bennet (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: Kathleen Bennet (Central Valley Central School District) and Ryliee Johnston (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: ninth graders Andrew Gilbert, Kathleen Bennet, Ryliee Johnston and Payton Wilson (all of Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: Ninth grade READiTEC students work in a group.

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: READiTEC teacher Brandie Reid with ninth graders Raymond Colvin (Little Falls City School District) and Collin Zaengle (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Seth Brown (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Collin Zaengle (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: READiTEC teacher Brandie Reid with ninth grader Izayah Gorman (Little Falls City School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Marrieon Gary (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Connor Coffin (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grade READiTEC students work in a group.

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: ninth graders Kathleen Bennet, Payton Wilson and Ryliee Johnston (all of Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: Marrieon Gary and Seth Brown (both of Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: Connor Coffin (Central Valley Central School District) and Raymond Colvin (Little Falls City School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grade READiTEC students cooking.

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Orion Bliss (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: READiTEC teacher Brandie Reid and ninth grader Orion Bliss (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Orion Bliss (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: READiTEC teacher Nathan Purinton helps 10^th grade students with project work.

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: 10^th grade READiTEC students work in a group.

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: ninth graders Andrew Gilbert and Connor Coffin (both of Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. From left: ninth graders Seth Brown (Central Valley Central School District), Ethan Foster (Herkimer Central School District), Ryliee Johnston (Central Valley Central School District), Kathleen Bennet (Central Valley Central School District) and Shaya Cary (Central Valley Central School District.

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Ethan Foster (Herkimer Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: 10^th grader Peyton Penner.

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: 10^th grader Aiden Prokopienko (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Daniel Stoffolano (Herkimer Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Kathleen Bennet (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Ethan Foster (Herkimer Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Payton Wilson (Central Valley Central School District).

READiTEC class participating in a culinary unit

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Kathleen Bennet (Central Valley Central School District).

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES READiTEC students recently participated in a culinary unit. Pictured: ninth grader Andrew Gilbert (Central Valley Central School District).