VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS:

 

Accounting:  

Students will cover the entire basic accounting cycle for a service and/or merchandise business organized either as a proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. The financial statements needed for these business organizations are also presented. Procedures used to maintain a payroll system including the various methods for paying employees are presented. Seniors who have passed both parts of the HSPA and have a grade point average of 3.0 in the business shop and overall average of 3.0.  In addition the students behavior, attendance and tardies will be considered. This course offers students the opportunity to take Introduction to Accounting a three credit course offered in one semester in college during the senior year.  The student will receive three college credits if they maintain a "C" or better average for the year in the class.  These three credits are accepted in many colleges and are not limited to colleges in New Jersey. This course and its text and workbook is being offered under the auspices of Fairleigh Dickinson University and being paid by the Essex County Vocational-Technical Schools.The students cannot participant in the COE program but may participate in our sports program.

 

Allied Health Care Programs: 

Essex County Vocational School Allied Health Program is a course of study which has been designed to meet the needs and aspirations of the students and their parents.  The program has a college emphasis for those intending to pursue that course but has now accommodated a wider range of academic plans career interests. The program’s focal point is for the multi-skilled Health Care Worker.  It provides a broad career foundation for the changing field and prepares graduate  for a specific entry level job: Certified Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant. In the 9th grade students are exposed to exploratory phase where information is given on different health occupations so an informed decision can be made. In the 10th grade they are exposed to Dynamics of Health Care, Medical Terminology and to complete skills necessary for working with residents in a Long Term Care facility. In the 11th grade Anatomy and Physiology and other health related areas are covered along with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and First Aid in preparation for obtaining college credits. In the 12th grade requirements for successful completion learning at employer’s worksite e.g. Nursing homes.  The clinical experience phase of health care is to have students become proficient and prepared for entry skill by obtaining certification as a nursing assistant which is under the auspices of the State Department of Health And Senior Services.  Students who wish to continue for college credits receive preparation for taking the examinations given by UMDNJ School Of Allied Health Profession.

 

Business Technology:

The Business Technology Program is a three-year program consisting of Business Technology I, II, and III. As part of this program, Business Technology I will cover the following areas:  FINANCE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. FINANCE topics will include Business Math (with calculator), Record Keeping and Personal Finance, Economics and Beginning Accounting. In Business Math, students will develop computational skills needed to solve business and consumer problems. They will also enhance computational skills essential for their becoming citizens, consumers, wage earners, employees, employers, investors, inventors, and entrepreneurs.  Basic mathematical operations will be applied in solving problems containing whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percents, ratios, and proportions. Opportunities for computational skills is to be integrated with knowledge and applied in everyday applications.  In Record Keeping and Personal Finance, students will relate basic economic concepts and mathematical procedures to analyze and solve business problems for such areas as savings and investment; payroll records; and cash management to be able to make rational, competent decisions; become productive members of the workforce; informed, effective consumers; prudent, discerning savers and investors; and responsible citizens.  The culminating component will be Accounting I in which the student will complete the various steps of the accounting cycle for a sole proprietorship and explain the purpose of each step. Communications topics will include oral, written, reading, social and business listening, and telephone techniques. Students will use proper techniques to plan and present oral  presentations, understand the intent of printed propaganda, write coherent business correspondence, follow oral directions, and use the telephone to receive and place calls. Exploratory Business Technology This course is designed to expose 9th grade students to an array of topics relating to business. Microsoft Word will be used to create letters, memorandums and tables.  The use of graphics and slides presentations will be presented in Micro Soft PowerPoint. Understanding the structure of a chart, and how numbers are added, subtracted, multiple and divided will be covered in Micro-Soft Excel.  Micro-Soft Access will assist students in collecting data in an organized system.

 

Finance topics will include the Role of Consumers, the Role of Government and Citizens, and Accounting.  In the Role of Consumers, Buying on Credit, students will be able to identify the sources and types of credit, select an appropriate form of credit for a particular buying decision, determine advantages and disadvantages of credit, understand the importance of credit ratings, and calculate the true cost of credit for various credit uses.  In Saving and Investing students will learn:  why and how people save, the advantages and disadvantages of different savings and investing plans, the factors that affect the rate of return on a given savings or investment plan, how to differentiate between interest, dividends, capital gains, and rent from property, and to identify services that financial institutions provide to customers. In Paying Taxes the students will be able to identify types of taxes, calculate personal tax liabilities, and learn the impact of taxes on personal financial planning.  In the Role of Government and Citizens the students will become familiar with the laws that are available to protect the rights of consumers and differentiate among informative, protective, and enabling laws.  In Accounting students will learn the basic accounting procedures used to operate a business.

 

Career Development topics will include self-awareness, positive self-concept and image, and career strategies.  Students will complete a battery of standardized interest and career identification tests; correlate personal characteristics and requirements of various career opportunities; formulate a concept of a positive self-image, demonstrate respect for the differences of others; develop an action plan to transition from secondary education to work or post secondary education; and assemble an employment portfolio.  Students will also demonstrate appropriate interviewing techniques and conduct a job search.  Workplace expectations will be covered to include work ethics, work relationships, work diversity, communication skills, and the legal aspects of employment.

 

Business Technology (Modified):

The Modified Business Technology course is designed to enable Special Education students to develop the competencies and skills needed to be employed in a wide-range of office jobs. The focus is on developing skills for basic office duties and the development of fully marketable skills that are needed in office and sales occupations. Students acquire the basic entry-level skills needed for filing, computer operation, and record keeping. The course provides realistic activities that will give students a better understanding of the operations of an office. This course will give students experience in applying correct office procedures and making judgments. Heavy emphasis is on developing the student’s problem solving abilities. Students will use critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving techniques to promote sound, effective business communications. Emphasis in the program is will also be focused on providing career information and developing sound work habits, workplace readiness skills and attitudes. Content of the course may be modified in accordance with the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

 

Carpentry:

The course provides instruction in layout, framing sheathing, the basics of house construction and home re-building. Students will become familiar with carpentry hand tools, power tools, construction tools and instruments as related to the process involved in carpentry. Safety is stressed throughout the course. Students will acquire entry level skills in all aspects of the carpentry trade. Students complete individual as well as group projects related to instruction of carpentry.

 

Computer Technologies: 

Computer Technologies is a three year course, consisting of the disciplines of C-Tech cabling, A+, Net +, and I Net. In these years the students are given the opportunity to receive certifications in all these areas. C-Tech: Participants receive instruction in all phases of cabling relative to computer communications. They learn how to construct twisted pair and fiber optic cables. A+: Students learn the basics of how computers work. They learn basic skills which enable them to install, troubleshoot, and repair personal computers. They also become familiar with software, both Operating systems, and applications. Net +: Students learn basics of Networks. This includes all phases of networking computers together. They become familiar with the OSI model of networking and how data is exchanged between clients. I-Net+: students are presented Internet Basics, Internet Clients, Development, Networking and Infrastructure, Internet Security, and Business Concepts. The last three courses of study are presented in a unique Computer assisted Instruction format, which allows the student to learn at his own pace. This allows the student a greater access to individual one on one time with the instructor.

 

Cosmetology: 

The complete Cosmetology and Hairstyling Course consists of 1000 clock hours as prescribed by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology & Hairstyling.  The educational objective of the complete cosmetology curriculum is to provide the student with sufficient training to pass the State Board Exam, become properly licensed and perform duties required under such license to secure employment at an entry level.  A Cosmetologist/hairstylist license allows an individual to practice all phases of cosmetology. During the first 600 hours students are defined as underclassmen. During this interval your work will consist of lectures, demonstrations, practicing on mannequins and written/practical examinations. The Nail Technology Program is a two year competency based program which consists of two consecutive courses scheduled to provide students with 360 hours of training per school year.  The minimum State requirement is 300 total training hours which will soon be changed to 500 total training hours in order to be eligible to take the State Manicuring Board Exam to obtain a New Jersey Manicuring License. Each course identifies core content or minimal skills to be addressed based upon mastery of prerequisite skills. The skills to be taught in the total program are on a competency-based continuum which spans the two individual course comprising the Nail Technology Program.  The ability and effort of the student therefore determines the number of skills and proficiency which is attained at any course level. This is accomplished through multi-level projects which are introduced to the class on a continual basis enabling the teacher to meet the individual needs of each student. All records are cumulative from year to year and in certain cases, the folder becomes the transferable document of skill status. The Nail Technology I course prepares the students for Nail Technology II.  Nail Technology II concentrates on refinement of previously skills learned in preparation for the State Board of

Manicuring Exam.

 

Culinary Arts

Students will learn the basis of what is involved in working and running a food service establishment.  This entails learning about the many career options in the food service industry, safety and sanitation procedures, equipment and their uses, various cooking methods, food and utensil identifications, culinary terminology, front and back-of-the-house experience, handling money, basic math and measurements and an introduction to basic baking.  Upon completion of each school year, the students are preparing themselves to pursue entry-level position jobs in their Senior year.  When the Seniors graduate from the shop, they receive a Vocational Culinary Arts Certificate.

 

Drafting: 

This is a three-year competency based progressive program that meets for two hours, ten minutes a day, Monday through Friday. These three courses, Engineering Drafting/AutoCAD I, Engineering Drafting/AutoCAD II, and Architectural Drafting provide the student with 360 hours of training per year and 1080 hours total. This course is designed to prepare the student for employment in the Engineering/Architectural field upon graduation.                                                             

 

Electronics: 

Students are given a basic knowledge of electricity. Topics such as DC and AC theory, component identification, resistor network circuits, capacitors, and inductors are among some topics being taught.  Students are then introduced to basic telecommunications topics. Students then move onto electronic analog theory and labs. This is followed by Network Copper Cabling, which is a nationally recognized certification course. Students will learn digital electronics, Integrated Systems and Voice Messaging telephone concepts [ISVM] and selected topics in communication electronics. ISVM is a nationally recognize certificate course.

 

Industrial Maintenance:

This program is one of the Employment Orientation Programs which are designed to prepare the Special Education student for entry level employment.  Each of the programs is in a three-year competency based format consisting of three consecutive courses scheduled to provide students with 360 hours of training per school year.  Each course (Industrial Maintenance I, II, III) identifies core content or minimal skills to be addressed based upon mastery of prerequisite skills.  The skills to be taught in the total program are on a competency-based continuum which spans the three individual courses comprising the complete Industrial Maintenance Program.  The ability and effort of the student therefore determines the number of skills and proficiency attained at any course level.  As an example, an exceptional Industrial Maintenance I student may complete the core content in Industrial Maintenance I and begin the Industrial Maintenance II skills thereby moving along the continuum while refining those skills already acquired.  This is accomplished through multi level projects which are introduced to the class on a continual basis enabling the teacher to meet the individual needs of each student.  All records of accomplishment by the student are recorded on “Project Task Sheets” and the appropriate “Course Outlining Grade Sheets” and are kept in each student’s folder.  This record is cumulative from year to year and, in certain cases, the folder becomes the transferable document of skill status when the student enters the subsequent course level taught by a different instructor. The Industrial Maintenance I course covers safety and goes into greater depth in the areas of industrial shop operations, floor cleaning, carpentry (interior) and carpentry (exterior).  Content of the course may be modified in accordance with the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).  Students who attain a 44% proficiency of entry level skills are eligible for a Cooperative Industrial Education (CIE) work experience in grade 12.

 

Information Systems:

Topics will include Intermediate Keyboarding, Intermediate Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Beginning Access and Outlook. In Keyboarding students will enhance their touch keyboarding techniques, increase proficiency in keyboarding skills with emphasis on accuracy, and perform advanced formatting and editing of various business documents. In Intermediate Microsoft Word students will be proficient in the intermediate features to create, modify, store, retrieve, and print intermediate business correspondence and related documents. In Intermediate Power Point the students will use the internet and alternative resources to customize a variety of presentations and to simultaneously deliver a presentation. In Intermediate Excel the students will create and use formulas and functions with a worksheet and workbook to perform calculations, modify the appearance of a worksheet, integrate a spreadsheet with other applications and the internet, create and modify charts, analyze data, and create macros and hyperlinks.  In Microsoft Access the students will use database software to plan, create, update, add, and delete records. The student will also store, query, retrieve, and sort data.  In Microsoft Outlook the topics to be covered are e-mail and attachments, formatting, composing, editing and proofreading electronic messages. In Records Management the students will be able to apply the basic rules of alphabetical, numerical, chronological, and geographical filing.

 

Law & Public Safety: 

Goal:  To educate and mentor the students participating in the Law & Public Safety (LPS) Program in our legal system and career paths in Public Safety. The program structure combines textbook lesson plans, field trips, and guest speakers specializing in their respective fields of expertise (such as Attorneys, Judges, Emergency Medical Technicians, Firefighters, and Law Enforcement Officers).  The students will be exposed to first hand knowledge of the experiences of the teacher and guest speakers.  This brings to their educational experience a perspective of what the reality of these career paths can be for them. The students are expected to fulfill the requirements to successfully pass all subject matter presented in class.  The curriculum emphasizes the importance of education, physical and mental fitness, and personal decorum.  They will develop a sense of purpose, respect and responsibility to themselves, the school, and their community.

 

Nail Technology Program: 

The Nail Technology Program is a two year competency based program which consists of two consecutive courses scheduled to provide students with 360 hours of training per school year. The minimum State requirement is 300 total training hours which will soon be changed to 500 total training hours in order to be eligible to take the State Manicuring Board Exam to obtain a New Jersey Manicuring License. Each course identifies core content or minimal skills to be addressed based upon mastery of prerequisite skills.  The skills to be taught in the total program are on a competency-based continuum which spans the two individual course comprising the Nail Technology Program.  The ability and effort of the student therefore determines the number of skills and proficiency which is attained at any course level.  This is accomplished through multi-level projects which are introduced to the class on a continual basis enabling the teacher to meet the individual needs of each student. 

 

All records are cumulative from year to year and in certain cases, the folder becomes the transferable document of skill status. The Nail Technology I course prepares the students for Nail Technology II.  Nail Technology II concentrates on refinement of previously skills. Nail Technology II concentrates on refinement of previously skills learned in preparation for the State Board of Manicuring Exam.

The complete Cosmetology and Hairstyling Course consists of 1000 clock hours as prescribed by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology & Hairstyling.  The educational objective of the complete cosmetology curriculum is to provide the student with sufficient training to pass the State Board Exam, become properly licensed and perform duties required under such license to secure employment at an entry level .  A Cosmetologist/hairstylist license allows an individual to practice all phases of cosmetology. During the first 600 hours students are defined as underclassmen.During this interval your work will consist of  lectures, demonstrations, practicing on mannequins and written/practical examinations.  After completion of 600 hours, passing of both the practical and written midterm, recommendation of your instructor and a doctor’s certificate, you will advance to the Senior Floor.  The remaining 400 hours will consist of class projects, additional lectures, salon management and working in the Senior Clinic.  The Senior Clinic patrons pay a reduced fee for the services performed by students.  As a Senior student you will perform services on clients building your self-esteem and knowledge while you receive gratuity for the services rendered..

 

Office Assistant:
The Office Assistant Program is a two-year program consisting of Office Assistant I, and II.  As part of this program, Office Assistant I/II will cover the following areas:  Finance, Information Systems, Communications, and Career Development. No prerequisites, students enter in the 11 grade and 12 grades. FINANCE topics will include Business Math, Record Keeping and Personal Finance.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS topics will include Computer Concepts, Keyboarding, Microsoft(MS) WORD, POWERPOINT, ACCESS, and EXCEL. COMMUNICATIONS topics will include oral, written, reading, and listening components. CAREER DEVELOPMENT topics will include self-awareness, career research, human relations skills.

 

Office Processes:

This course prepares students with skills to perform functions such as composing business letters and memorandums. Also students complete tasks that include editing and proofreading documents for accuracy, computing and analyzing data, and handling information and service request. Communication skills such as greeting visitors and answering the telephone are also part of the curriculum. In addition to this laboratory activities that stress group projects and oral presentations are included.

The Business Technology Program is a three-year program consisting of Business Technology l, ll, and lll.  As part of this program, Business Technology ll will cover the following areas:  FINANCE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.

 

Work Study Program: 

For the 2005-2006 school year the work study program involved 69 students from the junior and senior classes. The average salary was $3,100. We have a proud Partnership Program with PSEG that helps us employ a great deal of our students. We also an agreement with Strauss Auto Union as well as the Plumbers Union and the Electrical Union of Essex County. We also have a partnership with the Operating Engineers Labors and Iron workers Union (CIAP). With these partnerships some of these students have received full-time jobs after graduation.