Valhalla Center students gain real-world work experience right on campus

Collaboration with Career Services offers opportunities around the corner

Students in the Special Services programs at Valhalla Center have new internship opportunities right on the Career Services Campus where they attend classes. 

“We are always looking for partnerships that allow our students to learn real-world skills,” Principal Diana Dinzey said. “This one with our own SWBOCES colleagues is great because it’s so close to home.” 

Each day students here gain real-world work experience supporting Cosmetology teachers and students, whose salon-style classrooms are a short walk across the quad. The partnership with the Career and Technical Education program launched earlier in March. 

On a recent weekday morning, students Rita and Alejandro folded and rolled hair towels and restocked the classroom’s styling stations with them. It’s one of several essential tasks they and their peers are assigned when they come to the classrooms of teachers Laura Mirabel and Teresa Gallitello. 

Interns, who come from the AIIM and CAD programs at Valhalla Center, also sweep, clean tables and hairbrushes, fill water bottles, cut wax strips, put away supplies and fill bottles. 

Before they enter the Cosmetology classroom, they practice these tasks in a life skills classroom within their own programs.

  “Before they can do it over there, they have to demonstrate that they can do it here,” said Social Worker Nicole Ciarvardini. “This is open to every student. It’s a great partnership, and it’s right there so they don’t have to travel.”

That’s unique, since other several community partnerships that provide Valhalla Center students with work-based learning opportunities are a bus ride away.

“It’s a wonderful experience for our CTE students who are learning to work with all kinds of people,” said Ms. Mirabel. “We’re so happy to be able to partner in this way, and the students who come to us are doing a great job so far.”