Columbia-Montour
  Area Vocational-Technical School

Service  

Cosmetology
Cosmetology is the art and science of improving beauty through care and treatment of the hair, skin, and nails. The cosmetology course is designed to teach students to develop pride in their personal appearance and to prepare them to become competent cosmetologists. A major objective of this three year course is the preparation of students for licensure to practice cosmetology in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

What Qualities Should I Have?
You should have an interest and desire to serve others. As a cosmetologist, you should have an appeasing personality, good grooming habits, and personal hygiene, coupled with an interest in the most current hair fashions. You will be required to stand for long periods of time and should have good finger and manual dexterity, as well as good color and style perception.

[Tour the Training Program]
Instructor: Jennifer Hain (ext. 3342)

Food Preparation
This curriculum will prepare you for all kinds of employment related to commercial food services. Specialized learning units include theory and work experience in the major areas of cooking, baking, and menu planning. Other experiences include food servicing, waiting on tables, cashiering, care and use of kitchen equipment and sanitation in food handling. The restaurant kitchen serves as the preparation laboratory, while the restaurant provides experience in proper and efficient serving.

What Qualities Should I Have?
You should enjoy meeting people and serving the public. For these reasons, adaptability is essential. You should be in good physical health. Having a keen sense of smell and taste and preference for working with machines and food processes are important when working as a cook. Creativity for menu and food preparation are also important qualities. Prospective Food Preparation and Service students should also: 1) Have a strong desire to work with food. 2) Have a good personal appearance and hygiene. 3) Be honest and reliable. 4) Display patience and tact. 5) Have a willingness to take direction and learn from others. 6) Be able to work under pressure. 7) Have a good background in basic mathematics.

[Tour the Training Program]
Instructor: Sally Matje (ext. 3323)

Printing Technology
Printing is one of our chief means of communication. Printing craft workers are employed to produce newspapers, magazines, books, business forms, textiles, and thousands of other printed materials. Students are exposed to basic layout and design principles using Quark XPress, Photoshop and Illustrator. Great emphasis is placed on image assembly, platemaking, and offset press operations. Bindery operations, ink and paper theory, silk screen technology, and business operations are also an integral part of the Printing Technology program. More advanced students progress into color theory and 4-color offset printing and are eligible for placement in CMAVTS’s cooperative education program.

What Qualities Should I Have?
First and foremost are a good attitude and willingness to work. These two qualifications are essential for success in the Printing Technology lab. Color perception, good eyesight, neatness, good organizational skills, attention to detail, and self-motivation are fundamental qualities necessary for success. Ability to communicate in writing effectively, ability to type, and an understanding of basic mathematical and scientific skills are also required for success.

[Tour the Training Program]
Instructor: Daniel Casey (ext. 3346)

Health Occupations
A health assistant works under the supervision of trained professionals. He/she must understand basic procedures in the examination, treatment, and care of patients in hospitals, nusing homes, doctors' and dentists' offices. They may assist nursing personnel, laboratory personnel, or therapists in specialized departments. This course will prepare and encourage students to continue their education in such professions as nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, medical assisting, etc. Senior students who qualify can earn a semester credit toward HOSA, a professional student organization, which teaches students leadership skills. Upon completion of the required number of hours of theory and clinical time, the student is eligible to take the State Nurse Aide Certification Exam, to become a certifed nursing assistant.

What Qualities Should I Have?
You should possess a genuine interest in people. Cleanliness and good grooming are essential attributes. You should also have a high degree of manual dexterity, a good math and English background, good color perception, a liking for detailed work and the ability to interact well with other people. Typing skills are important if you are considering pursuing a career as a medical secretary or other fields requiring this skill.

[Tour the Training Program]
Instructor: Ann Cary (ext. 3341)

Horticulture / Floriculture
A student enrolled in the horticulture program would be exposed to the growing, marketing and care of horticulture crops. As a prospective horticulturist, the student would study all aspects of floral design, greenhouse work, landscaping, ground care and maintenance, turf grass and forestry as it pertains to the industry. Basic mechanical skills such as carpentry, electricity, plumbing, small gas engines and masonry are also taught in the horticulture shop. A student entering the horticultural field should have a love for plants, the out-of-doors and the willingness to assist potential customers with their horticultural needs. The horticulture shop includes an agricultural mechanics work area, flower shop and two fully equipped greenhouses. Floral orders such as weddings, table arrengements, proms, and altar vases are performed throughout the year. Crops such as poinsettias, chrysanthemums, lilies and 32 different varieties of bedding plants are grown and sold out of the two spacious greenhouses.

What Qualities Should I Have?
Good vision, manual dexterity, stamina, and the ability to arrange various shapes and colors in attractive patterns are the primary qualifications for this occupation, particularly floriculture. Obviously you should be interested in working with plants, flowers, and shrubs and learning their growth and maintenance. You should like to work outdoors or in greenhouses and have the ability to handle machinery necessary to create and maintain grounds and landscaping.

[Tour the Training Program]
Instructor: Tim Mauk (ext. 3340)

Travel, Lodging and Marketing
The Travel, Lodging, Marketing course is designed to prepare students for careers in the retail and wholesale distribution industries. Concepts that are covered include business planning and development, retail sales, advertising, and other related areas.

What Qualities Should I Have?
You should possess a pleasant personalitiy and enjoy working with people. The ability to communicate and the motivation to succeed are also important. Creative and artistic abilities are very helpful. Good grooming habits are a necessity along with a positive self-image and a desire to please and satisfy customers.

[Tour the Training Program]
Instructor: Donna Harris (ext. 3338)

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