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Wednesday, April 12th, the Connecticut Technical High School (CTHS)
Committee, a Subcommittee of the State Board of Education, held
their monthly meeting at Platt Technical High School in Milford,
Connecticut. The CTHS Committee is made up of Donald Coolican,
Theresa Hopkins-Staten, and Beverly Bobroske. During the meeting,
members of the committee took part in a demonstration of the NOCTI
test for Culinary Arts Seniors. The NOCTI (National Occupational
Competencies Testing Institute) Test is a nationally recognized
assessment tool that all Senior students in the Connecticut Technical
High School System (CTHSS) take to measure their achievements
in their particular technical area. CTHSS consultant for Assessment
Robert Lombardi first did a short presentation on the NOCTI and
how the CTHSS has implemented NOCTI testing. Then Chef David Grzych,
the CTHSS consultant for Culinary Arts, oversaw the administration
of the sample test.
During the first part of the test, board members and CTHSS Superintendent
Dr. Abigail Hughes had to identify Culinary Arts utensils as well
as a variety of fresh herbs. In the second part of the test, participants
took a shortened version of the NOCTI Culinary Arts written test.
Finally, everyone had to test their cutting skills. Their assignment
was to peel, chop and mince a selected group of vegetables and
herbs including onions, carrots, parsley and garlic. All segments
were timed and afterwards Chef Grzych went over the test with
the participants. Board member Theresa Hopkins-Staten said that
taking the test gave her a new found respect for people who work
in the Culinary Arts field. Everyone came away with a much stronger
sense of the rigorous standards set in the NOCTI testing.
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