Door Opens For North Fork Students To Pursue Construction, Carpentry

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NORTH FORK, NY — A new collaboration has opened the doors for North Fork students pursuing careers in the construction industry.

Thanks to a new collaboration with Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Mattituck-Cutchogue Junior and Senior High School students will now have additional opportunities to pursue careers in carpentry and construction.

The high school recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the renewal of the carpentry/residential construction and home improvement program, the district said.

Superintendent of Schools Shawn Petretti explained that there has been increased interest in career and technical education courses among the district’s students over the past several years.

Now, students interested in pursuing carpentry and construction will no longer have to travel to Riverhead or Bellport to attend the Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology — but will, instead, attend classes in the Mattituck Junior and Senior High School’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics wing.

"This collaboration brings hands-on construction training right to our community, building bridges between education and industry," Mattituck Principal Patrick Burke said. "From classroom to career, we are investing in our students’ futures."

The program offers a half-day afternoon program to juniors and seniors for one or two years, the district said.

The program is also open to students from Greenport, Shelter Island and Southold school districts and provides Eastern Suffolk County students a quality CTE work-based learning program, offering the National Occupational Competency Test, or NOCTI certification, upon completion.

Students will also have access to professional demonstrations and possible internships.

The new program’s instructor Adam Tesoro comes from ESBOCES and will bring his years of carpentry experience and "passion for the industry" to students, the district said.

Also attending the ribbon-cutting was Scott Edgett, part owner of North Fork Woodworks and BOCES Class of 1998 graduate, who said that a similar type of program had shaped his successful career path.

Now his company gives back to the community by creating opportunities for North Fork students, he added.