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Branford Hall’s classes provides a foundation for success in this exciting profession  Culinary Arts students (left to right) include: John Jacobo Rivera, Crusi Rodriguez, Jose Ortega, Sthefanie Centeno, Ira Rankin, Elizabeth Torres, Joshua Andrews, Nakesia Gussie, Shalayna Burris, Melissa Dominguez, and Jesus Vasquez. Springfield, Mass.— Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in cooking school? Branford Hall recently welcomed 9 new students into its Culinary Arts training program in Springfield, Mass, and the new students are quickly learning that becoming a culinary arts professional is an art as well as a science. We spoke with Mark Brunton, Lead Instructor of the program, who shared his insights about the early sequence of classes these new students take. Through the experiences they gain—which range from kitchen and food…

Throughout the month, students and staff showed how much they cared February is always a busy month for Branford Hall students, but everyone at the Jersey City campus this year got an extra dose of support, encouragement, and inspiration. Thanks to the efforts of Vivianne Jimenez, Director of Education, and the participation of students, staff, and instructors, several campus initiatives helped everyone to feel just a little more positive. The month featured three key activities: Honoring heroes of African American History Sharing random acts of kindness Sending Valentine’s candygrams to raise money for students in need It was certainly a month on campus filled with giving and good thoughts. Valentine’s candy grams support students in need For the second year in a row, the Jersey City campus offered candy grams…

During Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month, be aware of how your screen is affecting your eyes If your profession requires a lot of time in front of a computer—for example if you’re a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist or a Graphic Designer (or studying to be one), then your eyes are one of your greatest assets. It’s essential that you take care of them. We don’t usually think of our eyes when we think about our health, but in March you should raise your eye awareness. It’s Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month: time to think about how you use your eyes at work and how to protect them. What’s at stake with your eyes There are thousands of Americans who suffer eye-related work injuries every day, and about…

Students practice phlebotomy techniques on their loved ones, who generously devote their time Branford, Connecticut: A critical aspect of becoming comfortable with some of the techniques you learn as a Medical Assisting (MA) student at Branford Hall is: practice. Phlebotomy, the process of drawing blood, requires repetition. Learning this task can cause some students to feel apprehensive, since it involves needles and the possibility of causing the patient some discomfort. It is fortunate for the MA students at the Branford campus that many of their friends and family members are willing to let themselves be “guinea pigs” by having their blood drawn. This is highly supportive and helps the students to become more confident. Medical Assistant students in Mimi Debona’s class at the Branford, CT campus practice Phlebotomy for the…

Coursework in Computer Networking Management equips students for a variety of career options Elis Rodriguez, Marlene Derouin, James Demoranville, and Daniel Jones (not in photo) are shown disassembling desktop computers in their foundational CNM 100 - Hardware A+ Certification course. Of course, later they also had to put them back together and make sure they still worked! Read more about this small, close-knit group of students, their different backgrounds and their future goals Never before have issues of network security been more essential to how we function in our daily life. Whether we must interact with companies for banking, technology, healthcare, or any number of other fields, keeping our information secure can be the cornerstone of a business. Students at Branford Hall’s Southington campus are gaining practical experience in the…

This fund drive partners with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to make a difference The Springfield campus of Branford Hall is teaming up with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to participate in “Pennies for Patients,” a fundraising campaign to help those affected by blood cancer. The campaign began on January 22 and runs through February 16. This fundraising campaign is happening at schools throughout the state of Massachusetts. Over the course of the three weeks, students collect change and raise funds online while learning about service and philanthropy. The Springfield campus has set a fundraising goal of $2,018, to help LLS support funding for vital research and help patients and their families during the treatment process. More about LLS The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's…

Follow these suggestions to make the most of your study sessions Is studying something you dread? Do you feel you’re not always able to use your study time well? Want to get better scores on your exams? Don’t let the stress of studying get you down! We’ve got some suggestions for ways you can improve how you’re hitting those books. These tips can help you with pop-quizzes, mid-term exams, finals, and everything in between. The key is using your preparation time so you can recall the information to best of your ability. Follow these strategies and study tips for exams, and you’ll be well on your way to being a better student. They focus on using your time well, retaining the information more effectively, and optimizing your performance on exam…

Faculty, students and staff come together to make a difference for those in need Staff, faculty and students from the Bohemia campus came together during this past holiday season to adopt six families from NANA’s House Inc. (Never Alone, Never Afraid) by donating gifts for each of the members of the families. Judy Galen, who is Chair of the Medical Assisting program, works closely with the Student Council, which has a strong track record in year-round community service initiatives The Bohemia campus of Branford Hall made a significant difference in the lives of 6 families this past holiday season. Through the homeless shelters Never Alone Never Afraid (NANA) in Mastic, NY, the campus donated gifts for each of the members of these families. But this is only one example of…

These exercises can help you create a more calm and centered 2018 Now that we’re full swing into January, the holiday reverie has worn off and everyone is focused on all they have on their plate for the new year. Whether you’re working or still in school, it’s easy to get distracted and bogged down by all you have to do throughout the day. Getting stressed out is all too common. But we’ve got some suggestions for ways to buck that trend and stay calm, cool and collected—it’s called practicing mindfulness. The beauty of mindfulness is that it doesn’t require a huge time investment. And yet it can pay off huge in terms of improving your attitude and ratcheting down your stress level. So take a look at these simple…