By Ashley Hassett
Tonawanda, NY – A brand new charter school has opened its doors in Tonawanda. Students arrived for their first day Wednesday at the Health and Sciences Charter School in the Sheridan-Parkside community.
Principal Hank Stopinski said the new school was designed to offer a health and science based curriculum. The school will ready students for highly skilled jobs in the health and science labor market.
"Our charter school is one of the first in New York State that is a schooled careers program, which means that our curriculum is fully aligned with the health-sciences," said Stopkinski.
Students will receive training is first-aid and babysitting. They will also be involved at local area hospitals and colleges to get hands on work experience.
"Our students are all going to earn there regents diploma. They will be on track to earn an upwards of 30 college credits or more. There going to have a broad exposure to career opportunities. In many cases they will have a certification that will allow them to obtain highly skilled jobs in the labor market," said Stopinski.
The school will also focus on academics, team building and critical thinking.