October 14, 2021

BAVTS Inducts 76 Students into National Technical Honor Society

Casilio Concrete Unveils New Cement Truck Designed by BAVTS Student

Casilio Concrete brought their truck by the

campus on September 30th to celebrate the

wrap design created by now BAVTS Alum,

Eric Navarijto, a graduate of the Commercial

Art program in 2020.  Eric created the design

for Casilio in the Spring of his senior year and

the design was finalized and installed over

the Summer.

What's the Buzz?

Raising honey bees at BAVTS began as an idea one year ago with the intent of creating a community service model to educate students and the public about their importance. Today, it is a reality! 

The project is spearheaded by Laura Donaldson, Secretary for

School Operations, who took a Beekeeping course taught by Master

Beekeeper, Dr. Vince Alloyo at DelVal University in Chalfont, PA.

“Armed with basic knowledge, a lack of fear and a general

enthusiasm, I dove in.” Donaldson said. 

The beauty in this project is that multiple programs at BAVTS were

involved in the initial set-up from the Building Trades who constructed

the frames for the hives, to Commercial Arts students who spent

weeks painting the exterior of the hives and the Masonry students

who installed solid level blocks as foundations for the hives.
 
From March to May, Donaldson took care of the bees. She supplied

them with jars of sugar syrup and the Baking class assisted by

making bee pollen patties to supplement their food source. This was

all necessary to keep the bees alive until natural vegetation and plants began to flower and produce pollen.  
 

After months of caring for the bees, Donaldson got her first honey harvest in late August. Assisted by Culinary Arts instructor, Chef Dario Chavez, who demonstrated easy methods to sterilize and prepare the jars for filling, and Welding instructor, Kurt Samson, who helped by welding the extractor legs to a sturdy cart for the extraction process, honey was produced. Year one produced 239, 9oz. jars!!!

This is just the beginning for the BAVTS Honey Bees! A herb/vegetable/flower garden should be considered to enhance the overall program, and farm to table methods including honey harvest could be incorporated into the culinary program. Beyond the honey, beeswax is the by-product of the honey and can be extracted and used to make numerous useful items such as salve, furniture wax, candles, etc.