OCM BOCES LEGO robot competition draws 21 teams to Cortland:
192 students on 21 teams compete at the OCM BOCES
Regional FIRST LEGO competition in Cortland
Jan. 24, 2024
Sixth-grader Donovan Okaru of McGraw loves to write computer code, build robots and solve problems. So joining one of two FIRST LEGO League teams in his district was an obvious choice, even if it meant working for dozens of hours after school to prepare for a recent competition.
“I thought it would be a great new experience for me,” he said.
Judges in striped shirts analyze a round by the Cazenovia
FIRST LEGO League team called "People of the Peeps"
Turns out, he was right.
Donovan and his teammates enjoyed an exciting day of fun and competition on Jan. 20 during a FiRST LEGO League regional event held at the ...
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Getting Ready for 'Nature's Greatest Show':
Getting ready for ‘Nature’s Greatest Show’
For the first time in 100 years, a total solar eclipse on April 8 will be visible in Syracuse and other parts of Upstate New York, an awe-inspiring event that is expected to draw thousands of visitors from around the world.
STEM Teacher-Trainer Angela Francis
Under the direction of Coordinator Chris Leece, the STEM team in Instructional Support Services has been preparing educators for this rare occurrence, sharing safe viewing strategies and a multitude of science and math lessons for students at all grade levels. Already, hotels are full and flights are packed for visitors coming to cities like Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo to take it all in.
In December, STEM teacher-trainer Angela Francis ...
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Innovation Tech hosts first-ever college and career fair for students & parents:
Innovation Tech hosts first Career & College Fair for students & parents
Nov. 17, 2023
Innovation Tech held its first Career and College fair on Friday, Nov. 17, for seniors, juniors and their parents.
More than 20 businesses, colleges, trade schools, and adult education organizations were invited to attend the fair, which was held in an adjacent conference room to Innovation Tech at the Thompson Road Campus.
Students and parents had the opportunity to grab a bag and visit each table to network, gather resources, and learn about the endless opportunities available to them after graduation.
The smiling student faces of the student said it all! Organizers were thrilled with the success of this event and looked forward to doing this again. Thank you ...
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We're back! Enjoy some photos and video of our start to the 2023-2024 school year:
Sept. 26, 2023
“We come as strangers, we grow as a community.”
Those were the words at Innovation Tech that embodied many of the community-building activities that took place across OCM BOCES programs at the start of the new school year.
Teachers and other staff made it a priority to create welcoming and affirming environments for all students. They played “Mingle Bingo” games, organized scavenger hunts, offered “Jitter Juice” for wary elementary students, waged a rock-paper-scissors competition, and more.
In this video , which was presented to the OCM BOCES Board of Education on Sept. 21, you can see dozens of photos and video clips that capture the excitement of the new school year. (4:44 min)
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Families and guests pack CTE, New Vision and CDOS graduations for Onondaga County and Cortland-area students:
Families and guests pack CTE, New Vision and CDOS graduations
for Onondaga County and Cortland-area students
June 2023
About 2,500 people filled the Center of Progress building at the New York Fairgrounds on June 7 to celebrate a record number of graduates — about 395 —in the Career & Technical Education (CTE), New Vision and Career Development and Occupational Studies programs at the Thompson Road Campus.
The event was held at the Fairgrounds for the first time in OCM BOCES history to accommodate the growing crowds.
Eric Comtois, director of CTE & Innovative Education for
OCM BOCES, poses with CTE Hall of Fame recipient Gerald
Henry of Priority Apparatus and Service Center in Cortland.
Eric Comtois, director of ...
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More than 1,400 students test their knowledge in "Battle of the Books.":
Reading Rumble: CNY School Library Systems’ Thrilling Bookish Throwdown
eLearning and Model Schools Coordinator Amy Keesey of OCM BOCES (upper left-
hand corner) poses questions during "Battle of the Books."
June 16, 2023
Central New York recently witnessed an impressive display of intellectual prowess as more than 1,400 students from across the region participated in the highly anticipated "Regional and SuperRegional Battle of the Books."
Organized by the O²CM School Library System (SLS), this virtual quiz competition brought together students from various schools, creating an atmosphere of excitement and healthy competition.
O²CM SLS Librarian Heather Turner expressed her delight with the program. ...
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Students honored with "Tools for Success" awards:
CTE Students at Thompson Road Campus honored with "Tools for Success" awards
May 31, 2023
Students who excel in several Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs at the OCM BOCES Thompson Road Campus were honored on Wednesday in the annual "Tools for Success" awards ceremony.
To qualify for a "Tools for Success" award, students must demonstrate proficient skills within their program, have good classroom attendance and participation, and show a consistently positive attitude in class.
As each instructor introduced this year's honorees, common themes stood out. All of the award-winners were described as passionate, reliable, hardworking, task-oriented, academically successful, determined to do high-quality ...
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Exceptional STEM lessons presented at OCM BOCES:
Exceptional STEM lessons presented at OCM BOCES
ESM Living Environment Teacher John Herrington
shares a 10th-grade STEM lesson that focused on
studying and engineering prosthetic bird beaks.
May 24, 2023
From developing "earplugs" to protect baby belugas to bio-inspired wind turbines, bird-beak prosthetics, anti-flooding systems, and underwater vehicles for temperature sensors — these were just a few of the hands-on, real-world STEM lessons that 21 teachers shared Wednesday at a Science Leadership meeting at OCM BOCES.
The presentations capped a yearlong project that started with a professional learning trip to the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, Rhode Island. During this three-day excursion, teachers throughout the ...
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We honor our school librarian advocates!:
We appreciate our school librarian advocates!
Today the O 2 CM BOCES School Library System at OCM BOCES honored local educators who have made exceptional efforts during the 2022-2023 school year to support the success of school librarians. Please join us in congratulating and thanking these outstanding advocates:
Administrator of the Year: Dr. Mary Coughlin , Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Fayetteville-Manlius School District
Teacher of the Year: Jenn LaBrake , English Teacher, John C. Birdlebough High School, Phoenix Central School District
Library Influence of the Year: Alyssa Newton , Public Librarian, Onondaga Hill Public Library
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Crossroads students collaborate on "top-secret" mission:
Crossroads students collaborate on 'top-secret' mission
May 10, 2023
High school students in the OCM BOCES Crossroads program had a “top secret” mission Monday at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Working in teams, they searched for large manilla envelopes stamped with the word “CLUE” in bright red letters and tucked in corners around the zoo’s winding loop of exhibits. It was a journey that took them to the monkeys, pink flamingos, elephants, penguins and other popular animals.
Once they found the clues, students had to use the information inside to solve puzzles, calculate codes, record their findings on a graphic organizer, and ultimately head back to the zoo’s cafeteria, where they could claim their reward: a small black briefcase, or ...
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On to nationals! OCM BOCES students achieve top finishes at NYS SkillsUSA Competition:
On to nationals! Seven students from OCM BOCES are state champions at SkillsUSA
May 1, 2023
Seven students in Career & Technical Education and New Vision programs at OCM BOCES were declared state champions on April 28 at the New York State SkillsUSA competition at the New York State Fairgrounds.
Their first-place finishes mean they get to compete at the national SkillsUSA championships in June in Atlanta.
Six other OCM BOCES students also had impressive showings at the NYS SkillsUSA championships, placing second in their respective categories.
The students' top-level performances seemed to thrill everyone: students, teachers, advisors, administrators, family members and Board of Education members. A large group of OCM BOCES staff, ...
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21 students at Seven Valleys vow to put "service above self":
Students at Seven Valleys commit to Rotary Interact Club, community service
April 28, 2023
Twenty-one students at Seven Valleys New Tech Academy in Cortland vowed to put “service above self” on April 25 when they were inducted into the Rotary Interact Club during a ceremony at the OCM BOCES Cortlandville Campus. The new inductees joined 10 of their classmates who are already participating in the club, which is committed to community service.
Now in its fifth year, the Interact Club at Seven Valleys works closely with members of the Cortland Breakfast Rotary Club. Students have waded into the Tioughnioga River to remove garbage such as a 12-foot piece of siding and grocery carts. They’ve stood on street corners to clang bells for the Salvation Army. ...
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228 students showcase their proficiency in multiple languages during ‘Seal of Biliteracy’ presentations at OCC:
228 students showcase their multiliteracy skills for ‘Seal of Biliteracy’
April 25, 2023
By Jackie Wiegand
OCM BOCES Marketing Coordinator
“Chin” is one of 107 languages spoken in Myanmar, or Burma, one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most diverse countries.
Salomi Lawm, a senior at East Syracuse Minoa High School, spoke in Chin about her home country during a New York State “Seal of Biliteracy” presentation on April 21 at Onondaga Community College.
What is the New York State
Seal of Biliteracy?
The NYSSB recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in English and one or more world languages.
The intent of the NYSSB is to:
...
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Cortland-area students inducted into National Technical Hall of Fame:
106 OCM BOCES scholars in Career & Technical Education and New Vision programs inducted
into the National Technical Honor Society from the Cortlandville Campus
A pril 18, 2023
Before an audience that filled both levels of the McEvoy auditorium at the Cortlandville Campus, OCM BOCES inducted 106 students into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) on April 18. The honor represents hard work, character, and academic success in a variety of programs that teach specialized, hands-on skills to prepare them for college or careers.
To qualify, students must have high academic standing, good attendance and NTHS attributes that include respect, honesty, skill, responsibility, leadership, service and citizenship. The ...
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Innovation Tech students "pie" each other after successful fundraiser to help fight childhood cancer:
Flying Pies Culminate Successful Fundraiser at Innovation Tech
April 17, 2023
The “Shave Dave” project at Innovation Tech culminated on April 14 with a great sense of pride about how much the school had raised — $1,021 — to support long-time Facilitator Dave Sampson and his annual effort to fight childhood cancer through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Facilitator Alex Starr-Baier took a pie in the face after his
family group at Innovation Tech lost a competition at
Innovation Tech. It was all good, though, because the school
raised more than $1,000 to help fight childhood cancer.
It also culminated with some trepidation.
That’s because some students were on the losing end of the school’s fundraising competition, ...
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189 BOCES scholars inducted into National Technical Honor Society from Thompson Road Campus:
189 OCM BOCES scholars in Career & Technical Education and New Vision programs inducted
into the National Technical Honor Society from the Thompson Road Campus
April 11, 2023
OCM BOCES inducted 189 students today into the National Technical Honor Society, or NTHS, an honor that represents their hard work, character and academic success in a variety of programs that teach specialized, hands-on skills to prepare them for college or careers.
To qualify, students must have an 85 grade-point average or higher, 12 or fewer absences, and a teacher recommendation. Students must also demonstrate attributes that include respect, honesty, skill, responsibility, leadership, service and citizenship.
The ceremony was held in a jam-packed conference room at the DoubleTree ...
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