82 educators, partners, and friends gathered at the Afton Golf Club Monday for a day of celebration and camaraderie, raising over $4,700 for students at DCMO BOCES. A total of 21 teams hit the links at 9:30 a.m. for a charitable round of golf in the Lew Ford Memorial Golf Outing. Congratulations to Randy Smith, Andy Kozak, Riley Smith, and Kasie Hornbeck of Team “Par-Tee-On” from Sherburne-Earlville Central School District, this year’s tournament champions!
Lew Ford served DCMO BOCES as the Assistant Health & Safety Coordinator from 1998 until his untimely death in 2016. Lew had a passion for student safety and for golf, and envisioned the tournament as an opportunity to come together after the end of the school year to celebrate and to raise funds for students.
Proceeds from this year’s outing will be shared to support students among the DCMO BOCES Backpack Program, Mountain Movers, and SkillsUSA.
DCMO BOCES would like to recognize and thank a number of community organizations and local businesses that acted as our corporate sponsors for the day, making this a successful event: Xerox Corporation – Ace Sponsor; MARCH Associates – Birdie Sponsor; JW Danforth – Birdie Sponsor and BOCES Administrators Association – Birdie Sponsor. In addition, we want to thank The Binghamton Rumble Ponies and the Baseball Hall of Fame for their generous donations.
Wednesday, DCMO BOCES marked the end of the school year with a year-end picnic & employee recognition celebration at the Harrold Campus in Sidney Center. Employees enjoyed a picnic lunch, prepared and served by the familiar faces of principals and administrators. Afterwards, they gathered in the gym where service anniversaries were recognized. Those celebrating service milestones are: 10 years: Rachael Ryan, Martha Ryan, Gina Partipelo, Robert Beers, Karen McCall, Corey Redmond, Joseph Schmitt, Michelle Burke, Kimberley LaTourette, Traci Parks, Bobbi Jo Esslinger and Kathryn Rutz. Celebrating 15 years are David Gramstad, Clara Tuttle, James Foster, Brian Johnson, Jennifer Waite, and Majel Alishauskas. Marking 20 years are Katherine Eggers, Dianne Gizowski, Billie Reigles, Kevin Beers, Diane Smith, Robert Durler, Heidi Ruff, Theresa Yantz and James Marks. Celebrating 25 years Nanette LaTourette, Kimberly Martin, Macie Davis, Timothy Crumb, Joseph Ingrassia and Melisa Johnson. Two employees, Carolyn Pasternak and Shirley Pike, are celebrating 30 year anniversaries, and Janet Tumminia was recognized for 35 years of service. District Superintendent Michael Rullo congratulated all on their dedication to the students we serve, and the completion of another successful year!
A diverse group of stakeholders from within our DCMO region gathered Wednesday night at the Alan D. Pole Campus for a community planning session. The group included DCMO BOCES Board of Education members, DCMO BOCES admiistrators, faculty, and staff, component district representatives, business partners, parents, and students. The session was facilitated by Kevin McGowan of Leadership Solutions Advisors, LLC, a consultant group that has supported districts and BOCES across the state with this process for many years. It was a productive evening, and the insights will help guide the 2024 DCMO BOCES Strategic Plan development process as it continues on to its next stages. Thank you to all our participants!
DCMO BOCES celebrated the graduation of 22 students from the Practical Nursing Program Tuesday night, in a ceremony at the Alan D. Pole Campus in Norwich. Graduating in the Class of 2024 are Jada Albin, Gabriela Andrades, Evan Bates, Alexis Carr, Hunter Corey, Amanda Coulouris, Barbara Craver, Marissa Cuozzo, Jessica Grabo, Tori Henderson, Mallory Holbert, Tiffany Huffine, Sarah Konu, Sarah Matteson, Joanne McCauley, Alicia Mister, Danyel Muthig, Kacey Neer, Gregory O’Bryan, Shyanne Stilson, Sheri Soules and Kristine Taylor. Several students were recognized with awards, including Valedictorian Shyanne Stilson, Salutatorian Evan Bates, Barbara Craver, who received the Rising Star Award, Danyel Muthig, Outstanding Clinical Nurse Award, and Sheri Soules, who received the Nightingale Award for academic and clinical support of her fellow students. Congratulations– we are so proud of your accomplishment!
The DCMO BOCES Backpack Program received a donation from Sidney Federal Credit Union on Monday. Rebecca Hedlund, SFCU Membership Engagement Officer, and Denys Soto, SFCU Membership Services Coordinator, presented a $1,000 check to Sara Stafford, Director of Special Education for DCMO BOCES. The donation follows the Real World Money Edition events that SFCU recently sponsored at the two DCMO BOCES campuses, through the DCMO BOCES Enrichment Program, coordinated by Martha Ryan, also pictured (left). What a generous donation from a valued partner!
Good luck to DCMO BOCES student Justina Parsons from Greene as she competes in the Welding Sculpture category at the SkillsUSA National Competition this week in Atlanta, Georgia. Justina is shown with SkillsUSA advisors Erin Engle-Thomas and Ann French, and Pole Campus Welding InstructorJaan Arismaa.
Students in the DCMO BOCES Welding program at Pole Campus wrapped up a busy year working on a project for the Chenango County Agricultural Society (Chenango County Fair). The students made animal silhouettes that will be placed around the fairgrounds. The students involved making these yard stake-style silhouettes were (left to right) Ryan Drake, Aiden Whaley, Arrington James, and Cyrus Graham. The students operated our CNC plasma table and cut the animal shapes out, then cold-formed the stakes and welded them on. They then did a final cleanup with wire wheels for paint. A big shoutout to White’s Welding of Edmeston, which let senior Zachary Cummings use their CNC machine to cut the large cow and horse figures. Zachary designed the two pieces using CAD software. In addition to helping with this project, White’s Welding has hired Zachary to work for them!
We recognized our Career and Technical Education students Thursday night at the DCMO BOCES Alan D. Pole Campus. The Student Recognition Night celebrated our CTE students and their accomplishments, including completion of programs, attainment of certifications, endorsements, licensure and other professional credentials. We’re proud of their achievements, and appreciate all who have supported them along their paths.
DCMO BOCES Alan D. Pole Campus held a graduation ceremony for their full-day students this afternoon. 13 students participated in the event, which was attended by family, friends, teachers, administrators and other staff. We are so proud of their accomplishment!
Our Pole Campus graduating seniors had a busy morning, prepping their caps and gowns, rehearsing the graduation ceremony, and enjoying the traditional “senior walk” through the school. It’s a milestone day!
Career and Technical Education students at the DCMO BOCES Robert W. Harrold Campus were honored at a Student Recognition ceremony Tuesday night. CTE students were recognized for completion of programs, attainment of certifications and other credentials, and honored with a number of awards and scholarships. We’re proud of their achievements, and appreciate all who have supported them along their paths.
The end-of-the-year festivities for our Harrold Campus graduating seniors began Tuesday morning with a "senior walk" in cap and gown through the halls, with applause, signs and high fives for the students. The students were honored later in the day in a graduation ceremony.
DCMO BOCES Robert W. Harrold Campus held a graduation ceremony for their full-day students this afternoon. 14 students participated in the event, which was attended by family, friends, teachers, administrators and other staff. We are so proud of their accomplishment!
The DCMO BOCES Enrichment Education Program partnered with Sidney Federal Credit Union last week to deliver a hands-on financial learning experience for students. The SFCU “Real World Money Edition” event was a budgeting workshop, ingeniously presented as a life simulation game. The event was held at the DCMO BOCES Harrold Campus in Sidney Center on June 5 and at the Pole Campus in Norwich on June 6, and was attended by both DCMO BOCES students and students from other area schools.
Students, guided by volunteers at designated revenue or expense tables, could construct a budget using real-life circumstances that impact a budget, such as salaries, student loans, and family expenses. SFCU staff and industry representatives from Delhi Telephone Company, Curly Wealth Management, and SUNY Oneonta manned the different tables at the Harrold Campus location, helping students make smart choices while visiting the different stations. In Norwich, the SFCU staff were joined by representatives from SUNY Oneonta, Curly Wealth Management, and Keller Williams Group.
Besides students from various DCMO BOCES programs, students from nine area school districts participated in the financial education experience, including Afton CSD, Bainbridge-Guilford CSD, Franklin CSD, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton CSD, Otselic Valley CSD, Unadilla Valley CSD, Unatego CSD, and Walton CSD.
Dianne Gizowski, Curriculum Coordinator for DCMO BOCES Instructional Support Services, holds up a game as she leads Math Games for Fluency, a professional learning workshop for area teachers that took place today in the Support Services Center in Norwich. Teachers from DCMO BOCES Harrold Campus, Unatego CSD, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton and Unadilla Valley attended. DCMO BOCES Instructional Support Services provides a full schedule of professional learning opportunities – visit www.dcmoboces.com/page/instructional-support-services to find out more.
This week at the June 5th DCMO BOCES Board of Education meeting, retiring employees were celebrated and honored for their years of service dedicated to students at the BOCES.
“On the occasion of your retirement from our organization. As you leave DCMO BOCES, it is our hope that you will follow your passion in whatever direction you go in life. Best wishes for the future and thank you for your dedication to DCMO BOCES.”
Honored retirees include Cathy Honrath, Joseph Ingrassia, Jennifer Joslyn, Carolee Morse, Carolyn Pasternak, Sandi Sheldon, Ron Pike (not pictured), Shirley Pike (not pictured), and Diane smith (not pictured).
Students and staff at DCMO BOCES Harrold Campus stuffed a lot of fluff into bears, goats and other plush critters Monday! It was all part of the Build-A-Bear event, sponsored by the school SkillsUSA chapter as a community building project. In all, they stuffed 218 plush animals. Thanks to the SkillsUSA members and advisors who organized this fun event!
DCMO BOCES Business Manager and Treasurer Taylor Briggs was honored today with the New School Business Official of the Year Award from the Association of School Business Officials New York at the annual ASBO New York Education Summit, held in Saratoga Springs. Pictured are Randy Pryor, DCMO BOCES Director of Finance, Craig Briggs, Taylor Briggs, Kirstie Hoffman, Principal Account Clerk/Deputy Treasurer, and Gina Partipelo, Payroll Coordinator. Congratulations, Taylor!
On Thursday May 16th, fifteen students from the DCMO BOCES Harrold Campus Conservation program traveled to Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks to compete in the New York State Conservation Contests. Thirteen BOCES and Tech Ed programs from across the state competed against one another in program curriculum competitions such as tree identification, maple identification and knowledge, heavy equipment operation, tree felling and forestry. The students also competed in traditional woodsmen’s contests. The students were accompanied by teachers Tim Crumb, Jake Sweet and Braeden Williams from Pole Campus and Zack Whittaker, Nanette Latourette, Amanda Larsen and Ken Larsen from Harrold Campus.
Harrold Campus students placed in the top three of seven different contests, including three first place winners. First place in the Bulldozer Backfilling competition was senior Larry Meeker from Afton, first place in Excavator Operation was junior Justin Hogancamp from Afton, and senior Connor Derr from Unatego won the Maple competition. Also placing from the Harrold Campus was Morgan Barnes and Landon Ruling, 2nd and 3rd in Maple, Robert Black, 3rd in Tree Felling, Alexes Sousa and Robert Black 3rd in Peavey Log Roll, and Jacob Butts and Alexes Sousa, 2nd in Crosscut Saw. Connor Derr and Gavin Gifford took 3rd place in the Team Fire Build contest.
On Thursday May 16th, fifteen students from the DCMO BOCES Pole Campus Conservation program traveled to Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks to compete in the New York State Conservation Contests. Thirteen BOCES and Tech Ed programs from across the state competed against one another in program curriculum competitions such as tree identification, maple identification and knowledge, heavy equipment operation, tree felling and forestry. The students also competed in traditional woodsmen’s contests. The students were accompanied by teachers Tim Crumb, Jake Sweet and Braeden Williams from Pole Campus and Zack Whittaker, Nanette Latourette, Amanda Larsen and Ken Larsen from Harrold Campus.
Pole Campus students placed in the top three of six different contests, including a first place winner. Joe Thomsen took first place in the Bulldozer Log Roll, Jaden Webb placed 3rd in Bulldozer Trenching, Nick Palmer placed 3rd in the Log Skidder contest, Wyatt Meade and Tanner Sullivan placed 3rd in the 2-Person Crosscut contest, Riley Jones placed 2nd Log Scaling, and Kelcie Tefft placed 2nd place in the Female Pulp Throw.
