On November 5-7, 2023, four students and their advisors from The Alan D. Pole Campus attended the SkillsUSA Fall Leadership Conference in Albany, NY. Students participated in group trainings and activities that centered around the SkillsUSA Framework. These students plan to take what they have learned and share it with other SkillsUSA members in our chapter.
The Robert W. Harrold Campus celebrated Native American Month with a great meal at lunchtime, inspired by Native American traditions: Three Sisters Stew with Boulette (boiled meatballs) and Cornbread Muffins, accompanied by fruit and milk. Delicious! The world is full of tasty and interesting food, and each month the campus food service picks an international cuisine to celebrate, complete with flags! Hats off to Lisa, Brandi, Mike and Connie for today’s feast!
On November 5-7, 2023, six students from the DCMO BOCES Robert W. Harrold campus attended the SkillsUSA Fall Leadership conference in Albany, NY. The students participated in leadership training focusing on the SkillsUSA framework. Pictured from left to right: Cailyn Wood, CNA, Unatego; Aireonna Beardalee, CNA, Walton; Hailey Byam, Culinary Arts, Unatego; McKenna Tilley, Culinary Arts, GMU; Baylee Lowe, CNA, Unatego; and Rosanna Lambert, Culinary Arts, Sidney.
The Pole Campus College and Career Center team has been busy, preparing students for life after graduation! The Assistant Director of Financial Aid from SUNY Morrisville recently presented a Financial Aid 101 Workshop to graduating Seniors; we’ll also be hosting a working session with students and parents in January once the new improved FAFSA is available. An Admissions representative from Mohawk Valley Community College also provided an informational table to Juniors and Seniors. The Armed Services Voluntary Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) was administered on November 1, and our comprehensive Career Exploration program will be starting in just a few weeks!
Educational professionals from several area school districts attended a Science Investigations (Grades 3, 4, 5) professional learning workshop at the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center in Norwich today. A second Science Investigations (Grades 6, 7, 8) will take place Tuesday. The investigations are hands-on laboratory experiences that prepare students for the written Elementary- and Intermediate-level Science Tests measuring the NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards that are scheduled to be first administered in Grades 5 and 8 in Spring 2024. Betsy Hartnett, Assistant Director of Instructional Technology & School Library System presented today’s investigations, part of the many professional learning opportunities available to component school districts through DCMO BOCES Instructional Support Services.
Educational professionals from several area school districts attended “Using the FBA and BIP Process to Support Students Needing Intensive Intervention,” a professional learning workshop presented Wednesday and Thursday at the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center in Norwich. The training was led by Gretchen Jones, Behavioral Specialist with the Regional Partnership Center. This was one of the professional learning opportunities available to component school districts through DCMO BOCES Instructional Support Services.
Sgt. Shaffer and Sgt. Winter from the US Air Force visited the Security and Law classes on the Pole Campus today, speaking to students about opportunities with the Air Force, what they could expect, and how students enlist. Specifically, Sgts. Shaffer and Winter talked about security careers in the Air Force. Students were able to get some great information so they can make informed choices about careers.
Preschool and daycare children from DCMO BOCES Pole Campus in Norwich visited the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center this morning, showing off their fun costumes and maybe collecting a treat or two. Employees at the center certainly enjoyed the visit!
The Pole Campus Senior Carpentry and Building Trades students are busy working with the Chenango County Historical Society and the Rogers Environmental Education Center on a Sap House deconstruction/reconstruction project. The goal of the project is to disassemble the replica sap house on the Historical Society Campus, catalog the pieces, and reassemble the Sap House on the Rogers Center campus for use in the upcoming sapping season. Thanks to Jessica Moquin, Executive Director at CCHS and David Carson, Director at the Rogers Environmental Education Center for partnering with the DCMO BOCES CTE Work Experience program.
Teachers from 10 area school districts participated in LETRS professional learning at the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center this week. LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is a professional learning course for instructors of reading, spelling, and related language skills. Over the twos days of training for LETRS Volume 1 & 2, teachers from the following district were in attendance: Bainbridge-Guilford CSD, South Kortright CSD, Hancock CSD, Cooperstown CSD, Andes CSD, Oxford Academy CSD, Delaware Academy CSD at Delhi, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton CSD, Afton CSD, and Downsville CSD. The sessions were led by Karen Ocque, LETRS Professional Learning Facilitator.
Two students from the Conservation and Heavy Equipment program at the Pole Campus are participating in a work experience with the Town of Plymouth Highway Department. Carson Rothwell and Zavier Bucksbee are hard at work on Pike Hill Road completing ditch work for the upcoming winter season. Thanks to Louie Redenback, current Town of Plymouth Highway Superintendent, for participating with the DCMO BOCES CTE Work Experience program!
Two DCMO BOCES employees have received recognition for their work from the New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA). Dean Russin, Public Information Specialist, was awarded an Award of Excellence for Social Media and an Award of Honor for Photography in the 2023 NYSPRA Communications Contest. Annette Bagnall, Graphic Designer II, received an Award of Honor for Strategic Campaign in the annual contest. Russin received both of his awards for work he did for Sherburne-Earlville Central School District, one of two area school districts he works with as a Public Information Specialist. Both the “A Star Is Born!” social media campaign and the photograph were from the “Marshall Man” movie project and premiere. Russin was recognized by NYSPRA last year as well. Bagnall received her Award of Honor in the Strategic Campaign category for the work done on the CTE Month promotion last February. The creative theme of the campaign recognized by NYSPRA was This is my classroom, emphasizing the CTE classroom for its unique hands-on learning for both high school students and young adults.
Ian Williams, representative from the Northeast Council of Carpenters, spoke with students in Building Trades classes at the Pole Campus in Norwich about careers with the union and what it takes to succeed in that type of setting. Students learned about benefits and pay, longevity, training and education, and different opportunities within the Carpenter's Union.
Congratulations to Assistant Director of Instructional Technologies and Coordinator of School Library System Betsy Hartnett. She and Ms. Catalina Charles, Otselic Valley CSD School Librarian, presented last week at the national conference of the American Association of School Librarians in Tampa, Florida. The AASL National Conference is the only national conference devoted solely to the needs of school librarians, and is held every two years in rotating locations around the country.
Thank you for representing DCMO BOCES on the national stage!
DCMO BOCES held a monthly Principals Meeting last Wednesday at the Support Services Center in Norwich. Principals who attended joined professional learning breakout sessions on subjects specific to elementary or high school/middle school principals. The monthly Principals Meetings are one of the professional learning opportunities available to component school districts through DCMO BOCES Instructional Support Services.
Come join our team!
On October 4, 2023 the Pole Campus CTE Early Childhood Education students went on a field trip to Peila View Farms in Oxford, NY. This was an opportunity for these emerging professionals to learn what is needed in order to prepare for a successful field trip with younger children. These students also learned how to provide self-directed educational experiences for each activity. Thank you, Peila View, for hosting our visit again this year!
Have a look at all the "Halloween Hair" on the Pole Campus! It's a project Cosmetology and Barbering students at the DCMO BOCES Pole Campus enjoy every October.
First Day of School!
Tuesday was the first day Ms. Acunto’s elementary class was held in their new classroom, at their new school. The class moved from DCMO BOCES Pole Campus in Norwich to the Gilbertsville-Mount Upton School, which is now hosting them. Students have their own classroom – fully set up in the last few days by Operations and Maintenance staff from BOCES and G-MU, complete with familiar furnishings and their own previous work hanging on the wall inside and outside the room. The students will also be able to participate in music and physical education classes with their G-MU peers, attend lunch, and enjoy the school playground. Ms. Acunto is being assisted in the classroom by DCMO BOCES aide Leeann Hagen and Jennifer Greenman, who is provided by the Afton School District. Director of Special Education Sara Stafford also joined the class for their first day.
Teachers from a number of area schools took part in Elementary and Intermediate Science Investigations workshops on Tuesday. The workshops were held at the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center in Norwich, and were taught by Betsy Hartnett, Assistant Director of Instructional Technology & School Library System, assisted by Nan Gizowski and Kerry Simmons of the Instructional Support Services team. The teachers left with some new “investigations” to integrate into their class instruction. The investigations are hands-on laboratory experiences that prepare students for the written Elementary- and Intermediate-level Science Tests measuring the NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards that are scheduled to be first administered in Grades 5 and 8 in Spring 2024.
