CSI BOCES

A suspicious vehicle, a bloody corpse, plenty of clues—it's just a training exercise

MAY 9, 2013 - From a distance, it looks uncomfortably real. However, closer observation reveals that the flashing police lights and yellow crime scene tape are set dressing for a realistic training exercise. Students from HFM BOCES Criminal Justice program are collecting evidence and searching for clues as part of their instruction in crime scene investigation. [more]

VaROOM!

Universal Technical Institute racecar catches everyone’s attention at HFM BOCES

MAY 9, 2013 - Heads turned and faces appeared in classroom windows when the 800 hp engine of a retired NASCAR racer revved in the parking lot. Universal Technical Institute had stopped by HFM BOCES to make a very audible and visual pitch for its programs. [more]

OESJ Board of Education selects district's first superintendent

Laura Campione Lawrence a unanimous choice
as district leader

MAY 8, 2013 - The Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School District Board of Education has unanimously selected current St. Johnsville Superintendent Laura Campione Lawrence to be the first superintendent of the newly merged district.

The board selected Campione Lawrence following its interview with her Tuesday, May 7. Campione Lawrence will be formally appointed to the position once contract details are negotiated. [more]

Network Team update

New summer workshop catalogs • Classroom visits

MAY 8, 2013 - "We are so excited to be visiting classrooms this month to witness Common Core in action," Network Team Teacher Maryann Ivancic said. The HFM BOCES Network Team is hitting the road to see firsthand the teaching and learning going on in component school districts related to the Common Core shifts and module implementation.

The team has also released catalogs of summer professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators. Read more updates and download your catalog here.

Career Awareness Day showcases potential futures for area students

MAY 6, 2013 - More than 1,000 eighth grade students from school districts throughout the HFM BOCES region converged on Fulton Montgomery Community College on Friday, May 3, to meet with nearly two dozen area businesses at a career awareness day. Not quite a job fair, the event was intended to help students become familiar with the kind of career opportunities that exist within a short distance of their hometown. [more]

Breaking down barriers

Portable speech-generating device opens lines of communication for students with disabilities

MAY 2, 2013 - Holly stares at a picture of a girl on the screen of her DynaVox Maestro.

“My name is Holly,” says the electronic voice of the machine in front of her.

Holly, 15, has a condition that affects her ability to communicate verbally and her muscle control. She’s not able to use touch-screen devices as some of her classmates do.

Instead, she has a special device that has been added to her DynaVox Maestro called an EyeMax. The EyeMax measures the heat of her pupils to sense what she is trying to “say.” [more]

It’s not science fiction; robots enter the classroom

MAY 2, 2013 - Students at Mayfield Elementary School had a real-life robot encounter on Friday, April 19.

Zena, a NAO robot, and her human companion, Teq’s John Crotty, visited with HFM BOCES students in Nancy Turnbull’s special education class as well as those in STEP educator and ITS teacher Samantha Mulford-Phillip’s class.

Zena entertained students as she danced “Gangnam Style,” sang, coordinated a picture recognition card game and escorted students around the room while holding their hands.  [more]

Alternative HS Honor Roll announced

MAY 1, 2013 - At the conclusion of the third quarter of the 2012-13 school year, three students at the HFM BOCES Alternative High School were named to the Honor Roll for maintaining an average between 85 and 90 in all their course work. Wells 12th grader Alexandra Babcock was named to the High Honor Roll for an average above 90. [more]

NYS' Property Tax Levy 'Cap'

What is it and how does it affect our public schools?

Looking for more news? Click here.

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