Parents sample typical classroom experiences

Bring a Parent to School Day attracts 135 guests

In the day-to-day routine of life, how often do parents really get an insider’s view of what their teenagers’ school day is like?

What if you got the chance to come to school with your teen, walk the halls, sit in the classroom, and do everything your child does on a typical day? That is what “Bring a Parent to School Day” is all about at HFM BOCES.

On the last Friday in April, BOCES teachers and staff welcome parents and guests to participate in a typical school day alongside their children. Visitors get the chance to see and hear what goes on in the classroom and sample the hands-on instruction that is equipping their child for a career after high school.

School counselor Kathleen Daly explained that the special day has been held for “at least 10 years” and is well attended. This year’s event attracted 135 parents.

[more]

HFM students are on the road to new career thanks to CDL training program

Almost every item you see at your local store arrived there by truck. Trucks deliver everything from automobiles to canned food. According to the American Trucking Association, 70 percent of all freight tonnage in the U.S. is moved by truck. This huge industry supports more than nine million jobs, including nearly three and a half million truck drivers.

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a truck driver, consider the HFM BOCES CDL course, which offers 35 hours of comprehensive hands-on training.

Click here to read more about the CDL program.

School districts approve HFM BOCES budget
and elect three board members

On April 30, the 15 component school districts of HFM BOCES unanimously approved HFM’s 2008-09 operating budget of $28,766,683 and also elected three members to HFM’s Board of Education. Their terms will begin July 1.

• Harold Walker of Canajoharie was re-elected to a three-year term. He first joined the board on July 1, 2002.

• Harry Wiggins of Gloversville was elected to his first term on the HFM BOCES board. He will serve a three-year term, replacing Josephine Watts who chose not to run for re-election this year after serving 24 years on the board.

• James Beirlein of Northville was elected to his first term on the BOCES board. He will serve for one year, filling the remainder of the term held by Peter Raneri, Sr. until his death in January at the age of 94.

Area BOCES work together to help prepare students for 21st Century learning

HFM BOCES has partnered with three other BOCES to develop resources and programs that will help area students prepare for the educational and employment demands of the 21st century.

Known collectively as the Joint Management Team (JMT), the four BOCES and their 93 component school districts fall within the geographic area known as “New York’s Tech Valley.”

New York’s Tech Valley may seem synonymous with Advanced Micro Devices' chip fabrication plant that has been proposed for the Luther Forest Technology Park near Saratoga Springs. However, Tech Valley also includes the Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, IBM, Sematech, Map Info, and more.

Tech Valley also refers to the accompanying development of support and related businesses. [more]

HFM establishes new FAX phone numbers

All FAX numbers at the HFM BOCES campus on Route 67 in Johnstown were changed, effective April 15, to accommodate updates to the campus telephone system.

Click here for a list of new FAX numbers by department.

HFM students tie in national competition

5-hour contest focuses on skills, safety, and teamwork

“Stayed busy”… “worked hard”… “worked together”… “got things done.”

Those were the comments of both judges and spectators who watched two HFM BOCES construction students compete in a residential building skills competition during the International Builders Show in Orlando, Fla. in February.

HFM’s team of Alicia Santos and Jared Gendreau tied in the national competition, well matched against a two-person from a three-year technical high school in Florida.

Four HFM BOCES construction students won the opportunity to attend the national convention by participating in the first-ever Student Residential Construction Competition at the New York State Builders Show in Syracuse last October. Alicia and Jared, and their classmates Rob Reinig and Aaron Suelter, represented HFM in Florida as one of only seven high school programs attending the convention through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the trade association that sponsored both events. [more]

HFM BOCES wins $650,000 state grant
to build network of technology mentors

Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES has been awarded a $650,000, two-year Enhancing Education Through Technology grant that in part will give middle school students the chance to teach their teachers about technology.

Area teachers and students from 30 public and private middle schools in the HFM BOCES and WSWHE BOCES region will collaborate to use technology as a tool to improve student performance in English language arts, mathematics and science. The state is offering this grant to help meet the federal goal that all students will demonstrate technology literacy by the end of eighth grade. [more]

Schools can now access TeachingBooks.net

Online service is designed to boost interest in reading

Every student, teacher, parent and school library media specialist in the HFM BOCES service area now has free online access to see and hear the best creators of books for children and teens - thanks to the HFM BOCES School Library System providing TeachingBooks.net for the entire school community.

TeachingBooks.net is an online service designed to generate enthusiasm for books and reading by compiling original content and the best of the Web's book and author resources all in one place. Original author programs from TeachingBooks.net bring award-winning authors and illustrators directly into libraries and classrooms, allowing students to learn first hand how ideas, art and text come together to create a book. [more]

Sign Language Club is 'Neet'

HFM BOCES special education teacher Helen Neet is always in “go” mode. Walking through the halls of Jansen Avenue Elementary School in Johnstown, she continually pats a head, offers direction, or answers a commonly asked question: “How do you say this in sign language?” Mrs. Neet, who teaches hard-of-hearing and deaf students, said she heard the question so often that she knew the time was right to offer a sign-language club for all Jansen Avenue students. [more]

Board of Education developing master plan

The HFM BOCES Board of Education is developing a five-year strategic master plan that will focus on programs, services, facilities and the organization’s structure.

As part of that effort, the Board will focus on enrollment, effectiveness, cost drivers and customer satisfaction for one program area each year, beginning with special education in 2007-08.

HFM adopts standardized mileage chart

Employees are required to submit mileage claims based on established distances

Effective July 31, HFM BOCES staff must base their requests for mileage reimbursement on a “maximum mileage” chart that was adopted by the HFM BOCES Board of Education in July.

This chart establishes a specific maximum number of miles that HFM will reimburse employees for their travel between designated locations.

Employees can log on to Yahoo Maps to calculate mileage between locations not included on this chart.
[more]

Looking for more news? Click here.

[top of page]