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June 2023
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Message from the District Superintendent:
There is an organizational psychologist from the Wharton School of Business named Adam Grant, who I follow on Twitter (@AdamMGrant) and have read several of his books. A little while ago, he tweeted the following: “Success is not about winning a competition. It’s about making a contribution. Takers aim to be better than others. Givers strive to bring out the best in others. The most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed.” That tweet was accompanied by this image drawn by Liz and Mollie.
When I read it, I thought — that’s what I see in our staff and that’s what I’m striving to have our organization become. OCM BOCES, by definition, is a cooperative, and we are only successful when we help others succeed. In our case, “others” are the students and staff in our component districts and all of our stakeholder groups that we exist to serve. Finishing up the 2022-23 school year saw much of this kind of success, and you’ll see the pages of this edition of BOCES Bits brimming with examples. One of my favorites was the Cortland County Olympiad, which we helped host for the first time this year and is our lead article this month.
We also have had several graduations (four more to go, as I write this) for our K-12 programs, which is one of the best examples of “givers” bringing out the best in others. Our staff goes above and beyond for our students and it is not an exaggeration to say that many of the scholars that graduate from our programs would not be graduating without the hard work and dedication of the OCM BOCES team. My deepest gratitude for all you do.
Also, we recently had our annual retiree reception, which was a lovely event where our Board of Education and Cabinet got together to say thanks to those leaving OCM for their next chapter. That night we had more than 200 years of OCM institutional memory in the room and in total we have more than 500 years of experience leaving our organization this cycle. You cannot be replaced, though we will need to find a way to continue the work with a new team of givers in the next school year.
For those OCM teammates who are wrapping up their school year and getting ready for summer vacation, I hope you find joy and peace and meaningful ways to spend your time. I’m sure that won’t be a challenge. For the 12-month employees like me, I’ll see you soon, and while we might not have the whole summer off, I hope you find some time to laugh, learn and love while reflecting on how we might make a contribution to the success of others in the coming year.
With gratitude,
Matt
Matthew L. Cook, Ed.D.
District Superintendent
OCM BOCES
188 student-athletes shine in first-ever Cortland County Olympiad
It was the perfect setting for the inaugural Cortland County Olympiad at SUNY Cortland — sunny skies, comfortable temperatures, dedicated district partners, about 100 student volunteers, and 188 smiling and energetic student-athletes enjoying a variety of sporting events, games, face painting, and food.
In addition to showcasing students from OCM BOCES, the event featured student-athletes from Cincinnatus, Cortland, Homer, Marathon, McGraw, and Tully. High-energy volunteers (including a group from Seven Valleys New Tech Academy), furry mascots and a boisterous crowd waved pom-poms and signs and cheered as students entered the SUNY Cortland stadium. The student-athletes walked around the track with signs and colorful T-shirts for an opening parade, then competed in running, jumping and throwing events and a variety of activities on the grassy inner field. A band from the DeRuyter Central School District provided upbeat music throughout the day. On the sidelines, a resource fair with community organizations provided information for families and other visitors.
“It was truly a remarkable day,” Deputy Superintendent Colleen Viggiano said. “We have already started planning for next year!”
Colleen thanked everyone who helped with the event, including Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Rosanna Grund, Ed.D., Special Education Assistant Director Bryan Finlon, all of the Cortland County school superintendents, Physical Education teachers Sean Feeney and Kevin Szul, and staff who partnered with OCM BOCES to kick off the event.
Families and guests pack CTE, New Vision and CDOS graduations for Onondaga County and Cortland-area students
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.
Similarly, it was wall-to-wall guests inside the auditorium at Homer Intermediate School, where about 213 students graduated on June 8 from CTE and New Vision programs at the Cortlandville Campus.
At both events, students heard from a CTE alum who has done exceptionally well in their field, resulting in a “CTE Alumni Hall of Fame” award and a plaque that will hang on a dedicated wall in their respective campuses.
In Onondaga County, graduates heard from Samantha Maxsween, Cosmetology Class of 2010, who now owns a "Snip Its Cuts for Kids" franchise in Cicero and in Hudson, Ohio. In Cortland County, students heard from Gerald Henry, Class of 1993, a partner in the Priority Fire Apparatus and Service Center in Cortland, a business that grew out of the automotive technology skills he learned at OCM BOCES. Henry has kept his ties to OCM BOCES by having interns work at his garage.
Exceptional business partners were honored as well. WCNY was named “Business Partner of the Year” in Onondaga County because of its dedication to students through our embedded Media Marketing Communications program. In Cortland, CAPCO (Cortland County Community Action Program, Inc.) was honored for hosting the Early Childhood Education program and consistently supporting OCM BOCES in other ways.
Here are some photos from the events:
Thompson Road
Cortlandville
Celebrations continue with graduations at Main Campus and Cortlandville
Joy was abundant during Special Education graduation ceremonies this month at the OCM BOCES Main Campus and Cortlandville Campus.
In Onondaga County, 29 students graduated on June 8 from the Crossroads, LaFayette, Baker TEAM, TEP, Stellata and Onondaga Community College Transition programs. At the Cortlandville Campus, 16 students graduated from the Cortland TEAM, Homer STAR, Stellata, Transition, and Turning Point programs.
At both ceremonies, students received accolades for their tremendous progress and walked across the stage to shake hands with OCM BOCES and district administrators. Families and guests celebrated with cake, balloons, and plenty of photos.
Congratulations to all of our amazing students! We are proud of you, we will miss you, and we will be cheering for your continued growth and success. Here are some photos from the events. Other OCM BOCES graduations were taking place after the BOCES Bits deadline.
Cortland
Onondaga County
Preschool students graduate with help from OCM BOCES scholars
Early Childhood Education students at theThompson Road Campus celebrated graduation on June 2 with their Crayon Box Preschool students and a room full of beaming family members and friends. Each child stood on a wooden bridge as these high school scholars celebrated their unique qualities, their favorite things to do, and their love of learning. Teacher Melissa Kershner runs the program, where students in both the morning and afternoon classes oversee a preschool program.
Upstate Trauma visits New Vision Medical students
A team from Upstate Trauma visited OCM BOCES recently for a “Let’s Not Meet By Accident” and “Stop The Bleed” presentation for New Vision Medical Professions students at the Thompson Road Campus. Students learned about the importance of safe driving and the dangers of distracted driving. Additionally, these future healthcare workers learned how to control bleeding in a life-threatening situation.
First-ever Equity Summit set for July 11-12 at Le Moyne College
Under the direction of DEI Coordinator Alyssa Haymore in Instructional Support Services, as well as other members of the ISS team, the first annual Equity Summit at Le Moyne College in July will feature an impressive lineup of speakers and presenters.
Keynote speakers include Jose Vilson, Huda Essa of Culture Links, LLC, and author and teacher Matthew Kay. In addition, an author panel representing Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) panel will include Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Susan Tan, and Ellen Oh.
Most recently, Assistant Superintendent for ISS Doreen Bergman announced a big guest at the event: Dr. Bernadine Futrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Equity and Discretional Grants and Support Services for the U.S. Department of Education, will attend the summit and offer a special welcome for guests on the first day.
Learn more about the summit and each speaker and presenter at ocmboces.org.
Register here if you are interested in attending.
Congratulations to our OCM BOCES retirees!
The OCM BOCES Board of Education joined administrators and other guests before its June 15 meeting to celebrate the contributions of 26 OCM BOCES employees who collectively have given our organization more than 200 years of service. The celebration included a slide show, tributes to each attendee, an Italian feast from Santagelo’s, presents and cake.
Congratulations to our 2022-2033 retirees! We appreciate you, thank you, and wish you much health and happiness as you pursue this new phase of your life.
- Francene Ball
- James Bender
- Gregory Bilodeau
- Wendy Buck
- James Capone
- Cheryl DeForest
- Karen Dewitt
- Denise Enright
- Kathleen Franz
- Tina Gilligan
- Phil Grome
- Teresa Harris-Folsom
- Cynthia Hoare
- Sheri Kershner
- Dianne Lammi
- Robert Littlehale
- Kathleen Martin
- Matthew McGivney
- Gail Murphy
- Debra Pachoud-Winchell
- JoLynne Pollard
- Cynthia Seeley
- Sharon Sharp
- Patrick Shaw
- Sue Sperger
- John Wisniewski
Reading rumble: CNY School Library Systems’ thrilling bookish throwdown
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” in May and June.
Organized by the O²CM School Library System (SLS), this virtual quiz competition brought together students from a wide variety of schools, creating an atmosphere of excitement and healthy competition.
O²CM SLS Librarian Heather Turner expressed her delight with the program. She is one of the primary organizers behind the virtual contest.
"It is one of my favorite programs because we can interact and engage with students directly," she said.
Who were the winners? Read the full summary at ocmboces.org.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s …
SuperLibrarians! Central New York School Librarians honored four exceptional SuperLibrarians this year.
O²CM School Library System (SLS), under the direction of Coordinator Allison Comes, sponsored the keynote speaker, author Dusti Bowling, at the awards ceremony. Bowling also visited nine local schools, including schools in Phoenix, Central Square, Jamesville-DeWitt, and Cortland. Bowling shared her story with students and librarians alike.
“Her connection with readers is unparalleled, as is her deep understanding of the power of books to tell stories and represent all readers,” SLS Librarian Heather Turner said. “Dusti Bowling has been on an unstoppable writing spree since releasing her first middle-grade novel in 2017.” You can find out more about her here.
The capes, bullhorns, and awards for SuperLibrarians went to (from left to right in the top photo) Deb Abbott from Stonehedge Elementary School in the West Genesee Central School District; Kate Shanahan from C.S. Driver Middle School in the Marcellus Central School District; Serena Waldron of Fitzhugh Park Elementary School in Oswego; and Aja Hahn of Weedsport Elementary School and Weedsport Junior/Senior High School in the Weedsport Central School District. Congratulations to all!
Students honored with ‘Tools for Success’
Students who excel in several Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs at the OCM BOCES Thompson Road Campus were honored in May at the annual "Tools for Success" awards ceremony.
The ceremony is unique because each student receives a physical "tool" for their success, including a Snap-On screwdriver for the automotive students, a helmet or shield for the welding students, and an Estwing framing hammer and tool belt for the construction students. Culinary students with plans to continue in the field receive a $1,000 college scholarship from "Two Chefs from Above," a non-profit organization that created the scholarships to memorialize two young men killed in a Syracuse-area restaurant shooting in 2018.
Which business partners contributed to these tools? Which students were honored? Go to ocmboces.org to find out more.
Seven Valleys students explore college, career options
Seniors at Seven Valleys New Tech Academy who are interested in going into the workforce after high school recently attended a job fair at SUNY Cortland with school counselor Elizabeth Henrichs (far right in photo). For those who are interested in college, students also attended a college fair at Le Moyne College, where they spoke to representatives from a wide variety of universities and collected information to take home. For more information about activities at Seven Valleys, check out their Facebook page.
Students showcase “civic readiness” at Innovation Tech
Seniors at Innovation Tech who are pursuing the new “Seal of Civic Readiness “ on their diplomas showcased their hard work recently to OCM BOCES administrators and other educators.
Throughout the school year, seniors who are pursuing the seal researched civic Issues and economic policies and completed service learning projects. Students in other OCM BOCES programs also pursued the Seal of Civic Readiness this year, and Instructional Support Services has been involved in this effort by offering training and guidance to our component districts. According to the New York State Education Department, the seal on a high school transcript:
- shows the student’s understanding of a commitment to participatory government; civic responsibility and civic values;
- demonstrates to universities, colleges, and future employers that the student has completed an action project in civics or social justice; and
- recognizes the value of civic engagement and scholarship.
For more information about activities at Innovation Tech, check out their Facebook page.
BOCES students work as interns at the CNYRIC
The Central New York Regional Information Center recently hosted two OCM BOCES students from Liverpool as interns. Jack Fisselbrand (in left photo with Thomas Geddings) worked with the computer repair technicians, and Amar Hukic shadowed the CNYRIC’s network technicians (in right photo with Motahar Ali). The students started by touring the CNYRIC to obtain a sense of our entire operation. Their work involved repairing computer hardware, troubleshooting network problems, and configuring applications. Their daily progress was tracked in the CNYRIC’s ticketing system.
It’s almost here! Sign up today for the Jack Gallaher Golf Tournament on Aug. 9
This year’s event memorial golf tournament, which raises money to support Adult Education students facing hardships, has a new date and venue: Wednesday, August 9, at The Links at Erie Village in East Syracuse. It’s also a special year — the 25th anniversary. Register here to sign up for this year’s tournament or to sponsor the event.
OCM BOCES is still hiring for Extended School Year summer school and other openings
Spread the word! OCM BOCES is hiring for a wide range of positions, with an especially important need for teaching assistants and a new paralegal position in Personnel. Take a look at our Employment Opportunities webpage if you are interested in learning more.
It’s time to join OCM BOCES on social media!
OCM BOCES is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, so follow us! Tag us! We are happy to share and retweet any and all of your important news! Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@ocmboces) and Instagram (@ocm.boces). Check out our YouTube Channel as well. Various programs and ISS teacher-trainers also have their own Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The OCM BOCES non-discrimination policy is on our website. Please click here to view it in full.
Need help? Don’t forget about our Employee Assistance Program
Don’t forget about our confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which can help you with many personal and professional challenges. Go to ocmboces.org/eap for more.
If you would like to contribute to the BOCES Bits, please contact Jackie Wiegand at jwiegand@ocmboces.org or email the OCM BOCES Marketing Department at communications@ocmboces.org.
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