CTE Bulletin

On November 12, the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES chapter of SkillsUSA had the privilege of hosting Karen Torres, a member of the Speakers’ Bureau for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

Torres, who has delivered thousands of presentations nationwide, shared a powerful and emotional message about the deadly consequences of distracted driving, including the personal impact it has had on her family. Her moving presentation reminded students of the immense responsibility they carry behind the wheel—to never drive distracted.

Ensuring the safety of our students is a top priority, and we are grateful to Karen for sharing this important message.

On October 31, the little ones in the Early Childhood Education Nursery School celebrated Halloween with loads of fun activities! From creating spooky arts and crafts to playing games, their day was filled with excitement. The highlight? A festive costume parade through the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC)!

As they paraded through CTEC in their adorable costumes, they enjoyed some trick-or-treating along the way, spreading Halloween cheer to everyone they met.

Thank you to everyone at CTEC who helped make this a memorable day for our youngest learners!

On October 23, OHM BOCES Criminal Justice 2 students attended the second annual Criminal Justice Expo at Mohawk Valley Community College's Utica Campus. Students had the opportunity to speak with representatives from the FBI, State and local police departments, MVCC Campus Safety, Utica and Rome Fire Departments, and NYS Homeland Security. There were presentations by the New York State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) team and Utica Police K9 unit, and students were able to dust and lift fingerprints and see a crime scene.

On October 18, the OHM BOCES Animal Science FFA Club stopped by the Utica Zoo to deliver carved pumpkins for the zoo’s Spooktacular Harvest Festival! The club proudly supports this annual event, earning community service hours while spreading some Halloween cheer.

This past weekend, they hosted a trick-or-treat station, delighting “little goblins” with candy, while their creatively carved pumpkins were displayed throughout the zoo grounds. The students also enjoyed learning about the animals at the zoo!

Another successful year of volunteering for the OHM BOCES Animal Science FFA Club!

The OHM BOCES Facilities Department recently collaborated with Construction Trades and Welding students to complete a practical and impactful project: constructing a salt storage structure to protect campus driveways and parking lots during the winter months. The project not only supports campus operations but also provided students with valuable hands-on learning experiences.

Students began by designing the structure and estimating materials. They erected scaffolding and built a safety guard rail system to prevent injuries during construction. Given the size of the roof, they installed two triple-built L.V.L. carrying beams with precise placement to support dual sets of rafters. The students measured, cut, and installed the rafters, gaining insight into structural framing.

To ensure durability, they installed hurricane brackets to protect the roof from high winds. Welding and Construction Trades students worked together to fabricate custom steel H brackets, measuring 8" x 8" x 16" and made from 1/4-inch steel, to anchor the framing to the existing foundation.

The project concluded with students installing corrugated metal roofing and siding, learning new techniques along the way. The structure was completed on time, and the salt was delivered, ready for use this winter.

This project highlights the value of hands-on learning and teamwork, providing students with real-world construction and welding experience while directly benefiting the OHM BOCES campus.

Career and Technical Education Center programs focus on preparing students for employment, careers or post-secondary education through the development of technical and 21st-century skills. Working with state-of-the-art equipment, students apply theory and knowledge to a wide range of real life work assignments in shops and laboratories. In addition to technical skills, students learn critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, positive employment attitudes, job seeking skills, familiarization with related career opportunities and college readiness.

Email: mhoover@oneida-boces.org

Website: https://www.oneida-boces.org
Location: 4747 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY, USA
Phone: 315-793-8666
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohmboces1/
Twitter: @ohmboces