Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and its component school districts had the chance to share some of their many successful educational programs with local Board of Education members and superintendents during the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute Educational Showcase.
“The SBI Showcase highlights school and community-based programs, projects and opportunities that improve the skills, abilities or development of students in Herkimer County school districts,” Herkimer BOCES Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Kati Ferguson said. “Through this showcase, neighboring school districts had the opportunity to view ideas and concepts and potentially improve student programming in their schools.”’
The O-M-H SBI Educational Showcase took place this year on Thursday, March 17, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex. Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES, Oneida-Madison-Herkimer BOCES and Madison-Oneida BOCES take turns hosting the showcase.
Herkimer BOCES Instructional Support Services and Career and Technical Education administrators and staff worked collaboratively with the SBI to organize this year’s event.
The Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute represents school boards from 35 districts in the Oneida, Madison and Herkimer counties region.
By exhibiting student work, the Showcase provides an opportunity for Board of Education members across the region to see the fruits of their labor and SBI’s motto of “children first” put into action, Ferguson said.
“Board members are volunteers who work tirelessly to support students and the staff that serves those students,” Ferguson said. “We could only do this work with their continued support and commitment. Tonight is our opportunity to thank them for all of their hard work and show them that their dedication is truly impacting students’ futures.”
The Showcase
O-M-H SBI President Robert Batson, who also is the Poland Board of Education President, gave the welcoming comments, and Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent Sandra Sherwood provided the closing remarks.
Herkimer BOCES Culinary Hospitality students had stations set up around the WEB Complex where they served chorizo cream cheese stuffed jalapenos, pulled pork with Owens BBQ sauce, mango habanero salsa, peach salsa, roasted maple bacon Brussel sprouts, bacon jam burger sliders, crepes and no-bake cheesecake. The Culinary Hospitality students provided recipes for all of the food, and guests were able to collect them to create a miniature recipe book. The cover of the recipe book was designed using artwork by Herkimer BOCES Special Programs students.
The following is a full list of exhibits at the showcase:
- Herkimer BOCES: “Advanced Manufacturing Program: Checkmate!”
- Herkimer BOCES: “Automotive Technology Program: T-Bucket Build – A Practical Application of Automotive Theory”
- Herkimer BOCES: “Building Construction Program House Tours”
- Herkimer BOCES: “Mirrors, Windows and Doors DEI,” “What Books Do Parents/Students Want – A Scholastic Survey” and “Herkimer BOCES Equity Committee – Dignity and Belonging”
- Herkimer BOCES: “READiTEC Expertise Project – The Road to Success”
- Herkimer BOCES: “School to Careers: Advanced Career Immersion Experience (ACIE)”
- Central Valley Central School District: “A Mindfulness and SEL Initiative: Adult SEL, an Infused Curriculum and the Mindful Classroom”
- Dolgeville Central School District: “High School Visual Arts Program”
- Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District: “Hi-5 Friends – Empowering Youth Leaders through Career Education”
- Herkimer Central School District: “Digital Drawing and Social Emotional Artistic Learning”
- Herkimer Central School District: “Magic Character Education”
- Little Falls City School District: “Engineering by Design (Grades K-5)”
- Mount Markham Central School District: “Agricultural Education”
- Owen D. Young Central School District: “Addressing Social/Emotional Wellness and Mental Health Needs of Students”
- Poland Central School District: “Poland Science Fair”
- Richfield Springs Central School District: “The ‘Space’ Resiliency Room”
‘Lifelong skills’
The Herkimer BOCES Building Construction program hosted tours of the house the program is building. Herkimer BOCES has the only BOCES program in the state to build a full home every school year.
Building Construction instructor John Martin told guests that students are attracted to the opportunity to build a house, but there also are academics and a curriculum that are important to the program.
“The curriculum drives the program, and the house drives the enrollment,” Martin said.
Building Construction teaching assistant Shelby Creater and Building Construction students including junior Nathaniel Stone, of Central Valley, also spoke to guests about the program.
“I thought it was going to be hands-on, and it is, and I love it,” Stone said. “It made me more aware of what I want to do in the field.”
Martin said he always recommends BOCES in general to anyone considering it.
“You’re going to get lifelong skills that you can carry with you,” he said.
O-M-H SBI Coordinator for Board Training James VanWormer was happy to see Herkimer BOCES programs featured during the event.
“It’s a great showcase for all of the students and staff involved in Herkimer BOCES,” VanWormer said. “They do a fantastic job of positioning students for careers and getting them the skills they need to be successful.”
Herkimer BOCES Instructional Support Services Supervisor Ruth Leavitt said it’s nice that in addition to featuring the BOCES program, the Showcase highlights component district efforts.
“This is a special event where districts can show everybody all of the great work they’ve been doing,” Leavitt said.
Presenting with students
Frankfort-Schuyler students were part of the district’s presentation about its “Hi-5 Friends’ cross-age mentoring program developed by Frankfort-Schuyler Superintendent Joseph Palmer. The program focuses on character education through having older students make connections with younger students. The older students visit elementary classrooms, read to them and help teach them about positive character traits.
Frankfort-Schuyler school counselor Andrea Cordero said she appreciates that “Hi-5 Friends” helps not only the younger students but the older students as well.
“It helps build their self-esteem,” Cordero said. “It reminds them of the character traits that are still so important at their age.”
Cordero was happy have the cross-age mentors speak about the program at the Showcase.
“It was refreshing to see our students present to other districts’ board members and superintendents about the great work they’ve been doing all year,” Cordero said. “You can see that they take great pride in the work they’ve been doing.”
Herkimer Central School District had two exhibits at the Showcase. Herkimer art teacher Heather McCutcheon presented about her digital art and social emotional artistic learning classes. She was joined by Herkimer sophomore Jillian Hutchinson, who took the digital art class, and Herkimer junior Lyndsey Voorhees, who is in the social emotional artistic learning class.
“It’s the best class,” Voorhees said.
McCutcheon said she enjoys having the students there for the Showcase.
“It’s pretty nice to see them come out of their shells talking to people about the amazing opportunities they have,” McCutcheon said. “It honestly makes me proud.”
Herkimer school counselor Heather Paul presented about a new “MAGIC” character education program she is operating with middle school students as part of social emotional learning. Paul was joined by Herkimer eighth grader and Pep Club President Isabella Buchanon.
For the program, “MAGIC” stands for Mindset, Attitude, Grit, Integrity and Choices. Students are learning to locate the source of their “MAGIC” and learn about the skills and attributes that are necessary to be successful. “It’s really going to set the foundation first and then we can build upon it,” Paul said.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Building Construction program instructor John Martin, teaching assistant Shelby Creater and Building Construction students present about the house they are building during the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute Educational Showcase on Thursday, March 16.
Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District students and staff present about their “Hi-5 Friends” cross-age mentoring program during the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute Educational Showcase on Thursday, March 16.
From left, Herkimer Central School District art teacher Heather McCutcheon, Herkimer sophomore Jillian Hutchinson and Herkimer junior Lyndsey Voorhees present about digital art and social emotional artistic learning during the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute Educational Showcase on Thursday, March 16.
From left, Herkimer Central School District eighth grader and Pep Club President Isabella Buchanon and Herkimer school counselor Heather Paul present about a new “MAGIC” character education program during the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute Educational Showcase on Thursday, March 16.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Board of Education President Holly Pullis participates in a virtual reality exhibit for the Herkimer BOCES READiTEC program during the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute Educational Showcase on Thursday, March 16.
From left, Madison-Oneida BOCES District Superintendent Scott Budelmann, Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES District Superintendent Sandra Sherwood and Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES District Superintendent Patricia Kilburn pause for a photo together during the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute Educational Showcase on Thursday, March 16.
Little Falls City School District: “Engineering by Design (Grades K-5)”
Richfield Springs Central School District: “The ‘Space’ Resiliency Room”
Owen D. Young Central School District: “Addressing Social/Emotional Wellness and Mental Health Needs of Students”
Herkimer BOCES: “Mirrors, Windows and Doors DEI,” “What Books Do Parents/Students Want – A Scholastic Survey” and “Herkimer BOCES Equity Committee – Dignity and Belonging”
Herkimer BOCES: “READiTEC Expertise Project – The Road to Success”
Herkimer BOCES: “Advanced Manufacturing Program: Checkmate!”
Herkimer BOCES: “Automotive Technology Program: T-Bucket Build – A Practical Application of Automotive Theory”
Mount Markham Central School District: “Agricultural Education”
Dolgeville Central School District: “High School Visual Arts Program”
Central Valley Central School District: “A Mindfulness and SEL Initiative: Adult SEL, an Infused Curriculum and the Mindful Classroom”
Herkimer BOCES: “School to Careers: Advanced Career Immersion Experience (ACIE)”
Poland Central School District: “Poland Science Fair”