Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Hundreds of adult graduates recognized during 31st annual Adult Literacy Celebration

On  Wednesday, May 21, 2014, OCM BOCES held its 31st Annual Adult Literacy Celebration and program graduation for Syracuse and Cortland graduates. The celebration took place at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.  Hundreds of graduates from the OCM BOCES GED, External Diploma and other literacy programs were recognized for their accomplishments.

Student testimonials were given by Laura Tarbell and Eric Steger, both OCM BOCES students, to illustrate their personal and educational struggles prior to coming to BOCES and the successes they have achieved as a result of their educational experiences with BOCES. Jesse Lyles, another OCM BOCES student and a United States Army Veteran who served in the Korean War, said the Pledge of Allegiance.

Laura Tarbell, a student of Celia Volbrecht, attended GED classes at OCM BOCES during the 2012-2013 school year. Prior to attending classes, she was employed in the health care and food service fields for 35 years. While she did not pass the GED exam the first time she took it, and despite the many obstacles in her way, she was determined to complete the program. With the support of classmates, friends and teachers, Laura worked hard to reach her goal. Laura’s teacher, Celia, is proud of her student’s determination and says that, “Laura was an inspiration to her classmates to not give up and pursue their goals. She is now employed and is interested in obtaining her LPN license.”

Eric Steger, age 26 of Cortland, NY, is a student of Lori Pallone at the OCM BOCES Cortland program. He is a recent graduate of the National External Diploma Program. Born in Honduras, Eric was adopted by an American family at 18 months of age and grew up in Cortland, but has also lived in many other cities, including Binghamton and Syracuse. He is currently a shift leader at a Dunkin Donuts Restaurant in Cortland, NY. Eric plans to continue his education by earning a trade certificate and hopes to eventually own his own business.

Jesse Lyles, age 68 of Syracuse, NY, is a United States Army Veteran. He was born in Auburn, Alabama in 1946, dropped out of high school and was drafted by the army in December 1968.  After basic training, he served in Port Richie, Maryland, and then in Korea from 1969 to 1970 where he was a heavy truck driver and ammunition specialist. In 1971 he came to Syracuse, NY and obtained employment at Chrysler.  He worked at Chrysler from 1971 until 2001 as a machinist and a fork lift operator. He began high school equivalency classes at OCM BOCES in June of 2013. When his instructor at BOCES found out he had served in Korea, she told him about New York State’s “Operation Recognition” Program, which awards high school diplomas to veterans who had served in World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam War. Jesse got together the necessary paperwork, and within a short time he received his high school diploma from the Syracuse School District. Jesse is married, has one son who lives in Florida, and he still resides in Syracuse with his wife, Tammy.

Additionally, BOCES recognized Jena Kablecik as the NYACCE Student of the Year and Onondaga Community College’s (OCC) Outreach Partnership Team as their 2014 Partner in Literacy. Dave Wall, the college’s Director of Corporation and Public Partnerships accepted the recognition on behalf of himself, Sheila Osborne and Barbara Dennehy.

For more information on the 31st Annual Adult Literacy Celebration, contact the OCM BOCES Adult and Continuing Education Program at 315-453-4466.

Pictured above: Eric Steger leads the graduate procession into the SRC Arena.

Pictured above: Graduates proceed into the SRC Arena for the OCM BOCES 31st Annual Adult Literacy Celebration.
Pictured above: Senator John DeFrancisco addresses graduates and family members at the ceremony.


Pictured above: Graduates cross the stage at SRC Arena and receive congratulations from OCM BOCES District Superintendent Jody Manning and other staff.



Wednesday, May 14, 2014

87 students from local districts inducted into National Technical Honor Society

On Thursday, May 8, 2014, 87 Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from the OCM BOCES Henry Campus were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. Students that qualify for induction into the technical honor society represent the “best of the best” in CTE programs. In order to be inducted into the technical honor society students must have an 85 average or higher, 12 or fewer absences from their program for the year and receive a teacher endorsement.

Students must also demonstrate attributes that include: respect, honesty, skill, responsibility, leadership, service and citizenship. Congratulations to the students and their families!

Pictured above: OCM BOCES New Vision Criminal Justice Program students that were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society on May 8, 2014. Left to right (back row): Alex Hinman (East Syracuse Minoa), Tyler Heggelke (West Genesee), Sean McAndrew (East Syracuse Minoa), Tim Fletcher (West Genesee), Aaron Wintermute (Tully) and Andrew Bukowski (North Syracuse). Left to right (front row): Nadasia Blackman (Westhill), Samantha Worall (Marcellus), Brieana Mulroy-Robbins (Westhill), Jacob Pitman (Tully) and Kristyn Drake (Tully).

Following is the complete list of students inducted for membership in 2014 by their home school districts:

Baldwinsville Central School District: Paige Bell, Bridget Cleeton, Julie Cole, Shane Cole, Bryan DeGone, Philip Dressel, Jenna Griffo, Lane Guanciale, Samantha Hawks, Rebekah McCarthy, Benjamin Miner and Marissa Waxenfeld.

Cazenovia Central School District: Yesenia Rodriguez-Abelar.

Chittenango Central School District: Brittanne Handzel, Emily Keller, Mitchell Mahosky and Duncan Preeman.

East Syracuse Minoa Central School District: Brandon Eichholtz, Alex Hinman, Sean McAndrew and Senada Salkic.

Fayetteville Manlius Central School District: Vi Nguyen.

Jamesville Dewitt Central School District: Ramil Fazliyev, Salwa El-Hindi and Joshua McMahon.

LaFayette Central School District: Christie Daniels and Mikhail Kenealy.
Liverpool Central School District: Kristen Basile, Nicholas Bayley, Kyle Bezner, Ruth Feliciano, Lucas Floyd, Danielle Morrow, Kayleigh Nett, Joshua Previte, Jessica Stafford and Carissa Sterling.

Marcellus Central School District: Maggie Chilson, Alyssa Serafino and Samantha Worall.

North Syracuse Central School District: Taylor Anderson, Rolland Beard, Joseph Bell, Marissa Berardi, Andrew Bukowski, Kayla Curtis, Kimberly Curtis, Ashley Fiorino, Makenzie Gransbury, Nicole Isgar, Kayleigha Kline, Amy Knickerbocker, Gabrielle Larson, Syia Mayes, Nora Mere, Trevor Northrup, Max Parsons, Michael Peck Jr., Candace Segars, Eldin Smith, Zachary Smith, Fatija Spahic, Paige Szmanak, Roy Young and Brittany Zangari.

Onondaga Central School District: Jonathen Horstman, and Stephanie Horstman.

Solvay Union Free School District: Corinne Gessini.

Tully Central School District: Kristyn Drake, Jacob Pitman and Aaron Wintermute.

West Genesee Central School District: Gianna Branca, Timothy Fletcher, Daniel Gabriel, Tyler Heggelke, Nicholas Mulpagano, Rachelgrace Oliver, Kayleigh Precourt, Karissa Simko and Schuyler Wolfram.

Westhill Central School District: Nadasia Blackman, Lindsey Delles, Mark Fagan, Kara Lawn, Haley Moran, Brieana Mulroy-Robbins and Jennah Shaffer.

Monday, May 5, 2014

OCM BOCES School Library System Honors 2014 Administrator/Advocate of the Year

On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, OCM BOCES presented their 2014 School Library System Administrator/Advocate of the Year award to two deserving individuals; Eric Larison, the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction with the Solvay Union Free School District and Thomas Piatti, a principal at Chittenango Middle School in the Chittenango Central School District. 2014 was the first year ever that the award was given to dual recipients.

The award is presented annually to an educational administrator/library advocate the OCM (Onondaga, Cortland, Madison) region who has made significant contributions to school librarianship.

Eric Larison (pictured above) is a seasoned educational administrator whose support of school libraries is noteworthy. He puts schools libraries front and center and encourages full integration of the school library into instruction. He sees school libraries at the center of research and career and college readiness for students. Eric supports the Library Learning Commons model and the libraries were the first places in the district’s schools to be wireless.

Tom Piatti has been at Chittenango Middle School for eight years; three as Vice Principal and five as Principal. He has used his leadership in both roles to promote the school library and to energize staff and encourage their collaboration and innovative thinking.  Tom supports common planning periods in the school library, has been essential in bringing new technology to the school in the form of iPads, Kindles, ebooks and also leads the school’s tech committee.

OCM BOCES School Library System Coordinator Marcie Mann is pleased to honor the two with the Administrator/Advocate of the Year Award. She said, “This is the first time the award was given to more than one person in the same year. But both of these nominees are so outstanding and have made huge strides toward advancing the school libraries in their district. It is an honor to recognize them both!”

For more information about the OCM BOCES School Library System or their Administrator/Advocate of the Year Award, contact Marcie Mann, School Library System Coordinator at 315/433-2665.

Tom Piatti with Chittenango Middle School Library Media Specialist Marilyn Natke.

21 local Hispanic students attend Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute through OCM BOCES

Through the OCM BOCES Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN,) 21 local Hispanic students recently had the opportunity to attend the 24th Annual Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI) in Albany, NY.  The PRHYLI introduces Hispanic high school students to New York State’s legislative process and civic issues affecting the Latino community while fostering such skills as debate, citizenship and leadership.

The event is a collaborative effort among Regional Bilingual Education Resource Networks, The NYS Education Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies, The NYC Department of Education and the NYS Assembly’s Hispanic Task Force.



The 21 Hispanic students were selected from the following nine mid-state high schools:

Cicero-North Syracuse High School: Aaliyah Muolo Vergara;

Fowler High School: Moises Gracciano, Mario Cabral, Neyshmaire Meléndez, and Abigail Rivera;

Liverpool High School: Yaritza Bague;

Corcoran High School: Yadimar Narvaez and Alondra Peña-Merced;

Henninger High School: Alia Anamaria;

Jamesville-DeWitt High School: Ana Carolina Piedra;

Proctor High School: Jennifer Difo and Lorena Difo;

Ithaca High School: Lilia Escobedo, Félix Fernández-Penny, Alejandra Flores Ramírez, Eitan Mizrachi, Vanessa Navarro Rodríguez and Belén Santa Ana; and

Solvay High School: Karissa Benz, Mahalia Rivera and Kevin Vreeland.

Event chaperones were Ofelia Villareeal and Barb Bergman, led by Sally Doran of the Mid-State RBERN. These students formed the Syracuse Delegation and trained together for four days at La Casita Cultural Center in areas directly linked to the Common Core Learning Standards and the New York State Social Studies Standards, assisted by Ed Thater. The ultimate goal of the trainings is to carry out a mock assembly while practicing their leadership skills.

Approximately 206 Hispanic students from a total of eight total delegations from across New York State met for the culminating three-day event on March 22 through 24. This year's team building activity, “Frame and Re-Frame Leading from Understanding,” led by Giselle O. Martin-Kniep, President of Lerner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd., was held at the Albany Desmond Hotel. The students were split into groups, given guidelines and criteria and challenged to dig deep, discuss then create presentations that would inform, inspire and change the way people think about bullying. Our students Jennifer Difo and Alia Anamaria were moderators of the general session on Saturday.

Regent Betty A. Rosa from New York City/Bronx spoke to the students as well as the Associate Commissioner for the State Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies, Angélica Infante-Green, who commended the students for their interests, accomplishments and hard work. A fantastic speaker, Barbara Coloroso offered an inspirational presentation on bullying and each student received her book: The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander.

Once in the Assembly Chambers of the State Capitol building, the group debated five bills that are currently before the Assembly. During opening ceremonies,  Féliz Fernández-Penny with the Syracuse Delegation, performed an exceptional A capella version of the Puerto Rican National Anthem. During the awards banquet that followed, 35 seniors were awarded scholarships on a competitive basis for their achievements and performance. The Syracuse Delegation had two winners: Vanessa Navarro and Eitan Mizrachi. In addition, one student per delegation was nominated “outstanding delegate.” A “Delegate of the year” is chosen by a select panel of evaluators over the course of the weekend; the Syracuse Delegation's Ana Carolina Piedras, who also had the role of Majority Leader this year, came in 2nd place! What an honor!

Students were escorted to the simultaneously held adult conference, “Somos Uno,” an organization dedicated to the dialog of Hispanic issues and policy making representing all aspects of government, business, and community. There they heard from NYS Assemblymen such as Phil Ramos and Félix Ortíz. Rounding out this life-changing weekend, the students had an educational opportunity to learn about Latin music “From Africa to New York: Latin Music in the New World” by Dr. José Cruz; they danced to Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and Regetón!  And finally, The Jerk Whisperer, Dr. Stephen “Bird” Birchak from the College of Saint Rose, Albany, offered a truly remarkable presentation on bullying that will not be forgotten by any who was present. Dr. Bird was so inspirational you could hear a pin drop. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for high school Hispanic students of New York State.

For information on applying for next year's Syracuse Delegation, e-mail Sally Doran at sdoran@ocmboces.org or call 433-2664 for details.

Friday, May 2, 2014

OCM BOCES Students compete and place in State Skills USA Competitions

Congratulations to the OCM BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) students who recently competed and placed in the State SkillsUSA competition. Held at the New York State Fairgrounds in April, this annual competition gave OCM BOCES the opportunity to compete against other schools from across the state in timed technical, trade and leadership contests.

Students from the OCM BOCES McEvoy Campus in Cortland are pictured in the group photo. 


The OCM BOCES students who placed in the competition are:

1.    Bryan DeGone, OCM BOCES Automotive Technology senior from the Baldwinsville Central School District – 2nd place in Automotive Service Technology category

2.    Vi Nguyen, OCM BOCES Cosmetology senior from the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District – 3rd place in the Nail Care category

Following is the complete list of OCM BOCES students that competed in the State SkillsUSA competition:

From the Baldwinsville Central School District:
Paige Bell (Health Knowledge Bowl)
Bryan DeGone (Automotive Service Technology)
Connor Oakes (Medical Math)


From the Cazenovia Central School District:

Yesenia Rodriguez (Cosmetology Junior)

From the Cortland Enlarged City School District:

Alizabeth Knout (Medical Math)

Hunter Moore (Photography)

Nichole Nichol (First Aid/CPR)

Brandon Reynolds (Digital Cinema Production)

From the DeRuyter Central School District:
Breanna Hare (Job Demonstration)

From the Homer Central School District:

Tyler Purvis (Auto Maintenance)

Josh Stevens (Auto Collision Repair)

From the Fayetteville Manlius Central School District:

Vi Nguyen (Nail Care)

From the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District:
Salwa El-Hindi (Early Childhood Education)

From the Liverpool Central School District:

Miranda Harrington (Nail Care Model)

Josh Ptaszek (Basic Vehicle Maintenance)

From the Marathon Central School District:

Marjorie Torres (Extemporaneous Speaking)

From the Marcellus Central School District:
Gabby Coon (Restaurant Service)

From the McGraw Central School District:

Ben Ackley (Digital Cinema Production)


From the North Syracuse Central School District:
Crista Baird (Food Prep Assistant)
Mackenzie Lanaux (Health Knowledge Bowl)

Kristin Rogers (Health Knowledge Bowl)

From the Tully Central School District:

Samantha Crawford (Culinary Arts)

Katie Spaulding (Promotional Bulletin Board)

From the West Genesee Central School District:
Jessica McCarthy (Commercial Baking)

Sydney Timpano (Job Demo A)

About Skills USA: Skills USA is a national organization serving teachers and high school/college students preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations. The organization provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development and builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills.

For more information about OCM BOCES Career and Technical Education Programs, contact Robert Leslie at 431-8407.

Pictured below are some students from the OCM BOCES McEvoy Campus during the State SkillsUSA competition. Many thanks to advisors Heather Hardke, Dale Gendron and Tonya Komar for submitting photographs.