Fun Programs and Events Make Summer Special for BOCES’ Students

All OCM BOCES Special Education programs for severely disabled students take place for the entire 12 months of every year. During the summer of 2010, OCM BOCES held Special Education summer schools at North Syracuse Junior High, Lee G. Peters Career Training Center, Kasson Road School, McEvoy Center, Onondaga Road, Cedar Street, and Stonehedge Elementary. During July and August, BOCES’ dedicated Special Education summer school staff worked with our students to provide many unique and fun educational experiences.


Some of the many exciting events that students in these special education programs were a part of during the summer of 2010 were Special Olympic games, carnivals, concerts and dances. Parents and families were invited to these special school events through OCM BOCES and had many opportunities to witness how special the summer of 2010 was for their children. Many thanks to our dedicated staff!

Deaf Program Lemonade Stand Has Sweet Success for a Great Cause!

For the second year in a row, students in Lisa Austin’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing class at North Syracuse Junior High School, a part of OCM BOCES Special Education Summer School, created a lemonade stand to raise money for a great cause! During last year’s summer program, Ms. Austin was teaching her students about money and the importance of giving back and thought a Lemonade Stand would be a great way to teach students about both concepts. After researching, and finding several books on the topic, Austin came across the book Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand.

The book, about giving back and helping others, talked about Alex Scott, a little girl with cancer who set up a lemonade stand to help doctors find a cure for the disease. Alex’s Lemonade Stand, now a national organization, has raised more than $30 million dollars in the fight against childhood cancer...part of that money coming from right here in Central New York!

Last year, Austin’s students raised $100 at their lemonade stand. This year, they set the same goal but far exceeded it with the over $300 their stand brought in! Austin is proud of the hard work her students did to promote and staff the stand, including making flyers and announcements and working various jobs and shifts at the stand. Congratulations to teacher and students for a job well done! For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit their website at https://www.alexslemonade.org/.