OCM BOCES hosts local conference on USDA's "Smart Snacks in Schools" guidelines

As school districts across the state and nation are looking for healthier alternatives to typical candy bar and potato chip filled vending machines in order to meet new healthy snack regulations that will take effect on July 1, 2014, a group of local agencies is working together to provide assistance.

On Thursday, May 1, 2014, the Healthier Central New York Challenge will take place at the OCM BOCES Rodax 8 building (6820 Thompson Road in Syracuse) conference center. The event is a collaborative effort of Healthy Schools NY programs at OCM, OHM and TST BOCES, Action for Healthy Kids, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Dash NY, Fuel up to Play 60 and Hunger Solutions New York.

Mary Joan McLarney, a Registered Dietician/Nutritionist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Northeast Regional Office, will talk about the organization’s new competitive foods regulations and Kathryn Hoy, of the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs, will discuss smarter lunchrooms in schools.

The event, which has been designed to provide assistance and ideas for local food service personnel, school district administrators and district staff, will take place from 9:00 a.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) until 2:00 p.m. and is free of charge. Join local, state and federal experts in school wellness and discover best practices, get a better understanding of the link between health and academics, learn how to write a funded grant proposal and network with local schools and organizations.

Stacy McNeill is the OCM BOCES Healthy Schools NY coordinator and as such, works extensively with school district personnel regarding federal, state and local wellness guidelines. She said, “We have been working together to ensure that students across Central New York have access to healthier foods and increased physical activity in our efforts to optimize wellness and academic success as well as reduce obesity and the chronic diseases associate with it. In order for our schools to be able to offer healthier choices to their students and meet new federal guidelines, we are providing this conference with a special focus on local success stories. We want our districts to have access to sustainable ideas and resources in an effort to make this transition to a healthier school culture as seamless as possible.”

According to the USDA, the new healthy snack regulations will take effect July 1. For more information, visit the USDA Food and Nutrition's Smart Snacks in Schools website.

CTE Hall of Fame Nominations accepted through May 15

The Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES is accepting nominations for its Career and Technical Education (CTE) Hall of Fame through Thursday, May 15, 2014. 

The Hall of Fame was established in 2011 to honor individuals who have graduated from our Career and Technical Education programs and who demonstrate leadership in their field. Each year, nominations are solicited and reviewed by a subcommittee made up from our OCM BOCES Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee. The committee reviews the nominations for the following qualifications:

1. OCM BOCES Career and Technical Education Graduate;
2. Engagement in an occupation related to the program completed at OCM BOCES;
3. Demonstrate leadership in his/her field;
4. Exercise civic responsibility.

The winners of the award will have a commemorative plaque placed in the "Hall of Fame" in their respective campus of graduation.

Current members of the OCM BOCES Alumni Hall of Fame are:
Keith Standish (Inducted 2011 - McEvoy Campus)
Leah Estock (Inducted 2011 - Henry Campus)
Dave Ryder (Inducted 2012 - Henry Campus)
Kevin McMahon (Inducted 2012 - McEvoy Campus)

By identifying successful graduates, we hope to provide positive role models for current students, while making the public aware of the accomplishments of our former students and the potential for success through the high quality programs offered by OCM BOCES.

To be considered for the OCM BOCES Alumni Hall of Fame, individuals must be a graduate of an OCM BOCES Career and Technical Education program, must currently be engaged in a career related to their program of completion at BOCES, must demonstrate leadership in their field and show civic responsibility.

For more information on the OCM BOCES Alumni Hall of Fame, contact Director of Career, Technical and Adult Education, Robert Leslie at 315/431-8407 or by email at rleslie@ocmboces.org.

Click here to download a nomination form.

New Tech High School student-created video

Click on the video link below to watch a student-created video about New Tech. OCM BOCES is bringing New Tech to Central New York through Innovation Tech.

We are OCM BOCES video

Click on the box below to play a video about OCM BOCES

Deaf athlete reads to and teaches students

Matt “The Hammer” Hamill is a deaf American amateur wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter. Matt was a three-time NCAA Wrestling Division III National Champion from 1997-1999 while attending the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. He is currently a fighter for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and takes time to visit schools to speak with young people. 

During the month of March, Matt came to Solvay High School through the help and support of Le Moyne College’s American Sign Language class in connection to the literacy incentive, Read Across America. While at Solvay High School, Hamill read and signed the story Ferdinand the Bull to the students. He also gave a presentation on his life and the many challenges he has faced and overcome due to his hearing loss. 

OCM BOCES Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Lisa Austin, helped arrange Matt’s visit to the school and was very pleased with the students’ reception of him. She said, “The students enjoyed having a famous athlete come and sign a story to them. Hamill really encouraged the students to strive for their dreams and to not let anything stand in their way of what they want to accomplish in life. He was very inspirational.”

After his presentation, Hamill signed autographs, took pictures with the students and spoke to them on a personal level. The day was a complete success.