OCM BOCES Sponsors Sectional-Level Academic Decathlon

On Saturday, January 26, 2013, approximately 50-60 students from the Cazenovia, Liverpool, North Syracuse, Tully, West Genesee and Westhill school districts came together to compete in the 2013 sectional competition of the United States Academic Decathlon (USAD) at Westhill High School. The theme of this year’s event is Russia.

The two highest scoring teams will advance to the New York State Competition on March 15 and 16 at Onondaga Community College. The state winner will go on to represent New York State at the national USAD competition, which is scheduled for April 25-27 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Since it began as a local academic competition in California in 1968, the United State Academic Decathlon has grown to become an international event. The local Academic Decathlon is coordinated by the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES.  Students in ninth through twelfth grades will comprise district teams of three “A” students (Honors), three “B” students (Scholastic), and three “C” students (Varsity).  The Academic Decathlon promotes well roundedness by providing competition for each team in several events.  The students will take objective tests in art, music, language and literature, science, social science, mathematics, and economics. They will also participate in a “Super Quiz”, team oral relay conducted before an audience.

Participants and coaches are:

Cazenovia – Coaches: Christie Brenneck and Martin Kelly
Contestants: Danielle Axelson, Emma Dudley, Gaevin Froio, Robert Louis, Riley Lloyd, David Martellock, Darren Mihaich, Kyle Polhamus, and Schyler Rochelle
Alternates: Remi Boissonnas, Caden Boone, Brock Houghton, and Joseph Mavec

Cicero-North Syracuse High School – Coach: Matt Harbinger

Contestants: Matthew Barnell, Nathan Clapper, Natalie Dicosta, David Hess, Joseph Jackson, Heather Parzych, Eric Perdew, Michael Schug, and Kevin Shane
Alternates: n/a

Liverpool – Coach: Daryl Burrer

Contestants: Jonathan Carpenter, Christopher Daucher, Jacob Haley, Jamie Kuppel, Andrew Mashayekhi, Raj Patel, Michael Wasnik, and Kevin Zalewski
Alternates: n/a

Tully – Coaches: Kim Cameron and William Ralbovsky

Contestants: Marley Cummings, Sean Fitzpatrick, Kurt Guass, Julie Kunnumpurath, Schuyler McGregor, Cassidy McGinn, Sara Reppenhagen, and Katie Warner
Alternates: n/a

West Genesee – Coach: Scott Duda

Contestants: Evan Janes-Rouse, Kablan Kouakou, John Lisi, Megan Nolan, Megan Petty, Nicholas Serrao, Tatyana Shakhon, and Vadim Shakhov
Alternates: Callie Campbell, Rachel Gdula, James Hickey, Melissa Schiff, and Eric Wolfe

Westhill – Coach: Sarah Fleming

Contestants: Stephen Burgay, Alex Coombs, Aidan Kelly, Aden Orzell, Madeline Pierce, Jordan Roach, Jennifer Root, Juliana Thompson, and Anastasija Useva
Alternates: Rachel Berry, Christine Kosciewicz, Chandler Loyd, Emily Scholl, and Molly Spinek

For more information about the 2013 sectional level Academic Decathlon at Westhill High School, call Elaina Renfrew, OCM BOCES’ Coordinator of Educational Services and Academic Decathlon Sectional Coordinator, at 315/431-8598.

Next Generation Science Standards Draft Review

On January 11, the OCM BOCES Science Center held a Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) work session for teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists. With the January 8th release of the second draft of the Next Generation Science Standards, this session gave participants the opportunity to get together, review, and discuss the drafted standards. Forty participants  from a variety of districts explored the performance indicators, cross cutting concepts, as well as key vocabulary included within the standards. Some important goals of the work session were to familiarize teachers with the NGSS and to obtain feedback on the second draft version. An interface was created by the Science Center to collect feedback comments using focused criteria. The feedback will be shared with Achieve (the company leading the writing of the new standards) as well as NYSED.

The timeline for the Next Generation Science Standards is as follows:

• The standards opened for review at 3:00 p.m. EST on January 8, 2013.
• The review period will end on January 29, 2013.
• The standards and the survey can be accessed at www.nextgenscience.org 
• Final Release – March of 2013
• NYSED will have to decide whether to adopt the NGSS and, if adopted, make decisions concerning curriculum development, implementation and testing.

OCM BOCES Saddened by Tragic Events in CT

The terrible tragedy that occurred on Friday, December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut has created a tremendous sense of sadness and loss. It is a time when we hold our own children close while keeping the children, families and Newtown community in our thoughts and prayers.

Please be assured that keeping students and staff safe at Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES is a high priority. Building level safety plans are in place. Visitors must sign in and out of the buildings. We have safety committees that are continually evaluating our safety plans, policies and procedures. We are committed to putting the safety of our students at the forefront of our daily work.

Children will have different responses to this tragedy; many may have questions or concerns about what they are hearing on the news. For your reference, we have provided links to information regarding what schools can do to help students during this time.

Please be aware that our staff at OCM BOCES will be available for any support that is needed during this difficult time. OCM BOCES remains firmly committed to the safety of our students and staff.

• President Obama speaks at the memorial service (text of speech)
• National Association of School Psychologists message
• Washington Post's Remembering the Victims page
• NAESP's Report to Parents about dealing with tragedy
• New York Times Learning Network's Student Opinion page (where students can write a message)
• Larry Ferlazzo's collection of resources about Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy
• Larry Ferlazzo's collection of resources for talking with children about tragedy

New York State Education Commissioner Visits OCM BOCES

On Wednesday, November 14, 2012, New York State Department Commissioner of Education Dr. John B. King, Jr. visited the OCM BOCES Irvin E. Henry Education Campus in Syracuse, NY. Dr. King, who was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Ken Slentz, visited the OCM BOCES campus as part of a series of site visits to schools and other BOCES in Central New York. 

Dr. King and Deputy Commissioner Slentz met with OCM BOCES District Superintendent Mr. J. Francis Manning, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Colleen Viggiano, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Support Services Jeff Craig and Chief Technology Officer Mike Fay, as well as Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES District Superintendent William Speck, and Oswego BOCES District Superintendent Christopher Todd. The Commissioner was interested in learning how the implementation of the Regents Reform Agenda, also know as Race To The Top, was proceeding in our area.

While at OCM BOCES, the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner had the opportunity to hear about various student programs and new projects that are taking place throughout the organization.  At the end the meeting, OCM BOCES Pastry Arts students’ Leah Simon and Alexa Mentel, both second year students with instructor Marilyn Davis, paid a visit to the group to discuss their education with BOCES.

Alexa, who is an OCM BOCES senior from the Liverpool Central School District, told the Commissioner about her “passion for pastry” having been cultivated at OCM BOCES. Alexa plans to attend Johnson and Wales in the future and hopes eventually to open her own bakery.

Leah, who is a student at the OCM BOCES Career Academy in Liverpool, is from the Tully Central School District. Leah told Dr. King that she appreciates the “hands-on” education that she has received at OCM BOCES and that the college visits her class has gone on helped her decide that she also wants to further her education in pastry arts at Johnson and Wales University.

Pictured: New York State Education Department Commissioner John B. King Jr. shakes hands with Leah Simon, a second-year OCM BOCES Pastry Arts student at the Irvin E. Henry. Pictured next to Leah is Alexa Mentel, another second-year Pastry Arts student; behind Commissioner King is Deputy Commissioner Ken Slentz; to Dr. King’s left is Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES District William Speck and seated in front of Dr. King is OCM BOCES District Superintendent J. Francis Manning.

McEvoy Education Campus Announces SkillsUSA Officers

The OCM BOCES McEvoy Education Campus in Cortland recently announced their SkillsUSA officers for the 2012-2013 school year. SkillsUSA 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.

The OCMBOCES McEvoy Skills USA officers for 2012-2013 are:

Seniors (Pictured in photo below):
President - Anthony Allen (Cincinnatus Central School District)
Vice President - Darien Ostrander (Cortland City School District)
Treasurer - Julie Dellow (Cortland City School District)
Secretary - Bethany Hall (Cortland City School District)
Reporter - Kayla Dingman (Cincinnatus Central School District)
Parliamentarian - Dylan Cochran (Homer Central School District)

Juniors (Pictured in above photo with OCM BOCES District Superintendent Jody Manning):
President - Kennedy Cook (Cortland City School District)
Vice President - Marjorie Torres (Marathon Central School District)
Treasurer - Tyrmaine Dugger (Cortland City School District)
Secretary - Bailey Potter (Cortland City School District)
Reporter - Kasey Price (Cincinnatus Central School District)
Parliamentarian - Irina Khrushch (Cortland City School District)

The first fundraising event of the year will be on October 11, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the McEvoy Education Center on NYS Rt 13.  Featured will be Submarine Sandwiches with chips and a beverage for $5.00.  Pre orders are welcome by calling 607-758-5270. 

McEvoy Campus Epicurean Club/SkillsUSA Submarine Sandwich Fundraiser on October 11, 2012

OCM BOCES’ SkillsUSA and Epicurean Club students from the McEvoy Education Campus will be holding a submarine sandwich fundraiser on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at their campus (1710 NYS Route 13) in Cortland. The dinner will take place from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM with the money raised used to support the students in their upcoming occupational competitions for ProStart and SkillsUSA.  The cost for dinner is $5.00 and includes a submarine sandwich, chips and a beverage.

For more information, contact Kay Kraatz, OCM BOCES’ McEvoy Campus SkillsUSA Advisor at 607/758-5270.

Don't miss the 15th Annual SLS Fall Conference

On Tuesday, October 30, 2012, the OCM BOCES SLS (School Library System) in cooperation with the Oswego County BOCES SLS and the Syracuse City School District SLS will hold their 15th Annual Fall Conference. The event will take place at the Doubletree Hotel on Carrier Circle in East Syracuse.

The focus of this year's conference is a topic on every educators' mind: Common Core Learning Standards. The conference, entitled "The Common Core: School Librarian/Teacher Partnerships Leading Students to Success," will feature keynote speaker and workshop leader, Dr. Barbara Stripling, Assistant Professor of Practice at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies.

In her keynote address and workshop sessions, Stripling will discuss the role of the school librarian in relation to Common Core, suggest ways to collaborate around Common Core and offer leadership tools to participants. Stripling says, "Now is our time! School librarians can and must step into a leadership role to bring the Common Core to life in our schools. [At this conference, w]e will probe the answers to important questions about school librarian leadership and the Common Core."

For more information about or to register for the School Library Systems' 15th Annual Fall Conference, visit their website at http://www.ocmboces.org/teacherpage.cfm?teacher=1781.