CTE Bulletin

The Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Council convened on Oct. 29 for its latest meeting, which provided council members with a firsthand look at several CTE programs. The meeting's primary goal was to gather essential feedback from stakeholders on the CTE programs to ensure their continued relevance and excellence.

The CTE Advisory Council is a vital body composed of representatives from business and industry, labor, public agencies, education and the community. These members provide crucial counsel, direction,and assistance to CTE development and activities, keeping programs aligned with current community and employment trends.

Following the formal discussion, attendees toured several state-of-the-art CTE classrooms and labs. Council members visited the Early Childhood Education, Welding, MiTech, Electricity, Nursing Assistant and Culinary Arts programs. During the tour, students actively participated, speaking about the advanced labs, sharing their personal experiences in the programs and outlining their plans for the future.

The event concluded with a delicious brunch prepared by the Culinary Arts classes. Council members and student attendees enjoyed a special meal that included Salvadoran Quesadilla with poached eggs, freshly made cheese and a mole sauce, and a variety of baked goods.

The successful meeting and tour underscored the value of continuous collaboration between OHM BOCES and the community stakeholders who are instrumental in shaping the future of career and technical education.

On Oct. 21, OHM BOCES Criminal Justice 2 students volunteered at the Engineering Design Challenge event held at Elevate CNY in Westmoreland. They helped direct participants, monitored emergency exits and supported various other tasks throughout the event. Their teamwork contributed to the event’s success and provided valuable real-world experience.

On Oct.27, the OHM BOCES Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) hosted its annual vehicle safety awareness event, featuring the dramatic Seatbelt Convincer and Rollover Demonstrations presented by the New York State Police. This crucial event, organized every year by the OHM BOCES chapter of SkillsUSA since 2016, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of vehicle safety following the tragic loss of a former CTE student.

Demonstrating the Force of a Crash

New York State Troopers spent the day at CTEC reinforcing the critical, yet often overlooked, message: "Seat Belts Save Lives."

A highlight of the demonstration was the Seatbelt Convincer, an educational tool designed to allow riders to experience the jarring force of a low-speed collision. Several students rode the Convincer, experiencing a sudden impact similar to a crash at 5-10 MPH. This demonstration allowed students to feel the surprising amount of force -- up to five times their body weight -- generated in a minor collision, driving home the essential role a seatbelt plays in protecting the body.

Rollover Simulator Shows the Real Dangers

Students also witnessed the shocking Rollover Simulator, which vividly shows the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt. The demonstration replicates a vehicle traveling at 40 MPH and then spinning into a rollover accident. Using crash dummies in the front and back seats, students saw firsthand how unrestrained occupants are violently thrown around the interior and can be ejected completely from the vehicle. The simulator also effectively showed how an unbelted passenger can collide with and injure other belted occupants.

The Troopers enhanced the demonstrations with excellent presentations and fielded numerous questions from CTEC students, making the sessions informative and personal. The dedication of the New York State Police, in partnership with the OHM BOCES SkillsUSA chapter, continues to provide an extremely beneficial and potentially life-saving lesson for everyone at CTEC.

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Cosmetology program kicked off its annual client experience on Oct. 23, hosting the first of many Client Days for the school year. The event was made extra special when school administrators surprised the students by coming in for services, showing their support for the budding professionals.

Client Days are a unique and essential opportunity for Cosmetology students to transition their learning from the classroom directly into a real-world setting. Prior to this event, students spent many hours diligently practicing styles on mannequins and mastering techniques both behind the chair and in the classroom.

Working in a fully equipped, professional salon environment, students gain invaluable experience that cannot be replicated with practice heads. Under the guidance of licensed professionals, students practice a variety of salon services, including cuts, colors, manicures and pedicures. This practical application helps them build the confidence required to succeed in any corner of the beauty industry.

In the Cosmetology program, every day feels like the real world -- because it is. Students are not just practicing skills; they are learning the comprehensive demands of the beauty industry. From perfecting hair color and nail art to mastering customer care and salon management, the program ensures students leave with a holistic set of skills that prepare them for immediate entry into the workforce.

The success of the first Client Day highlights the program's dedication to providing authentic learning experiences that bridge classroom theory with professional application. We look forward to seeing the students continue to hone their craft throughout the year!

The OHM BOCES chapter of SkillsUSA dedicated Oct. 20 to promoting both school-wide wellness and focused leadership development. By hosting a daytime health event for OHM BOCES students followed by a specialized after-school leadership training, the chapter ensured broad participation in its mission to develop skilled professionals and responsible community members.

Healthy Decisions Event

During the school day, the OHM BOCES SkillsUSA chapter hosted its Healthy Decisions Event, providing vital, hands-on knowledge to students. This student-organized event featured interactive booths covering essential topics that are crucial for safety and well-being in the future workforce.

Students who attended gained practical information on several topics, including: Workplace Safety, Emergency Response, Mindfulness, Stress Management, Heart Health, Nutrition and Fitness. Students benefited by gaining practical skills tied to the SkillsUSA Framework component of Workplace Skills: Decision Making -- the ability to choose the best option after systematically analyzing facts, data and possible outcomes to determine the optimal result.

Area II Leadership Kick-Off

After the regular school day concluded, the focus shifted to advanced leadership training with the 2025 SkillsUSA Area II Kick-Off. This important after-school gathering was attended by SkillsUSA members and advisors from technical schools and BOCES programs across Central New York.

The Kick-Off provided an in-depth review of the SkillsUSA Framework and featured high-impact leadership activities. Students benefited from intensive training led by SkillsUSA State Officers, including OHM BOCES' own John "Burke" Gates (Culinary Arts). This specialized session equipped chapter leaders with the necessary personal and workplace skills to guide their local chapters, prepare for competitions, and succeed in leadership roles both in the classroom and in their future careers.

The annual Utica Zoo Spooktacular harvest celebration received a significant dose of Halloween spirit and community support from students in the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES Animal Science Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. The Animal Science FFA Club once again contributed to the zoo’s premiere event, demonstrating their commitment to community service while reinforcing animal science content learned in the classroom. The Utica Zoo Spooktacular, with its Trick-or-Treat Stations, food trucks, live entertainment and animal meet-and-greets, is an all-ages event that our Animal Science students are proud to support!

Carving Out Community Service

This year, the contribution began on October 15, when Animal Science students spent time designing and carving a wide array of fun and spooky jack-o'-lanterns. These creatively carved pumpkins are a staple of the Spooktacular event, showcased throughout the zoo grounds for all "little goblins" and visitors to enjoy. By dedicating their time and effort to this annual tradition, students proudly contributed to a beloved community event, reinforcing the importance of civic engagement and teamwork.

Reinforcing Classroom Content with a Zoo Visit

On October 17, the students delivered their finished creations to the Utica Zoo. This field trip served as more than just a drop-off; it was a crucial opportunity for students to connect their classroom instruction with real-world animal science applications.

While at the zoo, students took time to learn more about the different species of animals on exhibit. Seeing these animals in a controlled environment -- and speaking with zoo staff -- directly reinforces the biological, behavioral and ecological concepts covered in the CTE program. Observing the animals' habitats, diets and care requirements helps solidify the foundation needed for future careers in veterinary science, wildlife management and related fields.

These activities highlight the comprehensive nature of the OHM BOCES CTE programs, which blend hands-on career training with meaningful community engagement.

On Nov. 3, the State Education Department hosted the BOCES Expo, spotlighting the power of hands- on learning and innovation in education. Members of the Board of Regents experienced firsthand how Career and Technical Education is shaping futures across New York -- from student -- led demenstrations to cutting-edge programs that bring New York inspired vision to life.

The Career and Technical Education Center programs focus on preparing students for employment, careers or post-secondary education through the development of technical and 21st-century skills. Working with state-of-the-art equipment, students apply theory and knowledge to a wide range of real life work assignments in shops and laboratories. In addition to technical skills, students learn critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, positive employment attitudes, job seeking skills, familiarization with related career opportunities and college readiness.

Email: mhoover@oneida-boces.org

Website: https://www.oneida-boces.org
Location: 4747 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY, USA
Phone: 315-793-8666
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohmboces1/
Twitter: @ohmboces