CTE Bulletin

On Sept. 15, the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) program held its annual orientation for students enrolled in its career-focused pathways.

Ninth through 11th grade students from across the 12 OHM BOCES component school districts gathered at the Howard D. Mettelman Learning Center to kick off the new academic year. The event provided students with an opportunity to meet CTE instructors and administrators, review program guidelines and explore extracurricular leadership opportunities.

CTE administrators greeted students, setting a positive tone for the year ahead before outlining essential program procedures and expectations. Advisors from student-led organizations — including SkillsUSA and the National FFA Organization — discussed how participation in these clubs helps students build professional skills, allows them to compete in regional competitions and develop workforce readiness.

The OHM BOCES community extends a warm welcome to all new and returning students, and wishes everyone a successful school year filled with learning, growth and career exploration.

Crime scenes, forensic evidence and time-of-death investigations came to life for students in the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Criminal Justice program during a hands-on forensic science lab on Sept. 22.

Second-year students participated in the “Body Farm” experiment, where deceased fetal pigs are placed in four different environments — underwater, buried, hanging and exposed to the elements. Students then monitored changes in temperature, physical state and insect activity to determine how investigators estimate time of death.

Students learned how decomposition differs based on environmental factors and conducted internal and external examinations modeled after those used by medical examiners.

Through these realistic investigations, students developed skills in estimating time of death, examining crime scenes and understanding the external and internal examination processes used in forensic work.

The hands-on lab is just one example of how the CTE Criminal Justice program at OHM BOCES connects classroom instruction with real-world applications and prepares students for a variety of careers in public safety and related fields.

Criminal Justice Alumni Connect Career Paths to the Classroom

On Sept. 17, members of the United States Marine Corps who formerly attended the CTE Criminal Justice program returned to the OHM BOCES to discuss military career opportunities with students currently in the program.

Staff Sgt. Jerry Paredes (Class of 2016), and Pvt. Didier Claudio (Class of 2026), spoke with second-year Criminal Justice students about their journeys to becoming Marines and the opportunities available in the Marine Corps.

Claudio, who graduated from Marine Corps recruit training just days earlier on Friday, Sept. 11, gave students a firsthand look at his experience in boot camp. Having recently completed the Criminal Justice program himself, Claudio was also able to show students how the skills and experiences they are gaining now can carry into their future careers.

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