CTE Bulletin
October 2026
Parents Explore Hands-On Learning at OHM BOCES
Parents and guardians got an inside look at the variety of classrooms and programs at the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES Middle Settlement Road Campus on Sept. 23, during Campus Wide Parents Night, gaining new insights into the education shaping their children’s futures.
Parents and guardians had the chance to meet instructors, tour classrooms and see the projects students have been working on since the start of the school year, during the annual event.
Instructors also shared more about their programs, from the curriculum and instructional standards to the hands-on learning opportunities available to students. Instructors highlighted how these experiences help students develop practical skills, earn industry certifications and prepare for their future careers.
Instructors highlighted programs including construction, culinary arts, health sciences, technology and the trades, giving parents and guardians a closer look at how students learn and grow in each program.
Through hands-on coursework, students build confidence, strengthen their problem-solving skills and gain independence while preparing for college and future careers.
The event also highlighted OHM BOCES’ commitment to student success and the important role parents and guardians play in supporting their children throughout their educational journey.
SkillsUSA Hosts “Nourishing Neighbors” at OHM BOCES, Event to Fight Food Insecurity
In an effort to tackle hunger in our region, the SkillsUSA chapter at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES hosted a “Nourishing Neighbors” event at the Main Campus on Sept. 28.
SkillsUSA – an organization dedicated to offering citizenship and leadership development to career and technical education (CTE) students – brought students together with local organizations to address the crisis of food insecurity, which affects one in five students in our community.
During the event, representatives from six local organizations presented to students about their missions, how their organizations address food insecurity and the specific, actionable ways students can get involved and volunteer.
The participating local organizations were:
- Feed Our Vets
- Hope House
- Rescue Mission of Utica
- Veterans Outreach Center
- Food Bank of Central New York
- Angels Among Us Food Pantry
By connecting CTE students directly with local organizations, the event encouraged students to exercise their civic responsibility and leadership skills to make a tangible positive impact across Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties.
NYS Trooper and K-9 Partner Visit OHM BOCES CTE Animal Science Students
New York State Trooper Kevin Conners and his K-9 partner, Todz, visited students in the OHM BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Animal Science program for an interactive presentation, on Sept. 28. Conners introduced students to Todz, a bloodhound who specializes in locating missing individuals, to teach students about working dogs and search and rescue missions.
During the demonstration, Conners detailed the special adaptations that make bloodhounds so well suited to scent tracking work. Bloodhounds generate large amount of drool to keep scent particles fresh on their muzzles, have big, floppy ears that work as “mini fans” to help push smells up to their noses and have extra skin folds on their faces help trap and localize scents for tracking.
Students enjoyed meeting the incredibly friendly Todz and getting to learn firsthand about the distinct physical capabilities that make the bloodhound breed so unique!
Pumpkins With a Purpose: Animal Science Students Give Back
From spooky faces to animal-inspired designs, students in the Animal Science Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES designed and carved jack-o’-lanterns on Oct. 14 for the Utica Zoo Spooktacular. Putting their pumpkin carving skills to work for a good cause, their jack-o’-lanterns will provide food and enrichment for animals at the Utica Zoo just in time for Halloween.
Students then delivered their finished jack-o’-lanterns to the Utica Zoo on Oct. 15, connecting their classroom learning with real-world animal science experiences. The pumpkins were then put on display throughout the zoo grounds for visitors to enjoy. Through their creativity and community service, students helped to bring a little extra Halloween fun to this annual event.
During the visit, students explored the zoo and learned about the different animal species on exhibit. Observing the animals and speaking with zoo staff helped reinforce concepts related to animal biology, behavior, habitats, diets and care. These experiences also introduced students to practical knowledge they can apply to future careers in veterinary science, wildlife management and related fields.
The visit reflects the OHM BOCES CTE programs’ emphasis on hands-on learning, career exploration and community involvement.
The Spooktacular event featured trick-or-treat stations, food trucks, live entertainment and animal meet-and-greets, the Utica Zoo Spooktacular offered Halloween fun for all ages and Animal Science students were proud to contribute to this community event!
The Career and Technical Education Center
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