Welcome to GST BOCES
  • GST BOCES students win Alfred State Tech Challenge

    A team of students from the GST BOCES Wildwood Education Center won first place at the Tech Challenge at Alfred State College in April.

    The team was recognized for Best Business Plan, Best Marketing Plan, Fastest Renegade Car and Best Design CAD Drawings.

    This year's challenge was to construct a working race car out of recycled materials. Cars competed on time and wind speed. Alfred State College automotive faculty and students served as judges in this component. Competitors also had to submit business and marketing plans, which were judged by ASC business department members, and a CAD drawing, which was judged by the CAD department.

    The team consisted of Digital Media Arts students Kaitlin Preston (Hornell), Elena Wallace (Hornell), Amber Clark (Hornell), Bree Hann (Alfred-Almond), Rachel Lehman (Alfred-Almond) and Sara Mullen (Canaseraga) and Building Construction students Shane Powers (Canisteo-Greenwood) and Cory Thompson (Bath). Instructors Gary Acker and Rob Lemay served as advisers.

  • CTE students win big at state conference

    Students in the New Visions Health Careers Exploration and Nurse Assisting programs from the Bush campus scored big at the recent HOSA Spring Leadership Conference, held in April in Syracuse.

    Denitra Ransome, a Waverly High School student who attends the Nurse Assisting program at the GST BOCES Bush Campus, was named the 2013-14 New York State president of HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) at the conference.

    GST BOCES students brought home 17 first-place medals and 28 medals overall. Students competed in difficult team and individual medical competition categories such as Bio Medical Debate, Nutrition Knowledge and CPR/First Aid, just to name a few. Eleven GST BOCES medal winners will travel to the National HOSA Leadership Conference in June in Nashville to compete with 7,000 other students from across the country.

    Click here for the list of winners.

    "I was overjoyed by the number of students who placed so high in this competition," said New Visions Health Careers Exploration Instructor Beth Woodard. "This is the largest number of first-place medals my class has ever come home with. They worked really hard to prepare for this."

  • Mother and daughter graduate on the same day

    Recently, Amanda Martone (right) and her mother, Jenny, had the rare privilege of graduating from Corning Community College on the same day.

    Amanda is a graduate of GST BOCES External Diploma Program who rediscovered her love of learning with the help of BOCES Adult Literacy staff members. Her enthusiasm was contagious, inspiring her mother to continue her education at the same time.

    Jenny home-schooled Amanda for several years. But when Amanda's grandfather became ill, she opted to take care of him and put her studies on hold. After his death, Amanda sought help from BOCES Adult Literacy Program to complete her education. Jenny said the encouragement of BOCES staff members helped Amanda through a difficult time.

    Amanda received her high school diploma in June 2010. When she enrolled in CCC in 2011, her mother enrolled at the same time. Amanda earned several awards, including being named a Student of the Year by the NYS Association for Continuing/Community Education, induction into the International Honor Society for Community Colleges and earning certification as a writing tutor. She also had one of her short stories published in CCC’s literary magazine and won a writing competition.

    "Words can’t express how proud I am of her," Jenny said. "She shocked me with one success after another."

    "I’m proud of my mom, too," Amanda added. "It was fun to have her as my study buddy."

    GST BOCES Adult Education and Training offers a wide variety of literacy services, career planning, vocational instruction, business and industry training and recreational programming to adults in the Southern Tier of New York.

  • CTE students win at state competition

    GST BOCES CTE students participated in the New York State SkillsUSA competition held in Syracuse in April.

    More than 1,500 students from across the state competed, showcasing their skills in their respective CTE programs.

    Students placing first qualify to compete at the national level. Six of the seven GST BOCES first place winners will travel to Kansas City to participate in the national competition in June. Congratulations and good luck to:

        • Chloe Erway, EFA, Dental Assisting
        • Joseph Giardina, Corning West,
           Diesel Equipment Technology
        • Allen Long, EFA, Cabinet Making
        • Katryn Phaneuf, Horseheads, First Aid & CPR
        • Kali Plank, Canisteo-Greenwood,
           Power Equipment Technology
        • Jaclyn VanZile, Jasper-Troupsburg,
           Occupational Health & Safety

    Click here to see a complete list of GST BOCES winners.

  • Fashion Design students hit the runway

    Students in the Fashion Design, Merchandising and Marketing program recently modeled their designs at a Student Fashion Show at the Arnot Mall. Nine seniors and five juniors, plus other models wearing the students' original designs, walked the runway wearing fashion ranging from elegantly formal to casual chic.

    In this photo, a senior models a motorcycle-inspired ensemble that she designed and created. After trying to get the desired tread-mark effect with fabric paint and a stencil in the classroom, she became frustrated that it wasn't working. After brainstorming with the instructor, Cynthia Husband-Cohen, the student tried something new. She went home and painted the actual tread of a motorcycle tire with black fabric paint, then rolled it over the fabric.

    "Every year, I am amazed at their clothing designs and the abilities the students develop," said Husband-Cohen.

    This two-year program, offered only at the Bush campus, encourages students' creativity and resourcefulness in the fashion industry. Students learn about textiles, design history and theory, garment construction, 3D design and fashion merchandising and marketing. Upon graduation, students are ready to step right into the world of retail fashion or continue in college with a jump start in the field.

    Fashion Design is just one of more than 20 CTE programs offered at GST BOCES to area high school students.

  • Culinary Arts students help open new Elmira café

    Students from the Bush Campus Culinary Arts class helped open the new Lakeside Café, located at Eldridge Park in Elmira. The café is under the management of former GST BOCES Culinary Arts student Kevin Dunbar (not pictured). He asked his former instructor, Karen Mecum, and her class to help with equipment set-up and initial food preparation for the café’s soft opening on May 24.

    In this photo, two students prepare chips on a stick - an invention of Kevin's - while another mixes batter for funnel cakes.

    "It's a brand new facility, and there's a lot to do," said Ryan Alo, Eldridge Park manager. "With all the hustle and bustle, having the class help with the prep work is a huge benefit to everyone here today."

    Culinary Arts is a popular class taught on all three BOCES campuses. It introduces students to careers in food service and teaches them the basic skills and knowledge they need for success in this industry.

  • Coopers students pitch in with vital community projects

    Two Career and Technical Education programs from the GST BOCES Coopers Education Center recently gained some real-world work experiences on projects in the community.

    Heavy Equipment students spent four days burying flood debris for the Village of Riverside. They used a bulldozer, excavator and hand tools to complete the work.

    Building Construction students built a 3' x 30' two-bay garage for a family in Painted Post. They constructed the walls in the classroom, then assembled them on site. Students also completed electrical and sheetrock work for the project.

  • CTE students interview with potential employers

    Career and Technical Education students recently interviewed for jobs as part of their senior year experience at GST BOCES. Students who participated in the annual Spring Employers' Day met with professionals representing dozens of local companies. Potential employers were matched with students trained in similar career areas.

    Most Bush Campus CTE classes participated in this event. Potential employers had the option of interviewing students for practice, to hire now or to possibly hire later. The interviews helped students practice dressing appropriately, making eye contact and other important interviewing skills. The adults conducting the interviews were eager to give constructive advice and feedback to students.

    In this photo, a senior from Odessa-Montour Junior/Senior High School in Dan McNaughton's Auto Technology class interviewed for a position with a local auto repair shop. She was optimistic about getting a job after school, and appreciated the opportunity to have a job interview as part of her BOCES education.

    "My parents really instilled a professional background in me, ever since I was little," she said. "They were very supportive about me going into the automotive field, even though it's not a traditional role for women."

    "We teach students interviewing skills, and this gives them a chance to practice what they've learned," said Dan McNaughton. "The confidence and experience they get from doing these practice interviews really helps them in real interviews, which helps them get jobs."

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Discover GST BOCES! Use the A to Z index or the Search Box located near the top of the page.
We deliver a variety of innovative programs and services from our three beautiful campuses. A full list of services can be found in the footer of this page.
Bush Campus
459 Philo Road, Elmira, NY 14903
(607) 739-3581 - Fax: (607) 795-5304
Coopers Campus
9579 Vocational Drive, Painted Post, NY 14870
(607) 962-3175 - Fax: (607) 962-1579
Wildwood Campus
1126 Bald Hill Road, Hornell, NY 14843
(607) 324-7880 - Fax: (607) 324-3842
CTE adds new Animal Science program at the Bush Campus

New this fall is the Animal Science CTE program for high school students at the Bush campus. This all-new program is ideal for animal-loving students interested in veterinary medicine, working as a vet tech, vet assistant or groomer with small animals. Students will learn:

  • Proper care, handling, feeding, cleaning and grooming of small animals
  • Exotic animal husbandry
  • Anatomy and physiology of small animals
  • Care for sick animals, and much more.

This new program will include a combination of dynamic in-class learning, as well as field trips to area clinics, grooming/boarding facilities, kennels and shelters. Like other CTE programs, students will attend this program at the Bush campus for half a school day during their junior and senior years. So, this program is available this fall for students entering their junior year. Eligibility includes Regents-level science courses and the ability to lift a minimum of 25 pounds. Integrated credits in English and science are included. For more information, call the CTE Main Office at the Bush Campus at 739-3581.

2013 Hall of Fame winners
2013 Hall of Fame winner (L-R): Kimberly Weaver,
Martin DiPetta and Winnie Hinman.
Courtesy of Tom Mike

The 2013 Hall of Fame Banquet announced three winners:

Martin DiPetta is a 2002 graduate of Southside High School. He attended the New Visions Health Careers Exploration program at the Bush Education Center during his senior year. He graduated in 2010 as a Doctor of Chiropractic and now owns DiPetta Chiropractic in Elmira. His business continues to grow and he regularly allows New Visions students to shadow him at his office.

Winifred (Winnie) Hinman completed the BOCES Practical Nursing program at the Bush campus in 1989, receiving her LPN license. She worked for 19 years at the Chemung County Nursing Facility, where she was team leader, staff nurse, infection control nurse, clinical supervisor and building supervisor. She graduated from Keuka College in 2010 with her BSN, and is currently working on her MSN degree. She also is the Nursing Coordinator of GST BOCES Practical Nursing program.

Kimberly Weaver graduated from Corning West High School and completed the New Visions Medical program at the Coopers campus in 2002. She graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine in 2009 with honors. In 2011, she opened her own business, Healing Hands Chiropractic in Addison, which she still operates today. She also serves as the Anatomy and Physiology instructor for the New Visions Medical program at the Wildwood and Coopers campuses.

The Hall of Fame recognizes the personal and professional achievements of past students who best exemplify the qualities and characteristics inherent in a successful BOCES program graduate. This event is hosted by the GST BOCES CTE Advisory Council. The CTE Hall of Fame is a long-standing tradition at GST BOCES. Anyone who has completed an Adult Education, Alternative High School or CTE program is eligible for nomination to the Hall of Fame, after their sixth year of program completion.

Human Resources Department located at Bush Campus

The GST BOCES HR Department is located in Building #1 at the Bush Campus, near the main entrance to Administration. Check out their Employment tab at the top of the home page for current job openings and application information.

Department Staff
HR Main Number - 739-3581
HR Fax - 654-2280
Doug Johnson
Director of Human Resources and Employee Relations - Ext. 2233
Tina Hazzard
Senior Stenographer - Ext. 2273
Shelly Bacmanski
Personnel Clerk - Ext. 2308
Bridgett Freelove
Payroll Specialist - Ext. 2221
Robin Morrell
Senior Account Clerk – Ext. 2204
Roxanne Ragan
Personnel Clerk - Ext. 2250
Leslie Roof
Personnel Clerk - Ext. 2290

Important NYS updates on teacher certification

There are several specific pathways to become certified to teach in New York State schools. One of them has been individual evaluation, but this pathway will end on May 1, 2014, for all classroom titles except childhood education. Click here for new details on the Teacher Certification webpage.

Need help navigating the path to teacher certification? Ask Betty DeNardo, the GST BOCES regional teacher certification specialist. Her office is located in Building #11 on the Bush Campus. Betty provides teacher and coaching certification evaluation service to those living in our GST BOCES region and those employed in our 21 component school districts. In addition, she is the in-house expert on Civil Service employment. To reach Betty DeNardo from inside BOCES, dial extension 2215. To call from outside BOCES, call 739-3581, extension 2215.

STEM training helps teachers make learning fun
Fifth-graders at Tuscarora Elementary experiment
with Mixtures and Solutions.

STEM staff development provides strong instructional leadership by specialized GST BOCES staff for area teachers.

Here's what Tonya Morse, a fifth-grade teacher at at Tuscarora Elementary in the Addison Central School District, wrote about STEM teaching in her classroom:

"The STEM program, including the BOCES notebooks, have been extremely helpful in having students connect content across curriculum. The notebooks encourage them to complete detailed notes to answer questions using higher ordered thinking skills. The investigations are helping students to not only learn how to work efficiently in groups, but to also become comfortable in claiming a position and providing evidence to support their claims.

As I am also a math teacher, I find that sometimes a student does not understand a mathematical concept during math class such as measuring capacity, however he or she has an 'aha' moment when completing the same task to measure a reactant in science.

This program has been wonderful for my students as it helps them with their challenging areas of reading and writing by incorporating the investigatory style of science that they love so much."

Click here to read the latest STEM newsletter.
Click here to visit the STEM website.

Woman completes Building Construction program in a year with perfect attendance, perfect test scores

Amanda Dieterle isn’t the typical building trades student. Still, the slight, soft-spoken young woman has excelled this year in GST BOCES Building Construction class on the Bush Campus, said Bill Hansell, her instructor.

"Amanda is an inspiration to our program" said Hansell. "She earned perfect scores on both midterm and final exams for the Junior and Senior classes. She also was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. Her attendance has also been perfect."

At 22, Amanda is an adult student in the secondary Building Construction Program. She entered last fall and has completed both the junior and senior programs at the same time. She graduated from Twin Tiers Christian Academy, but put her plans on hold for a few years to care for her ailing grandparents.

She entered the BOCES program last fall with little experience, but a great deal of interest in construction. "I grew up in an old house, so I watched my Dad working on something almost every day," she said. "Having the knowledge to fix things yourself instead of calling someone else in really appealed to me."

She, along with her fellow students, constructed a full-size house in the shop. Each year, students construct a house as a class project. The completed house is then sold to a BOCES staff or community member to cover the cost of supplies.

Encouraged by her instructors to become an electrician, Amanda is looking for work in the field and exploring educational opportunities through the IBEW Local 139.

Phone tips from the switchboard operator

The switchboard is staffed by Dianne Impson weekdays from 7:30-3:30. After hours, calls are answered by an automated system. GST BOCES has more than 800 employees and extensions, and trying to locate an employee without complete information takes time and slows efficiency. Here are some tips for more efficient phone usage.

  1. Internally, the most accurate way to find a four-digit extension is using Directories button on your phone.
  2. Another way to find an extension is with People Finder tool online.
  3. Printable phone directories are on the Intranet. Under Documents, click Information. In Campus Information you'll find updated phone extension lists.
  4. The following school districts are linked to our phone system through the Directories search button on your phone. Most people at these locations can be dialed with four digits.
    • Addison
    • GST BOCES
    • Campbell-Savona
    • Elmira (administration only)
    • Elmira Heights
    • Hornell
    • Jasper-Troopsburg
    • Odessa-Montour
    • Prattsburgh and
    • Spencer-Van Etten.

Upcoming Events
June 18, 2013
Regents Exams
 
 
June 19, 2013
Regents Exams
 
 
June 20, 2013
Regents Exams
 
 
June 20, 2013
11:00 a.m.
Bush Combined Broad Horizons & Elsmere Graduation Ceremony
Elmira Height T.A. Edison High School Auditorium
 
 
June 20, 2013
8:00 a.m.
Adult Ed Class at Bush, Powerpoint Level I, $60
Go to www.gstboces.org/adulted or call 607-739-7905 for details.  
 
June 21, 2013
Regents Exams
 
 
June 24, 2013
GST staff summer hours begin
 
 
June 25, 2013
5:30 p.m.
Adult Literacy (GED) Graduation Ceremony (regional/combined)
Clemens Center, Elmira
 
 
Student chose Machine Trades to 'get a head start on the real world'

This student, a Haverling High School senior in the Bradford Central School District, chose the Machine Trades CTE program at the Coopers campus.

Some of his friends took the course and found good jobs immediately after graduation, so he decided this was a good program for him. He enjoys running the CNC machines and uses many of the math skills he learned in school.

He plans to obtain his Commercial Driver's License and apply for work in the machining industry after graduation. "I'll have a head start before I get out in the real world because of the experience I've gained in the BOCES machine shop," he said.

Machine Trades is offered to high school students only on the Coopers campus. A similar program called Precision Machining for adults (21+) is offered through Adult Education and Training at the Bush campus. Machine Trades prepares students for entry-level jobs in a variety of machining occupations. Machine tools - including lathes, milling machines, drill presses, cylindrical grinders and surface grinders - are used throughout the program. Students learn CAD/CAM fundamentals and how to program and operate CNC lathes and CNC milling machines.

The Help Desk is open Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To call the Help Desk from within BOCES, dial 1324, to call from Addison dial 7001324. To call from outside BOCES, dial 795-5324.

Click here to e-mail the Help Desk with your questions or request. To log a request electronically, log in to the Technical Support Request link. Please do not e-mail the technicians directly.

Before you call the Help Desk, try the TechKnow website for the answers to your questions. Here you'll find technical and instructional assistance for both software and hardware applications. New PCs have Windows 7 operating systems and Office 2010 for their software productivity suite. If staff members need tutorials in either of these, visit the TechKnow site – http://techknow.gstboces.org

Protect BOCES from phishing scams

Rule #1: Your network username and password should always be kept secure and confidential. NEVER give this information out to anyone. EVER.

Rule #2: NEVER provide your personal login or password information at a website or via email. BE SMART! Legitimate businesses will not ask you for this information via email or a web site. GST BOCES WILL NEVER ASK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION VIA EMAIL!