Genesee Valley BOCES

Ken Estes, Agriculture Program Director from Cornell Cooperative Extension, has come to our Dansville Campus to teach our students about agriculture. In this week's Ag in the Classroom lesson, students were given canvas bags to fill with potting soil. They were given a variety of choices of seed packets to choose from - watermelon and pumpkin were most popular, while others chose lettuce, peppers, radishes, beets, etc. Mr. Estes educated the students on how to get information about planting the seeds by looking at the packets, from depth and spacing of the seeds, to germination and harvest times. Students planted their seeds and watered them. They will be able to watch their plants grow over the remainder of the school year, and even take it home! Throughout the lesson, students were engaged and excited to share their own experiences with agriculture at home or other areas in their lives. Photo Credit: Laura Carmichael

Early College High School students have been hard at work this year bringing their greenhouse project to life. Through hands-on learning, they’ve grown a wide variety of plants now available for purchase. There are many options to choose from, perfect for gardens, homes, or gifts. This project highlights the students’ dedication and care throughout the growing season. To learn more about purchasing plants, contact teacher Tosca Lindberg at tosca.lindberg@gvboces.org.

Batavia Health Dimensions students wrapped up a highly successful year of clinical experiences. Throughout the year, they gained valuable hands-on skills and insight into patient care. A big thank you to the Veterans Home and The Grand for welcoming and supporting our students. Their partnership helped make this experience possible.

Early College High School Applied Math students wrapped up their research projects with a gallery walk, creating poster boards and presenting on topics ranging from Marvel vs. DC and video games to vacation preferences, sports, and heroes vs. villains—showcasing plenty of creativity while engaging with visitors and answering questions.

Batavia CTE Center welcomed new members into the National Technical Honor Society tonight. These students earned this recognition through strong academics, technical skills, and a commitment to leadership, service, and responsibility. Membership reflects consistent effort in and out of the classroom, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA and active involvement in their programs and communities. Congratulations to each of these students on this well-deserved achievement.

April Student of the Month honorees at Mount Morris Elementary are being recognized for their hard work and strong self-control throughout the month. These students have shown dedication in the classroom and set a great example for their peers. Congratulations to Kindergarten student Lua, third grader Jaxen, fourth grader Bentley, fifth grader Gryphon, and sixth graders Brandon and Ian—keep up the great work!

Dansville Campus students spent the day at Cumming Nature Center exploring the outdoors and learning along the way. Some students kicked things off with a guided nature hike, where they discovered local plants and wildlife, smelled skunk cabbage, and learned why it has such a strong scent. Along the trail, they spotted signs of beaver activity and visited a beaver dam and lodge. After lunch (and ice cream topped with the center’s own maple syrup), students worked in teams to build shelters for small animals using natural materials. To wrap up, their creations were put to the test as the guide simulated rain—an exciting moment as students saw just how well their shelters held up. Photo Credit: Laura Carmichael

Last week, we proudly celebrated 21 graduates from our Adult Education Practical Nursing program at Genesee Valley BOCES. Each graduate has shown dedication, resilience, and compassion throughout their journey in nursing. Family, friends, and instructors gathered to celebrate the hard work that led to this moment. The ceremony included heartfelt remarks, awards, and the LPN pledge, marking the transition into the nursing profession. These graduates are now prepared to make a difference in the lives of others through skilled and compassionate care. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 as they begin this important and inspiring next chapter. Photo Credit: Alecia Kaus

Congratulations to these electromechanical students at Genesee Valley BOCES for earning their National Career Readiness Certificates through the ACT WorkKeys assessments in Mr. Monroe’s class. This nationally recognized credential highlights workplace skills in applied math, graphic literacy and workplace documents.

Out of the 46 students who tested:
• 4 earned Bronze certificates
• 17 earned Silver certificates
• 16 earned Gold certificates
• 9 earned Platinum certificates — the highest level possible

Big news from Batavia CTE! Welding student Cooper H. from Pavilion Central School District took 1st place in both the TIG and MIG Welding competitions and finished 2nd overall at this weekend’s event in Albany. He was supported by his instructor, Andrew Geyer, throughout the competition. An impressive showing all around.

Students from GV BOCES LIVES and The Arc GLOW’s LIVES program recently presented at GREAT Day at SUNY Geneseo, a symposium that highlights student achievement and creativity. During their session, students shared what it’s like to be part of the program and experience college life, including videos that offered a look into their daily routines. Following the presentation, attendees explored student-created posters, where presenters answered questions and explained their work. The session wrapped up with a Q&A, giving students another opportunity to reflect on their experiences. It was a meaningful day of sharing, learning, and connection.

Students in the Diesel Program at the Mount Morris CTE Center have been staying busy in the shop. They’re working hands-on with buses, tractors, and trucks. Each project helps build their skills in diagnostics, maintenance, and repair. It’s a steady pace that keeps them learning and preparing for the industry.

Batavia CTE Animal Science students are learning about problem-oriented medical record keeping using the SOAP organization, widely used in veterinary medicine. They are developing skills in taking an animal’s vital signs, understanding how a doctor performs physical examinations, and recognizing how an animal’s signalment and history help the veterinary team make accurate health assessments.

Dr. Heidi Licata from Lakeside Animal Hospital visited to answer students’ questions about the education needed for different roles in a veterinary office, the responsibilities of the veterinary team, and the employability skills needed to be successful in the field. She demonstrated each step of the physical exam, explained its purpose, and engaged students by asking questions about an animal’s medical history as if they were the pet’s owners, allowing them to apply their own knowledge and experiences in a realistic setting.

Students then gave Dr. Licata a tour of the program and shared the responsibilities and skills they are building while caring for animals each day. Thank you, Dr. Licata, for sharing your time and expertise with our students.

Wildlife Rockstars, an animal-assisted therapy program from Bridges for Brain Injury in New York, visited our elementary program today. The program gives individuals with traumatic brain injuries and disabilities the opportunity to learn how to care for and present both exotic and native animals. Students had the chance to meet a variety of species, each with a personality of its own. Many of the animals are named after celebrities and rock stars, which quickly caught students’ attention. Among the visitors were a roach, a beetle named Beetlejuice, a chinchilla, a tortoise, and a bearded dragon. The experience gave students a close-up look at animals they may not usually encounter. It was an engaging way to learn about animal care, responsibility, and connection. Thank you to Wildlife Rockstars for sharing your time and animals with our students.

Dansville campus staff had some fun this week, dressing like their students for the day. From laid-back looks to familiar styles, it brought plenty of laughs and a little extra energy as everyone heads towards spring break at the end of the week.

Last weekend’s FIRST LEGO League competition brought together some incredible teams, creative ideas, and impressive robots. 🤖

Teams kicked things off with practice rounds before moving into three official Robot Game rounds, where only the highest score counted. The day also included a parade and wrapped up with awards celebrating teamwork, innovation, and engineering.

Teams from Attica Central School, Batavia City School, Gillam Grant, LeRoy Central School, Oakfield-Alabama Central School, Warsaw Central School, and Wayland-Cohocton Central School were all represented, showcasing a wide range of skill and creativity throughout the day.

The results reflected just how strong the competition was:
🏆 Core Values Award: Oakfield-Alabama Hi-Tech Hornets
🏆 Innovation Project Award: LeRoy STEAM Knights Clockwork Cavalry
🏆 Robot Design Award: Fossil Finders (Gillam Grant)
🏆 Robot Performance Award (High Score: 275): Oakfield-Alabama Hi-Tech Hornets
🏆 Judges Award for Engineering Excellence: Wayland-Cohocton Golden Eagles 2
🏆 Champion’s Award (1st Place): Cyborg Monkeys (Gillam Grant)

An impressive showing from every team and a day that highlighted the creativity, teamwork, and dedication behind each build.

Busy day in Cosmetology! Batavia CTE Center’s AM Cosmetology class hosted 4th grade students from John Kennedy for a fun, hands-on visit. Seniors led activities like face painting, hair tinsel, and perm rod demonstrations, and students got creative designing their own hair and makeup on practice heads. Later, 5th graders from Pembroke visited with the PM class for more hands-on fun!

Batavia CTE Health Dimensions students hosted a Teddy Bear Clinic, welcoming 4th graders for half-day tours. Students rotated through hands-on stations like taking their teddy bear’s temperature and creating ID bracelets, learning about different areas of healthcare along the way.

Animal Science students in Batavia are diving into the digestive system and nutrition, exploring how different animals process food. They’re comparing monogastric, ruminant, pseudoruminant, and avian systems while learning how nutrition supports animal health at every life stage. Through hands-on dissections and body condition scoring, students are building practical skills used in the field. A guest visit from Dairy Nutritionist Ben Colopy of Dairy NeXT Nutrition Consultants gave students a closer look at careers in animal nutrition.

Early College High School students brought creativity, teamwork, and business skills to life at this year’s ACE Business Competition at Genesee Community College.
On Thursday, March 26, 10th grade students in BUS 101, taught by Mary Noh, showcased the culmination of months of work developing their own businesses. Since the fall, students have worked in teams to design products, build brands, and prepare for the final competition experience.

At GCC, each team set up a storefront and interacted with visitors who were given a mock $5,000 credit card to spend on virtual purchases. This hands-on simulation gave students the opportunity to practice sales, marketing, and customer service while thinking on their feet and working together under pressure.

Each business brought something unique to the competition:
• Byron Blasters created eco-friendly “Nerf-like” blasters with biodegradable ammunition that doubles as fertilizer, earning 3rd place for both their website and total sales
• Green Getters sold plants grown in their greenhouse using aquaponics systems and took home 1st place for their website
• Fabrics and Fibers offered a wide range of handmade crocheted items and earned 3rd place for their booth display
• Fish and Fert marketed concentrated fertilizer water from their aquaponics lab, earning 2nd place in marketing and salesmanship, number of transactions, and total sales

Beyond the awards, what stood out most was the level of collaboration, preparation, and professionalism shown by every team. From thoughtfully designed displays to engaging conversations with customers, students demonstrated pride in their work and a strong understanding of what it takes to run a business.

Experiences like this give students a chance to apply what they’ve learned in a meaningful way while building confidence and skills they can carry forward.