Congratulations to the Mount Morris CTE Center Class of 2026! 🎓Students, families, staff, and community partners gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s graduates and recognize outstanding student achievements during the annual Awards and Graduation Night. We are proud of all they have accomplished and look forward to seeing the impact they will make in their careers, communities, and beyond.

A special end-of-year tradition: staff lined the front of the school to send students off with smiles and waves on the last day of classes. Thank you for a great year, and enjoy your summer!

A memorable day as we celebrated five graduates and all they have accomplished. Surrounded by family, friends, and those who supported them along the way, they marked an important milestone and the start of a new chapter. Congratulations to our graduates—we are proud of you!

We celebrated the incredible students of the Batavia CTE Center and all they have accomplished throughout the year. We are especially proud of our seniors as they prepare to take the next step in their journeys. Their hard work, dedication, and determination have made a lasting impact on our programs and school community. Congratulations to the Class of 2026—we can't wait to see all that you achieve!

Early College High School celebrated the Class of 2026 and the accomplishments of students across every grade level during today's awards and recognition ceremony.

The event highlighted a year of hard work, honored the school's Student of the Year, and celebrated students as they selected the GCC pathways and academic plans they will pursue next year. Throughout the ceremony, this year's theme—Resilience—was woven into each student's story.

Principal Catherine Bennett reminded students that success is built one exam, one semester, and one challenge at a time. Her message was clear: We believe in you.

Congratulations to all of our students for a successful year and to the Class of 2026 as they prepare for graduation and the next chapter ahead.

We celebrated the Mount Morris Academy Class of 2026. This remarkable group of graduates faced challenges, showed resilience, and continued moving forward with determination and courage. Along the way, they supported one another, grew as individuals, and worked hard to reach this milestone. We are incredibly proud of all they accomplished and look forward to seeing what comes next for each of them. Congratulations, Class of 2026—this was your day, and you earned every moment of it.

On Thursday, June 11, our 6th grade students in Ms. Post’s and Ms. Privitera’s classrooms had the exciting opportunity to travel to Castile, NY to witness history in motion as the legendary Union Pacific "Big Boy" steam locomotive passed through the area!

Students eagerly gathered along the tracks to see one of the largest and most powerful steam engines ever built. This unique experience brought history, engineering, and transportation to life in a way that simply can't be replicated in a classroom.

The excitement on our students' faces as they heard the whistle, saw the massive locomotive, and learned about its significance made for an unforgettable day of learning and discovery. Experiences like these help spark curiosity, connect classroom lessons to the real world, and create lasting memories.

We are so proud of our students for representing our program so well and making the most of this incredible educational opportunity!
📚🚂 Learning beyond the classroom is always an adventure!

Congratulations to the Batavia Academy Class of 2026! Five seniors celebrated a milestone that reflects their hard work, perseverance, and determination. Executive Principal Rachel Slobert, who has led Batavia Academy graduations for 20 years, reminded students that success is not measured by how quickly a goal is reached, but by the resilience and determination to keep moving forward when challenges arise. Each graduate received a deck of cards as a symbol that while no one gets to choose the hand they're dealt in life, they do get to choose what they do with it. As they begin their next chapter, graduates were encouraged to carry three things with them: confidence, pride in their accomplishments, and hope for the future. Congratulations on this well-earned accomplishment and best wishes for the future.

Mount Morris BOCES elementary students enjoyed an amazing field trip to Backyard Barnyard! The day was filled with excitement, adventure, and plenty of opportunities to make lasting memories with friends and staff.

Students loved interacting with and feeding the farm animals, getting up close with some furry and feathered friends throughout the day. Beyond the animals, there were so many fun activities to enjoy! Students explored giant bubble wands, raced rubber ducks in water races, tackled inflatable obstacle courses, and even experienced the thrill of zip-lining.

From laughter and teamwork to trying new activities and building confidence, there was something for everyone to enjoy. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces as students explored all that Backyard Barnyard had to offer. Photo Credit: Courtney Post

Batavia BOCES students proudly competed alongside athletes from Batavia City School District, Elba Central School, Byron-Bergen Central School and the New York State School for the Blind during the Special Olympics at Van Detta Stadium. Athletes showcased their determination, sportsmanship and school spirit while competing in track and field events, cheered on by families, students, staff and volunteers. Congratulations to all who participated in this inspiring day of competition, and achievement!

Guests at the Batavia Campus Building Trades Open House had the opportunity to tour the house students have been building throughout the school year and see the project's progress firsthand. From framing and construction to the many details that bring a house together, the work on display reflected the skill, dedication, and craftsmanship students have developed through the program. The home is already an impressive showcase of their efforts, and the project continues to take shape as the school year comes to a close.

Congratulations to the Dansville Campus students moving on to their next chapter! Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have brought you to this exciting milestone. We are proud of all you have accomplished and can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Best wishes for continued success and happiness in all that comes next!

Knowledge, skill, teamwork, and a little friendly competition were all on display as GV BOCES Health Careers Academy students from the Batavia and Dansville campuses participated in the Medical Terminology and Responding to Emergencies Competition at Genesee Community College.

The event challenged students in both academic and hands-on healthcare scenarios. During the Medical Terminology competition, students tested their knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, abbreviations, and other healthcare concepts learned throughout the school year. Students then put their training into action during emergency response stations focused on CPR, bleeding control, splinting, patient assessment, anaphylaxis emergencies, diabetic emergencies, and other first aid situations.
The competition highlighted the critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills that are essential in healthcare professions. Batavia students earned top honors in the academic portion of the competition, while Dansville students excelled in the emergency response skills challenge. With each campus claiming a victory, the day concluded with a spirited dance off tie-breaker and plenty of laughter before organizers ultimately declared the competition a tie.

More important than the final result was the professionalism, dedication, and compassion demonstrated by all participants. These future healthcare professionals showcased the knowledge and skills they are developing as they prepare for careers in nursing, emergency medical services, and other healthcare fields.

Congratulations to all of the students who represented GV BOCES and their home school districts with pride. We are grateful to Genesee Community College for hosting this outstanding learning opportunity and look forward to seeing this competition continue to grow in the years ahead.

The Mount Morris Building Trades Open House was a chance to celebrate an incredible year of hard work, dedication, and craftsmanship. Throughout the year, students took on the challenge of building an entire house from the ground up, learning valuable skills every step of the way. From framing and roofing to finishing details, countless hours of effort went into bringing the project to life. Family members, community partners, and supporters had the opportunity to see firsthand what the students accomplished. Congratulations to all of the students and instructors for an outstanding year and a job well done!

Field Day brought plenty of excitement to the Batavia Campus as students enjoyed a day packed with activities, laughter, and time together outdoors. From dunk tanks and water slides to yard games, friendly competition, and a cookout lunch, students spent the day making memories, and celebrating the end of another school year.

Students from the Dansville Campus recently enjoyed a trip to the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park. It was a beautiful day for a hike through the woods, with students exploring each station along the trail and taking in the sights and sounds of nature.

The group also visited the Humphrey Nature Center and wrapped up the day with a cookout. This annual trip is a favorite among students and is always a highlight of the year.

Mount Morris elementary campus students recently visited Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg, NY, where they had the opportunity to see and learn about a variety of animals from around the world. From observing animal behaviors to exploring the park with their classmates, students were engaged, curious, and excited throughout the day.
Field trips like these provide valuable hands-on learning experiences that support communication, social skills, independence, and exploration in a meaningful and memorable way. It was wonderful to see so many smiles as students made connections between what they learn in the classroom and the world around them.
We are so proud of our students for representing our program so well and for embracing new experiences with enthusiasm and kindness.

Dansville Campus Students had their 3rd and final Ag in the Classroom lesson. This session taught students the who, what, where, when, why, and how of composting. They brainstormed examples of things than can and cannot be composted and why, then they created their own compost in a bag. They put dry leaves, grass clippings, and eggshells in a ziploc bag, then added moisture to create condensation. They will observe changes that occur throughout the rest of the school year. Students were also excited to see some major growth in the seeds they planted over a month ago! A big thank you to Ken Estes from Cornell Cooperative Extension for coming to work with our students and to teacher Marcia Underwood for organizing everything.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of The Digies, hosted by the Genesee Valley BOCES School Librarians at The Strong National Museum of Play. What began as a traditional art show evolved into a large-scale digital awards celebration as student creativity expanded beyond what could be physically displayed.

Today, teams from schools across the region come together to showcase incredible work in video, graphic arts, audio, and interactive media. Congratulations to all of this year’s talented students for sharing their creativity, imagination, and hard work.

Metal Trades students at the Mount Morris Career and Technical Education Center put their custom-built grills and smokers to the test during the inaugural Smoker Challenge, the culmination of months spent designing, fabricating, welding, and troubleshooting their projects.

Throughout the school year, students built their smokers from raw steel, applying the skills they learned in the shop while creating unique designs that reflected their creativity and craftsmanship. The competition gave them an opportunity to showcase their work in a practical setting while preparing food for judges.

Students from the Culinary Arts program assisted with food preparation, highlighting collaboration between Career and Technical Education programs and providing additional hands-on learning opportunities.

This year's competition featured two teams. Team Tac, consisting of Javen J. and Wyatt N., earned first place with a score of 143 points. Team Big Boy, made up of Howard S., Brayden W.G., and Dylan B., finished with 128 points.

Javen's smoker, named "Tac," was built in honor of his late father, whose nickname inspired the project. The smoker became both a tribute and a showcase of the skills he developed during his time in the Metal Trades program.

Judges evaluated competitors on presentation, food safety, cook quality, creativity and innovation, and the quality of grill construction and craftsmanship.

"This entire competition exemplifies a core tenet of my teaching philosophy," said instructor Jeff Swift. "My goal isn't just to hand students information—it's to give them the tools, the trust, and the space to show us what they are truly capable of achieving."

The custom trophy was created by Metal Trades student Lilian R., who plans to compete in next year's challenge.

As the first event of its kind, the Smoker Challenge is expected to continue growing in the years ahead, providing future Metal Trades students with an opportunity to showcase their skills, creativity, and craftsmanship.

Congratulations to Team Tac — Javen J. and Wyatt N. — winners of the 2026 inaugural Smoker Challenge!