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.

The LIVES program participated in Special Olympics bowling today, where students played two exciting and competitive games. Each participant showed the results of their hard work and practice, putting in strong efforts throughout every frame. There were lots of smiles and laughs as the games went on, with a great sense of excitement in the bowling alley. All participants were recognized for their efforts and received ribbons, while the top three finishers earned medals for their performances. It was a great day filled with fun, focus, and many memorable moments. All participants should be congratulated for their effort and participation, as everyone gave it their all!

Dansville Campus students held their third annual talent show today, and it was clear how much time and effort went into every performance. Music was a big highlight, with students choosing a wide range of songs to sing. There were also a few dance performances that brought great energy to the stage. A comedy act added some humor and kept the crowd engaged. It was a strong showcase of student talent and creativity.

Students in Business 101 at Early College High School got some hands-on practice ahead of the Virtual Business Trade Fair on March 26 with a visit from Philip Weise of Genesee Valley Agency. He shared practical tips on salesmanship like setting goals, building trust, and asking the right questions, then worked with students as they practiced their pitches and got real-time feedback. Great preparation for the big day!

Mount Morris CTE Animal Science students are building valuable hands-on skills! 🐾 These candid moments capture AM students practicing effective suturing techniques after learning about different types of wounds, proper cleaning methods, and bandaging and wrapping. Great work putting their knowledge into action!

Bella from Geneseo Central School created magic with a stunning client transformation last week. This cosmetology student completed a full makeover using highlights and lowlights, finished with a beautiful seal for a polished final look. Incredible work!

Mount Morris Elementary students had an incredible experience in the indoor STAR Lab through Enrichment! This traveling planetarium transformed their space into a galaxy of discovery, where students were fully immersed in the stars, planets, and beyond while listening to space stories, learning about each planet, and completing constellation scavenger hunts. It was a fun, engaging, and unforgettable experience for all!

Hosted by the School Library System of Genesee Valley BOCES, this year’s event gave elementary students a chance to explore, create, and compete through hands-on STEAM challenges alongside Tech Wars. Students rotated through Olympic-themed activities like coding Dash robots for “curling,” engineering ski jumps to launch marbles, designing embossed medals, and capturing memories at a green screen photo station.

Between challenges, students explored Tech Wars, watched exciting drone racing, and saw older students in action—sparking inspiration for their own future pathways.

From teamwork and creativity to problem-solving and friendly competition, STEAM Jam celebrated the true Olympic spirit: learning, growing, and supporting one another every step of the way.

The 17th Annual Tech Wars brought together more than 700 students from 23 schools across the GLOW region for a day focused on innovation, collaboration, and technical skill-building. Participants engaged in a variety of creative, hands-on competitions designed to challenge their problem-solving abilities and showcase their talents. Early College High School students participated in the competitions, while Batavia CTE Electromechanical Trades students demonstrated their technical skills, highlighting the depth and diversity of talent across programs.

Mount Morris BOCES hosted a career fair today for juniors and seniors, bringing together over 70 vendors from across the region. Students had the opportunity to connect with local businesses, higher education institutions, military branches, and government agencies, exploring a wide range of career pathways and future opportunities.