Dutchess BOCES

Forty six students graduated from Dutchess BOCES’ Practical Nursing Program at the Career & Technical Institute during a lively June 25 ceremony held in the Salt Point Center gym.

Jeanette Straebler fought back emotion as she slowly made her way to the front of the gym.
Walking through a corridor of her fellow Dutchess BOCES team members cheering in her honor, though, it was an unwinnable fight.

Confetti flew as students exited the Dutchess BOCES Conference Center following the Resilience Academy and In-District Programs Graduation June 21. Passing under the balloon arch, their tassels turned to the left, the students couldn’t wait to embrace their family and friends after an inspirational ceremony.

Dutchess BOCES’ Resilience Academy students and staff were honored for their hard work and achievements throughout the school year during an awards ceremony June 13.

Elizabeth Ayala Sambolin couldn’t help but get emotional as she watched Salt Point Center’s Eighth Grade Moving Up Day Ceremony Thursday.She thought back to what her son, Daniel Sambolin, was like when he first stepped into the school as an 8-year-old with autism. Thursday, she watched him wear a graduate’s cap and gown.

Cheers and applause filled the MJ Nesheiwat Convention Center as families and friends celebrated 302 Career and Technical Institute seniors at Recognition Night June 12.
While students attend classes in 16 different trades, the strong community was evident throughout the night with hugs between teachers and students, cheers for classmates and smiles all around. 

Moving up to a new school can be daunting for students – new teachers and staff, new procedures, new classmates. Eighth grade students from Salt Point Center (SPC) were able to combat these unknowns by visiting the Resilience Academy on June 7.

Seniors Jesus Godoy and Yangel Miranda are leaving something for future generations of students to see at the Career & Technical Institute. They were among a group of CTI students who painted the Genders and Sexualities Alliance mural that will hang soon in the Dutchess BOCES’ main lobby leading to CTI.

Thirteen Dutchess County school districts gathered at the Culinary Institute of America on June 6 for the annual Dutchess BOCES Distinguished Graduate Recognition Breakfast to honor their best and brightest seniors.
Deputy Superintendent Jodi DeLucia and Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino welcomed guests before breakfast and the recognitions followed, with each district presenting its own students.

Under the shade of the face painting tent for the Pegasus program’s field day May 31, Abigail Gonzalez transformed Keyon Franklin into Spiderman.

Students from the Career and Technical Institute’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program as well as students from Dutchess BOCES' Adult Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program found a plethora of potential employers eager to share information about opportunities within their organization at BOCES’ Annual Health Care Career Fair on May 31.

For the first time, but hopefully not the last, students at Salt Point Center enjoyed trying to catch and pop bubbles near the school’s playground, courtesy of the Bubble Bus. Physical education teacher Scott Calcagni wanted to bring the bus to SPC after seeing it as a teacher at Spackenkill Elementary School and noticed how much fun the children had.

John Zehnick took off his New York Yankees hat to put on his new team’s cap. After he signed his name, he was handed a jersey – red with blue pinstripes.

Laughter poured out of the theater classroom as Shawn Giglio and Micheal Ford performed an original scene titled “Isabella’s 18^th birthday” for staff at the “Acting Up!” theater showcase May 22.
The performance was one of six put on at the showcase, where Resilience Academy Intro to Theater, Level II and Level III theater students put what they have learned in class into action.

Fourteen Resilience Academy students enjoyed a field trip to the Walkway Over the Hudson May 17.