Dutchess BOCES

Students and staff across the Dutchess BOCES campus are pulling together to help those in the community and region this holiday season through a variety of activities.

Michael McFarland called it a “very enlightening experience” as the Board of Trustees member toured the three schools on the Dutchess BOCES campus with Board President Ralph Chiumento, Jr., and Board Vice President Gully Stanford on Dec. 6.

The Thanksgiving tables were full in the Salt Point Center gym today for the annual Thanksgiving Lunch.
Students and staff sat together at tables adorned with vibrant colored tablecloths as some staff members served meals prepared by the food services team.

To celebrate before classes wrapped up for the Thanksgiving break, Resilience Academy students embarked on a fun footrace around the building. The first annual Turkey Trot, despite being moved inside due to rainy weather, gave students a chance to get out of class and stretch their legs.

This was the first Dutchess BOCES open house for teachers Wendy Wabshinak and Michael Hollick. It was their opportunity to share with parents a little bit about themselves, the course curriculum and the great work being done by students in the first two-plus months of the school year.
The Career and Technical Institute and Resilience Academy each held their open house on Nov. 20.

Industry partners from various sectors spent time with Career and Technical Institute students during Career Week this week, sharing information about their company, their career and the advantages students have by being a part of CTI.

This November, four Dutchess BOCES SkillsUSA officers attended the Fall Leadership Conference in Albany, where they deepened their knowledge of Skills, made new connections and prepared to be leaders in their school community.

Though Dutchess BOCES students had the recent Superintendent Conference day off, plenty of learning was happening on campus. Topics specific to our schools and staff positions were covered throughout the day.

When a student acts out, staff may not know why, but there are ways to help support the student. Several sessions during the recent Superintendent’s Conference Day provided insights, tips and instruction on how staff can help in such situations.

School counselors from across the county came Wednesday to gain a deeper understanding of the Career and Technical Institute to support students in their home districts with knowledge of the opportunities available for young professionals.

Dutchess BOCES Career and Technical Institute counselors, staff and students participated in a Skilled Trades Fair hosted by Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, New York State Sen. Michelle Hinchey and the Hyde Park Central School District.

Halloween brought many fun activities to Dutchess BOCES Salt Point Center and Resilience Academy, where students and staff donned costumes. Activities included Halloween-themed science lessons and Bingo, an obstacle course, and more.

Dressed in orange from head to toe, students and staff at the Resilience Academy enjoyed a variety of activities to end Unity Week on Oct. 18. 

The first Main Advisory Council Breakfast of the year Oct. 9 focused on the growth in enrollment at Dutchess BOCES Career and Technical Institute, CTI’s 2024-25 goals and the expansion of the Project-Based Learning and Assessment pilot.

This bi-annual meeting brings industry and agency partners together with CTI staff to discuss matters of importance to the students they serve.

“What number do we call in an emergency?” asked teaching assistant Kacey McKenzie.
“We call 911!” responded student Carter Ravetti. In addition to her role at Dutchess BOCES, McKenzie is a volunteer firefighter with the Roosevelt Fire District. During national fire prevention week, McKenzie spoke to students from classrooms 127 and 128 about fire safety.