​2022-2023 was a record-breaking year for Student Competitions.  A total of four teams from the Cattaraugus-Allegany region excelled at their regional qualifying tournaments, advanced to the State competitions, and earned advancements to the World competitions. Congratulations to two VEX Robotics teams from Wellsville Central School, coached by Justin Skrzynski and Caitlin Bowen.  These two teams traveled to Dallas, Texas last month to compete in the ‘Spin Up’ game. Check out next year’s game, ‘Over Under’  at https://www.roboticseducation.org/teams/vex-roboticscompetition/.  CABOCES will host TWO Qualifying Tournaments next year, December 20th, 2023 at Belfast Central School and February 14th, 2024 at Franklinville Central School. 
 
Congratulations to two Odyssey of the Mind teams from Salamanca Central School, coached by Janette McClure and Brenda Windus. These two teams traveled to Michigan State University this month to compete in Problem 4, ‘Where’s the Structure?’. Next year’s Long-Term problems have just been released and will be posted at odysseyofthemind.com. CABOCES will host the Region 19 Odyssey of the Mind Tournament next year, Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 at Salamanca Central School. 
 
For more information about CoSer 506 Student Competitions, contact [email protected]. 

By: Jean Oliverio, CA BOCES Student Programs

​Junie B’s Essential Survival Guide to School, https://twusa.org/shows-artists/on-tour-2/junie-b-sessential-survival-guide-to-school/, was this year’s final Theaterworks USA performance in the CABOCES region, hosted by Student Programs (CoSer 403, Arts in Education).  Thanks to our partners at Delevan Elementary School, Scio Central School, and Salamanca Central School for welcoming approximately 3,000 local elementary students and teachers into their auditoriums this month. Teachers received study guides to use with their students before and after the show.  These educational resources reinforced the NYS standards being taught in elementary classrooms. Over three days totaling six shows, Junie B. Jones and friends sang and danced their way from September to May, learning valuable lessons along the way. The inspirational show was a great way for the region’s students and teachers to celebrate the completion of NYS testing. CoSer 403, Arts In Education, helps schools enrich the lives of their students by providing opportunities to experience the performing arts.  TheaterWorksUSA is a professional acting company based out of New York City.  For more information about CoSer 403 Arts In Education, contact [email protected]. 

By: Jean Oliverio, CA BOCES Student Programs

Excitement is building in the CABOCES region as teams are forming and starting to prepare for the 2022-2023 CABOCES Student Competitions, sponsored through CoSer 506.  Specifically, thirteen districts will participate in the 2022-2023 CABOCES VEX Robotics Qualifying Tournament Series.  For the first time, teams will have 2 local qualifying tournament experiences.  Twenty-six VEX Robotics teams from across Cattaraugus and Allegany counties will be attending the CABOCES VEX Robotics Qualifying Tournament at Belfast Central School on Wednesday, December 21st, 2022, and Cuba-Rushford Middle/High School on Wednesday, February 1st, 2023. Students will compete with and against teams from Belfast, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Cuba-Rushford, Fillmore, Franklinville, Genesee Valley, Hinsdale, Pioneer, Portville, Randolph Academy, Salamanca, Wellsville, and Whitesville.

Student Programs inspires creative problem-solving, teamwork, deep thinking, and resilience.  This year, more than ever, students, coaches, and the Student Programs team were challenged to apply these traits to achieve the impossible, virtually. 
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While some regions chose to cancel student competitions this year, CABOCES reimagined them all as virtual events.  Despite countless obstacles, innovative teams found ways to participate and excel, thanks to supportive administration and dedicated coaches who were willing to take a risk.  Coaches, students, and judges faced a steep learning curve of mastering the complicated new format of virtual competitions.  The Student Programs team would like to recognize some highlights of the 2020-2021 CABOCES Regional Student Competitions.

Scholastic Challenge (November 2020)
At the uncertain start of the school year, nine districts came together, virtually, and formed a total of 21 teams.  Ellicottville Central School, coached by Ann Chamberlain and Chris Edwards, won 1st place honors in both the Junior and Senior divisions.

Odyssey of the Mind Multi-Regional Tournament (March 2021)
Allegany-Limestone Elementary School took a risk by joining Odyssey of the Mind for the first time. Starting a new membership is impressive in a year that caused many established memberships to drop due to the obvious obstacles. Kimberly Voegelin’s Problem 5 Division 1 team received Region 19’s OMER Award and ended up in 5th place in the New York State Tournament.  Congratulations on establishing a new membership and Division 1 team.

Bolivar-Richburg Central School’s Problem 5 Division 1 team, coached by Carol McClellan, earned a 4th place finish in New York State.  Also, Margaret Werner’s Problem 5 Division 2 team earned an impressive 1st place in the Spontaneous portion of the state competition.
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Seneca Intermediate (Salamanca) School’s Problem 4 Division 2, coached by Janette McClure and Brenda Windus, earned a 3rd place finish in New York State.  Despite the pandemic, they remarkably built a balsa wood structure that held a weight of 202 pounds.  They are currently competing in the 2021 Odyssey of the Mind Virtual World Finals along with 873 teams from all over the world.

NASEF (eSports) NYS Tournament: Rocket League (6-week season and playoffs; March-April 2021)
A pandemic school year might be the best AND worst time to launch a new Student Programs event. Congratulations to two school districts that led the way and were successful in their first eSports season.

Cuba-Rushford Central School’s eSports team competed in the NASEF Rocket League tournament and finished as NYS Finalists and 12th place nationally.  The team consisted of all Seniors who played on school computers located in the library.   Thank you and congratulations to Cuba-Rushford’s Jay Morris who served as General Manager.
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Salamanca City School fielded two Warrior eSports teams and they ended the regular season ranked in 4th and 15th place. Salamanca eSports is fully funded and recognized by the Salamanca Board of Education as a Varsity Sport, with all the benefits and academic responsibilities that come with that designation.  Congratulations to the Warrior’s General Managers Justin Schapp, Aaron Straus, and Kim Dry.

VEX Robotics Skills Challenge (February 2021) and FIRST Lego League Championship Event (April 2021)
Building a robot in a normal year is difficult.  Building a robot during a pandemic, with school closures and quarantines, sounds impossible.  Yet, one school district found a way to field four VEX teams, coached by Dave Taylor, and four Lego League teams, coached by Dawn Wardner.
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Franklinville Central School’s teams worked hard and engineered an impressive season.  Collectively, the VEX teams earned the Design Award, the Robot Skills 2nd Place Award, and the Robot Skills Champion Award at the CABOCES Skills Challenge in February and, all four teams advanced to the Northern NYS Finals in April.

Additionally, one of Dawn Wardner’s Lego League teams scored in 5th place in the robot matches at the New York State Championship Event.

​​Now is the time to plan to join the fun in the 2021-2022 school year!

Follow this link https://caboces.org/services/student-programs/extra-curricular-activities/ as next year’s events will be published here as soon as they are confirmed.  Contact [email protected] for more information.

By: Jean Oliverio, CA BOCES Student Programs

Three on-demand virtual opportunities are available to all school districts in the Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES region.  Whether districts intend to incorporate them into their lesson plans and curriculum or enjoy them as fun, virtual ‘end of the year’ field trips, ArtsPower Theatre on Demand, the BPO’s Music for Youth Education Hub, and Dave Ruch’s Engagement Library are ideal resources for classroom teachers, librarians, as well as art, music, and physical education teachers. 
In addition, educators can contact Cece Fuoco ([email protected]) or Cathy Dunkleman ([email protected]) at Learning Resources to check out supplementary books from the professional library or Interlibrary loan.  

ArtsPower Theatre On Demand virtually brings core curriculum-based, multiple-lesson courses built around musical theatre productions.  Designed to promote learning in the performing arts, language arts, and character education, these full-length (55 minutes) musicals are based on the following popular children’s books.  So far, 42 regional educators have used these resources.
Now Playing:
·       Chicken Dance (PreK-Grade 2)
·       The Monster Who Ate My Peas (PreK-Grade 2)
·       From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Grades 3-6)
·       Anne of Green Gables (Grades 3-6)

https://bpo.org/music-for-youth-hub/  Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s Music for Youth Education Hub offers unlimited viewing opportunities of videos that feature the BPO with special guest artists recorded in Kleinhan’s Music Hall.  The content is geared for grades K-12 and is divided into five thematic units, each including suggested lesson plans to enrich the viewing experience.
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So far, seventeen school districts in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties have accessed the Hub and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

This year the most popular videos have been:

• Peter and the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals productions (beloved classics)
• Ellis Island: Dream of America 
• Dr. Nick (the beatboxing flutist)
• De Colores
• Til Eulenspiegel, the Merry Prankster

https://daveruch.com/the-engagement-library/ Dave Ruch’s program is a Netflix-like service featuring 49 pre-recorded assembly programs in arts-in-education for grades PreK-8.  Also, at your request and convenience, a private online concert by Dave Ruch is available for your school!
Access the Engagement Library at https://daveruch.vids.io/, use [email protected] as the login email, and caboces as the password.
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This year the most popular videos have been:

• The Iroquois: Northeastern Woodland Tribes
• Colonial America: Music from the 13 Colonies
• December Fun Show
• World Communities Concert

 

​CoSer 403 information is available at https://caboces.org/services/student-programs/arts-in-education-and-exploratory-enrichment/.  Contact [email protected] if you are interested in finding out more about these resources.

By: Jean Oliverio, CA BOCES Student Programs

​Student Programs inspires creative problem-solving, teamwork, deep thinking, and resilience.  More than ever before, students, teachers, and the ISS team are being challenged to apply these traits to achieve the impossible, virtually. 

​The Engagement Library is a Netflix-like service featuring 49 pre-recorded assembly programs, plus the following:

• Shorter “snackable” arts-in-education videos for grades preK-8 on a variety of searchable curriculum topics
• Monthly updates with suggestions for using the library to its fullest
• Students can ask unlimited questions by email throughout the year
• A private online concert by Dave Ruch for your school, scheduled at your convenience

Logging into the Engagement Library is simple, using the details below.

Portville 4th graders experienced Dave Ruch’s virtual Native Americans program earlier this year.   According to Mrs. Threehouse, “The Dave Ruch program was very insightful, especially in the hearing and seeing of the cultural significance of music in the Native American culture.  The students enjoyed the musical instruments. He made it fun and had the kids laughing at times.”  A 4th grade student added, “I thought it was cool to see a different culture’s music and how they create it is similar to other music performers. They chant about things that are important to them.”

​ArtsPower Theatre on Demand (CoSer 403) is also available now through June 30, 2021.  APTOD virtually brings core curriculum-based, multiple-lesson courses built around musical theatre productions.  Designed to promote learning in the performing arts, language arts, and character education, these courses feature full-length (55 minute) musicals based on popular children’s books, plus the following:

• Fun, grade-specific Study Buddy’s
• Song and dance instructional videos
• Interviews with the book’s authors, actors, and set designers
• Animated book read-along videos
• Student Gallery pages to post your students’ artwork and videos

 
Whether districts intend to incorporate them into their lesson plans and curriculum or use them as virtual ‘end of the year’ field trips, Dave Ruch’s Engagement Library and Arts Power TOD are both ideal resources for classroom teachers, librarians, art, music, and physical education teachers.
In addition, educators can contact Cece Fuoco ([email protected]) or Cathy Dunkleman ([email protected]) at Learning Resources to check out supplemental books from the professional library or Interlibrary loan.

By: Jean Oliverio, CA BOCES Student Programs

The ISS Student Programs team is thankful to work with the following Scholastic Challenge coaches:

• Belfast Central School: Aran Heaney
• Cuba-Rushford Central School: Tom Kenyon
• Ellicottville Central School: Ann Chamberlain and Chris Edwards
• Fillmore Central School: Bill Kelley
• Franklinville Central School: Shannon Fitzpatrick-Wood
• Hinsdale Central School: Sara Centanni
• Scio Central School: Tammy Straight
• Wellsville Central School: Diane Willard and Hope Gilfert
• Whitesville Central School: Alex Lipnicki

 
It is easy to agree that the ­­ninety-five 6th through 12th grade students who participated in last week’s Virtual Scholastic Challenge were the bright stars of the day.  However, since this is Thanksgiving week, the Student Programs team would like to shine a light on the unseen heroes of the day: the Scholastic Challenge coaches.
 
Often literally unseen, with videos and microphones turned off, the coaches virtually went from room to room to observe their students’ matches.  These coaches were willing to take on extra work, juggle their hectic virtual and in-person teaching responsibilities, support the teams remotely and in-person, and adapt to last-minute changes due to school closures, in order to give students the opportunity to compete in the 2nd Virtual Scholastic Challenge held on Wednesday, November 18th, 2020.  Thirty-four matches took place over the course of the day, with nearly 2,600 questions read aloud.  This Student Programs CoSer 506 event would not have happened without the coaches listed above. 
 
After the great success of the May 1st Virtual Scholastic Challenge (https://cainnovativeteaching.weebly.com/innovative-teaching/category/scholastic-challenge ) the Student Programs team aimed to make the second event even bigger and better.  The November Virtual Scholastic Challenge grew by 1 team, making it an amazing 21 team all-day competition.  Some teams were masked and socially distanced at their schools, while some were logged in from their homes.
 
Scholastic Challenge is an annual event hosted by Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES.   The regional competition that tests students’ knowledge of academic trivia and current events is typically held as a face-to-face tournament.
 
The Student Programs team is also grateful for the willing and enthusiastic ISS staff who juggled their schedules to facilitate the match rooms.
 
Congratulations to the four teams that scored the highest total points after three matches and made it to the Finals.
The Junior (grades 6-9) Finals: Ellicottville Central School (1st place) and Whitesville Central School (2nd place)
The Senior (grades 9-12) Finals: Ellicottville Centra School (1st place) and Fillmore Central School (2nd place)

​By: Jean Oliverio, CA BOCES Student Programs

​Student Programs has always inspired creative problem-solving, teamwork, deep thinking, and resilience.  This year, more than ever, students, coaches, and the ISS team are challenged to apply these traits to achieve the impossible, virtually. 

​ArtsPower Theatre on Demand (CoSer 403) is available now through June 30, 2021

APTOD virtually brings teachers and students Core Curriculum-based, multiple-lesson courses built around musical theatre productions.  Designed to promote learning in the performing arts, language arts, and character education, these courses feature full-length (55 minute) musicals based on popular children’s books, plus

• Academic, literacy-building activities in fun, grade-specific Study Buddy’s
• Fun song and dance instructional videos
• Interviews with the book’s authors, actors, and set designers
• Animated book read-along videos
• Student Gallery pages where you can post your students’ artwork and videos

APTOD is an ideal resource for classroom teachers and librarians, as well as art, music, and physical education teachers.

​In addition, educators can contact Cece Fuoco ([email protected]) or Cathy Dunkleman ([email protected]) at Learning Resources to check out the books from the professional library or Interlibrary loan.

By: Jean Oliverio, CA BOCES Student Programs