E2CCB is exploring a local beef partnership for next school year that would bring fresh, high-quality food to student meals while supporting area [...]
News & Events
Recent News
The Genesee Valley BOCES Board of Education seeks a visionary and entrepreneurial leader in their next District Superintendent who is deeply committed to [...]
Dozens of educators recently gathered at the Hewes Educational Center to explore the conditions needed for learning to be successful in schools and [...]
Career & Technical Education students from across Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES showcased their talents Tuesday at the SkillsUSA Region I Leadership Conference & Skills [...]
Inside the welding shop, Career & Technical Education students are mastering precision, patience, and craftsmanship while discovering just how far their skills can [...]
Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES (E2CCB) will host a Summer Enrichment Program at the Ormsby Educational Center for students entering grades 6 through 9, offering [...]
Students at WNY P-TECH in Dunkirk recently rolled up their sleeves for an industry-focused challenge that put their STEM skills to the test. [...]
Connect With E2CCB
The Ormsby Educational Center was recently filled with the savory scents of tradition as juniors and seniors in the Culinary Arts program hosted a special Polish Feast! 👨🍳
Guided by guest Chef Andrea from the Polish Nook, Career & Technical Education students received a hands-on lesson that went far beyond the recipe. Chef Andrea shared not only techniques, but also the “why” behind them, giving students a real-world look at the pace, precision, and expectations of the professional culinary industry.
🍽️ The menu featured several traditional favorites, including:
• House-made pierogies, each one hand-pinched by the students
• Czernina, a classic duck soup requiring careful balance of flavors
• Goląbki (stuffed cabbage rolls)
• Parsley potatoes
The experience showed how food can serve as living history, connecting students to the rich Polish heritage of the Buffalo region while building the skills they’ll carry into future culinary careers. 👏
#BOCES #E2CCB #CTE #OpportunityMakers
Dozens of educators recently gathered at the Hewes Educational Center for "Regulation to Restoration: Building Resilient Schools," a two-day Bureau of Justice Assistance grant-funded professional development workshop.
A partnership between Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES and the Starling Collaborative, the workshop brought together a diverse group of administrators, counselors, and teachers from various E2CCB programs and component school districts. Participating districts included Jamestown Public Schools, Dunkirk City Schools, North Collins CSD, Lake Shore CSD, and Forestville CSD.
The specialized training focused on Restorative Practices, a framework designed to foster collaborative learning environments, reduce conflict, and strengthen relationships through community building and effective communication.
Learn more about the workshop on the News & Events page at e2ccb.org.
#E2CCB #BOCES #OpportunityMakers
❗Attention all local NY farmers 🐂
For almost 2 years, Susan Bates, Associate Director of Food Services for E2CCB, has been overseeing food operations, planning meal preparation, and providing high-quality, nutritious food to students and staff.
Starting next school year, Bates would like to procure ½ steer twice. “We want to introduce local foods to the kids, because it is beneficial not only to our local farmers, but it is of better quality,” she says. “You build that relationship with the farmer so you know what you are getting — it’s a little greener, because the beef is not traveling.”
Bates believes in supporting local farmers in our school community and advocates for the agriculture department. It is an opportunity for students to learn about where their food is coming from. “We are in a food desert,” she says. "These kids need to know that the food doesn’t start at Dollar General or the grocery store. It starts here.” The impact for students is they will further benefit from educational and nutritional purposes. “It’s educational, we can do Harvest of the Month,” she says. “– it is exciting to see and they will be like oh that’s the farm we bought our cow from!”
This is not Bates’s first time pursuing this agricultural mission. She has successfully rallied for a similar cause at a previous school. “It worked great, it was cost effective,” she says. “Sometimes school lunch gets a bad rap — they got local beef from our local farmer. It was a two-mile drive as opposed to coming from Wyoming on a truck.”
Susan Bates reminds us that we are helping with food footprints, relationship building, and costs. This initiative aims to teach students in our BOCES community the importance of supporting local goods and educating ourselves where our food exactly comes from.
Interested farmers should reach out to Susan at sbates@e2ccb.org and include cut, wrap, delivery, and W9 information.
#BOCES #OpportunityMakers #E2CCB
Students in Jennie Alessi’s Criminal Justice class at the LoGuidice Educational Center recently participated in a lesson led by school social worker, Molly Corsi-Katta.
The discussion focused on the power of empathy and compassion in criminal justice, essential tools for humanizing the process, building community trust, and supporting rehabilitation. 👮♀️🤝
By exploring the root causes of crime, like trauma, mental health, and poverty, our Career & Technical Education students are learning that effective justice goes beyond punishment. Compassionate approaches not only reduce recidivism but also strengthen police-community relationships.
#BOCES #E2CCB #CTE #EmpathyInAction
On Friday, February 13, 2026, Mrs. Cashmore`s and Mrs. Meredith`s classes at Hewes Center celebrated the 100th day of school by participating in a variety of STEM challenges that aligned cross-curricularly with all subject areas including SEL.
These challenges contained all things 100 where students were required to work collaboratively, testing and revising engineering solutions using defined constraints.
🎮 The Hewes Educational Center has been making great use of its interactive gaming system!
Since it was installed, students have enjoyed participating in a variety of interactive games that encourage movement, coordination, and engagement throughout the school day. The system has provided a fun way for students to stay active while building important skills in a supportive and inclusive environment.
It has been wonderful to see students smiling, moving, and cheering each other on as they explore the different activities the system offers. Opportunities like this continue to make learning interactive, engaging, and meaningful for our students.
#E2CCB #HewesEducationalCenter #StudentEngagement #LearningThroughPlay #LU 🎮✨
The Ormsby Educational Center has announced its Career & Technical Education Students of the Month for February 2026!
🌿 Conservation: John Hackett II of Holland
💇♀️ Cosmetology: Claire Imhof of Iroquois
👮♂️ Criminal Justice: Joshua Scott of Iroquois
🍳 Culinary Arts: Jacob Eschborn of East Aurora
🩺 Health Careers: Jaelyn Baksa of Orchard Park
⚙️ Power Equipment Tech: Trent Lewandowski of Holland
📐 Pre-Engineering/Drafting and Design: Jake Seitz of Iroquois
🐾 Small Animal Science: Deacon Chrostowski of Orchard Park
🐶 Small/Large Animal Science: Alana Adams of Orchard Park
🏋️♂️ Sports Conditioning and Exercise Science: Jonathan Taips of Orchard Park
🔥 Welding: Donovan Zilko of Iroquois
Congratulations to all of these outstanding students!
#BOCES #E2CCB #CTE #OpportunityMakers
Turn your passion for helping others into a meaningful career.
The Practical Nursing program through E2CCB Adult Education prepares students with the knowledge, clinical experience, and confidence needed to succeed in today’s healthcare field.
Now offering new extended programming in Jamestown and East Aurora, making it easier than ever to take the next step toward a career that truly makes a difference.
#E2CCB #AdultEducation #PracticalNursing #HealthcareCareers #JamestownNY #EastAuroraNY
Congratulations to Kayla Lippert, a junior in the Small Animal Science program at the LoGuidice Educational Center! 🐄🏆
Kayla recently competed at the Block and Bridle Bonanza in Waynesburg, Pa., where approximately 300 head of cattle were in attendance. Through her hard work and dedication in the show ring, she earned:
🏆 Champion Highland Breed
🥈 Reserve Champion Senior Showmanship
We’re proud to highlight the achievements of our Career & Technical Education students and their commitment to agriculture, both in and out of the classroom. Great job representing the program so well, Kayla! 👏
#BOCES #CTE #OpportunityMakers
A dozen Career & Technical Education students from E2CCB placed this week at the SkillsUSA Region I Leadership Conference & Skills Olympics held at Alfred State College! 🏆
Congratulations to all the students who participated — your hard work and dedication representing your CTE centers and your home school districts truly stood out! 🎉
For a full list of participants and winners, visit https://www.e2ccb.org/news/e2ccb-students-shine-at-skillsusa-region-i-competition/
📸 Photos courtesy of Jordin Smith, Paul Hoch, and David Krygier
#BOCES #OpportunityMakers
