The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Pathways Academy started off the first day of school for students with a team-based scavenger hunt around the building to help students get comfortable in their environment.
It also didn’t hurt that when students completed the scavenger hunt, they were able to use the clues to open a lockbox containing a special treat.
“This is hopefully an engaging way to get the kids to move around the building a little bit and get to know important personnel and locations,” Pathways Academy Principal Patrick Corrigan said.
The first day of school at the Herkimer BOCES Pathways Academy was Tuesday, Sept. 6. Pathways Academy focuses on students who have had a difficult time in a traditional school structure or have to catch up on credits but have the ability to get a high school diploma. Pathways Academy classes are project-driven and infuse career and technical education.
The scavenger hunt tied into the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program at Pathways. The PBIS program includes various aspects including students earning BOCES Bucks for positive behavior that they can use on reward days to purchase experiences or items from the PBIS Store at Pathways.
During the scavenger hunt, students followed clues around the Remington Education Complex in Ilion to locations such as the principal’s office, nurse’s office, the Learning Center, the gymnasium and the PBIS Store. They met with administrators, teachers, the school nurse and other staff at each location and received information and updates about how the school operates.
As new seventh-graders visited Corrigan during the scavenger hunt, he spoke to them about the school year ahead.
“You’re going to get all the support you need,” Corrigan said. “You’ve just got to listen to the people around you.”
The scavenger hunt is the start of a return to having more PBIS-related activities and events, after such events were limited the past couple of school years due to COVID-19, Corrigan said. “There were fewer chances for celebrations in recent years, and we’re trying to be conscientious about that and bring back those experiences for students,” Corrigan said.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Pathways Academy students hear from Pathways Academy teacher Erica Haver at the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Store during a scavenger hunt on the first day of school, Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Pathways Academy students hear from Pathways Academy Principal Patrick Corrigan near his office during a scavenger hunt on the first day of school, Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Pathways Academy students hear from Pathways Academy teaching assistant Jose Lopez in the Learning Center during a scavenger hunt on the first day of school, Tuesday, Sept. 6.