The Community Connections program at St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES in Ogdensburg and Canton offers a supportive setting that encourages students to become productive citizens through developing skills that promote academic and personal growth.

Students have active involvement in their academic/career goals and develop their personal and social goals. They learn to take responsibility for their choices and how to contribute to their community.

Students who have been classified as having a disability with an IEP; not succeeding in traditional classes due to attendance and/or behavior issues; or are not prepared for an educational setting are eligible for this program.

Academically students work on basic skills, Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Learning Standards and Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC, formerly known as GED). They are able to work towards exiting high school obtaining a CDOS Certificate, TASC (Equivalency Diploma), and some also exit with Career and Technical Education Endorsement/Certification.

Students increase their ability to interact in a socially acceptable manner with peers and adults in a variety of settings and learn to develop self control and conflict resolution skills.

They are also learning to participate in community service for the benefit of others and learn the rationale for it, which helps to enhance their self image through positive contributions to the community.

At work sites, students develop transferable work skills for various careers; develop and demonstrate a positive work ethic; and are able to explore employment opportunities.

Through recreation in the program, students learn about healthy lifestyles and can explore individual recreational activities such as model building, playing games and learning music, in addition to sports activities.