VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1 September 2015 MISSION STATEMENT: The Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton School District is committed to an educational environment that assures equitable opportunity for individuals to become College and Career Ready and ultimately, responsible, productive members of society. We will encourage individual excellence in students of all ages that they may gain a lifetime enthusiasm for work and learning. A Message from the New Superintendent A Special Thank You If you have not already heard I have made I would like to welcome everyone back to the decision to retire from education after a school. The past seven years have been very 35 year career. My official retirement date is rewarding for me serving the GMU school September 8, 2015. As the Superintendent of community as MS/HS Principal and more Gilbertsville-Mount Upton CSD I have been recently, PK-12 Principal and Director of blessed to work with a great group of board Special Education. I am excited this year to members, leaders, teachers and support staff who continue serving the GMU school community have the best interest of our students as a priority. in the role of Superintendent and Director These have been tumultuous times in educa- of Special Education. As Superintendent, tion with numerous reforms on top of tough I will keep what is best for our students at economic times. The past seven years have been the forefront of all decisions I make. This includes instructional and challenging, but I feel the District—with the help extracurricular programing decisions as well as budgetary and facility of the entire school community—has offered our needs. I am committed to supporting programs which will provide our students the opportunity for a great educational students with an education that allows them to remain competitive in experience. both career and college options upon exiting High School. I will miss the students at GMU immensely My husband and I, along with our three daughters, have been, and wish all of them the best of luck in the and will continue to be, longtime residents in this District. It is with future. Our students have been given the tools great dedication and RAIDER pride that I will serve as the new and experiences to become college and career Superintendent of the Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton School District. I look ready for the future. I have thoroughly enjoyed forward to working together with our Board of Education, students, watching them display their numerous talents in parents, teachers, and staff in the 2015-2016 school year and for many the arts, the classroom, and the athletic fields. years to come. Respectfully, As our Alma Mater tells us, I ask that each stu- Annette D. Hammond, Superintendent dent work “to do their best to reach success: It’s all at G-M-U!” The GMU Drama Club proudly presents Thank you for all your support and I wish everyone the best of luck. Beauty and —Glenn R. Hamilton, GMUCSD Superintendent the Beast September 1, 2008-September 8, 2015 November 6 and 7 at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening, November 5, is Senior Citizen Preview at 6:30 p.m. Suggested donation: $5.00 admission Board of Education Highlights Elementary News At the reorganization and regular meeting held on July 7, With September comes the beginning of a new school the Board: year, new goals and challenges, new friends, and the renewal • Made appointments and designations for the 2015-2016 of old friendships. How exciting all of it can be! By now, all school year. students received their teacher assignments on their report • Heard the Superintendent and Administration provide card prior to the summer or in August with a letter and the following Positive Highlights: supply list from their teacher. • The Awards Ceremonies and PK & K-5 Moving Up On the first day of school, your child will be bringing Ceremonies were successful and were well attended. home a Student Information Form and the Student/Parent • Baccalaureate was hosted by Rev. Brandi Carver Handbook. Please read through the handbook with your at Mt. Upton United Methodist Church. Thank you child(ren), complete the forms, and return them to the office to Rev. Carver, Rev. Funke, Rev. Piedmonte, and by Monday, September 14. Deacon Steckline for their services. Bus note change: No changes to busing may be made • Graduation was excellent. Congratulations to the after 1:30 p.m. each day. If you need to make changes to your Class of 2015! child’s busing after 1:30 p.m., you must arrange the change • GMU Marching Band played in Gilbertsville’s 4th on your own based on the child’s scheduled drop off location. of July parade. The band was smaller than usual but We cannot allow changes after this time because it has sounded great. • Summer school started smoothly that day. become a safety issue in the past and keeping all of our • The PK-12 Principal reported on the June 2015 students safe is our priority. Thank you for your understand- regents results. ing with this. Please fax any changes or drop a note off to • Mark Hanrahan from Matthew Bus discussed leasing the Main Office before 1:30 p.m. on the day of the change. of buses. Preferably bus note changes will be brought to school • Public Comment: Local support for GMU exploring solar with your child no later than the morning of the change. energy. Please make sure your bus note includes the following • Accepted CSE/CPSE recommendations. information: the child’s full name, regular bus number (or • Approved CSE/CPSE Membership and Alternate Chair- animal), the full name of the person whose house they are persons for the 2015-16 CSE/CPSE/504 meetings. going to (i.e. Jane Doe; not Aunt Jane) and that bus number • Accepted bread, milk and ice cream bids. or animal or street address. • Appointed a social studies teacher. TIPS: Start the school year off right—Set up a quiet • Appointed a teacher aide. time and place for your child(ren) to do homework and • Approved summer school staff, substitutes, substitute set a bed-time for your child(ren) that allows them to get nurse, and advisors for the 2015-16 school year. at least eight hours of sleep a night. Get a routine set up • Approved a long term leave. that includes asking your child(ren) about their school day, • Approved a long term substitute. looking at their agenda/homework folder/Friday folder for • Accepted two resignations. homework assignments and notes and other information • Accepted a retirement. from the school or your child’s teacher. And please, don’t • Appointed a bus mechanic. hesitate to call the teacher with any questions. • Adjourned at 10:03 p.m. The teachers, support staff and I look forward to working Confidential Toll-Free Line closely with you throughout the year. Together, we will share the rewarding venture of providing your child(ren) with a Troop C of the New York State Police reminds people of quality and exciting educational program. I hope your child the creation of the toll-free line for the confidential report- enjoys the upcoming school year and meets it with a great ing of potentially dangerous situations in the 16 school deal of success! districts of the DCMO BOCES. This system, housed at I would like to strongly encourage communication Troop C Headquarters, is answered by a machine, which between parents and the school; your child’s success and is regularly checked by police officials. This system is attitude toward school improves with the increase in com- not designated for callers reporting an immediate threat; munication between parents and teachers. such calls should be reported to “911” or other appropriate —Mrs. Annette D. Hammond, Superintendent emergency service providers. The phone number is available on posters placed in the school districts and also through school district publications. 2 Grades 7-12 News News from the Guidance Office I am hoping that everyone had an enjoyable and restful WELCOME TO THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR summer and that students and staff are energized and ready Welcome to our new students, new families and return- for a great school year. ing students and families. We look forward to a busy and Schedules were mailed in August, so if a student feels exciting year. Middle and High School students should have s/he needs to make adjustments to his/her schedule, s/he received their schedules in the mail and will need to bring may call the Guidance Office to set up a time to meet with them to school on our first day. Mrs. Wilcox. We’d like to remind you that the Guidance Office Some reminders for parents at provides important information and services to our students, the start of the school year families and community members. Please feel free to call • Each student will receive an agenda book on the first the Guidance Office (783-2207, ext. 141) with questions day of school. regarding student enrollment, academic advisement, career • Please look at what your children are wearing before planning, financial aid, scholarships and counseling services leaving the house for school, so that you can make sure available to students and their families. their choice in clothing meets dress code expectations. We encourage students and families to get involved. These expectations are outlined specifically in the hand- GMU offers many opportunities for involvement in clubs, book. music programs, sports and extra-curricular activities. • Send your child to school with a note if they arrive late, We encourage parents to attend informational meetings, are leaving early, or have been absent.