NNewsletterewsletter January 2012 A community where learners excel! Vol. XII, No. 5 A turkey of a diff erent feather Th e Treble Makers make music nce again, the 2011 Visual he Drama Club presented a wonderful show choir Arts Department “Ultimate performance in December called “Th e Treble OHand Turkey Challenge” was TMakers.” Produced by the Drama Club and directed a success. and choreographed by CFE teachers Jessica McBreen and Stephanie Zajac, the show featured a variety of popular hits Numerous entries were received from and Broadway show classics. many different grade levels and the competition was fi erce. Th e students, in grades six through 12, worked extremely hard for nearly three months. Besides learning the lyrics to  Th e criteria for the turkeys was two or 2011 Ultimate Hand See musical, page 16. three dimensional, in any medium and Turkey Challenge winner had to fi t on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper. Sydney Christian. Most importantly, a hand had to be apparent in someway, somehow, somewhere. Turkeys were judged on creativity, craftsmanship and originality. Th e independent panel of five hand turkey experts had a hard time reaching a consensus, but after much deliberation, the winners were chosen. This year’s grand champion is fi fth-grader Sydney Christian from Sydney’s winning turkey. Vince Allio’s class. Second place goes to freshman Virginia Korec. Runner-ups are seniors Stephanie Zdimal, Laura Haley, Sarah Maximowicz and fi fth-grader Josh Black. Th e turkeys can be seen on the art department website on the “What’s new” page. Sydney received a choice of a used iPod Nano (courtesy of fi rst- grade teacher Pati Maus) or a $15 iTunes gift card. Virginia received, in keeping with Thanksgiving, the “leftovers.” Runner-ups received certifi cates and all participants received special commemorative ribbons.  -Keith Rosko, HS visual arts teacher Board of Education: Don Edwards-President; Jack Sines-Vice President; Spyros Dimatos, Melissa Stephens, Judy Warner Superintendent of Schools-Robert Bundy Associate Superintendent for Curriculum/Instruction, Health/Safety Matters & Special Education-Kathleen Dixon 2 DDistrictistrict January 2012 Technology continues to grow in the Forks he Chenango Forks Central School District is in the summer of 2011 guided the creation of each Building implementing a three-part technology priority in the Academic Improvement Plan for the 2011-2012 school year. T2011-12 District Technology Plan. Student skills, Th e integration of technology and 21st Century learning skills professional development and hardware are the three categories is supported in each plan. Technology use has already begun in this plan. Th e focus is to impact student achievement by with the introduction of iPads to students. Th ey will be used supporting 21st century learning skills applications throughout as indicated below: the district curricula. With that said, the primary goal of the CFE: 150 iPads - 30 classrooms and special areas will receive four district is to integrate technology into all curricular areas to per classroom for student use and center-based instruction and support instruction and improve student achievement. the library media center will have two for student use. In accordance with New York state education department MS: 30 iPads - iPads will be available for all students in the requirements, the Chenango Forks Central School District seventh-grade information literacy class. Comprehensive Education Planning (CDEP) team studied the New York state Regents reform agenda and aligned the HS: 90 iPads - Available for students in social studies classes, district CDEP plan to integrate the state mandates within the economics, science labs, biology and Spanish III. Chenango Forks educational culture. Th e adoption of this plan -Kathleen Dixon, associate superintendent for curriculum/instruction, health/safety matters & special education

Come join us at our next meeting PTA in the Forks on January 3, 6 p.m. in the appy New Year. Th e PTA hopes your holidays were CFE library. Child care will be warmed by the presence of family and friends. It’s available. Bring your positive Hunbelievable that we are embarking on the second attitude, ideas and helping hands. half of the year. We would like to sincerely thank you for You can also call our membership your contributions so far this year. With your generosity, our chair, Laurie Forker, at 648- fundraisers have helped many programs benefi t children and 9715, for more information on families in our district. becoming a member. A special thanks to all who provided gifts for the Christmas Call or email any of our PTA Loaded boxes of books wait to be Basket Program, which included a Holiday Giving Tree. Th e officers with questions and picked up. generous food, gifts, clothing and household supplies donated suggestions. We’d be glad to hear from you. helped make the holidays more cheerful for many local families in need. President Henry Arciolla, [email protected], 648-2258 We were overwhelmed with the success of the book drive. We collected nearly 1,000 books for Binghamton MacArthur School Vice-president staff and students. In addition, we donated approximately 100 Christine Duff y-Webb, duff [email protected], books to Mom’s House. We are grateful to everyone who donated 222-7520 books to this wonderful cause. Treasurer Congratulations to CFE principal Nicole Knapp and teachers Candace Madison, [email protected], 648-4399 who won the PTA Teacher Membership Challenge. CFE had Secretary the highest percentage of teachers join the PTA among all Kerri Vail, [email protected], 648-8010.  three buildings. Th e Middle and High Schools followed closely behind. We appreciate all the teachers who joined the PTA. -Kerri Vail, PTA secretary

Connection, CF Drama Club and more! to donate a gift basket or items for the Flood relief talent Monetary donations will be accepted bake sale, please contact Lena Hurd at show at the door. During the event there [email protected]. will also be gift basket raffl es as well he CF Bands will sponsor a Families aff ected by the fl ood who are as a bake sale in the HS cafeteria. All Flood Relief Talent Show on in need of assistance may also contact proceeds from this event will go directly January 13, 7-9 p.m., in the HS Lena. Come out and enjoy a great T to Chenango Forks families who were auditorium. evening of talent and fun and help aff ected by the fl ood.  Th ere will be live performances from the support CF families. If you are interested in being a part of CF Band, HS art students, Th e Dance -Lena Hurd, show coordinator the talent show or if you would like January 2012 DDistrict/CFEistrict/CFE 3 n anticipation of the release of facilities will meet the needs of applications to study possible a combined district and what Ischool mergers across New York renovations or new construction state, the Chenango Forks (CF) and may be needed to accommodate Chenango Valley (CV) Boards’ of the students and staff . Education (BOE) reviewed and Instructional Program for agreed to a Request for Proposals Children (RFP) to hire a consultant to What programs will be off ered conduct the study. in the newly-formed district or The districts have been advised what programs could be shared that the New York State Education if the districts chose not to Department (NYSED) Office combine. of Educational Management (OEM)/Board of Cooperative Co-curricular Off erings Educational Services (BOCES) plans to make the Local Th e study will determine the confi guration of the athletic Government Effi ciency Grant applications available to districts teams, clubs, bands, theater, etc. in a new district. soon. Th e availability of the application is being monitored on a daily basis by the districts. Locally Developed Assurances/Guidelines Assurances and guidelines that both districts agree to in the Th e districts are being advised by OEM/BOCES to apply for formation of a new district will be developed. $50,000 to conduct the study. It was also learned that there is a 10 percent local share to be