Newsletter Fall 2012 A community where learners excel!
More photos on back page. Board of Education: Don Edwards-President; Spyros Dimatos-Vice President; Amy O’Brien, Melissa Stephens, Judy Warner Superintendent of Schools-Joe Peck; Assistant Superintendent-Kathleen Dixon 2 DDistrictistrict Fall 2012 Welcome back Superintendent’s message he Chenango Forks Central School District is well into the 2012-2013 school year and Tthe board of education, administration, staff and I look forward to another successful year for the district. We remain thankful to the community for your continued support. I would like to take this opportunity to say how excited I am to join the Chenango Forks community, serving you as your new superintendent of schools. My experience encompasses more than eight years in administration, which includes time as a K-8 principal, 9-12 house principal and 9-12 principal. Front,F l-r:l RuthR h Beardsley-payrollB d l p ll clerk;l k KathyK h Blackman-businessBl k b ii executive; ShellySh ll My experience also includes six years in the classroom Callan-assistant superintendent secretary; Christine Kennicutt-district treasurer & as a 9-12 social studies teacher and two years teaching accountant. Back, l-r: Kathleen Dixon-assistant superintendent; Kathy Luke-electronic computers at the collegiate level. I am also fi nishing data management; Dawn Phoenix-district clerk & business offi ce secretary; Joe Peck-superintendent; Janice Darling-accounts payable & purchasing; Erin McMullen- my doctorate in administrative leadership for superintendent secretary. teaching. Th is experience and education, I believe, has prepared me for my new role as your superintendent. Th e New York State Education Department has enacted DASA, which was signed into law in September 2010. DASA requires After only a few months in the district, I cannot express how all school districts to adopt a policy that establishes a supportive impressed I am with the Forks community. The teachers, and safe school climate for student learning. Th e district’s students, staff and community members I have met and worked policies have been revised to fully comply with DASA and the with share an unparalleled commitment to education, the school new regulations. and the community. As your new superintendent, I intend to work closely with all stakeholders in the school and community. I Additionally, the district will undergo the fi rst year of the newly believe a superintendent needs to be in classrooms and buildings implemented APPR for building principals and teachers. District to have a strong understanding of the school district and its staff administrators and faculty worked diligently in order to submit and students, so I will be very active and visible in all schools. the district’s plan to the state in June. Under the APPR, each teacher will be evaluated on the basis of their instructional Th is year will present new challenges and opportunities as we delivery as well as student achievement. face a variety of state and local initiatives, not the least of which is the continued implementation of the Common Core State I look forward to a successful 2012-2013 school year. Please feel Standards (CCSS), Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), and free to contact me at 607-648-7543 or email at [email protected]. the new teacher and building principal Annual Professional Best wishes for a wonderful school year. Performance Review (APPR). -Lloyd “Joe” Peck, superintendent
Consolidation grant awarded overnor Andrew Cuomo made New York’s property tax rates among An advisory group consisting of announced that the Chenango the highest in the nation. community stakeholders will be formed. Forks/Chenango Valley More information on this group will G Th e districts will move forward, working consolidation study grant has been follow. with the consultant Organizational awarded in the amount of $45,000. Leadership Services, to collect detailed Please contact the superintendent’s offi ce Each district also contributes $2,500 information on finances, personnel, at 648-7543 with any questions. towards the study. Th e Local Government student enrollment, facilities, instructional -Lloyd “Joe” Peck, superintendent Effi ciency grants are part of the Governor’s and non-instructional programs and other agenda to right size government and areas of concerns. address the cost-drivers that for years have Fall 2012 DDistrictistrict 3 Welcome new staff Staff Michael Curtis HS P.E. teacher Chris Rockhill HS science teacher, .5 Meghan Manges CFE special education teacher Maureen Gregory MS science teacher Jessica Hartman CFE long-term substitute Drew Rullo MS science teacher Rebekah Daley CFE RtI teacher
Front, l-r: Maureen Gregory, Jessica Hartman, Drew Rullo. Back, l-r: Chris Rockhill, Rebekah Daley, Meghan Manges.
Support staff Elementary District Angelia Saraceno teacher aide/part-time coach Erin McMullen District offi ce secretary Part-time teacher aides High School - part-time teacher aides Ayne Warner Susan Stamato Carleene Glezen Dona Goehring Kelly Bryant Candace Clark Michelle Episale Allison Hendrickson Michelle Brewster Elizabeth Criscuolo
Standing:, l-r Elizabeth Criscuolo, Erin McMullen, Ayne Warner. Sitting, l-r: Kelly Bryant, Carleen Glezen, Dona Goehring, Candace Clark. 4 DDistrictistrict Fall 2012 Good luck 2012 CF retirees Ruth McClure written on anything from uth McClure, also known as dear sweet Ruth, started napkins to sticky notes and Rher career at Chenango Forks in 1978 in the school scribed in many unidentifi able library. She moved to attendance in 1982 and has been an substances. One that stands offi ce fi xture for the last 30 years. Ruth is known for her out is an excuse about a skunk compassion and her memory. She has a remarkable ability to problem. Notes would include make each and every person who enters the offi ce feel special. one child returning after one From baking annual birthday cakes to working with students day out, but unfortunately, to improve their behavior, she has built strong bonds that will the other child would need an last far beyond her retirement. additional day. During her 30 years as the attendance clerk, Ruth heard some Ruth will miss the fun she had with the students as she loved pretty interesting excuses for why students weren’t at school. to joke and tease. I’m sure the staff in the offi ce will miss Some were written by students and others were from parents, this, too. Mrs. Ruth McClure, thank you for your 34 years of service to the district and good luck to you in retirement.
Donna Lynch connected” as she watches her onna Lynch started teaching at Chenango Forks in daughter continue on with her D1985. During her 27 years in the middle school, high school career at Cortland Donna taught mathematics to students in grades six through and travel to watch her play eight and coached modifi ed soccer for 12 years. volleyball. Donna also plans to travel to Florida to visit During her almost three decades of service to Chenango her mother, read, garden and Forks, Donna has been a mentor, teacher and a friend to her continue to participate in students. Donna was dedicated, disciplined and worked hard farmers markets. at ensuring middle school students understood and enjoyed mathematics. She will be missed. Th ank you, Donna, for your service to CF these last 27 We wish Donna only the best in the next chapter of her years. We wish you health and life. During this time, she will still be “educationally happiness in your retirement. Enjoy!
Mary Collins Mary’s favorite teacher moment Mary began her career at Chenango Forks in 1989. During at Forks was spending time her 23 years, she has taught developmental kindergarten, fi rst, talking with a child about their and second grades. She was well known for her dedication upset stomach and uncovering and compassion in the classroom and in the hallways. what was causing it. She received a thank you note from Mary will tell you her major accomplishment at Chenango his grandma for rescuing her Forks was helping every child believe in themselves. She was grandson as grandma had been once told by an educator that she couldn’t save every child. unable to reach him. Her personal creed has always remained, “Yes I can!” Never give up on a child, you will never regret it.” Mary will miss the smiles and humor of the students; Mary doesn’t just believe in each and every child in her room, the world of educator’s, it’s but always has time for her colleagues in the building and a lifelong growth spurt...always challenging and always is known for her door always being open, even while she’s changing. Good luck Mary. helping bring new baby ducks into the world. Fall 2012 DDistrictistrict 5 Ann Miller of. Th ey will enjoy long walks nn started at Chenango Forks in 2001. Th is was her by the lake and will hopefully Asecond career and an opportunity to follow her true get to work building a garden passion. Ann is known for her dedication to teaching. She that compares to the one they is a teacher who enjoys writing lesson plans, especially for had while living here in New social studies, as that’s where she feels her students are most York. engaged in learning. Her students were her top priority and Ann will most miss watching she dedicated each of her 12 years to helping them grow both students as the light bulb academically and socially. comes on and they make Ann and her husband are leaving upstate New York for the connections and build warmer weather of Virginia. Moving will allow them to spend understandings. more time with their son, Tyler, of whom they are very proud
Denice Sirgany Denice leaves CF with big enice started in Chenango Forks volunteering in her plans. Her free time will be Dson’s classroom. Th en she took the job of teacher aide. spent baking and enjoying time with her beautiful family, During her years in the district she has seen technology come including her ever-expanding and go and has adapted readily and easily to help teachers number of grandchildren. She enhance their class lessons on a daily basis. Denice will be and her husband, Joe, plan to remembered for her organizational bookkeeping skills in the travel and take new adventures library. together.
Alumni football teams recognized n September 1, our 1976 and from as far as Arizona, North Carolina, Th e two teams were later honored at 1978 Chenango Forks football Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut and half-time of the Chenango Forks vs. Oteams were honored for their even Germany to enjoy a breakfast with Unatego football game. championship seasons, both ranked this year’s varsity football team. Th ey It was an enjoyable afternoon for both third in New York state. shared fond memories of their football the alumni and our current students. experiences as well as their time in the Several former players from these two -Dave Hogan, CF athletic director Chenango Forks School District. teams, along with their families, traveled 6 DDistrictistrict Fall 2012 Alumni corner Joe Silverio, Class of 2008 oe Silverio graduated in 2008. However, he did not actually walk at graduation. Th e commitment he selected Jrequired him to go to the Air Force Academy in Colorado for the summer, the night before the Forks graduation ceremony. Th e last Th ursday in June is known as in-processing day (I-Day). It is the day the entire class enters the academy for the start of basic training. For Joe, this date was June 26, one day before the CF graduation ceremony. During his four years in the Air Force Academy, he was a member of the Cadet Drum and Bugle Corps and traveled everywhere in support of the football team. Th ey also performed at nearby high schools and a few ski competitions. Th ree out of the four years Joe participated, the band won the Inter-service Drum and Bugle Corps competition against the Naval Academy, as well as traveling to both West Point and Annapolis twice, one each year, for the football games. Joe graduated with a BS is physics and a French minor. During his last semester, he was part of a research team analyzing the size rate of space debris to help NASA plan removal projects to clean up space in the next 20 years. He JoeJ Silverio,SSil i 2nd2 d Lieutenant,LLi USAFUSAF (CF(CF ClassCl off 2008.)2008 ) had the opportunity to study for three weeks in France during the summer of 2010, and spent the spring 2011 semester Joe is currently at Vance Air Force Base (AFB) where he will studying at West Point. He described it as four years of hard be for the next two years for undergraduate pilot training. work, but the experience and the opportunities made it worth He is not sure if he will make a 20-year career out of the it. Continued on next page.
training maintenance staff to prevent disturbance of asbestos, Asbestos notice periodic inspections, surveillance, and abatement activities by he Chenango Forks School District completed the trained personnel. inspection of the district buildings on June 25, 2012, Tto determine if asbestos is present and if any action is A copy of the school’s management plan is available in the needed to avoid potential health hazards to students. principal’s offi ce of each building. If you would like further information, please contact buildings and grounds supervisor A management plan has been developed in accordance with Jim Munley at 648-7545. the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act to ensure the -Jim Munley, buildings & grounds supervisor continued provision and maintenance of a safe environment for students, employees and visitors. Th e plan includes
and the fi re report has been sent to the State Education Fire inspection Department. Th e certifi cates of occupancy are on display in he Chenango Forks School District fi re inspection the main offi ce of each school building. was conducted on July 17, 2012, by James Saxe of -Jim Munley, buildings & grounds supervisor TGST BOCES. Nonconformance items were corrected Fall 2012 DDistrictistrict 7 Silverio, from previous page. military but he plans to obtain a masters degree and go back Joe added, “America needs educated and informed people if to the academy to teach. she is to have any hope of surviving. She needs actors, people that get out and seek to help make things better. Do not ever When asked what kind of advice he would give current high stand by and let the world take you.” school students, he said, “I think about the only thing I can say has already been said by someone else: ‘To give anything -compiled from information provided by Joe Silverio less than your best, is to sacrifi ce the gift’” (Steve Prefontaine).
Broome County Child and Family Clinic Plus Screening he Chenango Forks Central School District is pleased Tto participate for the sixth year with Broome County Child and Family Clinic Plus, in order to promote early identifi cation of the strengths or diffi culties that our children may be experiencing. Clinic Plus is sponsored by the Broome County Mental Health Department and off ers a free, voluntary, and confi dential social-emotional health screening for all students enrolled in grades K through 8. In the fall, all students will be given a packet to take home. Th e packet will contain information on the Clinic Plus screening, a consent to participate, the 25-question screening, and a return envelope addressed to Broome County Child and Family Clinic Plus. Th e enclosed screening should be fi lled out by the parent/guardian for children enrolled in grades K through 4 and by children enrolled in grades 5 through 8. Completed consents and questionnaires can be returned directly to Clinic Plus in the provided envelope or they can be returned to the school where they will be picked up by Clinic Plus staff . All screenings will be scored confi dentially and results will be mailed to your home. Th is year, parents/guardians will have the option of allowing Clinic Plus staff to share screening results with the school social worker/psychologist. If you would like to share the results, simply place your initials in the designated space on the consent form and the results will be forwarded to your home as well as to the school social worker/psychologist. If you have questions, please contact Joyce Kelly, Clinic Plus Screener at 778-1109 or via email at [email protected]. -Kathleen Dixon, assistant superintendent 8 DDistrictistrict Fall 2012 Chenango Forks Scholarship Foundation
First annual golf tournament he Chenango Forks Scholarship Foundation held its 1st Annual Captain and Crew Golf Tournament on October 14. More than a dozen teams played 17 holes at the Tscenic Chenango Valley State Park course. Prizes were awarded to the fi rst- through fourth-place teams, closest to the pin and longest drive. We would like to thank all who participated. We hope you enjoyed the tournament and will come back to play again next year. A big thank you also goes out to the many businesses and organizations who participated as hole sponsors. Th e proceeds from the tournament go directly to Chenango Forks seniors to pursue their higher education dreams. Phone-a-thon Th e Chenango Forks Scholarship Foundation (CFSF) will conduct its annual Phone-a-Th on in February 2013. Traditionally held the Sunday after Super Bowl Sunday, the event will run from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. Student volunteers will be calling district residents requesting contributions to support this endeavor. Residents will be asked to make a $10 donation that will go toward scholarships for CF students. Th e money raised will be given in scholarships to this year’s graduating seniors; the balance will be invested in the foundation’s permanent endowment for future scholarships. Th e foundation believes that all sincere and determined students should have the chance to continue their education after graduation. Awards can be applied toward any accredited vocation, technical, two or four year college program. Founded in 1990, the CFSF has awarded more than $260,000 in scholarships to more than 720 graduating seniors and continues to contribute to a permanent endowment fund. Th ese HighH hSh School llb library media d specialist l scholarships have been made possible by the generous donations of local residents and area Melissa Santacrose gets ready to hit the ball at the Dollars for Scholars golf businesses. tournament. If you do not receive a phone call and wish to make a donation, please use the form below. Any size donation is greatly appreciated. Th e CSFS is a chapter affi liate of Scholarship America Foundation. All donations are tax deductible Please consider investing in the future by making a pledge to Chenango Forks Scholarship Foundation the foundation. -Michelle Norton, CFSF Name
Address
Amount Enclosed $ Th ank you for your donation! Mail to CF Scholarship Foundation P.O. Box 515, Chenango Bridge, NY 13745-0515 Fall 2012 CChenangohenango FForksorks ElementaryElementary 9 Principal’s message here is nothing worse than feeling out of the loop, especially with your child’s education. At TChenango Forks Elementary, there are special opportunities for your children every week, and it’s hard to keep up as parents. We’re lucky that there are many ways for parents to stay informed and get involved. Here are a few to get you started. First, please go to www.cforks.org, click on the schools tab at the top of the page and go to the CFE page. Th is is where you will fi nd updates on a daily basis. Here are just a few of the things you can access there. NicoleNiN l KKnapp-principal,pp p i iip l LauraL Smyder-buildingS d b ildi secretary,t BernieB i McDermott-M D tt associate principal, Marta Lowe-attendance clerk, Lynne Rosko-CFE Th e building calendar. Here you will transportation. fi nd important dates for our CFE children. You can click and have these pushed to your email for on-the-spot updates. Often you can click on a calendar date to get more information, like when is your child’s party is scheduled and whether are parents invited. Nicole Knapp’s “Notes from the Principal” page. Th is is where I share fun things that are going on in the classrooms and around the building. If there is something school-wide that I need you to know about, I will post it here. I try to post a few times a week, so keep checking back. Teacher Web pages. Some of our teachers have individual Web pages. You can get information on your child’s day in the classroom. Some of our teachers even blog daily. Next, fi nd out what your child’s teacher does to keep parents informed. Some send home weekly or monthly newsletters. Some may be more individualized and send home behavior notes, or write-in agendas. Find out what it is and what to do if you have questions. Keep the lines of communication open with your child’s teacher about how they are doing at home and at school. Often, a child’s perceptions of how the day was is much diff erent than the perception of the teacher. If a conversation isn’t adding up, contact your child’s teacher. Finally, get involved. Th ere are many opportunities for families to get involved at CFE. Join the PTA, come in and volunteer, or be a part of our Olweus initiative. Th ere are opportunities for work schedules of all kinds. It just takes one phone call or one email to fi nd out what will work the best within your schedule. When we work together to take an active role in our student’s success, everyone will come out on top. -Nicole Knapp, CFE principal
Bullying prevention program begins at CFE ll schools deal with the issue of bullying. CFE is taking proactive steps to stop and prevent bullying by adopting the Olweus Bullying Prevention AProgram. Th is research-based, school-wide “systems-change” program has been used successfully in schools all over the country and around the world with positive results. Th is program is not a curriculum that students participate in for only a few weeks. Rather, it is a coordinated eff ort by all the adults in the school to supervise and intervene when any bullying happens. As part of the program, students participate in class meetings to learn about the eff ects of bullying, what they can do about it, and how they can work with adults at school to put a stop HeatherH h Hdk’lHudak’s class withi hh theiri banner.b continued on next page. 10 CChenangohenango FForksorks ElementaryElementary Fall 2012 anti-bullying, from previous page. to it, even as bystanders. Parents will have trained in Olweus during the October Th e week of October 8 was full of fun meetings, too, so they can support the 5 superintendent’s conference day. Th e classroom anti-bullying activities that messages students are getting in school. training consisted of a presentation from led up to a very exciting full-day kickoff CF superintendent Joe Peck regarding the event on October 12. All students received Nicole Knapp, CFE principal said, “Th is Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). An T-shirts and bracelets with our slogan, type of program is about changing the informative PowerPoint presentation was “Be a buddy not a bully,” when they whole school climate to make it a safer, shared with the staff , providing specifi c arrived that day. Classrooms paraded more positive place to learn. One change information in regards to bullying and with banners in hand. Th e banners were that many schools have noticed after the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. hung in the halls for everyone to see. A using this program for a year or two is Teaching staff later divided into two wonderful morning performance from that students actually like school better. smaller groups where activities and role Power of One MMA had our students It makes sense. It’s hard to learn if you’re plays were completed to help staff gain entranced. Upon returning to their afraid or if other students are mean to an even better understanding of their classrooms, students signed a schoolwide you.” responsibility as we help all children feel banner signifying that they will help The entire CFE teaching staff was happy and safe. their friends in need! All students Continued on next page.
LoriL i DeAngelo’sD A l ’ classl bbanner. CindyCiC d Grospin’sG pi ’ classl banner.b
Lisa Moody’s class banner. JimJiJ Bender’sB d ’ classl banner.b Fall 2012 CChenangohenango FForksorks ElementaryElementary 11 anti-bullying, from previous page. and staff gathered in the afternoon for a A parent meeting sharing Olweus and we are well underway. For more performance by Jared Campbell, which information, held on October 15, was well information about the program or ways was enjoyed immensely. At the conclusion attended. School staff and parents will be to become involved, contact Melanie Allio of Jared’s performance, all students and working together to make our children feel program coordinator, at 648-7580. staff stood and chanted “be a buddy not happy and safe in school. Implementing -Melanie Allio, CFE psychologist a bully” in unison. Th e day was a fun way the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program to introduce all of our students to the is a long-term commitment to making concept of bullying prevention. CFE a safer, more positive place to be
TheThh CFCFEE schoolwideh l id bbanner thatthh t allll studentst d t willill haveh signed.i d
Students in all grades participated in the kickoff event. 12 CChenangohenango FForksorks EElementarylementary Fall 2012 Mountains, white chips represented the Catskill Mountains, M A tasty geography lesson & M’s were cities, and blue gel represented the three major rivers. ach year, students get to eat the state of New York. It’s just one way fourth-grade students study the state’s Fourth-grade teacher Jen Sanford said, “We start the year by Egeography as part of the social studies curriculum. After learning about the landforms and major cities in New York, studying about the history and geography of the state in class, as and the cookie is our fi nal project to show what we’ve learned.” a culminating activity the students created cookie maps shaped Th ank you to the CFE cafeteria staff for making the cookies like New York state. and to the parents for supplying the candies and volunteering Students replicated the topography of the state on their map their time to come in and help with this fun and tasty activity. using a variety of candies to indicate features. Green icing covered -Jen Sanford, 4th-grade teacher the entire state, chocolate chips represented the Adirondack
Emma Ely, Sarah Ciza and Grace Bianco with their maps.
GraceG CCaddendd withi h herh cookieki map.
RReillyill DDonovan uses bluebl gell tot makek rivers.i Jacob Brown and Emily Gresham with their fi nished cookie maps. Fall 2012 MMiddleiddle SSchoolchool 13 Principal’s message e are off to a busy and productive start to the 2012-13 school year and have Wadded some new things to the “way we do business” in our middle school. Each week, there will be a message about the happenings around our school in the link on our Web page, “Notes from the Principal.” We also added our “Morning Announcements” to our Wweb page as a way to keep our families up-to- date on items that are mentioned to our students, faculty and staff at the beginning of each day. Some of you may have already received “mail” from our faculty and staff in regards to your child. We Seated, l-r: Kara Zimmerman-nurse, Kathy Knapp-secretary, Vicki Mikeska- will be mailing home postcards this year to celebrate attendance clerk. Standing, l-r: Lori Pourby-principal, Dave Hogan-associate principal. our “Students of the Week” as well as our “Students of the Month.” Students will continue to be recognized on our morning announcements and their pictures will be displayed on our middle school “Wall of Fame” as well as posted on our middle school Web page. You can check out some pictures of our “Positive Behavior Student Kick-Off Event” currently posted on the Web. I would like to thank everyone who attended our two Middle School open houses in September. We had a packed house both nights and the focus for our open houses was to provide our families with information about their childrens’ grades and expectations for the year. As the faculty and I mentioned at these open houses, we work collaboratively with our families at the middle school. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via email or by phone, 648-7576. I look forward to another positive, rewarding, and academic 2012-13 school year for all members of the CF Middle School community. -Lori Pourby, MS principal
Students create with color olor and more color. Th at is what sixth-grade artists started learning about as the year kicked Coff with color. Students learned how to mix and make diff erent colors for a painted color wheel. They also learned about three diff erent color schemes, which are diff erent color combinations that look good together. Next, the sixth-grade artists drew their name with overlapping shapes and painted it with a color scheme. Th ey practiced painting neatly, using crisp, clean edges. When they were all done, their painted name became camoufl aged and blended into the background. It was fun for the students to try to fi nd each others’ names in the fi nished creations. -Jessica Russell, MS art teacher Briana Walker with her camoufl aged name painting. Can you fi nd her name? 14 MMiddleiddle SSchoolchool Fall 2012 Middle School “kicks off ” the year raising awareness against bullying rior to the start of school, the Positive Behavior September 7 served as our kickoff event. Staff and students Committee at Chenango Forks Middle School met to were asked to wear red, white and blue to show off our school Pplan a “kickoff ” event to bring the school community colors. Class meeting groups were established throughout the together to raise awareness against bullying. Th e entire staff at school with the purpose of coming together each month to CFMS was trained and has begun implementing some of the use a common language to discuss a topic related to bullying. key fundamentals of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program September’s topics were based on getting to know group (OPBB), a research-based program found to reduce bullying members, the anti-bullying rules, expectations of group in schools. Th e four anti-bullying rules adopted by the middle meetings, and building positive classroom climates. An anti- school through the OPBB are: violence assembly, “Keep the Peace,” was performed in the We will not bully others. auditorium. Th ese entertainers used scenes from Broadway shows as well as contemporary music to reinforce that using We will try to help students who are bullied. confl ict resolution and communication has better results than We will try to include students who are left out. violence and bullying. If we know someone is being bullied, we will tell an adult at A building-wide photo was then taken on the football fi eld. school and an adult at home. Lunch periods provided us with time for each student to sign the middle school’s anti-bullying banner and watch music videos containing anti-bullying messages. Both the pictures and the banner will soon be on display at CFMS. Th roughout the day, “Band against Bullying” bracelets and bookmarks with the anti-bullying rules were handed out. Th e Positive Behavior Kickoff Dance wrapped up the evening. Together with staff , students and parent volunteers, a successful day with an important message was achieved. -Lori Pourby, MS principal The banner signed by middle school students.
Middle school students in a group photo. Students with their bookmarks. Fall 2012 HHighigh SchoolSchool 15 Apple TV comes to the high school s part of the continuing growth and use of technology in the district, the high school has Aacquired fi ve Apple TVs to be used in classes this year. Currently, two are operational with the other three to be put online shortly. Apple TV is not what is sounds like. It is not a television set, but a small box that allows the iPad screen to project wirelessly to any projection device. Currently, in Cheri Panko’s Spanish III classes, the students can project what is on their iPad to the entire class via the classroom projector.
Treynor Peterson uses the Apple TV.
Previous to this, the student would have to connect physically to the projector, taking up valuable classroom time to make the connection. Now the students can turn on their projecting capability from their seats and share what they have done with the entire class. An entire class can share their work in the time it previously took for one or two people to connect through wires. Keith Rosko, art teacher, is also using the Apple TV in his art classes in the same manner. Soon students in Jon Edwards’ and Renee Condon’s social studies classes and Tina Giovenco’s science classes will have the same The Apple TV. capability. -Cheri Panko, HS Spanish teacher Happy Friday - there’s a critter in my class hat’s right! Freshmen and sophomores in Joe Roosa’s living environment class had Critter Friday. Critter Friday is a day in class when students Tbring in a critter of their choice, or use one of the critters already in class, and study what that particular critter does. Th is includes behavior, physical appearance and other observations. Students brought in parakeets, a guinea pig, gerbil, hen, snake and hermit crab. If a student didn’t have an animal to bring in, they used a slug, snail or a cockroach provided by Roosa. After learning about ways to observe animals, students had to make notes and observations, including qualitative and quantitative observations, behavioral analysis and comparative physiology. Th ey also discussed unity and diversity of life. Students documented their observations and made notes on what their critter did, or, in some cases, didn’t do. Students also weighed and measured AntoneA SamsonS studiesdi a crayfi sh.h their critter as part of the analysis. By using live animals, students were given the opportunity to put learned observations to use and have some fun while doing it. -Linda Myers, communications coordinator 16 HHighigh SchoolSchool Fall 2012 Changes in the high school this year uring the middle part of last school year, we began to plan for signifi cant changes in the way the high Dschool operates. Th e changes were necessitated by the loss of 19 faculty and staff members the previous school year, the introduction of the new APPR teacher/ administrator evaluation system, and the logistical challenges that the building faced in trying to provide a quality education to our students. Moving back to an eight-period school day during the 2011-2012 school year was signifi cant in its own right, but there would be more changes to come. Foremost among the changes was the elimination of the assistant principal position. Two years ago, there was a full-time assistant principal in the high school. Last year, that position became a part-time associate principal. Th at position no longer exists DanD Nitto-deanNd of fd students, Judy JdR Rapp-guidance d secretary, John JhHll Hillis- and instead, this year, we have a full-time dean of students. principal, GiGi Snow-main offi ce secretary. Mr. Dan Nitto will fi ll that position. Furthermore, we’ve moved band and chorus from their Also, more changes have been made to the school day itself. eighth-period slot to fi fth- and sixth-periods, directly opposite We managed to create a bell schedule that would allow for the lunch blocks. Th is has taken a large number of students four minutes of passing time between classes instead of our out of the cafeteria and classrooms while the lunches are going traditional three. While this may not seem noteworthy, it on. It also frees up seventh- and eighth-periods to be much has had a major eff ect on the building and the stress-levels more academically oriented, allowing us to schedule many associated with trying to get from one side of the building to diff erent types of classes during this block of time. the other on time. Students are much more comfortable in Mrs. GiGi Snow is now our high school secretary and Mrs. the hallways and teachers can expect students to be in class on Judy Rapp is our guidance secretary. Mr. Rick Gumble has time. moved back to the high school full time from a position in We also made major changes to the master schedule itself. the middle school last year. In other words, we’re in great For the fi rst time in memory, we collapsed the three lunch shape to meet the challenges of a new school year. periods into two. Th e result: the cafeteria is a bit more -John Hillis, HS principal crowded, but students have plenty of time to eat and there’s much more fl exibility in the master schedule than in the past.
Starr marches again or the second time in as many years, senior Kenny Starr will represent New York state in the Macy’s Th anksgiving Day Parade. He will be part of the Macy’s Great American FMarching Band, playing trumpet. Th e band is compromised of nearly 220 of America’s fi nest high school student musicians and Kenny is one of four from New York. Kenny is the son of Ken and Donna Starr. Kenny recently received the music the band will perform. On the parade route they are playing “Moves Like Jagger,” and the song to be performed in front of Macy’s in Herald Square is “Lazy River”, which is a fun, fast, and high-stepping, swing musical number. Kenny said, “I am very excited to be a part of this band again. It is really a great experience.” Look for Kenny as the Macy’s Great American Marching Band marches during one of the most heralded parades. Good luck and congratulations! -Linda Myers, communications coordinator Fall 2012 HHighigh SchoolSchool 17 English teacher published in journal ndrea Gumble, English teacher in CF High School, has published an article in the fall 2012 edition of the A“Educational Forum Journal.” In her article, “Finding a Voice: Freedom through Digital Literacies,” she suggests ways to use digital resources to both engage secondary learners and to enhance their media literacy skills by allowing students to explore and evaluate published works in order to produce new, original text. Th is article examines how the use of multimedia sources can deepen student engagement, comprehension, and questioning of a variety of texts. Th rough an American literature project, “Th e Art of War,” high school juniors worked in collaboration to read, analyze and create original digital texts using Animoto.com. As a result, educators are able to see academic strengths in students that might otherwise go unnoticed with the sole use of traditional teaching practices and print text. She also presented her ideas from the article at the 9th Annual SUNY Oneonta Best Practices in Teaching and Counseling Conference in October. Gumble said, “It is exciting to have my work here at Chenango Forks published in a national journal. It is always nice to have the opportunity to share new ideas with my educational colleagues.” -Linda Myers, communications coordinator El mundo es un pañuelo panish students in Sra. Panko’s classes had the opportunity to meet and practice their Spanish with Sr. Juan Martí, from Bilbao, Spain. Sr. Martí told the students about SSpain, it’s culture, people and of his hometown in northern Spain. Google Earth was very useful as the students were able to view Bilboa as they were hearing about it. Sr. Martí CarleyC l CChurchh h withi h SSr. JJuan Martí.M í also showed the students the diff erence between Spanish, the language of Spain, and Basque, the language of the region where he lives. Sr. Martí travels between the United States (Binghamton in particular) and Spain frequently since he works for Iberdrola, the parent company of NYSEG. SSr. MartíM tí ttalkslk withithh studentst d t iin SSpanishp i h class.l He also talked to the students about some diff erences he notices between the countries. It was also discovered that in Iberdrola’s student exchange program his son had visited the CF community and even knew some of the students in the classes. What a small world! ¡El mundo es un pañuelo! -Cheri Panko, HS Spanish teacher 18 HHighigh SchoolSchool Fall 2012 Students attend states eniors Alex Kelly and Evan Lalley were selected to attend the girls and boys state programs held this past summer. SAlex went to SUNY Oneonta for this educational program, which focuses on Americanism and the political process and is sponsored by the New York State American Legion Auxiliary. Th e goal of the program is to help students better understand democratic ideals and the part we as individuals play in carrying out these ideals. Th is program, which has been accredited by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (National CCRS,) is a non-partisan attempt to teach high school junior girls about government, politics, and Americanism. Alex Kelly. Evan Lalley. Qualifi ed high school juniors are selected to become citizens In July, Evan attended the of, and participate in, creating a mythical 51st state, from the American Legion Boys State of New York at SUNY Morrisville. county to the state level. Th is mythical 51st state is divided into 11 counties, each named after famous women. Citizens there Rising at 5 a.m. each day, he made his bed military style, tidied are, assigned to either the Nationalist or Federalist Party and his quarters, and completed calisthenics with members of the experience the two party system, much like our Government. U.S. Marine Corps. Afternoons were fi lled with meeting local Their rigorous schedule includes participating in political and state offi cials, participating in mock legislative sessions, and campaigns, debates, and crafting bills. As the government begins learning about county caucuses and state party conventions. to take shape, these young women come to understand their Evan was nominated by school offi cials and selected by our roles in a democratic society. local legionnaires to represent Chenango Forks High School. During their week at Empire Girls State, students also learn He joined more than 1,000 other young men from across the proper fl ag etiquette, participate in and create either a fl ag state. Th is annual event has been sponsored by the American lowering or raising ceremony, and participate in a POW-MIA Legion since 1938 and is dedicated to teaching citizenship and ceremony. leadership. -Linda Myers, communications coordinator
Haley was recognized as a commended student. About Students receive recognition 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are being eniors Eric Yonda and Haley Sterling have been recognized recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. Eric they will not continue in the 2013 competition for National Swas recognized as a semifi nalist. He is among 16,000 Merit Scholarship awards, commended students placed among semifinalists competing for approximately 8,300 National the top fi ve percent of more than 1.5 million students who Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million, which will entered the 2013 competition by taking the 2011 Preliminary be announced in the spring. SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT®). “Recognizing academically talented students plays a fundamental role in the advancement of educational excellence within our nation,” commented an NMSC spokesperson. “Th e young people recognized as commended students represent some of the best and brightest minds in the country as demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program. We sincerely hope this recognition will provide them with additional educational outlets and motivate them in their pursuit of academic achievement.” -Linda Myers, communications coordinator
Eric Yonda. Haley Sterling. Fall 2012 HHighigh SchoolSchool 19 Taking a college course in high school benefi ts students or high school students, the thought of taking college courses may be months or years away; however, there is a Fway to learn what it’s like to take a college course while still in high school. Many subject areas provide college-level courses for high school students and, for the fi rst time this year at Forks, College Writing 1 is being off ered. Taught by English teacher Dianne Metzar, this fi rst-semester college course, sponsored by Broome Community College’s Fast Forward program, is open to juniors who had good grades in English 10 and were recommended by their teacher. Th e course is designed to introduce students to the type of writing that is expected in EnglishE l h teacherh DDianne MMetzar ddiscusses lliterature withh hher class.l upper-level college courses, while also developing the skills necessary for good critical reading and analysis. Students practice in-depth reading of non-fi ction, analyzing for rhetorical strategies and content development. Th ey then use the text as a springboard for writing their course papers. Metzar said, “Th is course complements the Common Core Curriculum because of its emphasis on reading and analyzing non-fi ction.” Another aspect of the course is that it mimics the class participation expected of students at the college level. Students learn that it can be engaging and fun to respond and participate in conversations about the essays being read. It allows them the opportunity to hear their classmates’ opinions and to express their own. Students taking the course have found it challenging and engaging. Junior Dan Gridley said, “I enjoy how active everyone is in our class discussions. I would defi nitely recommend this course to students who want to challenge themselves and become better writers.” Andrew Ziegenfus listens during class. Students taking this BCC English course will be well prepared to smoothly transition into the second semester college English course, which is off ered through TC3 here at the high school. CF is fortunate to have a strong English department. Th e college courses build on what students have already learned from their English teachers in their other English classes. DanielD lEh Ehrets takes k notes as hhis teacher, h DDianne MMetzar discusses writing styles. Metzar added, “If students take the BCC course and the other two English courses off ered by TC3 at the high school, they will graduate with nine credits of college English. Th at’s a great start for college.” Th e students receive college credit by receiving a passing score on the college placement test. For more information on the program go to www.sunybroome.edu/ff . -Linda Myers, communications coordinator 20 HHomeome ooff tthehe BBluelue DDevilsevils Fall 2012 1 Gordon Drive Nonprofi t Organization Binghamton, NY 13901 U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 155 Binghamton, NY 13901 Superintendent of Schools Joe Peck Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Dixon Business Executive Kathy Blackman ECRWSS Communications Coordinator Postal Patron Linda Myers
Welcome back, more photos.