Winter 2020 Voyag eswww.valhallaschools.org Valhalla UFSD: Dedicated to every child... stimulating learning, developing values and cultivating understanding CONTENTS VMHS Hour of Code Continues to Break Records Six years ago, Valhalla High School computer science teacher Amy Fox discovered a special opportunity for students to learn about computing. In its first year, the event attracted 75 students. Since 2014, it has grown in scope and tripled in size. On Dec. 10, Valhalla Middle/High School students took part in their sixth annual Hour of Code. The event provided students with an introduction to coding and created an awareness for the subject. Children of all Twelve Angry Jurors..... 3 ages and experience levels joined as participants and could learn at their own pace. “My ultimate goal is to promote the computer science program,” said Dr. Fox. “It shocks me every year that the number of students participating keeps going up. This tells me that there is a high interest in coding. It’s a great way to expose them to many aspects of computer science.” This year, 235 VMHS students took part in the Hour of Code — a new record. Nearly 170 had pre-registered, while another 65 were walk-ins. Children filled the library and computer labs — and Engaging Colonial Music Comes to Life............ 4 continued on page 2 Volleyball Team Crowned State Champion After falling in the first set to Portville High School, the Valhalla girls varsity volleyball team took a commanding lead of the competitive game by winning the second and third sets. In the fourth set, the Vikings were up 24–13. With a touch of the ball that landed slightly out of their opponents’ reach, the Valhalla team had scored its Basketball Star Wins Player of the Week ....... 5 final point. The Vikings on court leapt into the air and gleefully flung themselves into a group hug. Their teammates on the sidelines rushed over to join them. Some fell to their knees in triumph as the gymnasium exploded in cheers and applause from the crowd. “It’s surreal,” said coach Trish Ward, whose team finished the season with a 19-3 overall record. “For the whole season, I felt like we were going to achieve this goal because the girls had put in so much effort over the years to get to this point. They never got scared or down on themselves. They always played super calm and with confidence. Vikings Reach Football That really led to their success.” Final Four ................ 7 continued on page 2 Voyag es VMHS Hour of Code Continues to Break Records continued from page 1 even lined the hallways making a superhero fly around buildings and touch objects. — all working on laptops. Another saw them create a Flappy Bird game where their avatar About half of the students dodged obstacles. Other activities taught students to code a had never tried coding dance party and to design a maze. before and were brand “We want to increase their interest in computer science and have new to learning about its them sign up for some classes in this field next year,” said Dr. Fox. complexities. “They all had a good time and were enjoying themselves.” The students visited the Hour Valhalla High School offers a variety of electives that indulge this of Code website, which interest. They include game design, mobile app development, offers countless coding introduction to computer science, AP computer science principles activities for all different skill levels. One activity had children and AP computer science (Java). Volleyball Team Crowned State Champion, Welcomed Home by Community continued from page 1 Section 6 school Tappan Zee Bridge, their bus was joined had won the by the Valhalla and North White Plains Class C state fire departments, along with Valhalla EMS, title each year and Mount Pleasant and North Castle since 2007; police departments for an official escort. now, thanks to Valhalla, When they arrived back at school, it belongs to a crowd of community members was Section 1. waiting for them and surprised them with Seniors Linda a Welcome Back parade. The bus door Rossi and opened and the girls darted out, hoisting Stephanie a big, blue banner that read “NYSPHSAA Sicilian were 2019 Champion” in large block letters. named All- They jumped up and down hysterically, Tournament hugging one another and crying together On Nov. 24, Valhalla High School’s players, while Jasmine Grant was named as the crowd enveloped them in loud, varsity volleyball team was crowned the the Most Valuable Player. Linda and Jasmine supportive cheers. Residents held streamers 2019 Class C State Champions. The were also named lohud Sports’ Volleyball and balloons while music blasted from Vikings defeated Portville High School — Players of the Year, while Coach Ward was the stereo system and multi-colored the two-time reigning champions — by the named its Coach of the Year. lights flickered at score of 17-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-13 in the school’s front The team members performed excellently the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. entrance. during the round-robin semifinals on Nov. “When I held the plaque, holding it with 23, winning all six sets that they competed “It was everyone else was just the best feeling in. They beat Lake George High School overwhelming,” because we knew that everyone had (25-18, 25-18), Pierson-Bridgehampton Coach Ward said. contributed,” senior Jasmine Grant told High School (25-12, 25-14) and Portville “I knew we’d have lohud after the game. “Every single High School (25-22, 25-18) — easily an escort, but I person — from that first set that we lost securing a place in the final. never imagined that it would be as big to the next three — [we were] a family. It “We knew that the semis were going to as it was. It amazes wasn’t two or three star players; it wasn’t be tough,” said Coach Ward. “We me how this town a few people… Everyone was sharing the felt like we could be one of the top two comes together for love of what had just happened.” teams, but we never thought we’d go everything. They undefeated.” Not only did they become Valhalla’s first- band together and ever volleyball state champions, but it was After winning the final against Portville on celebrate. They also the first time that the Vikings had played Sunday, the girls were ecstatic on the ride go all out. They’re in the state final. Even more impressive, a back to Valhalla. Once they crossed the amazing.” 2 Voyag es Actors Amaze with Character-Driven “12 Angry Jurors” After spending nearly two months rehearsing an intense courtroom drama, the student-actors in Valhalla’s Drama Society inhabited their characters on stage for the community.“ The group performed “12 Angry Jurors” “You can figure out who your character a chance to get a better sense of the on Nov. 22 and 23 in the Valhalla is,” said Eline, who played the jury’s overall story, rather than only focus on Middle/High School auditorium. The foreman. “It’s cool to step outside of one character’s point of view. cast brought the well-known play to life yourself and become someone else. You by showcasing the characters and letting are not you; you are someone else. The them shine. more you do it, the better you get.” “This play allows for lots of small Each actor had the chance to forge a character moments,” said senior Reed new path in cultivating their characters Savigny, who played Juror #3. “You can since the script did not give them names develop yourself or describe their when you’re not the look, said junior main focus on stage. Maya Rieber, who I really enjoy the thrill played Juror #5. of the performance after everything has “You get to be a With several seniors in the cast, been perfected. You different person Giuseppe said that he was reminiscent feel a lack of yourself than who you are,” of the journey that the Drama Society and a complete she added. “My members have taken together over embodiment of the character is very the years. character — that’s a different from me. I unique control that tried hard to figure “When we were in sixth grade, we I enjoy.” out who she was looked up to the high school actors,” and create my own character with a he said. “We didn’t know their names, Fellow senior Eline van Opem said that backstory.” the atmosphere of creating the play was but they inspired us. Now, hopefully, cohesive, allowing the actors to highlight For the first time, senior Giuseppe we have been inspiring others. Our the story’s underlying message while also Tassone decided to serve as the journey here has been with friends. This subtly portraying a person with a specific student-director, which was a learning experience of us being on stage together stance about the court case. experience. He noted that it offered him won’t happen again.” World Kindness Day Warms Hearts at Virginia Road Between giving warm hugs, paying kind compliments and helping classmates, children at Virginia Road School happily celebrated World Kindness Day. In an effort to champion social-emotional want to create citizens who show kindness. learning throughout the district, the They also discussed how they can be kind youngest Vikings marked the special day and contribute kindness to the world.” on Nov. 13 by participating in several in- class activities that emphasized kindness. Second-grader Skylar M. shared that “being kind is something that you do that’s “Kindness means that we have to be nice for others,” while classmate Jacob bucket-fillers,” said second-grader Roya D., S.