FIRST RoboTIcS Team compeTeS Odyssey of the Mind Team aT WoRld compeTITIon BSMS Students Place in 2016 Competes in World Finals Regional Science Bowl Ballston Scholars Succeed in Annual miSci Invention Convention Photography Students NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team featured in Saratoga Boys Varsity Soccer Reaches NYS School of Distinction Award Juried Art Show Finals in a Record Breaking Season Varsity Softball BSHS Qualifies for The Washington Students WIn First Place at Team Competes in Post’s List of 2016 America’s Most the Saratoga County Fair NYS ChampionshipS Challenging High Schools District of Distinction Award Electrify B-Spa Music Concert Features Middle School achieves Earned by the Clean Tech ECHS Over 600 Student Musicians School to Watch Designation Safety Excellence Award Presented to District Celebrating Our Champions www.bscsd.org BALLSTON SPA 2016-2017 @BSCSD Central School District Welcome to the Ballston Spa Central School District Dear Parents and Guardians: What’s Happening in the Ballston Spa Schools? On behalf of our Board of Education, teachers, and staff, welcome Please note that the district is using Twitter to send out the most current district to the 2016-2017 school year! A special welcome to our new students and school information. Please follow us at: and families who are joining the district for the first time, as incoming Kindergarteners or as new residents to our community. I invite everyone @BSCSD Official Twitter of the Ballston Spa Central School District to join us and be an active part of our school district as we continue our @BSpaSupt Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D., Superintendent commitment to educational excellence and opportunity for all of our @BSCSD_ODA The Office of District Advancement students. @B_Spa_Athletics Sports Information The district has now completed an extensive facilities renovation and @BSPAHS Ballston Spa High School improvement plan which began in 2010. As we begin the new school @BSMS_Scotties Ballston Spa Middle School year, final site work has been completed at the Wood Road Elementary @MiltonTerrace Milton Terrace Elementary School School complex including a new bus loop and parking lots for visitors and staff. New entrance doors were also installed at the Wood Road and Milton Terrace Elementary Schools. Please note designated @GordonCreekElem Gordon Creek Elementary School parking areas for parents and visitors as well as new traffic patterns at the complex. @MaltaAveElem Malta Avenue Elementary School I encourage all families to be actively involved in their children’s education and reinforce the learning @Wood_Road_Elem Wood Road Elementary School that occurs during the school day. We ask that you please stay in touch with teachers and other staff members and be as involved in the educational process as you can. Parent organizations, booster clubs and other opportunities to be a part of the school experience are ample in all of our buildings. New this year we are proud to expand our partnership with Proctors as we launch a pilot Media Works course in 9th grade, integrating ELA with filmmaking and technology. Furthering our partnership with Schenectady County Community College, we added an additional 18 courses at the High School that qualify for college credit. We are also proud to be launching a partnership with SPAC which will bring a pilot dance program to our 5th grade students at Malta Avenue Elementary School. The school district’s website, www.bscsd.org, is a wealth of information about all aspects of the school district and is continuously updated throughout the year. You can find information about each of the six schools, facilities plans, job opportunities, transportation services, health and library services, This 2016-17 district calendar highlights district level parent and community Board of Education meetings, and many other parent and community resources via the website. I also events, as well as major school year dates. It was prepared prior to the new school encourage you to verify your contact information in our SchoolMessenger notification system in order year so dates and locations of activities may change as circumstances require during the year. Also, the dates for New York State assessments will be announced to receive electronic messages from the district or schools throughout the year, as well as emergency by each school and posted to their events calendars on the school websites. and school closing information. For the most current district news and announcements, I invite you to Please be sure to look for news items, menu notes, school bulletins and other follow me on Twitter @BSpaSupt and the district @BSCSD. communications announcing changes and additions. Updated information is also I welcome suggestions from parents and community members concerning the education of our posted on the district website at www.bscsd.org and tweeted @BSCSD. students and the administration of our school system. Please feel free to contact me at 884-7195 ext. A calendar of sports events is updated on the athletics webpage throughout 1310 or [email protected]. I look forward to working with you toward another productive and the year. Special thanks to all who made this calendar possible! The calendar successful school year. was produced by the Office of District Advancement of the Ballston Spa Central Sincerely, School District. Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. Additional district information can be found at the back of the calendar. Superintendent of Schools September 2016 Sunday monday tueSday wedneSday thurSday friday Saturday 1 2 3 Superintendent Conference Days 9th Grade & HS New Student Orientation, GC Kindergarten Orientation, 3-4:30 pm HS Auditorium, 8:45-11:30 am MA Kindergarten Orientation, 9:30 am GC Welcome Back BBQ, 4:30-6:30 pm MA 1st-5th Grade Walk Thru, 10:30-11:30 am 6th Grade & MS New Student WR Kindergarten Orientation, 9:30 am Orientation, HS Auditorium, 6-8 pm MT Kindergarten Orientation, 9 am Modified Level Fall Sports Start MT Open House, Grades 1-5, 10-11 am 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Labor Day Classes Begin Board of Education Mtg., HS Library, 7 pm 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 FLL & FTC Robotics Kick Off Event, HS, 6:30-7:30 pm MA Meet the Teacher Night, 6 pm MT Welcome Back PTA Meeting/Dinner, Fall Sports Meet the Coaches Night, 6:30 pm HS Auditorium, 6:15 pm MT Meet the Teacher Night, 6:30 pm WR PTA Meeting, 7 pm 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 HS Student Photos The College Application Process, Superintendent HS Auditorium, 6:15-7 pm Conference Day IB Year 1 Meet the IB Inner Core 1/2 day - Grades K-12 HS PTSA Meeting, HS Faculty Room, 6 pm Teachers, HS, 6:15 pm MS PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm GC Meet the Teacher Night, 6:30 pm WR Meet the Teacher Night, 6:30 pm GC PTA Meeting, 7 pm Board of Education Mtg., HS Library, 7 pm HS Meet the Teacher Night, 7 pm 25 26 27 28 29 30 MS Meet the Teacher Night, 6-8 pm Financial Aid Night, Community Spirit Parade, 6 pm MA PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm HS Library, 6:30-8:30 pm MT Student Photos Homecoming Football Game, HS, 7 pm KEY: DO = District Office HS = High School MS = Middle School MA = Malta Avenue MT = Milton Terrace For additional and updated information, please check www.bscsd.org or call the school directly GC = Gordon Creek WR = Wood Road PTA = Parent Teacher Association PTA Council = Parent Teacher Association Council October 2016 Sunday monday tueSday wedneSday thurSday friday Saturday 1 SAT National Testing, HS, arrive by 7:45 am Homecoming Dance, HS, 8 pm 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 PTA Council Meeting, WR, 6:30 pm Board of Education Mtg., HS Library, 7 pm 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 No School Columbus Day Walk About Program Begins, HS Student Photo Retakes GC Student Photos MS Lobby, 6-7:30 pm MS PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm WR PTA Meeting, 7 pm MS & HS Interim Reports Posted 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 MS Student Photos ACT National Testing, HS, arrive by 7:45 am Scottie’s Closet, MS, 9 am-1 pm MA Student Photos Fall Family Festival, Ellms Family Farm, GC PTA Meeting, 7 pm Board of Education Mtg., HS Library, 7 pm MT PTA Meeting, 3:30 pm 10 am-3 pm 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Superintendent Conference Day 30 31 1/2 day - Grades K-12 WR Student Photos MA PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm FMCC Instant Admit Day HVCC Instant Admission Day KEY: DO = District Office HS = High School MS = Middle School MA = Malta Avenue MT = Milton Terrace For additional and updated information, please check www.bscsd.org or call the school directly GC = Gordon Creek WR = Wood Road PTA = Parent Teacher Association PTA Council = Parent Teacher Association Council November 2016 Sunday monday tueSday wedneSday thurSday friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 FAFSA Workshop, HS Library, 6:30-8 pm Early College HS Info Night, TEC-SMART, 6:30 pm Board of Education Mtg., HS Library, 7 pm WR PTA Meeting, 7pm HS 1st Marking Period Ends Robot Rumble, HS, 8:30 am-5:30 pm 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 No School Daylight Saving Time Ends SCCC Instant Admission Day Veterans’ Day MT Student Photo Retakes Emergency Release Day HS Fall Troupe Production: Peter and the High School Level Winter Sports Start SUNY Brockport Instant Admit Day MS 1st Marking Period Ends Elementary Marking Period Ends Stargazer, HS Auditorium, 1 and 7 pm 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences 1/2 Days for K-5 Code-A-Thon, WR Cafeteria/ HS Report Cards Posted MS Report Cards Posted Gymnasium, 9:30-11:30 am MA PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm HS Fall Troupe Production: Peter and HS Fall Troupe Production: Peter and the Modified Level Winter Sports Start GC PTA Meeting, 7 pm Board of Education Mtg., HS Library, 7 pm MT PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm the Stargazer, HS Auditorium,