We Celebrate Learning West Genesee January 2011 The Communicator Students Build 'Em and Bust 'Em at the MOST Dr. Brown is "Making IT Happen" On November 20, West Genesee On November 21, West Genesee students worked in teams of two or Central School District Superintendent three to build bridges for the "Build ‘em Dr. Christopher Brown was recognized and Bust ‘em" contest sponsored by the with the "Making IT Happen Award" from Syracuse University L.C. Smith College the NYS Association for Computers and of Engineering and Computer Science Technologies in Education (NYSCATE) and held at the MOST. the International Society for Technology The West Genesee Middle School in Education (ISTECONNECTS) at the sixth-grade team of Owen Cross NYSCATE Convention held in Rochester, and Andrew Hopkins placed fi rst in NY. Category 1 for grades 4-6 (pictured at Recipients of the awards are educators right). who: apply available technology now; West Genesee Middle School move forward and don't look back; see seventh-grade students Madeline students as real people; teach through Shuron, Annika Bergquist, relationships, inspiring, encouraging, nurturing; recognize that further change is necessary, but understand that it is a process; realize that teacher empowerment andaand Elizabeth Zoanett i came is the key element to technology integration; ini fi rst place for Category II expect success; and motivate through forffor grades 7-8 (pictured at awareness and access to information. lel ft ). In the 15 years that the award has been WWest Genesee High School presented internationally, only 300 people ninth-gradenni students have received this honor. CoreyCCo Raafl aub, Matt hew RomanoRRo , (pictured below) andaan Zachary Ptak placed secondsse in their division forffo grades 9-12. High school technology teachersrs Benjamin Besemer and Shanna McCartyty worked with students who competed inn this event at the 9-12 grade level. Studentss were eligible at three levels: grades 4-6,, grades 7-8, and grades 9-12.The teams built bridges according to contest guidelines In this picture taken at the West Genesee with materials provided by the contest Board of Education meeting held on organizers. Students designed their December 1, Chris Nelson, Executive bridges for strength and durability when Vice President, New York Society of subjected to a load. Computer and Technology Educators, presents Dr. Brown with a black ISTE "Making IT Happen" jacket, a certifi cate, and a framed picture from the original presentation ceremony. Inside this Edition... Sports Wrap Up....................4-5 Dates to Remember..................7 Students Give to Community..8 VisitVVissit YourYour SSchoolchool OOnOnlineline aatt It Happened at School..............6 Superintendent's Message.....3 We Celebrate Learning! Focus On BOE Highlights e have a • Kimberly Sacco att ended a workshop on 'All Children Flourishing: The W few classes Nurtured Heart Approach' on November 17. beginning this • Deborah Simon and Donna Scrimale att ended a Developing Leadership month. They in- Presentation, hosted by the CNYSBA for BOE Presidents and Vice Presidents clude: Yoga, Water on November 29. Aerobics, Knitting/ Crochet, Digital Photography, and Basic • Deb Simon, Donna Scrimale and Dr. Brown att ended the OMSBA Annual BOE Computers. President, Vice President and Superintendent meeting on December 2. Please visit the Adult Education page • At our November 17 meeting, William Roberge, Director of Technology, gave at westgenesee.org or call the offi ce for an overview of new technology initiatives and what new training programs more information. Keep that New Year’s are being rolled out to our staff . resolution to do something for yourself: • At our December 1 meeting, Donna Scrimale was recognized by the NYSSBA Area sign up for an adult education class 4 Director, Douglas Ann Land, with the Master of Boardsmanship Award. where you will have fun and meet new • Also at that meeting, our Superintendent, Dr. Christopher Brown, was friends! recognized by Chris Nelson, Executive Vice President of the New York As you may be aware, we have Society of Computer and Technology Educators, with the Internal Society of had to cancel a number of classes due Technology Educators "Making IT Happen" Award. to inclement weather. If the schools are closed or aft er school and evening • The Board approved a 4 ½ year extension to Dr. Brown’s contract, and we are activities are cancelled, the Adult happy to say that he accepted. Education classes are also cancelled. he Board of Education generally meets the fi rst and third Wednesday of the Our goal is to schedule make-up classes, Tmonth at 7:00 p.m in the high school library. Each meeting usually features however it is not always possible. We Study Session Topics, which are presentations by staff or students to inform the appreciate your understanding in the Board about curriculum, policy, and initiatives for their consideration. A time is cases when the calendar does not allow provided at the beginning for att endees to ask questions or comment on agenda for a make-up class. items, and a time for other topics to be addressed occurs at the end. The Spring 2011 Program is right around the corner so be on the lookout Our Vision: West Genesee continues -Deborah-D Simon for the brochure, which will be mailed in early February. It will also be available to focus on improving, every day, the BBoard of Education President [email protected] on the district web site on January 31. educational opportunities I wish you all a safe and happy New Year. and academic - Lynn Magoulas, Director performance of each student. 487-2279 [email protected] Art Teacher Recognized by •to the following for having their art Syracuse University Congratulations . exhibited at the YMCA student/teacher GHS art/photography teacher art show: teachers Gail Glagola, Jennifer WWendy Cross was recognized •to West Genesee High School senior Schmidt, Mike LaFay, Wendy Cross, by the Syracuse University Athletic Jordan Van Ryn who was inducted to the Jessica Czachowski (student teacher); Department as a New York's College National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) and students Samantha Silver, Shannon Team Award recipient at the Syracuse on November 4. This organization Smith, Jessica Swindon, Alison Fenn, football game on November 20. recognizes students who have excelled Hannah Kanoza, Naomi Schofi eld, Paige The honor was presented to teachers in a Career and Technical Education Rayo, Abbey Slawson, Rachel Gdula, within New York State, who are Program. Shawna Lake, and Caitlin Williams. nominated by a student, a class or their peers. •to Joshua Clark, a senior at West Student Alyssa Van Gampler nominated Genesee High School who has been Thank You . Cross for the honor sharing that, "Mrs. accepted as a foreign exchange student •to Karen A. Pitoniak for a donation in Cross always has a positive att itude and for the 2011-12 school year in Germany, the amount of $150.00 to sponsor a high that helps kids want to work harder and sponsored by the Camillus Rotary Club, school sophomore to att end the 2011 want to grow up and be our own person part of the Rotary District 7150. Hugh O’Brian Leadership Seminar. but always stay positive like her." 2-The Communicator JJANUARYANUARY22011011 We Celebrate Learning! SSUPERINTENDENTUPERINTENDENTCCOMMUNICATESOMMUNICATES Message from Dr. Brown hope that you had a restful holi- Dr. Brown Answers Your Questions... I day season. It is hard to believe that we are already into January and What is the status of the bullying culture survey? with that, the joys that January brings such as more snow, testing, and budget The survey has been successfully administered to approximately 5,000 creation. students. We are in the process of tabulating all of the data and we will It seems like use these data in an upcoming meeting to help plan our next steps. we have been If you have any questions, just call my offi ce at 315-487-4682 or send working around me an e-mail to [email protected]. the clock to try to fi gure out how How many snow days do we actually have? we are going to be We started this school year with a total of three snow days, and if needed able to accommo- we can add on a fourth snow day by cancelling a future staff development date the upcoming day. "tax cap" that our Governor-elect Are there plans for a new voter registration system to be has proposed as well as a substantial reduction in state used for budget votes? aid to schools without signifi cant re- We are in the process of creating our own voter registration system so ductions to programming. This "perfect that we are certain that the people who vote on our school budgets and storm of financial negativity" could projects are entitled to vote. We will be using the same machines that we result in a budget gap as large as $5M, have used in the past for now, but the process to vote will change slightly. which is unprecedented. More information will follow in future articles. The reality is that we are going to have to make major reductions and re- structuring in programming, athletics, To date, we are moving forward fi ne arts, personnel, and pursue other together to further explore shared opportunities to close a potential gap transportation for our private and pa- this great. At the same time, we cannot rochial students as well as our students Talk With push the panic butt on because it seems who att end other programs, including Superintendent like every time we plan for the worst BOCES, outside of the confi nes of our someone comes along and helps us out. District boundaries. We are also explor- Residents will have an However, with such uncertainty we ing a shared summer school concept as opportunity to ask questions are making our lists of reductions and well and will also be studying several about any aspect of the West changes but cannot do much with them other concepts as we move through the Genesee School District on until we know the complete fi nancial next couple of years.