School District News for Week of May 13, 2012
AREA
‘Life in a Bubble’ leaves children with food allergies at risk - ACE teams deliver solutions
communities can live with
Food allergies and anaphylaxis are on rise, as are peanut-free schools, baseball parks and airplanes. But is it possible or medically recommended to isolate food-allergic children from killer proteins?
The hot topic is spicing up communities throughout the U.S. and Internet forums. As the pendulum swings from irrational fear to the blatantly cavalier, school-aged kids with food allergies are left hanging in the balance.
Starting in 2011 and continuing next year, allergists and community members team up nationwide to help steer the debate with realistic expectations and evidence-based solutions. Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACEs), a program developed by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics in partnership with the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, conduct free local seminars to increase awareness about anaphylaxis and treatment and prevention strategies.
“Food allergy anaphylaxis can be deadly but doesn’t have to be,” says Rochester ACE Team allergist Dr. John J. Condemi. “Our goal is to prevent death and anxiety due to anaphylaxis in our community.” The Anaphylaxis Community Experts will offer a free seminar (pre-registration required) at Brockport Middle School on Tuesday, May 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The seminars will be held in the LGI (Large Group Instruction) room.
To register contact Trina Kenney at 585-637-1865 trina.kenney@bcs1.org.
Provided information
4/29/12
Red Cross honors GCC for blood drive initiative
When the Student Activities Office at Genesee Community College organized their first blood drive in 1987, just three students donated. Twenty five years later, those three-times-a-year drives have collected more than 3,500 units of blood, and Red Cross district director Debra Miller says those donations have saved more than 10,000 lives.
Miller says each unit of donated blood can be used to save three patient lives through the use of whole blood, platelets and plasma.
Miller was on the GCC Batavia campus Wednesday, April 11 to present an award to Student Activities Director Cliff Scutella and the department’s technical specialist, Joanna Barefoot. The cup-shaped trophy recognizes the school for more than two decades of blood drives and the lives saved by those donations.
Additionally, the Red Cross reciprocates with a scholarship program created in 2006 to recognize students at SUNY schools that show collection growth over the prior year. GCC students have been awarded Red Cross scholarships averaging $500 for three of the last four years.
Provided information
4/22/12
New weather station installed at GCC
A new solar-powered weather monitoring station is up and running on the Batavia campus of Genesee Community College. The wireless unit is powered through solar energy stored in rechargeable batteries, which are used when conditions warrant, such as cloudy days.
The station, funded through a grant from the GCC Foundation President’s Innovation Award Program, gives more accurate weather data for the campus than was previously available from the weather station at Batavia’s School for the Blind. A recent study found that wind and temperature readings on the main campus differed substantially from those obtained at the school on Richmond Avenue, with temperature differences of 5 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit, and wind speed differentials of 7 to 16 mph logged during the summer of 2010.
Current temperature and weather conditions, as well as other information, is available to students and the public via GCC’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/GeneseeCommunityCollege by clicking on the “Weather @ GCC” icon.
Provided information
4/15/12
BROCKPORT
Ed Blank retires from Brockport Central Schools after 27 years
Ed Blank, grounds and equipment operator, loads up the lawn mower to take to the transportation facility on Owens Road, on his last day of work, April 27. Provided photoEd Blank started a recent work day like he normally would - up at 4 a.m. to feed the cattle and finish some farm work before heading to work as a grounds equipment operator for Brockport Central Schools. While he will continue to rise at 4 a.m., his schedule changes since his retirement from the district on April 27.
Blank began his career with the district as a watchman in 1985. He transferred to the Grounds department the following year, trading in his security duties for grounds maintenance duties, including snow removal, mowing the grass, and excavation projects.
The change from security to grounds- keeping was a seamless transition for the Cornell University graduate with a degree in agriculture and a background in farming. Blank worked on farms for a number of years before buying his own farm in 1979 where he raises cattle and cash crops of soybeans, corn and hay.
While his job varied and was often dependent on the weather, Blank could always be seen working around campus. Over the years, he recalls several memorable weather events including the time when it was thundering, lightning and snowing at the same time, the ice storm in 1991 and the time when a wind shear took off the high school roof in 1999.
Blank said he loved his job for the variety and changes from one season to the next - but most of all he loved the people.
“I will miss the people the most,” Blank said. “There is a camaraderie among staff that makes it so special.”
Blank’s supervisor Christian Hansen, director of Building and Grounds, will always remember his dedication to the job, superior work ethic and respect for all faculty, staff and students.
“Ed’s dedication to the district and our students, along with his personality and respect for others will be greatly missed,” said Hansen.
Similar to his work changing with the seasons at Brockport, so will his farm work as he readies the fields to plant corn this spring, prepares to bale hay all summer and plant soybeans in the fall. Though his decision to retire was not an easy one, Blank admits he has about 10 years worth of work to catch up on at the farm. Blank looks forward to spending more time at his Barre farm with his wife, Nancy.
5/6/12
Senior citizens invited to breakfast at the A.D. Oliver Middle School
Senior citizen residents of the Brockport Central School District are invited to a complimentary breakfast at the A.D. Oliver Middle School on Tuesday, May 22 from 8 to 9:15 a.m. in the cafeteria, 40 Allen Street. The breakfast, hosted by student council members is held annually to recognize and support the important connections between our community’s youth and senior citizens.
The event includes a buffet breakfast with student council members, student performers, staff, administrators, and Board of Education members. Student selections from performing groups will provide entertainment following the meal.
Seniors are asked to RSVP by Monday, May 7 by calling the A.D. Oliver Middle School Office at 637-1860 or by emailing student council advisors at susan.rowcliffe@bcs1.org or donald.voorheis@bcs1.org.
There is limited parking, so use of shuttle buses to and from the middle school is encouraged. Buses will pick up seniors from the Sweden Senior Center parking lot at 7:20 a.m.
4/22/12
Brockport BOE adopts 2012-2013 budget
The Brockport Board of Education adopted the proposed 2012-2013 budget during their April 3 meeting. The $69,093,035 proposed budget, a decrease of more than a half million dollars from the current year’s budget, reflects a 2.54% tax levy increase.
The proposed budget includes utilizing more than $3.6 million in fund balance and reserves along with reductions made to many areas of the budget, including 10.6 instructional positions and 6.2 support service positions, to close the multi-million budget gap. These reductions were minimized after recalculating the draft budget based on Brockport’s tax levy limit of 2.54% and $636,170 in additional state aid, restored after the state approved their budget on March 30. The first draft budget included 26.3 staffing reductions.
The community is invited to attend a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. in the Hill School Cafetorium, to learn more about the 2012-2013 proposed budget. In addition to the budget, a school bus proposition of $861,000 will go before voters to purchase 10 buses and trade in 14 buses, in an effort to maintain a 10 year replacement cycle. A video about the school bus proposition and additional budget information may be found at www.bcs1.org/2012-2013budget.
Voters will also select a school board trustee to serve a five-year term.
The proposed budget vote, school bus proposition and election of one Board of Education trustee will be held on May 15 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the A.D. Oliver Middle School gymnasium, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the High School Main Lobby and the Barclay School. The community will have the opportunity again this year to provide feedback by completing an exit poll after voting.
Provided information
4/15/12
BYRON-BERGEN
Byron-Bergen 2012 HOBY representatives named
2012 HOBY participants from Byron-Bergen High School: Paramjit Kaur (Holly) Sembhi, Laura Redinger and Robert Schrenker. Provided photoHugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminars have been held yearly throughout the United States and Canada since 1958. The purpose of HOBY is to provide sophomores the opportunity to meet many distinguished leaders of the community from various sectors such as business, technology, education, government, arts and science.
Every year, all sophomores are eligible and encouraged to apply for this exceptional leadership seminar. A group of sophomores around the country is selected based on a variety of criteria such as leadership ability, sensitivity to others, communication skills, community service, etc. This year, the organization allowed three students to attend from Byron-Bergen High School. Paramjit Kaur (Holly) Sembhi, daughter of Kamaljit Sembhi and Jasvir Kaur; Laura Redinger, daughter of Carolyn and Charles Redinger; and Robert Schrenker, son of Lori and John Schrenker, were selected as Byron-Bergen High School “HOBY Ambassadors.” They will attend the HOBY seminar at the University of Rochester June 1-3. Funding this year was provided by the Byron Kiwanis for two of the students, and the Byron-Bergen S.T.E.P. Boosters and Byron-Bergen School District provided funding for the third student to attend.
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4/29/12
Byron-Bergen welcomes 20 new National Junior Honor Society members
Byron-Bergen Middle School welcomes 20 new members, shown here, into its chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. Provided photoByron-Bergen Middle School held its National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony. After a welcome message by Superintendent Casey Kosiorek and Honor Society President Bethany Ezard as well as a candle lighting ceremony, standing members read short biographies and welcomed the 20 new members from the seventh and eighth grades.
Byron-Bergen ELA Teacher Diana Walther was the featured speaker at the induction ceremony. Walther discussed the importance of the school’s “The Leader in Me” character education program with a corresponding book she uses in her classes “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey.
The inductees were selected through an application process that focused on scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service, and character, the five principles of the National Junior Honor Society.
This year’s National Junior Honor Society members are: (seventh-graders) Dominick Andres, Olivia Audsley, Lindsey Bowman, Brandon Burke, Reanne Dressler, Marlaina Fee, Chase Felton, Mackenzie Fox, Clare Fraser, Ryan Gonyea, Hailey Hubbard, Alexandria Loewke, Kitana Maher, Kelsey Mauer, Colin Noeth, Grace Pulcini, Ryan Richardson, Karson Richenberg, Brittney Vincent; and eighth-grader Allison Kropf.
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4/15/12
HILTON
Hilton “Jr. Cadet Tee” shirt product designed, marketed and developed at Hilton High School
A senior project was the inspiration for the creation of Jr. Cadet Tee shirts.The “Jr. Cadet Tee Shirt” was the marketing idea for Hilton High School Business student Shawn Cervini’s Senior Project. Shawn began working on his senior project in October 2011 and is currently checking on the final printing stage of what will be the Jr. Cadet Tee shirts. The order forms were sent to the teachers in grades 1 through 4 of each of the elementary schools. The students and parents had until April 16, to submit their payment. The shirts cost $10 and came in four colors: red, black, tie-dye red and tie-dye black.
“Shawn wanted to create a product that would create Cadet Spirit for our elementary students that would transcend into the middle and high school years,” said James Colacecci, Hilton High School business teacher. “Shawn knew that in order for the shirt to be successful he would need to have a strong image of a young cadet.”
Shawn recruited senior Danielle Bradant, an art student at Hilton High school to create the image of the Jr. Cadet. Danielle, who will be attending RIT in the fall to study in illustration, came up with her concept of the friendly young cadet and his trusted horse by having a unique understanding of children and how they relate to fun things, friends and animals. Under the mentoring of Art Program Coordinator Jan Dentino, Danielle has produced a number of outstanding drawings and illustrations that she has displayed at both RIT and at the Village Gate in Rochester. The Jr. Cadet Tee Shirts are expected to arrive at the elementary school by the end of May.
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5/13/12
Hilton Board of Education recognizes nine “Friends of Education”
At their May 8 meeting, the Hilton CSD Board of Education recognized nine outstanding volunteers whose work in the school district has made an important difference.
From left are: Tonya Melrose for her volunteering efforts at the Merton Williams Middle School including “Student of the Month” activities; John Abbott, past HCSD Board of Education member and president and currently member of the Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Board of Education; Richard ‘Rick’ Alexander, Parma Town Judge, attorney and advisor for Hilton High School’s Mock Trial Team; Jim Branciforte, Sports Booster volunteer; Joann Shearn, Co-President of the Village Elementary School Volunteer Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization [VEPTO]; Bob Viavattine, Music in the Arts representative who has volunteered at the Evening of Jazz; Bonnie Gargano, volunteer at Northwood Elementary School VEPTO; and [not pictured] Ann Lacey and Kathleen Richard for the “Tales for Tails” therapy dog program at Quest Elementary School - award accepted by Tales volunteer Diane Weaver.
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5/13/12
Hilton High School Juniors and Seniors presented mock DWI scenario
Using the Jaws of Life, members of the HFD prepare to force open the driver's side door so they can extract the driver.
Volunteer firefighters from the Hilton Fire Department (HFD) arrive at the scene of the accident dramatization.A very effective mock DWI scenario was presented to Hilton High School juniors and seniors on Monday, April 27. As it has for the 10 years the dramatization has been presented, the scenario brought home a message to the students about what happens when someone drives drunk or is distracted and crashes into another vehicle. This year’s enactment, organized by the co-chairs of SADD, Students Against Distracted Decisions, Claire Dresler and Lacey Blodgett, portrayed a post-prom party incident where a drunk student driver crashed into another car, “killing” a student sitting in the front passenger seat of that car. Both the student actors made the presentation very effective, informative, sad and moving.
Making a sizeable contribution to the enactment were members of SADD, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Hilton Fire Department, Burger Funeral Home and Heinrich Collision. Also contributing were: Bob Johnson Chevrolet, which donated the Dodge Intrepid that was demolished for accident portrayal, Impact Print Solutions provided a banner to be placed on the wrecked car, John Duggan and DDS for their generosity and commitment to the project and Spencerport for allowing the use of a portable grandstand.
Photographs and text by Walter Horylev
5/6/12
Northwood Elementary student recognized by UNAR
Alex Gunkel, left, a sixth grade student at Hilton’s Northwood Elementary in teacher Brittany Williams’ REACH (gifted and talented) class, was honored April 20, by the United Nations Association of Rochester with the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award at the 67th Annual Dinner and Awards Meeting which honors community members for their volunteer work, humanitarian work, and impact in the community.
“Alex was chosen as a volunteer for his work and effort at the 2012 St. John Fisher UNAR Model United Nations Conference,” Williams said. “Alex served as a page at this conference and donated $41.60 to ‘Jar Wars’, a charity fundraiser that the conference holds, even though he knew he would be unable to participate in a possible award with his committee the next day. He wanted to donate the money because he said that “it was going to be a better cause than staying in my wallet.”
A portion of the donations Jar Wars collected at the 2012 St. John Fisher UNAR Model UN Conference was donated to 34 million friends of UNFPA, an organization that helps women and children across the globe. One day Alex would like to work for the United Nations and continue making a difference in his community and throughout the world.
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4/29/12
Fun Night raises scholarship funds
Hilton Central School District’s Teachers Association, the “HCSTA,” held its annual and highly-anticipated “Fun Night” Friday, April 20 to raise funds for scholarship awarded annually to deserving Hilton High School graduates who plan to enter the teaching profession.
Pictured, teacher Patti Sullivan offers a prize to a young student.
Teachers, teaching assistants and students set up games of skill, games of silliness and even a wet sponge toss at some popular teachers.
“Fun Night is a joy!” said Northwood Elementary School teacher Ed Donnelly who heads up the Association. More than 500 were in attendance.
Provided photo
4/29/12
Hilton Central School District Board of Education adopts budget proposal for 2012-13
At its regular meeting April 3, the Hilton Central School District Board of Education adopted a $69.8 million Budget Proposal for the 2012-13 school year, a 0.82 percent increase over last year’s budget resulting in a 2.16 percent tax rate increase in all district towns.
“Following another challenging budget development process that includes input from District Budget Committees, the Administrative Cabinet, community members and employees, the 2012-13 Budget Proposal is positioned to weather the ongoing fiscal constraints,” said Superintendent David Dimbleby. Details of the budget are available on the Hilton District website at www.hilton.k12.ny.us/budget-profile.htm.
District residents will vote on the budget proposition as well as a $893,450 bus purchase proposition and two open positions on the Board of Education Tuesday, May 15, 2012. The three-year terms of Daniel Wellington and Robert Prorok are expiring. Polls located at Hilton High School (Parma, Clarkson and Hamlin residents) and Northwood Elementary (Greece residents) will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters must be a registered voter with Monroe County Board of Elections to vote on May 15 or registered with the District Clerk (585-392-1000 ext. 7099). Handicapped accessible parking is available.
4/22/12
HOLLEY
Holley Band and Chorus compete in Annapolis, Maryland
The Holley High School Band and Chorus traveled to Annapolis, Maryland where they competed in the Heritage Music Festival. The band received a silver third place award and the chorus received a silver second place award even though they chose to compete against much larger schools. Both groups practiced months prior to the competition. “The music was hard, but we were well prepared,” said clarinetist Samantha Korber.
In addition to the group awards, senior Brianna Blackburn took home one of six prestigious Maestro Awards for her performance on the mallets/xylophone. Flutist Alyssa Lasch and alto saxophone player Andrew Health also had the opportunity to play the “Washington Post March” with the Naval Academy Band.
The students earned money for the trip by selling candy bars, holiday wreaths, and holding a bowlathon. “It’s been decades since our student musicians have gone out of the state to compete,” said Band Director Dan Wakefield. Both the band and chorus at Holley Middle School/High School have grown exponentially over the past couple of years.
Besides performing, the students had a chance to take a dinner cruise on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, tour Washington, D.C. and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, and experience the Medieval Times Dinner Theater where they received their awards. Seventy-five students, 10 parent and teacher chaperones, the two music directors, and Principal Susan Cory made the trip. “The trip was a chance to bond with our classmates and fellow musicians,” said senior clarinetist Jessica Schenk.
Provided information
5/6/12
Holley Board adopts 2012-2013 school budget
During a special board meeting on April 11, the Holley Board of Education adopted a $19,967,841 budget for the 2012-2013 school year.
According to a press release from the school district, the board reduced the tax levy increase by applying additional fund balance, and making cuts to staff positions and non-mandated programs. Staff cuts include an administrative reorganization, and a net of three instructional and four support staff positions for a savings of $421,600. Program cuts include equipment and supplies district wide for a savings of $155,479, according to the press release.
When Holley residents go to the polls on May 15, they also will be asked to vote on three additional propositions. The first is for the purchase of three full-size school buses and four 30-passenger buses at a cost not to exceed $517,995. The second proposes a reduction of Board of Education members from nine to seven, effective July 1, 2013, and a further reduction from seven to five members, effective July 1, 2015. The third authorizes the district to raise $100,639 to be used in support of maintenance and operations of the Community Free library.
Residents will also be voting on three board of education seats to fill the expired terms of Elaine Berg, Kellie Spychalski, and John C. “Jack” Welch. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will serve three-year terms commencing July 1, 2012.
Any group that is interested in hearing a budget presentation can contact District Clerk Connie Nenni at 638-6316, ext. 2003 to schedule a time.
Holley residents can vote on the school budget and Board of Education candidates on Tuesday, May 15 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Holley High School foyer.
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4/22/12
KENDALL
2012 All-Western New York Academic Team honors Kendall senior
A Kendall senior has been named to Business First’s 2012 All-Western New York Academic Team.
Jake ReQua (Special Mention) has qualified for this year’s list of the 100 most outstanding high school seniors in the eight-county region.
Winners were chosen for their records of academic excellence, school leadership and community involvement. The top 25 were named to the First Team, 25 runners-up to the Second Team, and another 50 to the Special Mention list.
“This is an extremely difficult honor to win,” said Jack Connors, president and publisher of Business First. “The Academic Team is extraordinarily exclusive. There are roughly 20,000 seniors in Western New York’s high schools, and we’ve selected only 100 for this year’s Academic Team. That’s the top one-half of one percent, the best and brightest students anywhere in our region.”
Schools throughout the eight-county area were asked to nominate their smartest and most accomplished students for consideration by a nine-member committee, which included seven admissions directors at area colleges and two Business First editors. A total of 117 schools responded with 415 nominees. (Each school was limited to four candidates.)
The complete list of 100 honorees - along with their photos and profiles - will be published in Business First’s 2012-2013 Guide to Western New York Schools, which will hit newsstands on June 15.
Provided information
3/18/12
SPENCERPORT
Spencerport Alumni Association holds annual banquet June 1
The Spencerport Alumni Association was established in 1939. It is a unique organization for all Spencerport High School graduates. At the annual banquet, members renew old friendships, award three scholarships and honor classes of 50 and 60 years.
All Spencerport graduates are invited to attend the annual banquet on Friday, June 1, at Lodge on the Green, 2888 Ridgeway Avenue, Rochester. Social hour 6 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m. The cost of dinner is $20 per person.
For information and to make a reservation for the banquet call JoAnn Maier, 352-1287 or Helen Moore, 617-4542.
5/13/12
Spencerport musician to appear in virtual choir
Spencerport High School student Justin Burr has been selected as one of nearly 3,000 singers from 73 countries whose voice and video likeness is being used in Eric Whitacre’s most recent Virtual Choir performance.
Whitacre, a world-renowned composer and conductor, released his first virtual choir performance of “Lux Aurumque” which featured 185 voices from 12 countries. The submitted video performances were combined and edited to create the Virtual Choir performance that has become an Internet sensation.
On April 2, the “Water Night” debuted as the third work recorded in this manner. Justin, who is a junior at Spencerport High School, first printed the sheet music from Whitacre’s website. After a practice period, he recorded his part while following Whitacre’s online conducting video. He submitted his video and was selected as one of the 830 basses in this unique choir.
Justin was a member of the All-State Vocal Jazz, sings in the Spencerport High School Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz and plays Trumpet in the Wind Ensemble. The Virtual Choir performance can be seen on the Virtual Choir website, www.ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir.
Provided information
4/29/12
Spencerport Board of Education adopts 2012-13 budget proposal
During its meeting on April 3, the Spencerport School Board of Education adopted a budget for the 2012-13 school year, according to a district press release.
The expenditure plan, which will be presented to voters on May 15, includes: $69,026,404 budget, an increase of 0.46 percent or $316,174, from the current year; a tax levy of $33.4 million, an increase of 2.13 percent which is less than the maximum allowable tax levy with exclusions; a 1.96 percent projected increase in the tax rate or $23.86 per $1,000 of assessed home value, an increase of $0.46 per thousand.
Superintendent Michael Crumb stated in the press release that the budget proposal maintains academic programs, continues the multi-year approach to the use of reserves, and addresses the state’s new tax levy limit regulation.
“This has been the year for introducing the state’s new tax levy limit, and communicating that the limit for Spencerport equates to 2.47 percent and we are proposing a tax levy that is less than our allowable limit,” Crumb said. “The levy limit is calculated using an 8-step formula provided to us by the state, but it is the tax rate that impacts a homeowner’s tax bill (above).”
“The restoration of some of the state aid funds has also helped us to offset the loss of $1.1 million in federal aid this year, and we remain on track with the planned, multi-year use of reserves and appropriated fund balance to insulate our community as much as possible.”
The 2012-13 budget also includes the use of $2.4 million in reserves, and the use of $468,594 of appropriated fund balance.
In addition to the budget, the district will be asking the community to authorize the use of $321,331 to purchase nine schools buses and four facilities vehicles. Also, a $9.8 million capital project is being proposed for the maintenance and improvements of district buildings and grounds along with authorization to use $1.975 million of the capital reserve to virtually offset all local expense.
Budget details can also be found on the district website www.spencerportschools.org.
4/15/12