School District News for Week of May 19, 2013
AREA
WEMOCO students host skills night, public invited
BOCES 2 WEMOCO Career and Technical education students will host a skills night on Thursday, May 23 from 3 to 7 p.m. at 3589 Big Ridge Road in Spencerport. The event is open to the public. Students practice their skills in cosmetology, bakery, precision machining, welding, media arts and auto technology. All donations are used to help support students attending the SkillsUSA National Competition in Kansas City, MO.
Donations are accepted for the following services: haircuts, pedicures, and manicures by cosmetology students, dinner by culinary arts students, baked goods made by bakery students, car wash and wax by auto tech students, custom made nameplates by precision machining students, bat houses and picnic tables by carpentry students, outdoor metal art signs by welding students, and air brushed t-shirts from art students. Appointments are necessary for cosmetology and car wash and wax.
Call 352-2471 to make an appointment on May 23 between 3 and 7 p.m. A few of the suggested donations are: manicure $5; pedicure $10; car wash $5 and car wash and wax $20. Dinner is $6 and includes a beverage and a dessert.
Provided information
5/19/13
BROCKPORT
Young woodworkers build composter
Students pose inside the aerated composter they built with the help of their mentor Tom Boccacci. In front are Luke Leach, Jake True and Calvin Moyer. Not pictured - Dominic Teegarden. The Woodworking Group at the Hill Elementary School recently completed construction of a 4’ x 4’ x 4’ aerated composter with left over wood donated by Lowe’s for their school’s raised bed garden project.
Students worked weekly with their mentor, Tom Boccacci, through the school’s Academically Talented program, to design and build the composter. During their initial meeting they brainstormed ideas for the design and made a materials list. Throughout the project, students learned about the tools they would be using and focused on safety.
Boccacci, who travels from Hemlock every Monday, enjoys sharing his woodworking knowledge with the students who have the same passion for woodworking. Each lesson was filled with useful tips and words of encouragement.
“Measure twice, cut once,” he often reminded students. They also learned to inspect the wood for moisture which causes boards to warp or crack. As Boccacci would say “remember it’s the quality of your work that will be seen by other people.”
Priding themselves on their work, the students signed their names on the compost box, located on the south side of the Hill School. They are composting items to be used in the raised bed garden that students in the Veggie Nation Club are planting.
Students have learned so much from Boccacci that they have already begun devising grandiose plans for what they want to build next - including a green house. Other projects students have made include a miter box and a boot puller.
Provided information and photo
5/12/13
BCSD student artwork on display
Brockport Central School students in grades K through 12 will showcase their art skills to the community at their annual exhibit May 20 to 24 at The College at Brockport Tower Fine Arts Building, Holley Street. The opening reception will be held on Monday, May 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Tower Fine Arts Auditorium.
The student recognition ceremonies begin at 6:15 p.m. for students in grades K through 1; 6:30 p.m. for grades 2 to 3; 6:45 p.m. for grades 4 to 5 and 7 p.m. for students in grades 6 to 12. The art exhibit in the galleries is also open from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 20. Regular exhibit hours will be May 20 to 23 from 12 to 4 p.m. and May 24 from 12 to 3 p.m.
Guests may park at a meter on the east side of the Tower Fine Arts Building (two hour limit). The event is free and open to the public.
Provided information
5/12/13
BYRON-BERGEN
Kayaks in Byron-Bergen School pool help teach water safety and lifelong skills
Athletic Director Rich Hannan (l) shows student Ethan Hall the proper launching technique, while Miss Laspina helps Jake Petote land his kayak.The Byron-Bergen Central School District pool became a paddler’s training facility as part of a physical education class that taught students the sport of kayaking. The pilot program was part of larger effort within the school to teach students lifelong skills and hobbies that can keep them physically active.
Twenty-two high school students participated in the unit as part of their regular physical education program coordinated by Athletic Director Rich Hannan. The students spent one day in the gym going through safety training and then spent five class periods with paddling the kayaks in the pool.
“Most were excited to try something new and a few were excited because they had previous experience as paddlers,” said Hannan. “To be honest a few were a little apprehensive or nervous which is understandable because getting into a boat was completely foreign. Overall it was a huge hit with the students. I had a lot of positive feedback. It was nice to see them excited about a PE unit.”
Hannan explained that running the kayaking unit required the assistance of several people, “Drew Doll, the B-B Transportation Coordinator, is a local professional paddling guide in the summer and helped out with the unit in the pool. Eric Van Patten, a coach, and Stan Sherwood, retired B-B teacher, served as lifeguards, and I also had student teacher Mariah Laspina as a helper.”
Paddling was only a part of this unit. Students also learned about backpacking and camping. They had to develop a plan for a paddling trip that would include a three night stay outdoors. Among the many skills the students learned were how to purify water in the wilderness and how to choose a good location to set up a camp.
The district is applying for a grant in physical education that could expand the kayaking unit to make available to more students in the future. Hannan also hopes to add a fleet of mountain bikes to the district’s equipment list if the grant application is successful.
Provided information and photo
5/19/13
Phelps named 2013 HOBY ambassador
Rebecca Phelps, a Byron-Bergen sophomore, has been selected as an ambassador at the upcoming Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar.
Byron-Bergen sophomore Rebecca Phelps was selected to represent the Senior High School at the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar. Phelps, daughter of Karl and Tracey Phelps, will be a HOBY ambassador.
Phelps and sophomores around the country are selected based on a variety of criteria such as leadership ability, sensitivity to others, communication skills, and community service. Thanks to funding generously provided by the Byron Kiwanis, Phelps will be able to attend the seminar from May 31 to June 2 at the University of Rochester.
Nesbitt recognized with award at Dairy Carousel Show
Byron-Bergen Sr. High School junior Connor Nesbitt was honored with the Fay M. Frost Memorial Award at the 2013 New York Spring Dairy Carousel Show.Connor Nesbitt travelled to Syracuse on April 12-14 for the 2013 New York Spring Dairy Carousel Show and returned to Byron-Bergen as an award-winner. The Byron-Bergen Sr. High School junior was awarded the Fay M. Frost Memorial Award, which is presented to an outstanding young male who best embodies the spirit of promoting the dairy industry.
Nesbitt, along with four other young men, were nominated and interviewed by a panel of judges for the award. The judges questioned each candidate on many topics such as how they became part of the dairy industry and what they do to share their knowledge with others. The panel and family members were very impressed with Nesbitt, thus awarding him with honor.
Nesbitt is very active in the 4-H Program and has attended various conferences and workshops across the country, toured many Agra Business facilities, and has developed a very keen understanding of the dairy industry.
Nebitt’s love for farming and the dairy industry was also evident last year as he applied to and was accepted into the Junior Dairy Leader Program through Cornell University. Nesbitt is one of 29 students throughout New York State who are members of this exceptional program. Nesbitt and his fellow program participants are able to attend Cornell one weekend a month from September 2012 through June 2013 for classes related to the dairy industry. They are also able to take part in leadership training and can tour area farm facilities.
Thinking ahead to his future plans, Nesbitt would like to attend Cornell University majoring in dairy science or dairy business.
Byron-Bergen hosts regional Superintendents’ Conference Day
Byron-Bergen Junior Senior High School hosted hundreds of local educators for Superintendent’s Conference Day for Byron-Bergen, Elba, LeRoy and Oakfield-Alabama Central School Districts on Monday, April 29. Staff members from all four districts attended professional development workshops and worked on scoring recent state assessments of third through eighth grade students in English language arts (ELA) and math.
Workshop sessions featured training on the implementation of Common Core Learning Standards including how to develop curriculum materials, create a technology rich classroom, and find resources that are available when planning for Common Core instruction. Conference attendees were also allowed collaboration time with colleagues from the cluster districts to discuss how they are implementing the Common Core at different grade levels and within departments.
Additional workshop sessions addressed a variety of topics including school safety and security, strategies in teaching ELA concepts in art and music classrooms, special education, and listening and speaking standards for pre-kindergarten through second grade.
5/5/13
Local chef provides healthy lesson for second graders
Take a roomful of Byron-Bergen second graders, mix in the skills of a professional chef, and you have the recipe for a successful lesson about how healthy eating can taste good. Chef Eric Mercovich, a Bergen resident, parent of three Byron-Bergen students, and a professional chef, prepared several healthy dishes for more than 60 second graders to taste.
Mercovich demonstrated how to prepare spinach salad with homemade vinaigrette, mashed sweet potatoes hummus, and whole grain pasta. Students sampled each of the foods after the demonstration and received a copy of the recipes to take home.
As part of the lesson, Mercovich explained the nutritional values of the foods he was preparing. The goal of this event was to have the children taste and get more familiar with the healthier foods that are on the lunch menu after a change to the federal lunch program guidelines took effect. The ultimate goal is healthy, well-nourished children which this program helps to create by offering nutrition and cooking education with assistance from the school’s Health and Wellness Committee.
The event was made possible by a grant awarded by the American Culinary Federation through the Chefs Move to Schools program. The Chefs Move to Schools program, founded in May 2010, is an integral part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative, and its goal of solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.
Provided information
5/5/13
HILTON
Hilton CSD seeking nominations for Alumni Hall of Fame
The Hilton School District is seeking nominees for its Alumni Hall of Fame. Electronic applications are available online at http://www.hilton.k12.ny.us/info/alumni-nomination.htm. Completed forms should be sent to: Hilton Alumni Hall of Fame, c/o Superintendent David Dimbleby, 225 West Avenue, Hilton, NY 14468 or emailed to ddimbleby@hilton.k12.ny.us no later than Friday, June 7.
The purpose of the Alumni Hall of Fame is to recognize Hilton High School Alumni who have achieved distinction, outstanding accomplishments or significant contribution to their school, family, career, community or personal life. The Hall of Fame is prominently displayed in the auditorium of Hilton High School, 400 East Avenue, Hilton. Open to Hilton graduates of 15 years or more, the HHS Alumni Hall of Fame seeks to recognize and honor alumni who have excelled in their careers and personal lives. Selection is based on an individual’s achievements, community and civic involvements and other exemplary life activities. Recipients will be recognized at the 2013 Homecoming Celebration in October.
The first Hilton High School Alumni Hall of Fame Selection Committee was convened in 1999. There have been 39 outstanding Hilton High School alumni who have been inducted in the Alumni Hall of Fame.
Provided information
5/19/13
Hilton High School students get a taste of the restaurant business
Hilton sophomore Rebecca Stevens prepares a brownie sundae for a customer at the Prima Vera Cafe, a one-day restaurant experience at Hilton High School. Students in Carol Cowan’s Career and Financial Management class at Hilton High School got a taste of the hard work involved in running a restaurant recently when they opened the Prima Vera Café for a day. The students researched recipes from reliable cookbooks, tested them, then spent two days prepping. Everyone was involved in preparing the food, then students were assigned jobs as servers, hostesses, kitchen managers and kitchen servers.
In addition to the food prep, serving and clean up, the class had to manage their finances for the restaurant. The menu included everything from strawberry lemonade for $1, entrees like chicken scaloppini and oven-fried haddock for $6, side dishes such as poppy seed fruit salad and tortellini spinach casserole for $1, and delectable desserts including ice cream pies and banana colada sundaes for $1.50. Family members and staff are invited to patronize the café during lunch.
The course emphasizes career selection planning, interviewing and job application. Students also learn budgeting techniques, money management and basic economics through group and individual projects.
“If you’re thinking about running a restaurant, you’ll see just how crazy it gets!” said junior Bryanna Gatto, who worked as a hostess for the event.
Provided information and photo
5/12/13
Camp Invention returns to Hilton
In partnership with Invent Now, St. Paul Lutheran School offers Camp Invention program to children entering grades one through six this summer. The week-long adventure in creativity immerses children in imaginative play that reinforces and supplements school-year learning in the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Children will work together to seek innovative solutions to real-world challenges and sharpen critical 21st century learning skills such as teamwork and creative problem solving as they rotate through four modules each day that disguise learning as fun.
The week begins on July 29 when Ashley Bennett will direct the Camp Invention Geo-Quest program at St. Paul Lutheran School. Working in teams, children become expedition trainees, navigating their way to special treasure-filled caches and creating solutions to challenges posed by youth from around the world. They will be embarking on a global adventure, uncovering hidden messages from the Earth investigating several extreme natural wonders of the world, and building a device to launch international ducks back home.
In the Cache Dash™ module, children navigate their way to treasure-filled caches and solve global challenges from youth around the world. Tools are invented to reveal hidden messages while exploring the Earthy realms of sky, sea, land and underground in the Ecoverse™ module. In the I Can Invent: Launchitude™ module, children will take apart broken to unused appliances using real tools and re-engineer the gears to invent a Duck Chucking Device. Finally, in the Amazing Atlas Games™ module, classic high-energy games will be fused with global learning.
Local educators will facilitate program modules, and high school and college students will serve as Leadership Interns - ensuring that one staff member is in place for every eight children.
Early registration discounts are available. Every registration includes a free Camp Invention t-shirt. Availability is limited. Visit www.campinvention.org or call 800-968-4332 to reserve a place in the program.
Provided information
5/5/13
HOLLEY
Holley senior citizens attend Appreciation Breakfast
Holley junior Lexi Reyngoudt serves a guest at the Eighth Annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Breakfast. The event has grown exponentially over the past eight years it's been held at Holley Elementary School. The Holley School District hosted its Eighth Annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Breakfast to thank the district’s senior citizens for their support over the years and to honor Older Americans Month observed in May. The event continues to grow every year that it’s held. This year over 160 senior citizens enjoyed a buffet breakfast provided by Personal Touch, the district’s food service company. Personal Touch funded the total cost of the food so that it would not require any school district funding.
Participants then watched performances by the senior high and elementary choruses, and the kindergarten class. They also took home centerpieces and placemats made by the students, and long-stemmed roses. The event is an opportunity for seniors to enjoy a delicious breakfast, see students perform, and visit with old friends. The Middle School/High School Student Council volunteers their time to help set up, serve, and clean up after the breakfast.
Kathy Corwin, who has been attending the breakfast for three years with her fellow Olden Heimers group from the Disciples United Methodist Church in Holley, said she can’t believe how much the students participate and what a great job they do. “As a group, we really appreciate that the school district does this and acknowledges us,” she said. “Everyone here is so friendly.”
Seniors could also have their blood pressure checked, sign up for a Gold Card that gives them free admission to school events, and pick up information about the Orleans County Office of the Aging and The Whole Approach senior fitness classes. Next year’s breakfast will be held Thursday, May 1.
Provided information and photo
5/12/13