February 2015 newsletter - Alexandria Central School District

Alexandria Central School
February 2015 Newsletter
2014-2015 School Year
Alexandria Central School
34 Bolton Avenue, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
Phone: 315-482-9971
Website:www.alexandriacentral.org
The Alexandria Central School District considers all
applicants for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability,
marital status, or veteran's status in accordance with
federal, state, and local laws and provides equal
access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth
groups.
Kyle Faulkner, Superintendent
Julie Ludwig-Landy, Secondary Principal
Amy St. Croix, Elementary Principal
Board of Education:
Patricia Aitcheson, President
William Farman, Vice President
Andrea Adsit
Jane Aikins
Stephen Dreizler
Suzanne Hunter
Christine Lingenfelter
Brianne Frizzell, School Business Manager
Kim Carpenter, Secretary to Superintendent/District Clerk
Rod Tidd, Head Mechanic
Anne Remington, Cook Manager
Darin Trickey, Head Custodian
ACS Alma Mater
Let’s join in song to the school that we love
She stands in her glory all others above
She hopes for the victory
With courage she’ll fight
Let’s hold a torch for the Purple and White
Kyle Faulkner
Superintendent
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. The Board of Education and I want to thank
you for supporting the capital project as it will allow us to improve the overall condition of the
building and the bus garage. The vote total was a resounding message of community support for
Alexandria Central School and I thank you for that. As I am sure many of you know the capital
project process in New York State takes a great deal of time as there are many steps that need to
be followed by the district. The next step will be for our architect (King and King) to design and
finalize exactly what the project will entail. They should have the drawings completed by the end
of June and at that time we will submit the entire scope of the project to the State Education Department. We anticipate that it will take SED approximately 6 months to review and approve the
project. Once we have the approval from them the project will go out to bid. We are hoping that
we will start the project sometime in the late spring of 2016. I plan to keep everyone updated as
much as possible during regular Board of Education meetings. As always, however, if you have
any questions or concerns please give me a call or stop by the office at your convenience.
We gave a successful drug awareness presentation to our community on January 14th. I would
like to thank Patty Wagoner, Pam Monica, Stacy Linkroum, and Kevin Durr for organizing the program. Our goal was to make our community aware that Alexandria Bay is not immune to the drug
issue and that in order to prevent the problem from growing it is imperative that people get involved and do their part. All of our children are at risk regardless of their background and we
need to work together to ensure that they are adequately prepared to make good decisions that
will keep them on the right path. It is our hope that people realize that they can help the problem
by being vigilant and acting. If you see something that does not seem right, please call the police
and they will investigate. Alexandria Central will help in any way that we can.
We are in the process of building our budget for the 2015-2016 school year. Our goal is to preserve all programs for our students while being as fiscally responsible as possible. We are hoping
that the Governor finally realizes how much his Gap Elimination Adjustment has hurt schools
across New York State. Since its implementation several years ago, Alexandria Central has lost
over $2.5 million. Simply put, this cannot continue if we are going to provide our students with
the education that they need in order to be successful. We will be having a meeting for public input on the budget on February 10th at 7 pm. If you cannot make that meeting, but would like to
talk with me, please give me a call at the school.
Public Input Meeting—Budget
Auditorium
February 10 at 7:00pm
Julie Ludwig-Landy
High School Principal
Welcome to WINTER! We are quickly approaching the close of the first
semester. Since Parent-Teacher Conferences and the Thanksgiving Holiday we have done a lot in
the secondary school. Students have completed their first interim assessment. These assessments
happen several times a year and are intended to help teachers assess each student’s progress toward the standards in each content area. These assessments, completed in December assist in
planning areas for reteaching and skills to focus on to ensure each student is successful.
There were afterschool STEM sessions offered in December as well. Students were able to participate in an exploration of scientific inventions. More STEM sessions will be offered to our Junior High
students in early March. Parents, please watch for sign ups!
Weather has had an impact on some scheduled activities. We are working hard to reschedule
events, like the Winter Pep Rally, to ensure students are able to celebrate their accomplishments
and their class spirit! We also have plans for a Winter Carnival Day at the end of the semester.
Weather has also impacted our academic program. Students and teachers have been flexible with
two hour delays. When there are changes to the schedule, due to weather or Standards Days where
there is not a full schedule at ACS, it is important that our BOCES students attend their programming
when it is available. BOCES attendance is critical as many programs have attendance requirements
for certification. Daily attendance, at ACS and at BOCES, is crucial for student progress. Every time
a student misses class, while they may be able to make up the work if it is an excused absence, they
miss the discussion and activities that help to solidify understanding of the content.
We recently held an informational session regarding drugs and their presence in our community.
There was a fantastic turnout by parents, community members, several branches of local law enforcement and social services, as well as staff. In order to address and combat the problem of drugs
in our community, and help to ensure the safety of our students, we need to be armed with information. I thank everyone who attended the forum that was organized by our counseling support
team. We also offered sessions on drug awareness and skills for saying NO to our students in
grades 4-12. These presentations are available on our website.
During the last week in January some students will be taking Regents exams. During the January
administration school continues to operate as normal.
On February 6, our seniors will have the opportunity to participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The assessments that students will take (some math, some reading) will be used
in the Nation’s Report Card that is issued yearly. I have been coordinating with the team that will
come to administer the assessments to our seniors during periods 2, 3, and 4. Students will all earn
a certificate of community service and this is a nice addition to their resume!
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns - [email protected] We appreciate your continued support of your student and ACS.
Important Dates:
Winter Break: February 16-20
Standards Day-early dismissal: March 6
Spring Break: March 27-April 6
Amy St. Croix
Elementary Principal
January and February bring about exciting activities for our elementary students. We are beginning to practice for our upcoming musical, we are preparing for a day of winter activities, on January 30th, as we enjoy the ACS Winter Carnival, as well preparing for the celebration of the 100th day of school. I’d like to congratulate the following students for their roles in the upcoming ACS musical Shrek.
Shrek – Kyle Gorman
Fiona – Molly Aznoe
Donkey – Zach Patterson
Lord Farquaad – Gavin Taylor Pinocchio – Olivia Stine
Gingy – Emma Kearns
Dragon – Mecia Petersen, Karissa McIlrath & Morgan Weaver
Fairy Tale Creatures:
Sugar Plum Fairy – Kira Hollinger
Big Bad Wolf – Cameron Morgan Mad Hatter – Trenton Service
Fairy Godmother – Emily Massa Wicked Witch – Summer Williams Humpty Dumpty – Andrea Patterson
Papa Bear – Ian McIlrath Mama Bear – Nisa Rivera Baby Bear – Emmalee White
Ugly Duckling – Karoline Nelson Peter Pan – Colby Herrington White Rabbit – Mason Gorman
Tweedle Dee – Donovin Sweetland Shoemaker’s Elf – Kelsey Cullen
3 Pigs – Max Barnholdt, Logan Morrison, & Xandyr Brennan
Cameos:
Young Fiona – Olivia Adsit Teen Fiona – Makayla Witt Young Shrek – Elijah McIlrath
Mama Ogre – Bailey Rogers Papa Ogre – Trenton Service
King Harold – Donovin Sweetland Queen Lillian – Mackenzie Hyde
3 Blind Mice – Haley Heath, Kelsey Cullen & Emily Davis
Bluebird – Olivia Adsit (Thurs/Fri) and Makayla Witt (Sat matinee/Sat pm)
Ensemble:
Debbie Herne, Rachelle Johnson, Jacob Hunneyman, Stephanie Martin, Colby Burrows,
Grace Goerger, Sarah Shaffer, Vanessa Rushlow, Haylee Baker, Hayley Neuroth,
Lizzie Costello, Abigail Wolfe, Hallie Bain, Allie McIlrath, Sophia Williams, Jayden Travers,
Rainey McCauley, Emma-Lee Davis, Ashlee Ferency, Kierstyn Travers, Felicity Roberts,
Angelina Ciarfella, Joey Williams, Joseph Lopresti, Alexandria Perkins-Grimaldi
Please join our community and school in celebrating the musical talents of all the cast of Shrek, by attending the musical on March
12th, 13th and 14th.
As we move toward spring months, students in grades 3-8 will be taking the NYS Assessments in English Language Arts, Math, and
Science. Please note the dates, on the testing schedule, for these assessments. We encourage all students to attend school, on
time, rested, and well prepared to take the Assessments. Students have worked very, very hard at learning their grade level curriculum to excel on these assessments, please support them in having the best opportunity possible to be successful.
As the NYS Assessments approach us, many parents have inquired what they can do for their student(s), at home. In regard to math,
parents can work with their children focusing on math facts. Research shows that many students progress in mathematics, due to
solidifying their mathematical foundation, by being strong with their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. To support
your student in increasing their English Language Art skills, encourage your child to read to you each evening at home. The material
your child reads does not need to be school related. Reading orally strengthens your student’s reading comprehension skills, as well
as, improving their vocabulary for writing.
2014-2015 Elementary and Intermediate Level New York State Assessment Schedule
Test
Administration Date(s)
NYSESLAT - Speaking
Tuesday, April 14th – Friday, Math 15th
Grades 3-8 English Language Arts
Tuesday, April 14th – Thursday, April 16th
Grades 3-8 Mathematics
Wednesday, April 22nd, - Friday, April 24th
NYSESLAT – Listening, Reading and Writing
Monday, May 4th – Friday, May 15th
Grade 4 Science – Performance
Wednesday, May 20th – Friday, May 29th
Grade 4 Science – Written
Grade 4 Science – Written
Holiday Hayride
Mrs. Lynch’s Kindergarten class enjoyed a hayride in December. We even sang Christmas
carols as we rode through town. Thank you very much to Tom Petrie and Jeff Zimmer for
driving us. Students also received juice boxes and animal crackers from Dave Johnson at
Jreck Subs.
Layla Van Aken, Michaela Adsit, Alexis Rangnow
Christopher Gibbs and Jacob Graveline
Baron Ryder and Ty Stiefel
Marri Merrihew and Emma Parker
Hunter VanBrocklin and Brody Hilts
Abigail Boyanski and Jayleigh Horton
Kindergarten hayride continued…..
Madison Bradley, Makayla Wadsworth
and Mrs. Umstead
Santa Visits the Library
Students in grades Pre-K through
3rd were excited to be able to
spend some time with Santa Claus
in the Library prior to Christmas.
Santa read stories and asked
each student what they wanted
for Christmas.
Pictured at the right is Mrs.
Bearup with her morning Pre-K
class. Below is the entire first
grade class.
Eva Croll and Kamryn Beers
Second Grade Good Citizens
Mrs. Cullen, Mrs. Morgan, Mr. Hudon
This past Christmas, in lieu of exchanging gifts, the ACS second graders generously brought in to
school a large assortment of winter clothing accessories. These hats, mittens, gloves and
scarves were donated to the Alexandria Community Food Pantry located on Route 12 just past
the TI Bridge. The students were very excited to play a role in helping those in need in our
community. Families using the food pantry are also quite pleased to leave with an added bonus
to their food supplies! Kudos to these caring kids!
Row 1 bottom: Kaydence Rogers, Tarryn Pitts, Payton Bridenbaker and Jasmine Langridge
Row 2 River Costello, Landin Sanford, Brayton Bradley and Hunter Side
Row 3 Drusilla Kirkland, Collin Bogenschutz, Alexandria Filkins, Dylan Dickerson and Malin Beck
Row 4 Mason Savage, Derek Wagoner, Alana Lawrence, Owen Heath and Rylynn Bain
Row 5 Grace Davidson, Ella Porter, Janell Sutton, Sincerity Diange, Kali Barbrow and Faith Watson
Row 6 Michael Wise, Nathan Hoffmann, Diego Roberts, Brady Hyde, Aidan Hamblin and Madyson Booth
Row 7 Evan Sanford, Jake Aznoe, Laliah Benney, Gavan Sourwine, Sierra Fasshauer, Charlie Gorman, Jose` Rivera II and Ryan Hunter
Absent from photo: Cecil Velez and Hailey Renner
Teachers: Mrs. Cullen, Mrs. Morgan, Mr. Hudon
Kindergarten and 5th Grade Team Up!
5 graders in Mr. Plantz’s class got involved in some holiday spirit before Christmas Break! They
had the opportunity to share a Christmas picture book with Kindergarteners in Mrs. Plantz’s class.
First, the 5th grade students chose a Christmas picture book that they would like to read to the
younger students. Then, they practiced reading the book until they could read it fluently. Finally the 5th
graders got to share their book with the Kindergarteners. It was a great experience for the older and
younger students!
th
The Islander Drum Line made its debut this season showing up and making noise in support of
the home team. Back Row: Wesley Burgos, Scott
Diange, Dylan O’Connor, Mrs. Wiley (TI), Trenton
Service Front Row: Noah Ingerson (TI)
ACS Band members did their part to spread
some holiday cheer, performing Christmas solos
at the Big M in December. Front Row: Abigail
Wolfe, Cristofer Tidd, Dominic Tidd, Jacob Hunneyman. Back Row: An elderly gentleman who
more closely resembles Santa Claus every year.
During the Christmas holidays, several
members of the ACS faculty and staff
wrapped gifts at the Salmon Run Mall in
Watertown to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Pictured in the
photo are Kristie Hunter, Heather
Heath, Dawn VanCour, Mary Rose
Warneck (retired teacher), Lisa Tillman
and Patty Wagoner.
National Junior Honor Society Induction
Mrs. Martin ~ Advisor
The Sage Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society at Alexandria Central School inducted twenty-five new members and honored twelve current ninth grade members at the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Induction Ceremony this fall 2014. Alexandra Hansson, freshman member of the NJHS welcomed the families, administration, faculty
and students, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by freshman member, Taylor Hudon. Mrs. Ludwig-Landy, High
School Principal, congratulated the students and their parents on setting and achieving high standards.
The formal induction ceremony began with freshman member, Micheal Robinson, lighting the flame of knowledge.
Four fellow freshmen, Lindsey Bradley, Susie Q Erck, Kirsten Jensen and Garrett Wardell, continued by lighting the
candles of scholarship, service, leadership and character and reviewed each of the four qualities for the candidates.
Mrs. Ludwig-Landy and Mrs. Martin, NJHS Advisor, presented the new candidates with the proper insignia, membership cards and
certificates. Freshman member, Rachelle Johnson, administered the NJHS Pledge for the candidates. The current ninth grade
members were also presented with honor certificates in recognition of their continued scholarship and dedication.
The NJHS Chapter designates that any members of eight and ninth grades will be eligible for membership. NJHS members must
maintain an 88 overall average and participate in school and community service projects. Each Friday, the NJHS members collect
funds from faculty and staff for the “Denim Day Patrol”. The funds are donated to various community groups and organizations in
Alexandria Bay and Jefferson County. Student members also decorate the welcome display case and collect and organize Campbell’s Soup labels for Education. Many individuals also volunteer to participate in other school and community efforts such as FFA
Adopt-a-Highway, SHOV fundraisers, Community Clean-Up Day, church activities and PACE fundraisers.
New Inductees
First row :Serenity Neuroth,
Kailee Knight, Emma Lynch,
Marissa Ely, Emily Davis
Second row: Mackenzie Hyde,
Molli Hazelton, Erina Haddock,
Hannah Weller, Tatum Perry,
Gabrielle Connor, Kelsey Cullen,
Sarah Phaby, Chrystal Gray
Third row: Griffin Ferency, Colby
Herrington, Landon McCauley,
Colby Burrows, Chet Sourwine,
Payton Smith, Matt Ford
Fourth row: Mason Gorman, Ian
McIlrath, Dylan O’Connor
Missing: Katherine Denner
Current Members
First Row: Rachelle Johnson,
Kirsten Jensen, Susie Q Erck,
Lindsey Bradley, Taylor Hudon
Second Row: Alexandria
Hansson, Madison Hazelton,
Micheal Robinson, Garrett
Wardell, Gage Goerger, John
Slate
Standing: Dylan
Kernehan, Ben
Nelson, Kyle Gorman, Ryan
Tebo, Cameron Morgan,
Victoria Ciarfella, Katie
Markert, Mikaela Benny
Kneeling: Danny Gionet,
Emily Massa, Kira Hollinger,
Dean Swanson
Sitting: Sadie Moran, Hannah Lynch, Parker Garlock
NHS Supports the Salvation Red Kettle Drive
Mrs. Bresnahan ~Advisor
During the month of December, the Alexandria Central National Honor Society sponsored a Red Kettle Drive
at the Big M in Alexandria Bay. During the week long drive, the students raised $363.62. The money raised,
remains in the Alexandria Bay/Redwood community serving the people residing there. If a family is in need,
they are welcome to contact the Salvation Army, share with the organization their need and that they live in
the Alex Bay/Redwood area, and the funds would be distributed through their agency. The Red Kettle Campaign originated in the San Francisco area in order to feed the hungry during the holiday season. Today, the
campaign continues only during the holiday season through-out the country. At this time, all funding for the
organization is realized. Therefore, it is through the public’s contributions to the Salvation Army’s kettles that
the organization is able to continue its year-round efforts at helping those who would otherwise be forgotten.
Thank you to all for participating and donating!
THE GHOST GAZETTE
Check out our Web site!
It’s under “quick links” on the school homepage.
You can also find our stories in the Thousand Islands Sun.
In this issue of The Ghost Gazette you can find:
 Point Counter-Point: Social Media
 Interview with Mrs. Cranker
 Girls’ JV player of the month: Macey Delosh
 Boys’ JV player of the month: Brendon Hunter
 Bowler of the Month: Madison Hazelton
 Select Choir Mashup
 The Littles: Bianca Rice and Dominick Cappuccetti
 STEAM Collaboration
 Original ACS Poetry
National French Week & Other French Club Activities
Article by Kailee Knight
The ACS French Club has visited Ottawa for their yearly trip in the past, but this year we are
hoping to go to Montréal. Our cookie dough fundraiser plays a large role in making this possible. We would like to thank everyone who participated in helping us work towards our goal
with this fundraiser.
Every year in early November, ACS celebrates National French Week. French Club members
made t-shirts for blue, white, and red day and students in grades 7-12 participated in after
school activities such as an Eiffel Tower building contest and a French language and culture scavenger hunt.
Congratulations to the winners of the Eiffel tower building contest and the scavenger hunt:
Most authentic: Daniel Bar ney, Samuel Felicia, and Shawn Mason
Best Theme: Colby Bur r ows, Mason Gor man, and Deegan Shaffer
Most Creative: Dylan Matice and Vanessa Rushlow
1st place scavenger hunt: Logan Cor r ea, Br andon Davis, Andr ew Hansen, and Payton Smith
2nd place scavenger hunt: Molli Hazelton, Br ennan Hemphill, and Kailee Knight
3rd place scavenger hunt: Wesley Bur gos and Samuel Felicia
4th place scavenger hunt: J enna Leshkevich
We would like to thank Mrs. Ludwig-Landy and all of the teachers, staff members, and students of ACS that
helped make National French Week fun and successful!
2014-2015 French Club Officers:
Advisors: Mrs. Turgeon and Ms. Messenger
President: Zachary Patterson
Vice President: Gabrielle Connor
Treasurer: Dylan O’Connor
Secretary: Kailee Knight
Music Department News!!!
~ Mrs. Taylor ~
Coming soon to the ACS
THEATRE……
March 12, 13, 14
at 7:00pm
March 14
2:00pm matinee
Admission is $6 for all seats, and tickets will be available in advance or at the door or by calling 315-777-7877. Tickets
will be available 2 weeks prior to opening night, starting February 26th. There will also be a “Fairy Tale Tea” where children
can purchase a ticket that includes admission to the show, cookies and juice (“tea”) with the lead cast of Shrek, autographs, Shrek ears, and a 5x7 photo of the characters of their choice! Choose from Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Lord Farquaad,
Pinocchio, Dragon, Fairy Godmother, Sugar Plum Fairy, the 3 Pigs, the 3 Bears, Peter Pan, Humpty Dumpty, the Mad Hatter, the Shoe Maker’s Elf, the Ugly Duckling, Tweedle Dee, the White Rabbit, the Big Bad Wolf and the Wicked Witch!
Tickets will be $15 and only sold in advance (by Thursday, March 12th.) Limited timing and seating allows us to only sell
100 tickets, so get them FAST!
Other news from
Mrs. Taylor…
The ACS Theatre Class (pictured to the right) put on a show on Jan.
28th called “School Daze” about the thinkings of teens on the first day of
middle school! They also performed monologue and dialogue scenes
that they had prepared during the last 20 weeks for a grade in class and
did a wonderful job! The show was the culminating project for the semester. This was the first time Mrs. Taylor has taught Theatre in her 18 years
at ACS. It is a new elective and was well received by the students in the
class! Pictured are (top) Zach Taylor, Deegan Shaffer, Alex DeLavergne.
(Middle) Kelsey Cullen, Kira Hollinger, Mason Gorman, Rachelle Johnson, Emily Thomas. (Front) Lacey Thomas, Emily Davis, Colby Burrows,
Jacob Hunneyman & Colby Herrington.
ACS sent 4 students to Senior High Bi-County at Harrisville Central School on Saturday, January 24 th. Bailey Rogers,
Kira Hollinger, Debbi Hearne, and Emily Massa represented ACS singing pieces such as “You Raise Me Up,” “Earth
Song,” “Soon-ah Will Be Done,” and “Baba Yetu.” The concert went well and our ACS students made us proud! Also at BiCounty for Band was 6th grader Abigail Wolfe!
The annual Talent Show, hosted by Select Choir on January 17th, was a hit as usual! 9 high school acts and 4 elementary acts had the judges’ heads swimming with talented performers! Top honors went to Bailey Rogers, 2 nd place to Gavin
Taylor & Karissa McIlrath, and 3rd to Emily Massa! In elementary, Andrea Patterson took first with a trio of Becca Davis,
Lizzie Costello and Cherica Smith taking second. A good time was had by all!
FFA News ~ Mr. Campany
The Alex Bay FFA has had a very busy and enjoyable winter season so far. They have wrapped up a very successful fruit sale. The profits generated help to pay for our many chapter activities: such as winter camp, refreshments, our banquet, and many of our supplies. So THANK YOU to all who supported our fundraiser. The Chapter did a little Christmas decorating outside of school- near the sign board and the Balsam Fir tree in the courtyard. The Chapter had a great after school Christmas party with food, games, and entertainment. The Chapter also
sent some members to the Redwood Grange to update them on what the chapter has been up to.
Currently, the Chapter is gearing up for a whole series of activities: the Alex Bay Ice Fishing Derby breakfast,
FFA week in February, sponsoring a team in the Winter Carnival Volleyball tournament, Winter Weekend at Camp Oswegatchie,
and leadership contests. There is a little bit of something for everyone. The contests consist of: employment interview, prepared
speaking, extemporaneous speaking, creed speaking, parliamentary procedure, people in agriculture, and agricultural issues. Several students are prepping now for the first round of competition in February.
A group attended the Grange dinner meeting
Alex Swanson helped
decorate the tree in the
school courtyard.
Hello! My name is Tim Neuroth. I am a resident of Hammond, NY
and have lived there most of my life. My beautiful wife and I have
two biological college-age kids and are second parents to five former
International Exchange Students from various parts of the world. I
milk cows for a living, and have for the majority of my working years.
Having grown up on a dairy farm, farming is in my blood, and always
will be.
I am also a student. Following the acquisition of my BA in Psychology from SUNY Potsdam, I am currently pursuing an MS Ed. in
School Counseling from The University of the Southwest in Hobbs,
New Mexico (obviously an online degree). If all goes well, I will complete my degree August 2015.
As an aspiring School Counselor, I am completing my required internship under the supervision of Mr. Durr and Mrs. Wagoner. In the
past, I have served as a substitute teacher here at Alexandria Central and have truly enjoyed interacting with the students and staff
here. From the very beginning of my Master’s degree program, ACS
was at the top of my list of schools for my internship.
My greatest desire is to help students succeed in life. And, under
the supervision of Mr. Durr and Mrs. Wagoner, I will do all I can to
help ACS students do just that! To that end, from now through the
end of May I will have regular office hours (in the Distance Learning
Room-230) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00-4:00 and will be
available Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons by appointment. If there is EVER ANYTHING I can do to be of assistance,
please feel free to contact me.
With much anticipation,
Tim Neuroth, School Counselor Intern
Alexandria Central School
315-482-9971 ext. 2301
[email protected]
Pictured above are some of members that travelled to the
national FFA convention. They gave a report of the trip to the
Board of Education.
Teen Brain Development and Alcohol
Mrs.Eberle

A person who starts drinking at the legal age of
21 has only a 7% chance of becoming addicted.

Children who begin drinking at age 13 have a
45% chance of becoming alcohol dependent.

Most parents talk to their kids about drinking
two years too late.
Alcohol affects a teen brain differently than an adult brain
by greatly increasing the risk of addiction. Alcohol use can
cause young people to develop social problems, exercise
poor judgment, get into trouble, do poorly in school and experience failure in achieving lifelong goals. To compound
the problem, many parents underestimate the extent of teen
drinking and its negative consequences. A national survey
found that 31% percent of youths who said they had been
drunk were said by their parents to be nondrinkers. Others
may view underage drinking as inevitable, but it is not.
To be alcohol-free, a teen needs the active involvement and
help of a parent. All children need help from their parents to
guide them through their teenage years. Staying bonded to
parents is critical if youth are to emerge from their teens as
healthy, safe, alcohol-responsible adults.
Throughout the school year, Alexandria Central raises money and earns classroom supplies by collecting Box Tops for
Education (BTFE) and Campbell’s Labels for Education (CLFE). Our school earns 10 cents for each box top it collects.
The amount may seem small, but it all adds up. Just last year, we earned $1249.80— that’s a lot of box tops!
PACE is sponsoring a contest during January 20-February 13 and will be awarding the class that brings in the
most box tops and Campbell’s labels with a popcorn party! Please put box tops and labels in a baggie and send
them to school with your child. Please remember write your child’s name and the teacher’s name on the bag so
their classroom receives credit . Even after the contest is over, we still will continue to collect both the box tops
and labels.
Box Tops for Education can be found on many grocery and household items. Some
examples include: Ziploc Bags, Kleenex Tissues, and almost all General Mills products. New companies are participating every year. All you need to do is tear off the
BTFE and send them to school with your child. BTFE can be taken to the Elementary
or High School offices, or given to your child’s classroom teacher or to Mrs. Murphy.
Please be aware that BTFE do have expiration dates. So please get the BTFE to
school as quickly as possible. Every year for the past 9 years, the BTFE Program has
helped us raise over $1,000 per year! These funds are used to help support a wide
variety of school activities.
Campbell's Labels for Education is another great program at ACS. Please collect
the labels and send them in the following the same guidelines as the box tops. Once
again, Campbell’s labels can be found on countless products and new companies are
adding them every year—they are on more than just soup. Please don't worry about
cutting them our perfectly. CLFE are “cashed in” for classroom supplies. CLFE can
look a lot of different ways. Below are some common examples.
To learn more about this program and view a complete list of
participating products visit the following websites:
http://www.boxtops4education.com
http://www.labelsforeducation.com
Thank you for your support, Mrs. Murphy
If you shop at Sam’s Club,
many products have Bonus
Box tops for Education and
they look like the picture
above.
School Counseling News
Kevin Durr
9-12 School Counselor
E-mail: [email protected]
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
SENIORS – CLASS OF 2015
Scholarship Applications - There are many scholarship applications that are available for seniors
who will be attending a 4-year college, 2-year college, or technical/trade school in the fall of 2015.
General guidelines for scholarships:
 All available scholarship applications are posted on the 9-12 Counselor webpage as they become
available. In addition to them being presented to students in classrooms, they are also available
on the web for parents and students to download. To access the download area from the school
webpage, click on Students and Parents -> College, SAT ACT & Scholarship Information -> Scholarship Application Downloads

Students are reminded to review the criteria for the scholarship before applying, and to apply for
as many as possible if they meet the criteria!

Students must be aware of deadlines and when the applications are due to the organization
(unless otherwise noted, they are due to Mr. Durr). A deadline means that the scholarship must be
at the sponsoring organization’s office by that date, so please keep in mind mail delivery times.

Students should request letters of recommendations from their teachers, and then request an official copy of their high school transcript.

Please be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for your college
bound student. I suggest doing this as soon as possible! www.fafsa.ed.gov is the correct name of
the website, and there is no cost to do this. Need some help? Try www.startheregetthere.org to
get started!

FAFSA Challenge! Have your son or daughter take a screen shot of the FAFSA completion sheet
and email it to me. The school with the highest completion percentage in our area will be rewarded with iTunes gift cards for each student!
The following are the most recent scholarships that are available to seniors who meet the
eligibility/criteria:
Jefferson Community College Freshman Scholarships:
Students are required to file the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 to be
considered for the JCC scholarships. There are a variety of scholarships available for students by the
JCC foundation. Scholarships are due to JCC by April 6, 2015. Scholarships from JCC include:
Merit Scholarships (including the Jefferson-CAN scholarship for full tuition for students in the top 15%
of their class), General Scholarships, Organizational Scholarships.
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2015 NYWEA Major Scholarship Application
The New York Water Environment Association is offering a 4 year scholarship worth $10,000 for a student going into a major with a
focus on environmental issues. Due February 10, 2015
Alpha Delta Kappa Education Scholarship
Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship for students who are going into the field of education. Student must have an 85 average or higher.
Application is due March 31, 2015.
Association Of Fire Districts of NYS
Scholarship for a student that is related to a firefighter, is a firefighter, or an explorer and also a current paid member in good standing in of the Association of Fire Districts of NYS. Due March 7 2015.
AXA Scholarship
AXA Achievement Scholarship for students who are active in their community, participated in community projects, and overcome
personal challenges. Application due Feb 1, 2015
Buick Achievers Scholarship
Scholarship for students who have overcome many obstacles to better themselves and their community that will be majoring in engineering, technology, design and business. Application due February 27, 2015.
CSEA Local 823 Scholarship
Scholarship for a student who has a parent or guardian that is a member of the CSEA Local 823. Due April 1.
DKG Scholarship for Women in Education
Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship application for female students pursuing a career in education. Due April 10, 2015.
Masonic Lodge Scholarship
Masonic Lodge Scholarship, preference given to students who have a relative that is a member, but open to any student. Due May
31.
New York State Retired Teacher's Association Scholarship
Scholarship for students entering into the education field. Due March 13, 2015.
North Country Goes Green Irish Festival Scholarship
Scholarship ($1000) for any student attending college or vocational/technical programs. Students who have volunteered in the Irish
Festival get first priority for the scholarship. Deadline: March 30.
Northern Federal Credit Union Scholarship
Scholarship from Northern Federal Credit Union. Student must be a member of the credit union to apply. Application due by January 31.
NYWEA Scholarship
Scholarship for students who have family who are NYWEA members. Due Feb 10, 2015
State Farm Scholarship
Scholarship for students who demonstrate financial need. Up to 50 scholarships available. Due March 2, 2015
ORATORICAL CONTEST
Congratulations to all that participated in the contest! Dylan Kernehan will now be competing at the Zone level in February. Once
again, Alexandria Central was well represented in this event with 7 participants this year!
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JUNIORS – CLASS OF 2016
January starts academic advisement and I will be meeting individually with juniors to plan their courses for next year. After our
meetings, I will send home (via email or paper copy) a course request sheet, outlining the courses they have selected to take for
their senior year. Please feel free to call me and set up a meeting if you would like to further discuss academic options for son or
daughter’s senior year.
There are scholarships available for Juniors to apply for! Please look under College, ACT/SAT, and Scholarship Information under Students & Parents on our website for more information.
HIGHER EDUCATION PLANNING NIGHT – Wednesday March 4th
I will be hosting a Higher Education Planning Night on Wednesday, March 4th at 6:30 PM in the high school auditorium. I will be
discussing how to financially plan for college, selecting a post-secondary institution, timelines and deadlines for colleges, and
financial aid. There will also be an interactive question and answer session. This event is geared specifically towards parents of
juniors.
SOPHOMORES – CLASS OF 2017
BOCES / JCC VISITATION DAY
All Sophomores will visit the Jefferson Technical Center on Wednesday, February 11th to visit programs that BOCES has
to offer. Many programs offer enough training to where students can exit high school with skills to gain meaningful employment, and some programs offer embedded college credit so that a student may get a jumpstart on their vocational
program in college. After the BOCES visit, students will take a field trip to Jefferson Community College for a presentation and lunch on campus. Students will hear presentations about educational programs are offered at Jefferson.
CAREER DAY 2015
This event will be on March 24 at Thousand Islands High School. This is a joint effort of the small school consortium: LaFargeville, Alexandria, Thousand Islands, Sackets Harbor, Belleville-Henderson, and Lyme. Together, we have several career speakers that will be speaking to students to share their knowledge and experience. Students will be selecting up to three speakers to
hear from and will be able to attend two of their three choices for presentations. More information to follow!
FRESHMAN AND UP
Please think about how valuable your education is. As high school freshmen, there are so many opportunities to get involved in –
please see Mr. Durr about how you can get involved! There are activities, clubs, volunteer experiences. Interested in a summer
program? There will be a MASH Camp upcoming for students interested in health careers! Also look for more information later
this year about STEM camps.
UPCOMING EXAMS
Please visit our school website at:
www.alexandriacentral.org
SAT EXAM – register on www.collegeboard.com
TEST DATE
March 14, 2015
May 2, 2015
June 6, 2015
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
February 13, 2015
April 6, 2015
May 8, 2015
To view:

our newsletters in color (go to: “Quick
Links”; click on “ACS Newsletter”)

our sports schedules (go to: “Quick
Links”; click on “Athletic Schedules”)

our calendar (located at the top of our
home page)
ACT EXAM – register on www.actstudent.org
TEST DATE
April 18, 2015
June 13, 2015
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
March 13, 2015
May 8, 2015