Vestal`s Class of 2015 - Vestal Central School District

Published for Vestal Central School District parents, students, community and staff
Vestal’s Class of 2015
T
“
hese past few years have begun to pave
the roadway for the rest of our lives.”
~ Yousuf Shah, Valedictorian
Vestal High School Class of 2015
Valedictorian Yousuf Shah addressed his 282
fellow graduates in the Binghamton University
Events Center on June 27 and encouraged them to
step up as global citizens to help break the cycle
of poverty in less advantaged countries around
the world. “We may have different goals, we may
have different beliefs, we may have different hair
color or eye color or skin color, we may see the
dress as blue and black or white and gold, but,
despite these differences, we are all human beings
who have ambitions and dreams,” he told them.
AUGUST 2015
Vestal has three Odyssey of the
Mind NYS Championship Teams
I
t was a trifecta for the Vestal Central School District
– three schools have teams who won their division’s
problem in the New York State Odyssey of the Mind
championship on April 11, 2015. These three teams from
African Road Elementary, Clayton Avenue Elementary
and Vestal Middle Schools competed in the World Finals
May 20 - 24 at Michigan State University.
“Odyssey of the Mind is a creative, problem-solving
competition that allows students to showcase and celebrate
such diverse talents as music, dance, acting, comedy,
writing and engineering,” said Scott Smith, a math teacher
at the Vestal Middle School who also coordinates the
district’s participation in Odyssey of the Mind. “One great
part of the program is that students of all ages have the
opportunity to join a team… This year Vestal had teams
Continued on page 4
from the elementary, middle and high school levels
that competed at regionals and advanced to states. No
Graduation Photos
other program in the schools accommodates such a
ue to space constrictions in this newsletter, a slide- diverse group of ages.”
show featuring 2015 Graduation photos can be
Coach of the African Road Elementary team,
found on the High School page of the district website.
Siobhan Davey, noticed how much the students
Congratulations to Yousuf Shah and Noor Rehman,
grew in confidence from participating in Odyssey
valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. We wish
of the Mind. “They learned the power of teamwork
them and each Vestal High School Class of 2015
and how to respond to adversity at the regional
graduate a wonderful journey as they head out into
competition,” said Davey. “They used this confidence
the world.
to win the NYS tournament. We are all so proud of
them.”
2015 Salutatorian Noor Rehman with
D
Valedictorian Yousuf Shah.
Noor has been accepted
into a research program
to study biofilms at
Binghamton University,
where she will major in
Biology, while Yousuf
will attend Cornell
University, majoring
in Chemistry.
Clayton Avenue’s Dream Team worked very hard,
too, said one of the coaches, Melissa Klinko, who
indicated that the students sacrificed many nights and
weekends to perfect their presentation. “The longterm skit that they performed was full of humor, and
these kids really know how to put on a performance
for a crowd,” said Klinko. “The teamwork and
skills that the team members have displayed this
year has been amazing and inspiring!”
Continued on page 5
Challenge
Dates to Remember:
Update on AP Scholars article
VMS Sixth-Grade Orientation
In the March 2015 edition of the “Look at Us,” we inadvertently left out several of our students who were designated
as AP Scholars due to their exceptional achievement on the
college-level Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Please excuse us for not recognizing the following AP Scholars:
August 31, 9 - 11 a.m. or 1 - 3 p.m.
Vestal Middle School
VHS Student Orientation/Scheds.
Gr. 12: Sept. 1, 8 - 9 a.m. or 7 - 8 p.m.
Grs. 10 & 11: Sept. 2, 8 - 11 a.m.
Gr. 9: Sept. 3, 8:45 - 10:15 a.m.
Vestal High School
Universal Pre-K Orientation
Jewish Community Center
Sept. 8, 7 p.m. (parents)
Sept. 9, 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. (students)
Cub Care Children’s Center
Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m. (parents)
Sept. 9, 9 a.m. & 1 p.m. (students)
First Day of School
September 9, 2015
Kindergarten Orientation
9:30 - 11 a.m., September 9, 2015
Elementary Schools
These are posted on the
website for students in
Grades K - 8. Navigate
to the home page of
your child’s school and
look under the News
section (below the
slideshow) for the link
that reads “Classroom
Supply Lists.”
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• John Carosella • Michelle Chisdak*
• David Gasper*
• Katyanna Guthrie
• Jacob King
• Warren Chan
• Dakota Desantis*
• Antanina Greene*
• Jennifer Harris
*Class of 2014
Fire Inspection/AHERA Reports
Superintendent’s Conference Day
September 8, 2015
Classroom Supply
Lists for 2015 - 16
A
The Annual Fire Inspection Reports were completed in May
2015, and the Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act
(AHERA) semi-annual inspection was completed in June 2015.
These, along with the AHERA master plan, are available for
review in the Vestal Central School District’s administration
building, 201 Main Street, Vestal, New York.
For more information, please contact Joseph Loretz at 607757-2231/[email protected].
Free Dental Care
rea dentists are pleased to once again offer free dental care to families
in need with no money, job, means of welfare health care or health
insurance during the 20th Annual Doctors with a Heart Day on
September 19, 2015. Those with urgent dental needs are invited to visit
one of the following offices between 8 a.m. - noon for free dental care.
Progressive Dental ● 565 Hooper Road (754-2273)
1113 Route 11, Kirkwood (722-5464) ● 101 S. Broad Street, Norwich (334-8666)
57 Public Ave., Montrose, PA (570-278-1186)
Marusich & Conti Dental Office ● 190 Main Street, Johnson City (797-1310)
Support
Vestal Inducts Two into 2015 Hall of Fame
T
wo very different women were inducted into the
2015 Vestal Hall of Fame on May 7, 2015. One, a
young mother facing a devastating diagnosis with not
only dignity and grace, but with an amazing empathy
for other women and their families facing the same
challenge. The other, a young woman with poise beyond
her years who went out, challenged the status quo, and
continues to make a difference. This year, the Vestal Hall
of Fame Committee was pleased to induct Samara Barend,
Class of 1995, as well as posthumously induct the late
Traci (Shiner) Gibson.
Ms. Barend,
introduced
by her former
cross country
and track coach,
David Weston,
was nominated
for her many
accomplishments
in improving the
infrastructure and
economy of our communities.
Ms. Sherwood shared her expertise with students in
Project Lead the Way engineering classes. She also
discussed with enthusiasm her current directorship
of the Center for Technology & Innovation, which
is located in downtown Binghamton.
Speaking to physical education classes, Eric
Remza offered an enlightening perspective on his
profession of high-altitude mountaineering, and the
unique opportunities it has afforded him to
pursue his life goals. He also emphasized
the importance of having a “Plan B” when
contemplating a career. At some point,
Remza acknowledged, he will be unable
to physically continue his current job. He
concluded by reminding them to do what
they love. If they can succeed in that, he
said, “You never have to work a day in
your life.”
(Top) Student Government members
Cassie Canino, Rachel Kosty and Emma
Wenzinger catch up with Samara Barend
after her presentation.
(Right) Traci’s sons Shane, Jesse and
Nathan accepted her Hall of Fame
plaque on her behalf. With their father,
Brian Gibson, and grandparents, Mary
and Gordon Shiner.
(Inset) 2015 Vestal Hall of Fame
Inductee Traci (Shiner) Gibson
The day began as Barend, along with Traci Gibson’s
parents, Gordon and Mary Shiner, and past Hall of Fame
Inductees Eric Remza (2012) and Susan Sherwood
(1996) visited Vestal High School to speak to students in
various classes.
Samara shared her key lessons for when you are starting
out in a career with Participation in Government
students. These included: pave your own path, get a
niche and be bold in your goals.
The evening itself
was bittersweet.
Samara Barend’s
coach, David Weston,
and her best friend,
Melani (Williamson)
Kaschak, described
an indomitable spirit
nurtured by a strong
and loving father. The
Shiners talked of a
daughter who avoided
the spotlight, but did what
she had to do to give back
to a community that supported her after a diagnosis
of breast cancer.
When she came to the podium, Barend gave credit
not only to her father and friends, but also to the
school that helped form her. “Vestal is pretty
unique,” she said. “It’s so diverse, and supports
different ideas.”
Continued on page 4
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Foster
Class of 2015 continued from cover
Putting their high school years into context, Shah
commented that four years ago most of them did not
know what they wanted to be or what they wanted to
achieve. High school has clarified that for many of
them. He also thanked those who helped steer him and
his class through these years, including administrators,
teachers, counselors and their parents. “All of us have
experienced successes and failures alike in these past
few years. Yet, we forget to thank the people who have
worked behind the scenes, helping us achieve excellence
and placing us back on our feet after we failed.”
This year, 47 percent of graduating seniors earned
a weighted average of 90 or better. Congratulations
to every Class of 2015 graduate, as well as to these
students who earned academic distinction:
Top 10 Students: Yousuf Shah (valedictorian),
Noor Rehman (salutatorian), Emma Wenzinger, Kari
Stromhaug, Ishika Kumbhakar, Anika Kumbhakar,
Tomasina Leska, Ethan Pan, Benjamin Krauss and
Christopher Murphy.
These students pursued International Baccalaureate
Diplomas: Samuel Barnum, Zoe Barton, Elizabeth
DoBell, Katyanna Guthrie, Krishna Kaneria, Anika
Kumbhakar, Ishika Kumbhakar, Khansa Mahum, Konya
Margai, Helen Merriwether, Ethan Pan, Saarav Patel,
Viktoria Rauzin, Kari Stromhaug and Sara Zuwiyya.
Vestal’s Scholar Certificate candidates included
IB Diploma candidates and these students:
Benjamin Barr, Ashley Bender, Katrina Blayda, John
Carosella, Warren Chan, Vivian Cheng, Amanda
Collins, Sarah Duran, David Feyder Reuveni, Jonathan
Fosbury, Lorinda Haynes, Nicole Jennings, Walter
Keyes, Sarah Kostek, Benjamin Krauss, Kolby
Kuratnick, Tomasina Leska, Clare Maloney, Molly
Myers, Badal Patel, Ryan Pavelski, Noah Salomons,
Yousuf Shah, Megan Steinmetz, Katarina Tibensky,
Gavin Tice, Matthew Van Gorden, Shelley Warner,
Melissa Wolff and Jeffrey Zhou.
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We would also like to recognize our graduates who
have forged their own unique path with opportunities
at Broome-Tioga BOCES:
Evertech Graduates: Rocco Battista (CAD Art Achievement, BOCES Teacher Association &
Lauren Campbell Memorial Awards recipient),
Wayne Brown (Welding), John Case (Electricity),
Mark Cave (Video Production), Julie Hooker
(Business Management & Computer Careers - Triple
“C” & Matt Juser Memorial Awards recipient),
Vanessa King (Business Management & Computer
Careers), Shannon McSain (Health Science - Senator
Libous Student Community Service Award), Dylan
Pulaski (Electricity) and Wyatt Weeks (Electricity).
New Visions Graduates: Ellen Armstrong
and Kelsey Morgan (Business); Kurt Starner
(Engineering); Sara Angulas, Melissa Driggs, Julie
Kotasek, Molly Myers, Grant Nedlik, Angela Parisi,
Kacie Pierce, Paige Santelli and Allison Sinicki
(Health Careers Academy); Alexandra Carlin and
Emma Wenzinger (Law/Government).
2015 Hall of Fame Inductees
continued from page 3
Gordon and Mary Shiner thanked everyone for this
honor on their daughter’s behalf and described how
her legacy continues through Traci’s Hope. To date,
the organization has assisted 485 women, with over
$360,000 distributed to those facing a breast cancer
diagnosis. They reiterated Traci’s intentions in beginning the non-profit, “She gave them hope, and she let
them know that somebody cares.”
This article ends with a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt
that Samara Barend used in her speech, and it’s a
sentiment that describes both of the 2015 Hall of Fame
Inductees: “A woman is like a teabag; you never know
Invest
Odyssey continued from cover
Six of the seven members of the Vestal Middle
School “Pandora’s Box” team are returning
Odyssey veterans, and their combined years
of experience in the program has been a huge
asset this year according to one of their coaches,
Ann Pellegrino. “They have also shown great
teamwork, supporting each other and making great
use of each person’s unique talents and interests,”
said Pellegrino.
This is the second year in a row that Vestal has
sent teams to the World finals, and Smith feels that
a large part of this is due to a very active group
of parents and students who have cooperated
together, cheered one another on and provided
support and comradery. “All of the students,
coaches and parents are excited at the opportunity
to represent Vestal at the World finals. They are
an outstanding group of young people who have
truly earned this honor through their intelligence,
creativity and determination.”
Clayton Avenue students, Emily Yetsko, Alyssa Starr, Madeline
Partell, Caden DellaPenta, Rhiannon Correll, Gabrielle Horn and
Kylie Klinko pose for a team photo after the regional Odyssey of
the Mind competition. Their “Experiencing Technical Difficulties”
team was coached by Jamie Heron-Starr and Melissa Klinko.
A fourth team from Vestal High School Team 3/Pandora’s Box, also won its division
in the regional competition and competed
in the New York State championship.
The Vestal Middle School “Pandora’s Box” team after the NYS championship.
Theo Donacik, Katharina Hirschi, Aidan Elie, Dora Donacik, Tina Zheng,
Alexander DoBell and Jack Zhou were coached by Jeff Donacik and Ann Pellegrino.
Here are results from the World Finals:
• African Road Elementary’s Runaway Train team finished
tenth out of 44.
• Clayton Avenue Elementary’s team finished eleventh
out of 32 in solving the “Experiencing Technical
Difficulties” problem.
• Vestal Middle School’s Pandora’s Box team finished
twenty-fifth out of 42.
African Road’s Runaway Train team celebrate after their
NYS Odyssey of the Mind win: Amelia Davey, Saahil
Khatkhate, Raveena Rai, Kara Dhakal, Delaney Schoenfeldt
(Vestal Hills) and Jessica Elie. With coach Siobhan Davey.
“Our Vestal teams did an outstanding job, and the students
showed a lot of spirit, teamwork and creativity as they made
Vestal proud,” said Vestal Schools’ Odyssey of the Mind
facilitator Scott Smith on their return from Michigan.
Next year’s World Finals are May 25 - 28, 2016, at Iowa
State University.
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Challenge
Vestal’s Master Teacher ranks increase
V
estal Central School District saw four more teachers
earn the Master Teacher designation through the New
York State program that sets high standards for teachers
who make the commitment to mentor their colleagues.
All Vestal High School teachers, Danette Berry (Biology),
Stephanie Lewis (Chemistry), Tracy Suggs (Chemistry) and
Rosanne Van Wie (Chemistry) joined last year’s first class
of Vestal Master Teachers.
Vestal’s newest
Master Teachers
are, from left
to right,
Rosanne
Van Wie,
Danette Berry,
Tracy Suggs and
Stephanie Lewis.
“I feel excited, appreciative and humbled on being selected
as a Master Teacher,” said Berry, who teaches biology at
Vestal High School.
Stephanie Lewis was also honored to be selected for the
Master Teacher program. “I look forward to networking
with other STEM professionals to develop and share
expertise in chemistry and teaching,” she commented.
“The model of teachers teaching teachers is foundational for
the Master Teacher Program,” said Suggs, chemistry department chair. “It will be tremendously beneficial to be able
to explore other STEM subjects and look for ways to make
connections and find applications of the chemistry I teach.”
Regents Chemistry and Forensic Science teacher Rosanne
Van Wie also looks at the benefit for her students. “I hope
to bring new ideas and challenging strategies back to
my classroom and enrich the science education of all my
students.”
Congratulations to all. They join Cathy Jeremko and
Colleen Schultz at Vestal Middle School and colleague
Peter Klimas at Vestal High School who were designated
New York State Master Teachers last year. For more
information on this program, visit the SUNY website at
www.suny.edu/Master Teacher.
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“Community 101”
W
e could hardly keep up with our students and
staff as they stepped up to complete many
altruistic projects before the end of the school year.
African Road Elementary
In March and April, African Road’s Student
Council coordinated a Ronald McDonald House
drive. Students and staff could purchase ARE
T-shirts and all of the proceeds, $307, were donated
to the Ronald McDonald House. In addition, the
school collected household items, office supplies,
toys, games, toiletries and food for the Ronald
McDonald House in Syracuse.
On June 5, the school hosted a “Walk Your Dog to
School” Day. Students solicited sponsor donations
from friends and
family to raise
money for local pet
shelters. This event
was in conjunction
with a schoolwide
Pet Drive to collect
pet food and other
supplies for the
shelters.
Laurel and Calla French walked their
dog, Sadie, to school for a good cause.
Clayton Avenue Elementary
Students and their families donated over 550 cans
for the district-wide “We Are One” Food Drive
coordinated by Vestal School Counselors. Staff
also donated a total of 136 food items to benefit
CHOW, but it was not enough to keep the students
from winning the school-wide challenge. Fifteen
staff members, including Principal Bruce and
School Counselor Colleen Ferratella, were good
sports in allowing several students to pie them
during an assembly on February 27.
Glenwood Elementary
Glenwood students and their families stepped
up for the Relay For Life on May 16 and 17,
partnering with Tioga Hills Elementary to form
“Team Gabby’s Golden Angels” in honor of Gabby
Support
Laubisch, sister of a student at Tioga Hills and the
granddaughter of
Glenwood school
nurse, Mrs. Rhodes.
Altogether, the team
raised $4,560 for the
American Cancer
Society. In addition,
“Team 38 Special,”
which was comprised
of many Glenwood
families, raised another
$12,200!
Gretchen Laubisch, her parents, Tim and Robin Rhodes, and
children, Lucas and Gabriella, came to a Glenwood Gathering
on June 5 to thank everyone for supporting Team Gabby.
During the last few weeks of school, students in the
fifth-grade Animal Care Club did not forget their
devotion to our furry friends. They sponsored a
schoolwide “Pull-It for Pets” drive to benefit The
Humane Society of Binghamton. From May 26 - June
2, the club collected over $360. Contributing donors
had their choice of zipper pulls handmade by the fifthgraders as a “thank you” and also wrote their names
on a paper zipper pull displayed in the main hallway
in between poster-sized dog and cat houses displaying
the photos of homeless pets. As in previous years,
students could vote for their favorite pet.
Tioga Hills Elementary
In addition to their efforts for Team Gabby leading
up to the Relay For Life (See Glenwood Elementary,
above.), Tioga Hills students again participated in
the Jump Rope for Heart. Students interested in
supporting this fundraiser incorporated it into their
physical education classes during April, raising over
$10,000 for the American Heart Association.
Lucas Laubisch, with
his teacher, Mrs.
Nunn, and mother,
Gretchen, reveals the
amount that Tioga
Hills’ members of
Team Gabby raised
for Relay For Life on
behalf of his sister,
Gabriella.
In May, members of Cub Scout Pack 43, Den 5, donated a bench they had made to the butterfly garden
at Tioga Hills. Second-graders Carter Adams, Alex
Bernstein, Colin Brubaker, Liam Hughston, Vincent
Lucenti, Aidan Luker, Owen Majka and Cole Subulski,
along with honorary members Connor Brubaker (kindergarten) and Elizabeth Majka, worked on the bench
over the course of several meetings in November. The
project was part of their requirements for advancing to
the Wolf rank.
The Cub
Scouts with
their honorary
helpers and
Cub Master
Stephen Majka
and Project
Leader Matt
Brubaker.
Vestal Hills Elementary
Fifth-graders in Mrs. Donahue’s class wrapped up their
year of giving with a school-wide fundraiser for “A
Room to Heal.” In addition to collecting over $530 for
the organization, they also signed up 60 participants for
the “A Room to Heal” Walk at Otsiningo Park on May
30. A representative from the group, Laura Sehn, came
to the school for an assembly on May 29 to accept the
students’
donation
and thank
them
for their
support.
Sophia Garzo, Joelle Russell, Victoria Edwards, Haein Kim and Elana
Fitch present “A Room to Heal’s” Laura Sehn with a check for $530.
Vestal Middle School
As part of their Student Activity Day on March 13,
VMS students who participated in the candyContinued on page 8
7
FOSTER
“Community 101” continued
making workshop
donated 20 boxes
and 30 bags of
homemade candy
to the residents of
Good Shepherd
Fairview Home.
Liana Laremont and Tayli Wrighter had fun making
candy for residents of Good Shepherd Fairview Home.
A large number of the student workshops scheduled
that morning were devoted to helping the community.
Homemade pet treats were baked and donated to local
animal shelters. Another group of students finished up
four large no-sew quilts to be sent to the organization,
Soldiers’ Angels, with written messages from the
students who made them.
In April, eighth-grade students in Mrs. Jackson’s
Family & Consumer Science classes made pillowcases to donate to ConKerr Cancer for the second year
in a row. Altogether, they sewed up 175 kid-friendly
pillowcases for children undergoing cancer treatments
at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse
and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
VMS Student Council coordinated a schoolwide
fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics. This drive
wrapped up on May 8, with a total of $300 raised for
Special Olympics.
Vestal High School
In their Creative Crafts class, Art Teacher Mallory
Little’s students used a loom and yarn purchased
through a grant from the
Vestal High School
PTO to weave various
products. They made
over 50 hats and
scarves, which they
then donated to Broome
County Catholic
Charities in February.
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Student Government donated the proceeds of the
Vestal High School Talent Fest on March 14 to a good
cause - a total of $1,100 was donated to the Special
Olympics.
Rain, sleet, snow or freezing rain did not keep
“Running Bears” from their mission on March
21, which was to support Team Hopefull, a local
organization that raises money for research into
Prader-Willi Syndrome, as well as bestows grants on
local families dealing with
this rare genetic disorder.
Around 300 participants of
the Running of the Bears
5K raised over $6,400. The
top three race winners were
Shaun Horan, who came in
first with a time of 18:15,
Clayton Avenue secondgrade teacher Michael
Olson, finished second (time
- 19.31), and third-place
finisher was J.P. Sacco, a
VMS eighth-grader (time
- 19:38). Breaking the tape
first for the ladies was VHS
senior Ashley Tabuntschikow
Ashley Tabuntschikow
with a time of 23:40.
Vestal High School students continued their support
of the American Red Cross with a Spring Blood
Drive on April 16 that netted 91 units of blood
donated. Many thanks to them and to the VHS PTO
members who provided snacks and looked after the
students throughout the donation process.
Emma Milligan, Jamie Peters and Perjan
Ibrahim show off the items they knitted for Catholic Charities.
District-wide Efforts
For the 14th year in a row, Vestal Central
School District employees earned a Bronze
plaque from the United Way of Broome
County for their support of $10,000 or more.
Community 101 will resume in the
December 2015 edition of “Look at Us!”
Invest
Vestal School Foundation’s
2015 Grant Awards
Universal Pre-K News:
UPK Classes at JCC know that
Literacy is anything but “Grimm”
I
How can we ever say “thank you?!”
t was Literacy Day on May 1 at Vestal’s UPK
campus at the Jewish Community Center. Dressed
as their favorite storybook characters, students had a
parade around the gym to open the festivities. Then
by groups they explored the stations set up for them.
They could sing and dance to their favorite songs with
Johnny Only, listen to Mother Goose (Four County
Library System’s own Starr Latronicka) read their
favorite nursery rhymes, or go “Into the Woods” by
following a path of clues through the cafeteria that
brought some classic fairy tales to life.
Since 1994, the Vestal School Foundation has been
dedicated to supporting the students of the Vestal
School District with grants to fund enrichment
programs that enhance the mission of the District.
The annual VSF Grant Award Reception was held
on June 9, 2015, and a total of 16 grants were
awarded to Vestal teachers, staff, students and
town residents. In addition, the Foundation voted
to permanently fund the Chemistry Magic Show
at the Vestal High School, which it has supported
through grants since its inception in 1995.
To date, the Vestal School Foundation has generously awarded 377 grants totaling over $375,000.
Vestal Dollars for Scholars
Vestal Dollars for Scholars,
likewise, supports the students
of the District through scholarships to assist with the costs of
higher education. On Honors Night, which was
June 1, 2015, a total of $62,500 in scholarships
was awarded to 92 graduating seniors.
Thank you!
Who’s the cutest of them all?.. We cannot tell a lie...
Madeline, Helene, Calla, Tyler and Alec are all tied!
Buddying Up makes Reading Fun
U
PK students at the Cub Care campus also enjoyed
a fun literacy initiative when 17 Vestal Middle
School students
in the Reading
Buddies Club
came over to
read with them
on May 8.
With her VMS
Reading Buddy,
Elsa enjoys a creative activity tied
to the book they just read together.
9
Challenge
African Road News:
Our Littlest Graduates
M
embers of the Class of 2028 who attended
Vestal’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten program
at Cub Care Children’s Center and the Jewish
Community Center held graduations the last week
of school. Prepare to be wowed by the adorableness
factor as we share some photos, below.
Ryan, Roselle
and Lucy wait
for their UPK
graduation
ceremony at
Cub Care
to begin.
Cub Care held three graduations on June 22 and
23, while the classes at JCC celebrated grade-level
graduation ceremonies on June 25.
Third-Graders Explore Indian Culture
T
hird-grade teachers at African Road Elementary
brought the sights, smells and textures of India to
their students by taking advantage of free resources
available through Cornell University’s Einaudi
Center for International Studies. The center provides
free explorer boxes and lesson plans for teachers to
enrich their cultural instruction.
On May 14, Mrs. Bogart and Mrs. Lanz helped their
students end their unit on India with centers set up
on the stage in the African Road Auditorium. At
each center were cultural artifacts from India that the
students could see, touch and smell. The explorer box
contents included packets of photos depicting life in
India, children’s books, two sets of Indian spices, a
movie on the Ramayana, another book written in the
language of Hindi entitled “Bhunti the Tiger,” a rice
bag, an Indian tapestry, wooden dolls, saris, shoes, a
Holi lantern, Indian bells and drum, an oil spoon, a
toy horse and more.
“This really refreshed
our memory of what we
studied about India,” said
Ty Yarbrough, one of
Mrs. Lanz’ students.
(Below) Ty Yarbrough
and Justin Zhu investigate
the toy horse.
Olivia receives her
diploma from her
teacher during
her UPK class’
graduation at JCC.
As UPK graduates at the Cub Care campus sang
“Kindergarten, Here We Come,” we’re sure some
parents and families in the audience were having
visions of a graduation to come in many more years.
10
(Above)
Lolav Avdel and
Gianna Crouse
liked seeing the
Indian jeweled
bag and shoes.
Students moved from station to station, exploring the
artifacts and writing down what they learned about
the objects on observation sheets.
Support
What Goes “Cheep-Cheep?”
H
A Day in the Life... continued
arkening back to the days of our own early
school years, first-graders in Mrs. Ferraccioli’s
and Mrs. Leicht’s classes looked forward to the
hatching of baby chicks in their classrooms this
spring. Part of their Life Cycles unit in which they
learned to identify the different stages of an animal’s
life, the students enjoyed watching the chicks hatch
and marveled at how big they were getting.
The wonder of life...
Anastasia and Jacob
are gentle with a
baby chick.
“I know that they
peck all around
the shell to break
their way out, and
they have little
feathers called ‘down,’” shared Elliott about the
experience of having an incubator in his classroom.
The chicks hatched the week of May 17, and Jacob
observed the change in noise level in his classroom.
“I’m getting used to the chirping, he said. “In the
eggs, they were calmer.”
When they were big enough, the chicks were safely
returned to the farm, Beardsley’s in Whitney Point,
from which their eggs were borrowed.
Third-graders experience what school was like in
the “good old days” as they attend a lesson in the
Herrick Barn at the Bement-Billings Farmstead.
walking on stilts. They visited the blacksmith’s shop
and even attended “school” in the Herrick Barn. The
day ended with a picnic on the grounds and a nostalgic
walk across the old bridge.
Saluting Our Flag
On Flag Day, June 14, the entire African Road Elementary student body came out to honor the Stars &
Stripes with a wonderful assembly featuring all grade
levels. The ceremony included African Road musical
groups, student speakers sharing facts about the history
of our flag and Cub Scouts, led by School Counselor
Mrs. Steele’s father-in-law and son, demonstrating
how to fold the flag. Classes sang old favorites like
“Yankee Doodle,” “It’s a Grand Old Flag,” and more.
A Day in the Life...
By ARE Third-Grade Teacher Heather Bogart
M
rs. Lanz’ and Mrs. Bogart’s classes got to
travel to the Bement-Billings Farmstead
in Newark Valley on May 28. Asa Bement, Jr.
established the homestead in 1797, and it is now on
the National Register of Historic Places.
At the 350-acre farm, students got to try their hands
at quilting, churning butter (and sampling it, too),
playing old-fashioned games, like beanbag toss and
Continued next column
Brownies Meredith Ryan and Laurel French
take part in the Flag Day ceremony.
11
Foster
Clayton Avenue News:
Alligators, Buffalo and Manatees, Oh My!
C
hildren’s book author and illustrator Jim Arnosky was
a down-to-earth change from the usual visiting author.
A prolific writer and illustrator, Mr. Arnosky specializes in
nonfiction nature books for kids. His books include “All
About Manatees,” “Grandfather Buffalo,” and many more. In
all, he has written and illustrated over 130 books for children.
Guitar in hand, he told the students that he wanted them to
Emily Saladis, Evelyn Szeliga and Christopher
know him the same way his children and grandchildren know
Fletcher listen to Jim Arnosky play a song.
him, and that is always with a guitar. He must always have a
camera, too. He described for the students how he responsibly tracks
his animal subjects in their natural habitat to become familiar enough with them to draw and write about them.
The students tuned in to his presentation with enthusiasm as he had them sing along with his interactive songs
and explained that most of his books start first as a song. One of the kids’ favorites was “Alligator Day.”
Mr. Arnosky demonstrated some illustrations for them, too. He didn’t just tell them the difference between
an alligator and a crocodile - he drew it for them!
“We hope kids will be inspired to look at nature and see how it can inspire us to write books and draw pictures,”
said CAPTO President Nicki Barnard as she explained why they chose to go in a different direction for this
year’s guest author.
Mr. Arnosky, winner of the 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award and 2005 Key Lifetime Achievement
Award for Excellence in Science Books, had already inspired students with his books before he even set foot in
the school on May 4. After the presentation, Olivia Sprouse thanked him with a picture she had drawn based on
“Raccoon on his Own,” one of his books that she and her class had read together a few weeks earlier.
Rock On Café’s Rex & Roxy celebrate
their Birthday at Clayton Avenue
R
ocking the birthday celebration, Rex and Roxy, spokespersons for healthy eating and physical activity, dropped
in on Clayton Avenue students during their lunch periods to
celebrate their big day on May 13. Representing the BOCES
Food Service Rock On Café and ambassadors for the UHS
Stay Healthy Kids Center, Rex and Roxy are cartoon characters
created by Mason Mastroianni, grandson of the late Johnny Hart
who created “BC” and “The Wizard of ID” cartoons.
Kindergartner Torin wished Rex and Roxy a “Happy
Birthday” when they visited his cafeteria on May 13.
12
Students were very excited to meet Rex and Roxy, who received
countless hugs and high-fives. To promote healthy eating, Rex
& Roxy’s birthday lunch was fruit and yogurt parfait, low-fat
mozzarella string cheese, whole-grain oatmeal bar, fresh carrot
sticks, strawberry applesauce and low-fat milk.
Invest
Glenwood News:
Author Julia Cook Visits
T
eaching children how to stay safe, be kind to one
another and keep their imaginations alive were the goals
of visiting author Julia Cook’s presentation to students at
Glenwood Elementary School on May 5. “You guys are the
next grown-ups; I want you to be better than we are,” she
told them. “Put the lid on the put-down; don’t let it get out.”
Author of “Wilma Jean, the Worry Machine,” “My Mouth
is a Volcano” and 46 other titles, Cook is a winner of the
Mom’s Choice and Association for Educational Publishers
Distinguished Achievement Awards. Morgan Francisco
helped the author show that taking back a put-down is harder
than trying to put toothpaste back into the tube. That’s why
everyone, not just kids, should think before they say anything.
(Left) Morgan Francisco
finds out that squeezing
the toothpaste out of a
tube is a lot easier than
putting it back in.
Author Julia Cook with
Kadin Abdullah, Logan
Pullis and School
Counselor Stephanie Mitsakos as they
demonstrated another
scenario with the help
of Cook’s dog, Kirby.
Using other volunteers, Cook demonstrated scenarios students could use to stay safe at the playground or at the mall.
She used the term “Scoop,” and gave children this acronym
for practicing safe habits:
S - Smart (Be smart and listen to your “uh, oh” voice.)
C - Call List (Never go with anyone that you aren’t sure of until you check it out with someone on your Call List.)
O - Zero Talking! (Never, ever talk to people that you do not know very well, but you can always talk to
“Safe” people.)
O - Out (Keep people out of your personal space. Remember, a person can’t grab you if he can’t reach you.)
P - Pair Up (Always go places with a friend.)
A point for parents to remember, according to Cook, exchange the “C” for “Code Word” to “C” for “Call List.”
If a child asks someone who claims to be sent by you to pick them up for the Code Word, it allows for too
much conversation between your child and a would-be snatcher. It also gives the person more opportunity to
access your child’s personal space, getting close enough to grab them. An example is if your child is coming
out of the library and someone approaches her saying, “Jane, Mommy fell at work. She sent me to pick you up.
Come on, we’re going to meet her at the hospital.”
If your child asks, “What’s the Code Word?” that person can initiate a conversation to stall, giving them an
opportunity to grab Jane. Instead, Jane should turn and run right back into the library. She should use her cell
phone, if she has been allowed one, or ask to use the library phone to call you or anyone else on her Call List.
“Hello, Aunt Susie, someone named Mr. Stranger came up to me outside of the library. He says Mommy fell at
work and she sent him to come get me.”
Obviously, if you really did send someone to pick up Jane, it might be embarrassing. But no one close to you or
your family will mind a child taking the time to ensure that they are leaving with someone trustworthy.
Julia Cook, a former teacher and school counselor, also presented to students at African Road and Vestal Hills
Elementary Schools on May 4, and she visited Tioga Hills Elementary on May 5, too.
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Challenge
Tioga Hills News: School Board Spotlight
Students and staff at Tioga Hills presented to the School Board at its
meeting on February 24 the many ways that technology is supporting
curriculum. Students in grades K - 5 have gone beyond using the PC and
other technology simply for research. From computer coding to Glogster,
the kids, with guidance from their teachers, are using technology as a tool
to help them present what they have learned in new and relevant ways.
Technology in the classroom not only helps them practice their math and
A, B, C’s, it’s also helping them hone 21st-century skills they will need
in our age of technological revolution.
Katie Altmire and Ariana Ford show the Board what they can do on Chromebooks.
Tri Cities Opera brings “Pinnochio” to life
A
mini performance of “Pinnochio” by the Tri-Cities
Opera-Go-Round, presented through a grant from
the Roger Kresge Foundation, provided a two-fold lesson
for students. Culturally, they were able to experience the
musical art of opera firsthand, a unique opportunity for
many students. Secondly, this version was cleverly staged
to deliver an anti-bullying message along with the traditional tale highlighting the importance of telling the truth.
Students in grades K - 2 were enthralled with the
performance and afterwards enjoyed asking many
questions of the performers, who are members of the TriCities Opera Resident Artist Training Program. The artists
explained to the children what an opera is, demonstrated
the different singing voices, including bass, soprano,
mezza soprano and tenor, and also answered more
practical questions posed by the curious students, such as
“How do you get dressed so quickly?”
Musical Connections
R
iddle me this? What can drone and hoot, is
usually made of eucalyptus wood and is native
to Australia?.. It’s a Didgeridoo. To learn about
the didgeridoo, a wind instrument developed by
indigenous Australians about 1,500 years ago,
third-graders at Tioga Hills were treated to a special
presentation on April 20. Mr. Chris Weber, a retired
music teacher, came in to share his knowledge about
a musical instrument he is very passionate about.
Students learned its history and how it is made; they
heard the various sounds that a didgeridoo can make
and even held it.
The secret to this little bit of theater magic?.. Velcro,
and lots of practice.
Mr. Weber brought a few of his didgeridoos to Tioga Hills.
14
Aidan Ruhm, Mason Dodge, Maryka Bleir and
Kenzy Benjamin met the stars of “Pinnochio.”
After studying about Australia in social studies, as
well as finishing a multi-cultural music unit in music
class, this opportunity provided a great connection
to what they’ve learned. Mrs. Burczynski, general
music teacher at Tioga Hills, has collaborated with
Mr. Weber for the past three years to bring this unique
lecture and performance to third-grade students.
Support
Special Interest Fair 2015
W
hether you want to learn “All about Monkeys” or have a love for all things “Harry Potter,” you could satisfy
every curiosity at the Tioga Hills’ annual Special Interest Fair. Students in grades K - 5 spent many weeks
researching their favorite things, and they were all on display May 19.
From Greek mythology to the Bermuda Triangle, scrollsaw woodworking
to the praying mantis, there was something for everyone.
“You get to show people what you’re interested in and how much you
know about it,” said fifth-grader Calista Ford. Apparently she knows a lot
about mustaches, of all things! That was the theme of her presentation.
The Special Interest Fair was open to all students to view during the school
day, and then students and their families came back together that evening.
(Right) Julian, first grade, was excited to share
everything he knows about the praying mantis.
Vestal Hills News:
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
E
very year Vestal Hills hosts a week-long Seussical spectacular
to celebrate the birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel on March
2. This year the extravaganza kicked off with Crazy Hat Day on
Monday, March 1, and the Cat in the Hat put in an appearance.
Festivities on Tuesday combined the national “Read Across
America” Day with Career Day, as students dressed up like the
person they want to be in honor of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
The week finished out with Wacky Wednesday, Mismatched
Kindergartners Eli (fireman), Elizabeth (scientist) and Socks Day on Thursday (in tribute to “Fox in Socks”) and PJ
Ivory (police officer) know the places they want to go.
Day on Friday. There were also individual classroom traditions.
Kindergarten students made oobleck on March 2 in celebration of “Bartholomew and the Oobleck,” and enjoyed
green eggs and ham on March 3. Plus, all week long there were “Fish Bowl” Favorite Books available in the
cafeteria, a Goldfish Guessing Contest in the library and students also stopped, dropped and read their favorite book.
Accentuating the Positive
F
irst-graders in Mrs. Driftmyer’s class shared
positive thoughts and actions with the whole school
as they constructed a “Positive Wall” outside of their
classroom door. “We made this to show everybody all
the good things we did, and we congratulated people
on the things they accomplished, too,” explained Sindi.
Brick by brick... Lucas, Azel, Leo and
Sindi stand by their Positive Wall.
Continued on page 16
15
Foster
Accentuating the Positive continued
The Magic Paintbrush
They also considered the impression they could make
as role models. “We wrote positive things on it,” said
Azel, “to show other kids how to behave and to help
kindergartners or new students.”
Recycling Project to Celebrate Earth Day
A
ccepting an extra-credit challenge from their teacher,
Mrs. Dattoria, some of her second-graders created a
variety of repurposed items out of recycled materials. The
challenge was that they had to make something useful,
an invention or art work, from recycled materials around
their house. They could not buy anything for this project.
The children had about a week to complete it, and they
presented their creatively recycled design projects to their
class on Earth Day, April 22. From the practical to the
decorative, the objects were very unique.
Johnny Keokhampho made a chair out of
recycled bottles, and then demonstrated
how comfy it was to sit in. Sunny Pu
showed how to tell time on a clock
she crafted out of a paper plate. Jack
Tomancik, almost literally, could
put his money where his mouth
was - he made a bank out of a soda
bottle. Two other students made
pencil holders out of tin cans, and
Ruby Ford made tin-foil pumpkins.
“It’s important to not waste anything,” she answered when
asked why she wanted to
do this project.
Amy Kwon made an adorable kitty
decoration out of a cardboard roll.
In addition to thinking “green,”
the students practiced thinking
conceptually, and were encouraged
to use their imagination as they
learned to reuse things.
Utilitarian and “green,” Johnny
Keokhampho made a chair out
of recycled water bottles.
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Principal Mastro’s son, Tom, a facilitator with the Magic Paintbrush Project, joined fellow facilitator, Emily Rose, a Vestal
High School alumna, in presenting this session for the school.
F
ourth- and fifth-graders from Mrs. Middendorf’s
and Mrs. Donahue’s classes helped make
magic for students in Mrs. Catarella’s Oak Tree
class when the Magic Paintbrush Project came on
June 10. On the blacktop next to the school, the
student volunteers played paint games with the
Oak Tree students and helped engage them in team
interactions.
Global Art Exchange
E
ven though they are half a world away, Vestal
Hills third-grade students discovered that they
are not that different from students in India. They
both like to play games, though some of the games
are different. After taking part in their first Global
Art Exchange, third-graders had an opportunity to
Skype with fourth-grade students at a primary school
in India who also participated in the exchange.
Like a global “Show & Tell,” the Vestal Hills
students made and exchanged art projects through
the mail and Internet with students across the
world. The next phase of the exchange, which is
designed to foster global awareness and crossContinued on the next page
Invest
Vestal Hills News:
Global Art Exchange continued
cultural understanding, was a Skype session with four of
Swaroopa Mallavarapu’s fourth-grade students from GPS
Yousufguda in India on June 17. What was supposed
to be perhaps a 30-minute session went into an hour
as students on both sides of the world excitedly asked
questions of one another. From what outdoor games they
play (Kabaei there is like “Capture the Flag” here, with
some twists), to how long their school day is (shorter
school day there, but longer school year), the questions
prepared ahead of time were well thought out.
Ms. Mallavarapu’s students were fascinated with the
idea of snow and also curious about what sort of festivals our children celebrate here. It was fun hearing
Mrs. Giovannone explain Halloween to them!
Our students were interested in what types of jobs
there are in India and what other languages they speak.
Apparently there are hundreds of languages, often based
on region, spoken in India, but English is the language
the students use at school. Many children there may
speak Hindi or Urdu, too.
Liam Foran and
Ms. Harvey are Vestal
Hills’ top 100-Milers.
100-Mile
Club
Vestal Hills
students and staff
once again put
their best foot forward in the second
year of their 100-Mile Club. It was revealed at the
Morning Program on June 18 that over 12,566 miles
were walked by those participating. Fourth-grader
Liam Foran once again logged the top mileage by a
student for the year with 301 miles. Setting the pace
for the program she helped initiate last year, Ms.
Crystal Harvey walked or ran 827 miles, the most of
any staff member.
Farewell Mr. Crowle
This collaboration was coordinated between Mrs. Adams,
Vestal Hills art teacher, and the third-grade teachers,
Mrs. Danek, Mrs. Giovannone and Mrs. Wassell. It was
funded courtesy of the Vestal Hills PTA.
(Right) Saniya Tabassum,
Sudha, Janaki and Saniya
Sarvat talked about their
typical school day in India
with Vestal Hills’ students.
(Row 1) Sea Yos
Anankatanyu,
Lan Nguyen,
Thomas Allen
(Row 2) Mikkahya
Musa, Stella
Tomancik and
Donovan Hawkins
with artwork they
received from the
art exchange.
Faith Carty and Ryan Hannon give Mr. Crowle
a retirement gift to remember their class by.
B
eloved music teacher Mr. Stephen Crowle conducted his last Faculty Follies at Vestal Hills on
June 23 to the tempo of John Phillip Sousa... which
quickly segued into “School’s Out for Summer!”
Each grade level did a wonderful, and oftentimes
touching, tribute to the man who put the beat into the
heart of this Vestal Hills’ community. We wish him
well in his retirement!
17
Challenge
Vestal Middle School News:
Welcome to New Assistant Principals
V
estal Central School District is proud to welcome two new
Assistant Principals to the Vestal Middle School. Andrew Menard
and Ashley Thomas assumed their duties on July 1, 2015. They
replace Mrs. Donna Halbert and Mrs. Merry Jones, who retired at the
end of the 2014-15 school year.
A seasoned administrator and teacher, Mr. Menard received his B.S.
in Elementary Education from SUNY Oneonta and his Masters
The district welcomes Ashley Thomas and
degree in Secondary Education from East Stroudsburg University.
Andrew Menard to Vestal Middle School.
Since 2009, he has been the Assistant Principal for the Bangor Area
Middle School in Pennsylvania. With experience as an alternative education teacher, Mr. Menard was the Dean
of Students at the Clear Run Intermediate School and West High School in the Pocono Mountain School District.
He has also enjoyed five years teaching science as an alternative teacher in that school district. Mr. Menard
holds numerous educational licenses and is certified as a New York State School Building Leader.
Ms. Thomas received her B.A. from SUNY Cortland in Secondary Social Studies and History, with a minor in
Economics. She earned her Master of Education from Marywood University in Instructional Leadership, and that
is also where she received her Building Leader certification. Certified in New York State, Ms. Thomas spent nine
years teaching eighth-grade social studies at Deposit Central School District and then Johnson City Middle School.
In addition, she has spent eight years coaching various sports, including basketball and softball, and she is a field
hockey official for the NYS Field Hockey Association’s Section IV.
“I’m very pleased that two talented, eager and gifted individuals have been appointed as assistant principals
in our middle school,” said Superintendent of Schools Mark LaRoach. “The district is very fortunate to have
Ashley and Andrew serving as an essential part of the district team.”
“Naked Egg Lab”
S
eventh-graders studied the effect of osmosis with an experiment using eggs. The egg, which becomes a model for a cell,
spent 48 hours in vinegar. This acid bath effectively disintegrates
its shell. (Hence the name of the lab.) Students carefully noted and
sketched the eggs as they were given baths in different substances
and weighed in between to verify changes in the egg’s mass.
Along the way they learned the difference between qualitative and
quantitative data, what a manipulative variable is, and how easy it is to
drop an egg without a shell. (They’re very slippery!)
Annabel Miller and Nijah Wiggins find
out how many grams their egg weighs.
Science teacher Karen Valenta has been conducting the naked egg lab for students for many years now and, as is
the tradition for this experiment, donned rubber suit, goggles and a cap for the smelly grand finale - students got to
toss their surviving eggs at their teacher. The egg splatting took place on March 3.
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Support
Vestal High School News:
National Honor Society
C
ongratulation to these students inducted into
the National Honor Society during the 2014-15
school year:
The gavel passes from
this year’s (2014-15)
Student Government
President Rachel Kosty
to President-Elect Josh
Walsh at the June 9
school board meeting.
2015-16 Officers
Student Government:
President - Josh Walsh
Vice President - Andi Stack
Secretaries - Alicia Kasson & Payton Gennett
Treasurer - Abby Silverman-Hrubes
Senior Class:
Presidents - Maxwell Feinberg & Eamon Reynolds
Vice Presidents - Sawako Suzuki & Josh Lewis
Secretaries - Corinne D’Andria & Caroline Barrett
Treasurer - Nick Barney
Junior Class Officers:
President - Cassie Grossman
Vice Presidents - Caitlin Jennings & Shelby Virkler
Secretary - Trevor Potenzino
Treasurer - Haashim Shah
Sophomore Class Officers:
President - Marie Taylor
Vice President - Gavin Bleir
Secretary - Yuval Tessman-Bar-On
Treasurer - Meaghan Farley
Freshmen Class Officers:
President - Jonathan Shapiro
Vice Presidents - Ruben Cuevas & Joshua Klotzkin
Secretary - Noah Bruster
Treasurer - Alyssa Warren
Afrah Ahmed
Azva Alvi
Sara Angulas
Caroline Barrett
Natalia Basualdo
Madeline Beaulieu
Sarah Boyd
Emily Brennan
Bailyn Brink
Morgan Chadwick
Patrick Comerford
Brianna Cordi
Corinne D’Andria
Kelly Decker
Serina DeHart
Jessica Duff
Tyler Elliott
Michael Fedor
Sarah Foran
Gwyneth Gleason
Thomas Hanes
Hannah Hayford
Selena Haykal
Dena Iadanza
Krishna Kaneria
Alicia Kasson
Erin Kelley
Joseph Kuchera
Josh Lewis
Brandon Lindaman
Maitri Mangal
Anthony Mangiacapra
Rani Marhaba
Evan McNierney
Sarah Mieczkowski
Jared Miller
Maria Mott
Logan Murdock
Alex Niermeyer
Katelynn Ossege
Christopher Painter
Noelle Patterson
Marissa Pompeii
Natalie Poulton
Samuel Rachmaninoff
Yvonne Raychawdhuri
Noor Rehman
Noah Salomons
Joseph Seif
Mohammed Shah
Avi Shapiro
Jordan Skube
Michael Spivak
Kari Stromhaug
Sawako Suzuki
Ashley Tabuntschikow
Karl Thurm
Alison Van Dyke
Sakshi Vasiu
Troy Walters
Valerie Waters
Emily Whitaker
Jacob Whitaker
Laura Wilton
Nicholas Barney
Matt Benko
Montana Boone
Kristian Cho
Tyler Cingranelli
Connor Dwyer
Maxwell Feinberg
Julia Ferrante
Shannon Fitzpatrick
Payton Gennett
Anthony Ivanov
Abdul Khan
Sarah Mughal
Bach Nguyen
Mackenzie Poulton
Eamon Reynolds
Colin Sabitus
Abby Silverman-Hrubes
Jamie Wu
19
Foster
Student Accomplishments
Brooke Angelo with her
award-winning work.
March 6, 2015... Brooke
Angelo won Best Composition for her painting,
“Purple,” in the 2015
Congressional High
School Art Competition.
Her piece was on display
along with other Broome
County winners in the
competition’s exhibit
“An Artistic Discovery”
at Roberson Museum for
the remainder of March.
FASST Awards
March 12, 2015...
Marcy Peterson’s
“Still Life with
Pink Water” took
second-place honors
in the category of
“Painting” at the
Fine Arts Society of
the Southern Tier’s
(FASST) annual
“Young at Art”
competition.
Marcy Peterson and her
winning painting.
Science Olympians Medal at States
Bear Necessities Wins Second Place
The VHS a cappella group “Bear Necessities” placed second
overall at the International Championship of High School
A Capella’s (ICHSA) semi-finals on March 7 in Michigan.
Students receiving individual honors included Noah Holloway
for Outstanding Vocal Percussion as well as Allison Hanafin
and Alex Kosick for Outstanding Solo (“Lay Me Down.”)
Musicians Abroad
Recommended by their teachers,
Mrs. Crabb, Mr. Harris and Mr.
Kiley, Morgan Chadwick and Brian
Miller will be touring Europe this
summer as part of the “American
Music Abroad” program. Both will
be members of the group’s chorus,
and Brian will also be playing the
cello in the orchestra.
Brian Miller and Morgan Chadwick
will get to play Europe this summer.
V
estal High School’s Science Olympians performed well at the New York State competition
the weekend of March 13 - 14. Out of 54 teams,
Vestal’s team came in 17th, and nine students garnered 10 medals in the following areas:
• 3rd - Graham Wilcox, Ethan Pan & Yousuf Shah in
Experimental Design
• 5th - Haashim Shah & Ewa Sulicz in Dynamic Planet
• 6th - Ethan Pan & Yousuf Shah in Chem Lab
• 7th - Haashim Shah & Jamie Wu in Invasive Species
• 8th - Graham Wilcox in Scrambler
• 9th - Sarah Mughal & Jamie Wu in Entomology
• 10th - Nick Barney & Noor Rehman in Game On.
20
Eli Holmes must catch his breath
sometime... An accomplished
bassoonist with the Vestal High
School band, as well as a member
of the high school tennis team,
Eli was named a National Young
Competition finalist, which afforded
him the honor of performing
with the Charleston Symphony
Orchestra in April. For two weeks in July he also toured Asia
with the 2015 National Youth Orchestra of the U.S., a seven-city
performance which kicked off with a concert at Carnegie Hall.
Photo courtesy of Pamela Smart
Invest
NYSSMA Gold
Student Recognition Breakfast
May 12, 2015... Both the Vestal High
School Orchestra and Vestal Voices
each scored Level 6 Gold wins at
the New York State School Music
Association’s competition. The Wind
Ensemble also received a Level 5
NYSSMA Gold, and the Concert Band
was awarded a Level 4 NYSSMA Silver.
Closer to home, the Spring Student Recognition Breakfast took place on May 13,
and over 38 students were recognized that
morning.
More Gold
Regional Gold Key
Scholastic Writing
Award winner
Sarah Mughal
received national
recognition
when her short
story won a Gold
medal in the National Scholastic Art
& Writing Awards. Only one percent
of the 300,000 student entries were
recognized at the national level. Sarah
was invited to attend the ceremony at
Carnegie Hall on June 11, 2015.
Grade 9
Gr. 9: Logan Benjamin, Noah Conklin, Abigail
McSain, Hayley Parsons and Kyle Rando
Gr. 10: Isaac Dillard, Jordynn Huckabone, Nicole
Grade 10
Leska, Mya Muse, Matthew O’Hara, Jessica
Sanford, Amelia Suter and Sydney Tomko
Gr. 11: Catherine Bracken, Nicole Francik,
Casey Macdonell, Sarah Mieczkowski,
Emma Milligan, Natalie Poulton, Dylan
Salisbury, Michelle Schultz and Brooke Traver
Grade 11
Gr. 12: Ellen Armstrong, Samuel
Barnum, Benjamin Barr, Zoe
Barton, Cassandra Canino,
Alexandra Carlin, Jelaine
Ellers-Kuczkowski, Courtney
Fitzgerald, Devin Henderson,
Jared Heumann, Krishna
Kaneria, Walter Keyes, Dylon
Newkirk, Saarav Patel, Ryan
Pavelski, Megan Steinmetz and
Gavin Tice
Grade 12
Vestal Students & Seniors
“Swing into Spring”
A
rea senior citizens had a
chance to revisit the days of their senior prom with the “Swing into
Spring” Dance hosted by Vestal High School on Friday, April 10. Every
Vestal High School student organization was involved in coordinating this
evening of music, dancing and refreshments.
Community member Elaine Cheng
and Vestal High School senior Gavin
Tice waltz to “Moonlight Serenade.”
Music for the free dance was provided by the “Blue Velvet Band,” under
the direction of Anthony Alduino, as well as Vestal High School’s own Jazz
Band, under the direction of Gregory Harris.
We’d like to thank the community sponsors of this fun and nostalgic evening, including Baked! by Camille,
Consol’s Family Kitchen, Edible Arrangements, Floyd’s Rent-All, Joey’s Pizzeria, The McKinley, Nirchi’s
Pizza, Traditions at the Glen, Jaret’s Stuffed Cupcakes and Richie’s Pizzeria & Grill. Special thanks also to the
Blue Velvet Band, Andrew King, the Vestal High School PTO and the Vestal Volunteer Emergency Squad.
21
Challenge
Vestal Team Wins Code Quest Competition
Guest Artist Steven Melter
omputer science teacher Carol Reynolds accompanied four
Vestal High School teams to Lockheed Martin’s Owego, NY,
facility on April 18 where they competed against other students
from Corning, Johnson City, Union-Endicott, Webster (NY) and
even the state of Maine in the fourth annual Code Quest computer
programming competition. In all, over 500 high school students from
135 schools from around the country competed.
guest artist from Syracuse graciously
volunteered his time on April 27 to
talk to Amy Panella’s art classes at the high
school. Stephen Melter is a professional
artist who worked as the art director for
WCNY, the PBS television station in Syracuse. With a specialty in print making and
Photoshop, he created numerous magazine
covers and advertisements during that time.
C
A
Vestal’s team cracked the code for winning
Lockheed Martin’s Code Quest competition.
Congratulations to Jacob King and Christopher Murphy, who won
first place in the Advanced Division! Other VHS students who
participated included Hamza Aamir, Michael DiGiacomo, Kiel
Donahue, Sean Kunz, Jared Miller, Logan Murdock, David Pirc,
Joshua Prier and Drew Williams.
Teams of two to three students worked together for over two hours to
solve 15 problems created by Lockheed Martin information technology professionals. “Solving Code Quest problems was a great opportunity for our students to sharpen their Java programming skills and,
most importantly, to learn the value of teamwork,” said Ms. Reynolds.
Following the competition, students had an opportunity to tour the
Lockheed Martin facility and learn about helicopter manufacturing,
along with why coding is such an essential skill in high demand.
Lockheed Martin’s chief information officer spoke at lunch, and each
competitor received a Code Quest T-shirt, backpack and USB drive.
The goal of Code Quest is to inspire students to consider jobs in
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
The students look forward to competing in Code Quest next year,
and appreciated the time and energy that Lockheed Martin Owego
volunteers gave to make this event a valuable experience for them.
Vestal High School is one of only 186 schools in New York State
that teach computer science, according to Code.org, a non-profit
that supports K-12 computer programming education. Vestal offers
programming classes in Java and C++.
22
Stephen Melter shows students Emily Sarkisian,
Courtney Fitzgerald and Brooke Angelo his masks.
In addition to providing students with a
snapshot of a real-world career in art, Mr.
Melter shared his post-retirement art with
them, bringing in samples of the masks
he creates out of found objects. His mask
creations are incredibly unique as they
combine found objects with different
sources of textures and colors. We thank
Mr. Melter for offering our students a
creative and inspiring perspective on
recycled art.
IB Service Project at CHOW Farm
O
ver 30 International Baccalaureate (IB)
students volunteered at the CHOW
Farm in Conklin on May 28 as part of the
service component of this program that has
been at Vestal High School since 1999. In
addition to fulfilling their Creative Action
Service requirement for the IB Program, the
students learned some down-to-earth skills,
Continued on the next page
Support
Section IV and STAC Champs
The Vestal Golden Bears Baseball team defeated Corning in May to win its first STAC championship in six years!
Also in May, the Girls Lacrosse team was crowned Section IV Class B champs for the fourth straight year after
they overwhelmed Horseheads in the title game.
They were joined by the Boys Lacrosse team, winning its second straight Section IV Class B championship.
The Track & Field team had several members qualify for the NYS Championship meet. Eighth-grader Tia
Jones finished second in Div. 1 and fourth in the state in the 200 meters, setting a Section IV record. Kyle
Kulp ran fourth in Div. 1 and 7th in the state in the intermediate hurdles. Kari Stromhaug also finished fourth
in Div. 1 and fourth in the state in the pole vault. Rani Marhaba, Helen Merriwether and Kalina Yadlosky also
qualified for the NYS meet.
CHOW Farm cont.
like how to compost, how to
till a garden row and what
the ideal soil acidity is for
optimal nutrients. Most of
all, they learned about how
good it felt to give back.
Letter of Intent Signings
Congratulations to these Golden Bear athletes who signed their letters of intent
this Spring!
Ryan Mihok accepted a golf scholarship from Division I Niagara University. He
signed his letter of intent on April 16 surrounded by family, teammates and other
friends. When not teeing off with the Purple Eagles, Ryan plans to major in business.
Just a week later, Kyle Kulp signed his letter of intent on April 22 accepting a
track scholarship to Division I University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He
will major in biology.
Friends Katarina Tibensky and Tomasina Leska held a joint ceremony on May
1. Kat received a scholarship from Division I Binghamton University to join
the Bearcats swimming team in the fall. A Lacrosse All-American, Tomasina
will play lacrosse at Cornell University. Kat plans to major in biochemistry and
Tomasina will study human biology, health and society.
Best wishes to all of these athletes in their future endeavors!
Hamza Aamir and Nicole Sarkisian
are headed to the compost pile.
“Because the school coordinated this, you can get the
experience of helping out,” said
senior Hamza Aamir, “...and the
great thing is that this food is
going to people who need it.”
Ryan Mihok
Kyle Kulp
Tomasina Leska and
Katarina Tibensky
23
Board of Education
201 Main Street
Vestal, NY 13850
Michon Stuart, President
Jerry Etingoff, Vice President
Richard Bray
Linda Daino
David Hanson
John Hroncich
Mario Nunes
Sylvia Place
Anthony Turnbull
Superintendent of Schools
Mark LaRoach
[email protected]
757-2241
Public Information Coordinator
Regina M. Felice
[email protected]
757-2205
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 4
Vestal, New York
13850
Current Resident or
ECRWSS
Postal Patron
Letters to Dina
I
n honor of Holocaust survivor Dina Jacobson, Vestal High
School Student Government bought a flowering pear tree
that was planted in front of the school. The tree will become
“Dina’s Tree,” and on June 5, which was designated “Dina
Jacobson Day,” the students hosted a ceremony in memory
of Mrs. Jacobson.
The students hung bottles with Letters to Dina on the tree in
remembrance of a woman who gave so much of herself to them.
The native of Poland and former Elmira resident who
spent three years in Auschwitz as a teenager had shared her
experience with Vestal High School students in social
studies classes over the span of 19 years. Though re2014-15 Student Government officers Rachel Kosty,
lating her memories of that time with them caused her
Samuel
Barnum, Cassandra Canino and Sarah Duran
nightmares, she continued to do it because, as she said,
make sure Dina Jacobson is remembered by establishing
she wanted them to “never forget.” This year’s student
the tradition of “Letters to Dina” on Dina’s tree.
government officers realized that they were the last
class who were privileged to hear Mrs. Jacobson speak, and they wanted to leave a legacy for Vestal High
School students for years to come so that future students would “never forget” what Mrs. Jacobson’s story
has taught them. Hence, the “Letters to Dina” and Dina Jacobson Day, which will be a tradition the Student
Government hopes will continue on the first Friday in June every year.