Vestal High School`s 2016 Graduation Vestal appoints new

Published for Vestal Central School District parents, students, community and staff
Vestal appoints new
Superintendent of Schools
T
he Vestal Central
School District’s Board
of Education announced
on April 29 that it had
offered Mr. Jeffrey
Ahearn, interim
superintendent, the
position as the new
Superintendent of
Vestal Schools.
He succeeds Mark LaRoach, who retired at the
end of December 2015. Mr. Ahearn’s selection
concluded a five-month search led by a professional recruiting firm, which gathered input from
stakeholders in the district.
“The Board is very pleased to have selected Mr.
Ahearn as our new superintendent,” said Board
President Michon Stuart. “He has served the
district well as interim superintendent, and we
are confident that he will be a good leader for our
students and our staff.”
A native of Greenwood, New York, Mr. Ahearn
has more than 32 years of experience. He began
his career in the banking industry, then moved
into education, where he served as Director of
Finance at Alfred State College. He was also
the school business administrator for Addison
Central Schools and then the Greater Southern
Tier BOCES before joining the Vestal Central
School District in September 2012 as School
Business Administrator. In July of 2015, he
was named Assistant Superintendent for
Finance, Operations and Personnel. Following
Mark LaRoach’s retirement, Mr. Ahearn was
appointed Interim Superintendent by the Vestal
Board of Education in January 2016.
Continued on page 4
JULY 2016
District has two Reward Schools
V
estal continues to be recognized for excellence
in education. Vestal Hills Elementary, a 2012
National Blue Ribbon School, and Vestal High School
have both been identified as High Performing Reward
Schools for 2016-17 by the NYS Department of
Education.
Continued on page 2
Vestal High School’s 2016 Graduation
H
ighlights from Vestal’s 75th high school commencement on June 25, 2016, included the Class
of 2016’s so-designated “Mr. Vestal,” Joseph Seif,
enthusiastically leading his classmates in their last
Golden Bears’ cheer and one last roller coaster!
Continued on page 4
“Golden” Highlights
P
lease turn to page 22 for 2016 Graduation photos,
and the rest of the above article on page 4.
Class of 2016’s Valedictorian & Salutatorian
Congratulations to Montana Boone and Michael Spivak,
valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, and best
wishes to each VHS Class of 2016 graduate as they
venture out into the world beyond Vestal.
Montana, on the right, has been
accepted to Georgetown University,
where she will study International
Relations - and double major
in Business and English.
Michael, left, plans
a career in medicine.
He will major in
Pre-Med at
Binghamton
University, with
a concentration
in Spanish.
Challenge
Dates to Remember:
Reward Schools continued from cover
VMS Sixth-Grade Orientation
New York State Commissioner MaryEllen Elia identified 220
schools across the state as high performing and high progress Reward
Schools in an announcement last week. Both Vestal Hills Elementary
and Vestal High Schools were identified as schools having the
highest achievement in the state with no significant gaps in student
achievement. This is the third consecutive year that Vestal Hills
Elementary School has achieved this designation. Previously, Vestal
High School was designated as a High Performing Reward School
from 2012 – 2014, and last year Glenwood Elementary School was
also named a Reward School.
August 29, 9 - 11 a.m. or 1 - 3 p.m.
Vestal Middle School
VHS Student Orientation/Scheds.
Gr. 12: Aug. 30, 8 - 9 a.m. or 7 - 8 p.m.
Grs. 10 & 11: Aug. 31, 8 - 11 a.m.
Gr. 9: Sept. 1, 8:45 - 10:15 a.m.
Vestal High School
Universal Pre-K Orientation:
Jewish Community Center
August 30, 7 p.m. (Parents only)
Sept. 6, 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. (Students)
Cub Care Children’s Center
August 31, 6:30 p.m. (Parents only)
Sept. 7, 9 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. (Students)
In addition to being a Reward School, Vestal High School has been
a long-standing International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement
and Project Lead the Way School. These are three highly recognized
college-credit courses in the nation.
Superintendent’s Conference Day
September 6, 2016
As just one of the criteria required to be identified as a Reward School,
a school must be among the top 20 percent of schools in the state
for English language arts (ELA) and math performance for both the
2013-14 and 2014-15 school years, or be among the top 10 percent of
schools in terms of gains in ELA and math in the 2014-15 school year.
First Day of School (Grs. 1 - 12)
Fire Inspection/AHERA Reports
September 7, 2016
Kindergarten Orientation
9:30 - 11 a.m., September 7, 2016
Elementary Schools
Classroom Supply
Lists for 2016 - 17
Classroom Supply Lists
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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A
The annual Fire Inspection reports were completed in April 2016.
The semi-annual Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
(AHERA) reports were completed in January and June 2016. All of
these reports are available for review in the Vestal School District’s administration building, 201 Main Street, Vestal. For more information,
please contact Joseph Loretz at 757-2231/[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 21st Annual Doctors with a Heart Day on
September 24, 2016. 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, Endwell (754-2273)
1113 Route 11, Kirkwood (722-5464) ● 101 S. Broad Street, Norwich (334-8666)
57 Public Avenue, Montrose, PA (570-278-1186)
Chenango Bridge Dental ● 528 Main Street, Chenango Bridge (648-4113)
Support
Celebrating Vestal’s Best: 2016 Hall of Fame Inductees
T
hree outstanding Vestal alumni were inducted into
the district’s Hall of Fame on May 12. One after
the other, Captain Michael Giannetti, Dr. Dwayne King
and Lieutenant Colonel Drew Watson took the podium
to accept this honor, and, one after the other, they spoke
about how the family, teachers, friends and community
of Vestal built for them a strong foundation to go out
into the world and follow their dreams.
“I look back with fondness at my teen years in Vestal,”
said Captain Giannetti, Class of 1988, who was
nominated for induction by his friend,
classmate and 2013
Hall of Fame Inductee
David Holbrook. “My
experiences at Vestal
High School prepared
me very well for the
academic rigors I faced
in college, and the
other challenges that I
faced in life.”
The last inductee of the evening was Lt. Colonel
Drew Watson, Class of 1975. Introduced by his
brother, Daniel, Class of 1979, Lt. Colonel Watson
compared part of the U.S. Marines’ symbol of an
anchor to his education and childhood in Vestal.
“From a symbolism standpoint,” he said, “my
anchor is this place.”
Transferring to Clayton Avenue Elementary School
in the fourth grade, Drew made it very clear to the
guests that it was not happenstance that brought him
to Vestal. “My folks chose Vestal,” he
stated emphatically. “My father was an
educator; education was very important.
So, they chose Vestal when they moved
to the Triple Cities area.”
The Hall of Fame Committee would
like to thank our very generous
sponsors for their support of the
2016 Hall of Fame.
Our Gold Sponsor
this year was the
Brian K. Mather
(Top) Vestal’s 2016 Hall of Fame
State Farm Agency.
Inductees are Dr. Dwayne King,
Silver Sponsors
Capt. Michael Giannetti and
included Broome
Lt. Col. Drew Watson.
Bituminous Products,
(Right) Drew Watson spoke to Social
Inc.; Coleman and
Studies students on Hall of Fame Day.
Daniels Funeral
Home, LLC; Hunt
(Inset) Capt. Giannetti receives his
Engineers,
Architects,
Hall of Fame plaque from then-interim
Surveyors; National
Dr. Dwayne King,
Superintendent Jeffrey Ahearn.
Pipe
& Plastics,
Class of 1960, was
Inc. and Tully’s. We
emotional as he looked out at the many family members
are
also pleased to
and classmates who came to celebrate with him.
recognize our many
“Tonight,” he said, “so many are here that represent
Bronze
Sponsors:
Barney
&
Dickenson, Inc.;
those parts of Vestal that led and lit my path.”
BC Bicycles, Inc.; Feduke Ford Lincoln; Patrick
Giannetto (Class of 1983/2006 Vestal Hall of
King, who was nominated by a family friend, Sally
Fame); Mapes Auctioneers & Appraisers; Beverly
Eldred, also had a message for the next generation of
Ochiai; Southern Tier Stages, Inc.; Vestal Wine &
Vestal graduates. “ I want to challenge them to think
Liquor; and Bob (Class of 1966/2006 Vestal Hall of
about what they can do to make a difference in the world;
Fame) and Carla Warner.
to make a difference in people’s lives,” he concluded.
3
Foster
Class of 2016 continued from cover
Superintendent Ahearn remarked on the bittersweet
moment of this occasion as he addressed the 296
graduate-elects. “Today we honor you for all of your
accomplishments, but as we celebrate with you the
many years of growth and development, we know we
also must say ‘goodbye’ as we watch you begin the next
chapter of your lives, full of hope and expectations.”
Valedictorian Montana Boone urged her classmates
to open their hearts as they go out into the world,
embracing others and empathizing with all who are
different. “So please be kind,” she said. “ Listen, care
and understand.”
Sawako Suzuki, the second student speaker, echoed
that sentiment as she shared a personal experience
that impacted her life. “No one is alone, and everyone
has something that no one knows about,” she said. “It
makes us closer; it makes us stronger.”
Both students commented on the uniqueness of their
years in Vestal. Sawako asked her classmates to
envision themselves down the road in a town where
“you are the only one who knows what VHS is, the
only one who knows how magical it is to play under
the lights of Dick Hoover Stadium!”
Montana wrapped up her speech by saying, “In the
words of Mr. Vestal himself, Joe Seif, ‘stay golden,
Vestal!’”
We salute every Class of 2016 graduate, and to the
following students who earned academic distinction:
Top 10 Students: Montana Boone (valedictorian),
Michael Spivak (salutatorian), Sakshi Vasiu, Serina
DeHart, Maitri Mangal, Sarah Mieczkowski, Nicholas
Barney, Morgan Chadwick, Jamie Wu and Sawako
Suzuki.
New Visions Graduates: Benjamin McCarthy and
Andrew O’Hare (Business); Tyannah Anderson
(Engineering); Zachary Davis, Hannah Hayford,
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Selena Haykal, Anthony Mangiacapra and Michael
Spivak (Health Careers Academy); Samantha
Fletcher and Casey MacDonell (Law/Government).
These students pursued International Baccalaureate
Diplomas: Nathan Benjamin, Montana Boone, Sarah
Boyd, Julia Ferrante, Thomas Hanes, Anthony Ivanov,
Joshua Lewis, Maitri Mangal, Jared Miller, Yvonne
Raychawdhuri, Sawako Suzuki, Sakshi Vasiu and
Jamie Wu.
Vestal’s Scholar Certificate candidates included
IB Diploma candidates and these students:
Afrah Ahmed, Azva Alvi, Caroline Barrett, Natalia
Basualdo, Madeline Beaulieu, Emily Brennan,
Bailyn Brink, Morgan Chadwick, Kristian Cho, Tyler
Cingranelli, Patrick Comerford, Jan Cygan, Corinne
D’Andria, Maxwell Feinberg, Kristen Garrison,
Brianna Hawkins, Alicia Kasson, Joseph Kuchera,
Sean Kunz, Rani Marhaba, Evan McNierney, Sarah
Mieczkowski, Courtney Moore, Sarah Mughal,
Logan Murdock, Annie Murphy, Bach Nguyen,
David Pirc, Marissa Pompeii, Samuel Rachmaninoff,
Eamon Reynolds, Aubrianna Rice, Rebekah
Schwartz, Mohammed Shah, Jordan Skube, Michael
Spivak, Andrew Sprague, Ayla Stafford, Kiara
Stafford, Emma Stockwin, Alison Van Dyke and
Drew Williams.
Superintendent continued from cover
“I’d like to thank the Board of Education, Vestal
Central School District staff and the community
for the level of support I have received as Interim
Superintendent,” said Mr. Ahearn. “This support has
given me a solid foundation as I officially step into
the role of Superintendent of Vestal Schools, and
I look forward to working with all stakeholders
to continue guiding our students along the path of
academic excellence that Vestal epitomizes.”
After successful contract negotiations, Mr. Ahearn
was formally appointed at a school board meeting
on May 31, and officially assumed his duties
immediately.
Invest
Extending the IB Learner Profile
By Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Laura Lamash
What sets Vestal apart from most school districts throughout New York State and the nation is that we are an
International Baccalaureate district. Like our neighboring
district, Binghamton, our high school is an accredited
International Baccalaureate school offering students the
opportunity to pursue IB coursework and, if they choose,
an IB Diploma. More than a quarter of our students take
one or more IB courses. Each year, enrollment in IB
courses exceeds 700. Students taking IB courses experience an international curriculum with a strong emphasis
on written assessment and inquiry methods.
The pages of this “Look At Us,” however, speak to
another way the International Baccalaureate program
touches all students by promoting a model of
character development called
the IB Learner Profile. There are
10 qualities that the IB Learner
Profile inspires in students:
We see the learner profile in the stories of Community 101. Our teachers and principals promote community service to develop our students’ sense of caring
and compassion for the needs of those around them.
We see the learner profile in the annual celebration of Vestal alumni who show us how the spirit of
service can shape a principled life, forging new and
different paths to better the world.
We see the learner profile in the accomplishments
of our faculty, as Master Teachers, or as masterful
teachers helping students build relationships with
each other and the community we are a part of.
Finally, we see it in our families, all of
you, who contribute daily to
the vibrant and thriving culture of learning and caring
that distinguishes our district.
● Inquirers
● Knowledgeable
● Thinkers
● Communicators
● Principled
● Open-minded
● Caring
● Risk-takers
● Balanced
● Reflective
As you read the many stories of student
achievement and leadership in the pages
of this “Look At Us,” be mindful of how
the IB Learner Profile influences the
education of your child.
We promote curriculum that fosters
inquiry through a strong foundation in
core knowledge. Our Vestal community
is a proud, international community with more than 15
languages spoken by our students. Our diverse cultures
open students’ minds and hearts to the complex world
that awaits them.
In May, candidates for the 2016 IB
Diploma help get the Binghamton Zoo
at Ross Park and The Discovery Center
ready for the season as part of the Creative Action Service Project requirement of their diploma. Clockwise from top, Sarah Mieczkowski
cleans a carousel horse at the zoo, Rusty Virkler plants Blackeyed Susans in the Story Garden at The Discovery Center, and
Natalia Basualdo and Annie Murphy, with Ashley Hall, get
ready to plant a rose bush in the Story Garden.
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Challenge
“Community 101”
C
ommunity service is practically part of the curriculum at Vestal, not only in the International
Baccalaureate program, where creative, action,
service projects are a program requirement, but
service to others is encouraged wholeheartedly at
the elementary level as well. As this column testifies
newsletter after newsletter, year after year, our
students earn an “A+” in empathy. Here are just a
few of the charitable projects they accomplished
before the 2016-17 school year wrapped up.
African Road Elementary
From June 3 - 9, Student Council helped
coordinate a Pet Supplies Drive. In all, six boxes
of pet food and other supplies were collected for
local shelters, like the B.C. Humane Society and
Animal Care Council. On June 10, the school
celebrated with the second annual “Walk your
Dog to School Day.”
Glenwood Elementary
Students at Glenwood learned how to be good,
caring stewards for animals during a charitable
drive and educational campaign coordinated by
the school’s Animal Care Club May 24 - June 1.
This year’s theme was “Stop Animal Cruelty,”
and altogether the drive collected over $500 for
the B.C. Humane Society. At a special Glenwood
Gathering on June 2, students of the Animal Care
Club presented a slideshow on “What is Animal
Cruelty. What Can
You Do About It?”
Special guests were
Kim Broderick,
fundraising
coordinator at the
Humane Society,
John Shea, cruelty
investigator, Dave
Titus, a volunteer
and
“Chewy,”
Mia Hogan and Angelina Zakrajsek
present the school’s donation to Kim a Staffordshire
Broderick with the B.C. Humane
Terrier Mix who
Society on June 2.
was the Humane
Society’s animal ambassador. “Chewy,”
who is being fostered by Mr. Titus, is a
6
special-needs dog who was born with a cleft palate
and, unfortunately, is a past victim of animal cruelty.
After the presentation, the group talked to Glenwood
students about what they do for the Humane Society,
and then gratefully accepted the school’s donation.
Vestal Middle School
In Mrs. Jackson’s Family &
Consumer Science classes
this spring, students made
something to cheer up
children. As they have in
past years, eighth-graders
sewed pillowcases in many
child-friendly fabrics that
were donated to children
undergoing cancer treatment
Marina Jiao helped make pillowat Upstate Golisano Children’s
cases for “A Case for Smiles.”
Hospital in Syracuse or the
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This year the
middle-school students sewed 280 pillowcases to send to
young cancer patients through the organization “A Case
for Smiles,” formerly known as ConKerr Cancer.
VMS students showed their solidarity on World MS
Day, May 25, by wearing orange. In addition, Student
Council headed a doughnut sale on that day, which
raised $200 for multiple sclerosis.
VMS’ “Brass to the Future!,” an ensemble of brass
instrumentalists under the direction of band director
Chris Lewis-King, teamed up with a community
quintet of local musicians, “A Touch of Brass,” for a
joint performance on June 6 at Hilltop Nursing Center.
Vestal High School
Students in Miss Doolittle’s Global History and
Geography II
classroom
helped make a
difference in the
lives of Syrian
refugees with a
pinwheel project
as part of the
Students Rebuild
Grace Kelley and Rhian Kilmer hold
Challenge.
some of the pinwheels they helped create.
Support
The students made about 170 pinwheels, which is
symbolic of peace and innocence. The Students
Rebuild program, which inspires young people
worldwide to connect, learn and take collective
action on global issues, matched the donation
of pinwheels with a monetary donation to the
International Rescue Committee’s “Healing
Classrooms” project. For the pinwheels, a $425
donation was made to “Healing Classrooms,” which
trains teachers in special techniques to engage
conflict-affected children with social-emotional
learning opportunities and creates secure, nurturing
learning environments. (The donation in exchange
for the pinwheels was made by the Bezos Family
Foundation.) Funds generated by the Students
Rebuild Challenge will support Syrian children in the
IRC’s “Healing Classrooms” in Lebanon and Iraq.
Bailyn Brink
organized a Crayon
Drive in March as
part of an Interact
Club endeavor. A
total of 30 pounds of
crayons was donated
for “The Crayon
Initiative,” a nonprofit organization
that collects used
crayons to be
remolded into new
crayons for
It’s raining crayons! Interact Club members
schools and
Sophie Barton and Andre Angeline shower
hospitals.
Bach Nguyen with donated crayons.
As part of her creative action service project toward
earning her IB Diploma, senior Julia Ferrante
coordinated a Spare Change fundraiser to benefit
“Girl Up,” a United Nations’ sponsored organization
that promotes the health, safety, education and
leadership of girls in developing countries. From
March 28 - April 8, students and staff at Vestal High
School donated their spare change. Altogether, Julia
was able to collect over $800 for “Girl Up.”
The fourth annual Running of the Bears 5K Walk
and Run coordinated by Vestal High School’s
Race winners Casper and Colleen Magacs, J.P Sacco and
Aaron Perry (finishing first, third and second, respectively;
with Colleen Magacs, the women’s first-place finisher).
Varsity Club took place on April 2 this year. Almost
300 participants raised over $6,250 for 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.
Two more seniors earning their IB Diplomas organized a
creative action service project that not only raised money
for a local non-profit organization, but also helped raise
awareness of and educate fellow students about autism.
Maitri Mangal and Yvonne Raychawdhuri, assisted
by the VHS Lighthouse Committee, put together an
“Autism Awareness Week,” which was April 11 - 15.
During the week, “Facts of the Day” about different
disorders along the autism spectrum were read during the
daily announcements
and also adorned
educational posters
throughout the
school. On Friday,
the week culminated
with free face
painting during
lunch periods (of a
puzzle piece - the
national symbol
of autism). That
evening, an Autism
Trivia Night helped
Maitri Mangal and Yvonne Raychawdhuri
raised over $831 for helped educate fellow students about autism.
the local non-profit
“Alive! with Autism.”
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Foster
More Vestal Teachers named New York State Master Teachers
S
ince the inception of the New York State Master Teacher program in the fall of 2013, Vestal Central School
District has seen a number of its teachers receive the Master Teacher designation through this program that
sets high standards for those teachers who make the commitment to mentor their colleagues.
At the beginning of this school year, five more Vestal teachers were named New York State Master teachers JoAnn D’Angelo
Eighth-grade Math
(Vestal Middle School)
Debra Ortloff
Eighth-grade Math
(Vestal Middle School)
Sandra Mignerey
Living Environments
(Vestal High School)
Sonya Skinner
Eighth-grade Physical Science
& Regents Earth Science
(Vestal Middle School)
These five were among only 22 teachers from the
Southern Tier region to be selected in this cohort, and this
brings our total number of Master Teachers in the district
to 12. Congratulations to all! They join Cathy Jeremko and
Colleen Schultz at Vestal Middle School and colleagues
Danette Berry, Peter Klimas, Stephanie Lewis, Tracy Suggs
and Rosanne Van Wie at Vestal High School.
Allison Weisel
Geometry/Elements of Algebra
(Vestal High School)
The Master Teacher Program
Master Teachers in our area are paired with Binghamton
University as their research institution to help them stay
engaged in cutting-edge developments in their field and
improve their content knowledge. For more information
on New York State’s Master Teacher program, including
the criteria used to select Master Teachers, visit the
SUNY website at www.suny.edu/Master Teacher.
Vestal High School Teacher Honored
M
r. Jeffrey Dunham, English department chair at Vestal High School, was honored as
part of Cornell University’s Merrill Presidential Scholars program in May. Vestal High
School alumnus Joseph Spivak, Class of 2012, was selected as a Merrill Presidential Scholar.
Continued on page 23
Universal Pre-K News:
Special Ladies Tea
at Cub Care
Literacy Day at JCC
A
very special guest on Literacy
Day this year, in addition to
Johnny Only, was “Clifford the Big
Red Dog.” The day began on May
6 with the traditional parade where
students dressed as their favorite
literary character. It included
other fun activities, including
entertainment by Johnny Only and
story time with Clifford.
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A
Isabella, Natalie, Martino, Ty and Addison
are ready to read with Clifford.
n annual tradition for
UPK students at Cub
Care is the “Special Ladies
Tea,” always celebrated just
before Mother’s Day. Little
knights and princesses work
together on special snacks,
songs and crafts to honor the
special ladies in their lives.
Continued on next page
Invest
Special Ladies Tea continued
African Road News:
This year the book
they shared with
their guests was
“When a Dragon
Moves in.”
C
ombining English language arts and writing
with an always-fun cultural component, thirdgraders in Mrs. Bogart’s and Mrs. Lanz’ classes wrote
and studied fairy tales during a unit that took place
throughout the month of May. Often passed down from
generation to generation, different cultures all share
a common affinity for fables and other stories that
celebrate customs and often reinforce social values.
Tea for Two...
Avery and her
mother, Thomasita,
enjoy the “Special
Ladies Tea” together.
Kindergarten, Here We Come!
W
e blinked, and our district’s newest
students grew up. Universal PreKindergarten students celebrated their first
educational milestone as both the Cub Care
Children’s Center and Jewish Community
Center campuses held graduation ceremonies.
On June 16 and 17, a total of 40 students
attending Vestal’s Universal Pre-K program
at the Cub Care campus graduated in three
ceremonies attended by their families and
other special guests.
Jaora and Isabella line
up before their UPK
graduation at Cub Care
Children’s Center.
Focus on Fables and Fairy Tales
(Right) Wassim Hila
shared a “Goha”
banner with his
class that was made
by his grandfather,
who is from the
Middle East.
Goha stories have
been passed down
for centuries in
many Middle
Eastern countries.
(Photo provided by Heather Bogart.)
At JCC’s campus, there were 59 Vestal
UPK students receiving certificates this
year in multiple ceremonies on June 23.
Afterward, they joyously celebrated their
transition to kindergarten with cake!
Practice makes perfect! Bailey, Breanna
and Evan proudly recite the “The Pledge
of Allegiance,” which they have been
learning in preparation for Kindergarten.
Mianna, graduating from Vestal’s UPK program at the JCC,
is excited to be “crossing the bridge” into Kindergarten.
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Challenge
Honoring Flag Day
Biology in the Classroom
B
ringing a science unit on amphibians up close
and personal, Mrs. Bogart and Mrs. Lanz hosted
about 40 tadpoles in their classrooms from April
until the end of school. Students had an in-depth
opportunity to study the tadpoles as they made their
exciting transition from amphibians to frogs.
The lab tied into class curriculum as the students
finished studying about amphibians around the
world, such as the goliath frog and the now-extinct
gastric-brooding frog. The latter, which had been
native to Australia, was unique because its offspring
were incubated in the stomach of the mother.
Xenia Smith
takes a closer
look at the
tadpoles in
her classroom.
Science Fair
ARE Band
members
David Ojo
and Addison Kalina
recite “The
Pledge of
Allegiance.”
A
school-wide celebration on June 14 to celebrate
Flag Day did not just honor the holiday, but also
became a beautiful history lesson for African Road
Elementary students. All classes took part as Principal
Stenta shared the history and symbolism of “Old
Glory.” She told them that the colors of the flag had
meaning: red represents valor, hardiness and sacrifice;
white symbolizes purity, innocence and peace and blue
stands for vigilance, perseverance and justice. Fourthgraders also read facts about the Flag Day holiday
itself, Cub Scouts presented the flag, kindergarten
students danced to “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” thirdgraders played their recorders and students in grades 4
and 5 sang while the school band played.
S
tudents had free rein to explore their scientific
interests at this year’s Science
Fair on May 5. Over 60 students
researched, hypothesized and
recorded results in experiments that
included hydroponics, magnetism,
gravitational waves and more.
Dania Sodhi and Raghad
Farhat prepare their waterbottle volcano for eruption.
They presented their displays for
classmates during the school day on
May 5, and then parents and other
family members were invited to the
fair that evening.
Justin Colon demonstrates his experiment on
The Science Fair provides an
magnetism and light. (With Ekamjyot Singh.)
opportunity for self-guided learning.
“I learned how the earth orbits around the sun,” said Kara Dhakal, when
asked what she found most interesting while studying gravitational waves for her science project.
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Support
Clayton Avenue News:
Tri-Cities Opera Go-Round
S
o what does a song from “Frozen” have to
do with opera? Well, it’s a terrific way for
elementary students to experience a different type
of musical style!
Members of the complimentary Tri-Cities
Opera’s educational “Opera Go-Round” program
introduced Clayton Avenue students to their craft
on May 19. The program, called “Children’s
Movie and Music Favorites,” is funded through
Clayton Avenue Elementary students enjoyed a lesson in culture from
members of the Tri-Cities Opera. Left to right, (front row) are McKenzie
multiple community partners, including The
Healy, Nikolas Lewis, Angelica Colburn and Natalie Jackson; (second
Roger L. Kresge Foundation, The New York
row) Connor Freeman, Amy Williams, Addie Shipp, Jazlyn Burdick and
Council on the Arts, and the Floyd Hooker
Gavin Beers; (back row) Tri-Cities Opera members Eric Frei, Abigail
Foundation of the Broome County Arts Council.
Rethwisch, Jake Stamatis, Mary Beth Nelson and Quinn Bernegger.
In addition to singing many popular children’s favorites, like “Let it Go” from “Frozen,” the performers took
time to answer students’ questions about their jobs, and opera in general. It also gave them an opportunity to
share a life lesson, when one student asked how long have they been singing. The performer who answered
emphasized the importance of practice in all that you do.
“TRY”athlon 2016
I
t was “Move it May!” at Clayton Avenue, and the
exercise (yes, pun intended) in disconnecting from
electronic devices and “screens” culminated on May 26
with the school’s annual
“TRY”athlon. Students
had the perfect day to
visit their playground
and Hoover Stadium to
enjoy a variety of different
activities. There was an
obstacle course, staffed
by CAPTO volunteers,
healthy snacks and a place
where students could ride
bicycles and scooters.
This initiative is designed
to help students find
activities that they can
Samantha Morse navigates
build into a healthy lifestyle as
through a tunnel on the
they grow and develop.
obstacle course.
Glenwood News:
Taking Earth Day to a Greener Level
I
t was a lean, environmentally clean, “green”
machine! In celebration of Earth Day, April 22,
2016, Glenwood students got to tour a transit bus
equipped with BAE Systems HybriDrive System.
The bus rolled onto the Glenwood campus where
the students could check it out by grade level.
As part of their focus on taking care of the environment, the students had an opportunity to
learn how the BAE Systems’ hybrid technology
saves fuel and eliminates harmful carbon dioxide
emissions.
Glenwood fifth-graders assisted employees
from BAE Systems as they explained how the
bus operates and shared the benefits of hybrid
systems for the environment. Many thanks to
John Hroncich, a Vestal Board of Education
member and business development manager
Continued on page 12
11
Foster
Earth Day continued
The Magic Paintbrush Project
with BAE Systems who helped coordinate the “bus
stop” at Glenwood for Earth Day. “It’s all of our jobs
to protect the Earth,” Hroncich told students as he
went over the history of Earth Day with them. “This
bus behind me helps do that.”
hat better way to celebrate our wonderfully
unique differences than with a rainbow of
colors?! Thanks to a grant from The Vestal School
Foundation, Glenwood Elementary students got to do
just that on May 9 when The Magic Paintbrush Project
came to their school.
Second-graders learn about Earth
Day, and how a hybrid system works.
As the students studied the bus inside and out, BAE
staff explained how the bus works, including where
the battery is and how the engine system operates.
W
With the
opportunity
to create
together,
this activity
tied into the
school’s
character
education
Third-graders Emily Kapczynski, Haley
Carey and Elaina Hochdoerfer added their
program and
handprints to a banner for the school.
reinforced the
students’ understanding
that we all are each exceptional in some way.
Discovering a Lost World
N
othing says “fun” to a second-grader more than dinosaurs... and
sand. Yes, dinosaurs and playing in sand are the best - Oh! and
rocks, don’t forget how much we love rocks!
Miniature paleontologist
Aishwarya Patel, above,
brushes off one of her finds.
It was a trifecta of fun for Mrs. Cherevko’s and Mrs. MacCrabie’s
second-grade students when The Discovery
Center came to school on June 15 with
a program called “Fabulous Fossils.”
Amanda Florance, a school-age
educator with The Discovery Center,
Right, Gavin Rood,
assisted by parent volunteers guided
Anthony Cooper, Luke
the children through five stations
Sobel and Jerimiah Rue
to explore. Their math skills
carefully inspect fossil
got a workout as they measured
and mineral samples.
strings on the floor to compare the
lengths of different dinosaurs. Was the Apatosaurus the longest of them all?.. At the next station, they made
fossil impressions in Play-Doh, then played “match those dinosaur prints.” They examined a variety of fossil
and mineral samples at another station, and at the last station donned hat, goggles and vest as they played
paleontologists, carefully excavating mini dinosaur parts and fossils from sand-filled bins. It was hard to tell who
was enjoying themselves more, the kids, their teachers or the photographer!
12
Continued on page 13
Invest
Discovering continued
Along the way, they learned a lot about the science of paleontology, how fossils are made by the compression and hardening
of sedimentary materials and the differences between dinosaur
types, such as herbivores and carnivores.
Many thanks to the GSCA for sponsoring this “Lost World”
adventure from The Discovery Center!
Left, Sidra El Ghissassi, Aiden Field and Zachary Geary
make a fossil impression in Play-Doh.
Tioga Hills News:
Learning about Chemistry
L
earning how DNA strands link together, exploring
the properties of “memory metals,” creating a
fruit battery and investigating the consistency of the
ever-popular Oobleck were all on the agenda for Tioga
Hills students on May 6 when chemistry students
from Binghamton University came by to share their
knowledge of chemistry.
Student rotated through 13
stations, all with interesting
activities to demonstrate various chemical
properties. They
created UV bracelets,
watched metal wires
dance and bend when
heated, felt the texture
of hydroponic sand,
Sophia Bruce and Jordyn Schake
and took home a tube
check out a polymer sample, affecof DNA (wheat germ
tionately referred to as “Oobleck.”
DNA!) fashioned into
a necklace. “I think little bitty DNA strands are cool!”
exclaimed Alex Bernstein after receiving his sample.
Tioga Hills students in grades 3 - 5 enjoyed the handson chemistry stations on May 6. The B.U. students
returned on June 7 for a special presentation to
introduce chemistry to students in grades K - 2. Many
thanks to Binghamton University’s Department of
Chemistry students and staff for this wonderful STEM
experience, courtesy of its free outreach program.
Speaking of Chemistry...
W
e are pleased to
share that Jenna
Holleran, a first-grade
student at Tioga Hills won
first place in the National
Chemists Celebrate Earth
Day 2016 Illustrated
Poem contest. Jenna was
selected in the category of
submissions from students
in grades kindergarten
through second. She
John and Jenna Holleran with
received her award
their award-winning poems.
from Dr. Wayne Jones,
Jr., Binghamton University professor and chair of
its Department of Chemistry, during the chemistry
presentations on June 7.
Jenna was inspired to enter the contest by her older
brother, John, a fifth-grader. John won his age division
of the Chemistry Poem contest in our region this
year, and has won in past years. (See “The Chemistry
of Caramel” article, which was published in the
December 2014 edition of “Look at Us!”)
The theme of this year’s contest was “The Great
Indoors - Your Home’s Ecosystem,” and Jenna’s
award-winning poem entitled “Indoor Plants” explained
how house plants help “clean” the air inside our homes.
The American Chemical Society sponsors this contest
annually to promote science literacy in kids.
13
Challenge
STEM Day
I
t’s hard to tell which is louder
– an entire school of students,
cheering and yelling like they are at a
Nickelodeon concert, or a 6,000-pound
power-lift helicopter in the process of
landing. Put the two together, and the
air is literally buzzing with excitement!
That was the scene at Tioga Hills
Elementary on Friday, May 13.
The day began with a series
of fun, yet challenging,
STEM (Science, Engineering,
Technology, Math) activities.
From 9:15 a.m. until lunch time,
students rotated through three
stations supervised by volunteers
from Lockheed Martin Owego.
Above, students follow Lockheed Martin
Chief Test Pilot Jerry “Mac” McCawley
out to the KMAX helicopter after it safely
landed by their school.
Right, Lucas Tran, Lillian Tripp and
Diana Kalashnik build team-working skills
along with their pipe-cleaner structure.
Station 1 was a Paper Airplane exercise in the gym. It
was the perfect activity to demonstrate the process of
scientific inquiry as students made predictions and then
tested their hypotheses.
At Station 2, students practiced collaboration as they
worked in teams to build the tallest structure they could
out of pipe cleaners, one that must be self-standing.
Mini-Snap Circuit Kits at Station 3 brought a lot of the
curriculum that fifth-grade teacher Corinne Schake has
been covering with her class together. “This month in
fifth grade we’ve been talking about Matter and Energy,
and how every action has a reaction. (This station)
just helps them see that what you’re talking about and
reading about in books is applied in real life!”
One of her students, Abigale Wessner, made a big
connection for herself. She noticed how the Snap
Circuits tied into what they’ve been learning about
coordinate graphing. “We used a coordinate
plane to put the stuff on,” she explained proudly.
“It was like ‘Battleship!’”
14
The best was yet to come, however. After lunch, the
kids gathered in the school cafeteria to see a video
about the KMAX power lift helicopter. They also
watched a “Mini-Me” drone version of the KMAX
in action. Then, walking outside with their classes,
they waited with excitement, watching the sky
above the field next to their school. At 1:50 p.m.,
the helicopter swooped into view, and the students
began cheering. After the helicopter made a pictureperfect landing (see the video on the Tioga Hills’ web
page) and the rotors stopped spinning, the children
were allowed to surround the copter. Chief Test Pilot
Jerry “Mac” McCawley answered students’ questions
for half an hour. They asked how much it weighed
(6,000 pounds, which is light for a helicopter), how
much it can carry (it can lift a load equal to its own
weight) and even how old you have to be to ride on a
helicopter. (We think that was a hint for a test ride!)
Brandon Mancini, manager for engineering leadership
development at Lockheed Martin, explained why he
and his team were more than happy to present this
opportunity for Tioga Hills students. “We want to get
kids interested in technology fields; to be exposed to it
at a young age,” he said.
Support
Wrapping Up THE News
Below, second-grader Lindsey Steele
shared her love of cats during the
annual Special Interest Fair in May.
Below,
Ty Sullivan
shows Ballwinkle his
thanks when
the B-Mets’
mascot visited
the Rock On’
Cafe in June.
Above, Tioga Hills fifth-grader
Bill Gorman V poses with his
father, Bill Gorman IV, and
little brother John (grade 2)
after the Edward P. Maloney
Memorial Pipe Band played
through the halls in March.
Being Good Characters
S
First-graders Jim Sysen, Aashrita Kandanati and Daniel
Allen with kindergarten students Maelice and Seraphina
meet Smolder and Mrs. Fletcher after the presentation.
That was the message for students when she presented
her anti-bullying program “I Refuse to Hate” on April 22.
“It’s important to give YOU a
positive image of yourself,” Mrs.
Fletcher told the students, and her
other characters who came to life
through the art of ventriloquism
repeated that theme. “Chico,” a
little opossum, emphasized that
being different is not bad. The
program fit in with the school’s
character education theme, and
reminded students to be good
characters and treat others the
way they want to be treated. As
they sang in the “Happy” song,
“When you come to school, you
have the right to be happy!”
Mrs. Fletcher last visited Vestal
Hills in January 2009 with a presentation reminding students that
being different is not only okay, it
is what makes us each special.
Vestal Hills News:
o he breathes smoke... He also has wings and loves
to dance! “Smolder the Dragon,” one of comedic
actress and ventriloquist Sylvia Fletcher’s cast of
characters is happy with who he is.
Good Characters continued
100-Mile Club
W
hen it comes to physical fitness, Vestal Hills
students and staff kept on “keepin’ on” with
their 100-Mile Club program. This is the club’s
third year, and the mileage keeps increasing! Over
40 students and staff reached their goals to walk (or
run) 100 miles or more. Many, many more set and
accomplished smaller mileage goals. The result? This
year the school’s total mileage was an unbelievable
15,540 miles! Everyone helped exceed the goal set at
the beginning of the year, which was 14,000 miles.
Fifth-grader Liam Foran logged his personal best,
305.6 miles, the most of any student. Staff members
Ms. Harvey and Mrs. Allen set the pace with 836 and
822 miles apiece.
Ms. Harvey congratulated everyone on their accomplishments. “I am so proud of you all,” she said. “You
set goals, sacrificed playground time, started early
and took small steps to achieve your goals.”
15
Foster
Vestal Middle School News:
Hands-on Science
T
uglena, Paramecia and Amoebas, oh my!
While the Naked Egg lab is always a popular
tradition in Karen Valenta’s science class, students
are also fascinated when they get to break out the
microscopes and look at live protists.
“The Wizard of Oz had Heart, and More”
ake one plucky, homesick girl, a shaky scarecrow,
creaky tin man and blustery lion... throw in some
adorable munchkins, mix with flying monkeys, add
one cranky, aquaphobic witch, and you have a recipe
for the best musical to hit the stage at the African Road
Auditorium in over a year!
Vestal Middle School presented The Young
Performers’ Edition of “The Wizard of Oz” April 1 - 3.
E
During a lab in the middle of May, seventh-graders
did just that, identifying the different protists under
the microscope, comparing their shapes and seeing
how they moved.
Left, Ryan Symons prepares a wet-mount slide.
Sachiko Nicholson, Joshua Sifert, Abigail Sprague
and Andrew LaClair are off to see the Wizard.
Right, Kiara
Woolfolk focuses
on identifying the
protist under
her microscope.
Photo courtesy of Michelle LaClair
Leads for this musical included Abigail Sprague as Dorothy, Andrew LaClair as the Scarecrow, Joshua Sifert
as the Tin Man, Sachiko Nicholson as the Cowardly Lion, Tayli Wrighter as Glinda the Good Witch, Dora
Donacik as the Wicked Witch and Conner Smith as the Wizard. However, over 75 student actors from Vestal
Middle School and “Munchkins” from all five elementary schools worked together to present three enchanting
performances that took their audiences over the rainbow. And a cameo “appearance” by Miss Loose, chroma
keyed in Vestal green... we mean, emerald green, was a highlight of the show!
Odyssey of the Mind New York State Award
S
peaking of heart, Vestal Middle School’s Odyssey of the Mind team presented an exercise in compassion at the
New York State Finals on April 2. The team was recognized with a special OMER Award, when several team
members and their coach shaved their heads in March to raise awareness about the fight against childhood cancer.
Their action also raised money for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a childhood cancer charity.
The team received the OMER Award for serving as positive role models through their charitable fundraising.
16
Invest
Students Learn “Which Way EJ?”
W
hile national and world history is always an important part of curriculum, a unit immersing them
in the local history helps bring our community alive for
students. Language Arts teacher Darren Herman helped
his sixth-grade students make that link with a thesis project in May. They researched local history with a focus
on the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company. Students spent
several days reading, analyzing data and coding specific
facts about Endicott Johnson or its founder, George
F. Johnson, which led to supporting information they
composed into a thesis statement with supporting claims.
Fly-Fishing 101
O
ne of the Student Activity Day offerings has
several students hooked on fly-fishing. Since
Vestal Middle School implemented these specialinterest workshops on Early Release Days two
years ago, physical education teachers Dennis
Cluck and Matthew Wood have offered lessons
in fly-fishing to interested students. Usually, the
kids cast their lines in the gym, but on June 10,
the last Student Activity Day of this school year,
they enjoyed a field trip to practice their skills on
a local pond.
Next they welcomed local expert and author Gerald Smith
on June 6, who was happy to share information he has
compiled over many years as Broome County Historian.
He also answered some of the questions that piqued their
curiosity after undertaking this research project.
Quinn McKercher
is excited when
he casts his line
and catches a nice
sunfish. With one
of his teachers,
Dennis Cluck.
“I think they have a stronger connection to the
community, said Smith, “when they know its history.”
Ben Dieffenbaugher, Mason Lawrence, Colleen Godleski, Olivia
Muse and Anthony Karnauch met Broome County Historian
Gerald Smith following his presentation on the history of EJ.
Many thanks to Vestal alumnus Dr. Thomas
VanGorder, who allowed the students to use his
pond to catch and release a variety of fish. The
students also learned how to be good stewards as
they were instructed in the best way to make an
optimal humane release, including ensuring that
their hands were wet before touching the fish.
Many thanks to Mr. Smith for his time in speaking to our
students. He has served as Broome County Historian for 28
years and City of Binghamton Historian for over 30 years.
Vestal High School News:
Drumline Beats out the Competition
V
estal High School’s Talent Fest is always a popular,
much-anticipated student event. Winning this year’s
Talent Fest on March 12 was the Vestal High School Drumline.
Taking second-place honors was junior Julia
Padavona with a dance routine. Rounding out
the top three, Afrah Ahmed and Serina DeHart
paired up on a song-and-dance number to win
third place. Thanks to all the students who shared
their special skills with us.
The Drumline also shared their talents with the
community, playing at the “March for Babies”
on May 15 at Otsiningo Park.
Continued on page 18
17
Challenge
Talent Fest continued
Drumline members (listed alphabetically)
Jacob Barnes, Mira Dhakal, Kevin Fang, Abigail
Klenchik, Colin McCarthy, Brian Miller, Joshua
Tonkin, Matthew Whiteman and Ethan Willis stole
the stage during the 2016 Talent Fest. (Photo from
preview performance during First Friday student
assembly on February 26.)
Student Accomplishments
Art
Music
More Gold!
he Fine Arts Society of
the Southern Tier held its
“Young at Art” student art show
in March. Congratulations
to the following Vestal High
School students who won
ribbons in several categories:
t was pure “Gold” for VHS
Music groups during the
NYSSMA (New York State
School Music Association)
Festival in May!
number of Vestal High School
students earned the Girl Scout
Gold Award, the highest honor that a
Girl Scout can achieve.
T
Caroline Guzewicz
First-place winner in Mixed Media
Samantha Cooper
I
The Orchestra, Wind Ensemble
and Vestal Voices each were
awarded a Level 6 Gold with
Distinction. The Concert Band
received a Level 3 Gold.
A
Jessica Duff, Katelynn Ossege, Lauren
Myers and Valerie Waters all worked
many hours on sustainable projects
that will benefit their community for
years to come.
Second-place winner in Painting
Anna Dzury
Third-place in Painting
Margaret Winchell
Honorable Mention in Photography
Photography
Jessica Duff, Katelynn Ossege and Lauren Myers
M
aggie Winchell took first
place in the Preservation
Association of the Southern
Tier’s “Everyone has a Hometown” photography contest
in May.
Her entry was a black-and-white
photo of the former New York
State Inebriate Asylum.
18
Writing
Above, Margaret
Winchell with her
winning photo.
Right, Bailyn
Brink wins another
writing contest.
B
ailyn Brink followed up her TriCities Women’s Club writingcontest win earlier this year with
another first-place award from the
Southern Tier Authors of Romance
short-story contest in June. Her
story, “The Room across the Hall,”
was written in the horror genre.
Support
National Honor Society
Students Inside Albany Conference
estal High School
congratulates these new
members of its National Honor
Society chapter. Selected in
May, they will be formally
inducted in the Fall of 2016:
ohn Restuccia was sponsored by the League of Women Voters to attend
The Students Inside Albany Conference, which took place May 22 - 25.
The only student selected to represent Broome and Tioga counties, John
attended various workshops on topics such as “Successful Citizen Lobbyists
and “Shadow a New York State Senator.” He also had the opportunity to tour
the New York State Capitol. John presented on his experience to the local
chapter of the League of Women Voters upon his return.
V
Julia Alt
Amber Bowen
Madison Card
Katelyn Engleman
Cecilia Flores
Sarah Kotchey
Lauren Lee
Bailey Matthews
Matthew O’Hara
Anuj Patel
Daria Pronina
Leyna Ruvola
Eric Salomons
Michelle Truesdell
Nealy Van Dyke
Samantha Vellenga
J
SUNY ESF Award
T
wo representatives of Vestal High
School’s Environmental Club,
Alicia Kasson and Marissa Pompeii,
won the oral presentation portion of the
SUNY ESF’s Environmental Summit
Research Symposium on June 2. They
presented their club’s findings on a yearlong project to research the impact of
Styrofoam meal trays on the environment.
Alicia Kasson and Marissa Pompeii
(File photo from May 23.)
The Environmental Club is comprised of students enrolled in the IB
Environmental Systems & Societies course. Due to an agreement with
SUNY’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Vestal High
School students taking this course can earn college credit with ESF.
IB Art Show 2016
T
Artwork by Courtney Moore,
above, and Kiara Stafford, right.
he International Baccalaureate Art Show was open to the public on
March 31 at Vestal High School. This year’s show was, as usual,
breathtaking, and showcased the portfolios of 16 students taking the twoyear IB Visual Arts HL course. The course requires students to exhibit their
studio work, show their research journals and discuss their development as
an artist during interviews. The art
exhibited was created by Catherine
Bracken, Montana Boone,
Samantha Cooper, Samantha Eder,
Sarah Foran, Emily Goldenberg,
Dylane Gray, Mandlenkosi
Mandizha, Sarah Mieczkowski,
Emma Milligan, Courtney Moore,
Yvonne Raychawdhuri, Sarah
Mughal, Kiara Stafford, Rebekah
Schwartz and Emily Tartamella.
19
Foster
Future Business Leaders of America
J
ust three months after forming a Future Business Leaders of America chapter, Vestal High School students captured several awards at the District 8 Spring Meeting of the FBLA on April 6. A special certificate was awarded
to senior Maxwell Feinberg, for his initiative and hard work in helping establish the FBLA chapter at Vestal High
School in January.
The FBLA District Meeting was hosted by Vestal and
featured competitive events during the morning, followed
by lunch and the awards ceremony. Approximately 50
students from three of the four local schools with FBLA
chapters attended. The schools included Oneonta, Vestal
and Windsor. The areas in which teams competed included
Impromptu Speaking, Public Speaking, Emerging Business
Issues, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Management
Decision-Making and Sports Management.
Vestal High School Interim Principal, Dr. Albert Penna,
VHS FBLA advisor Annette Mezzadonna, VHS FBLA
President Max Feinberg and Ryan Allo, FBLA Vice Chair.
Of note, despite its fledging status, Vestal’s teams swept
the Entrepreneurship category of the competition. Taking
first place was the team of Maxwell Feinberg, Zexi Jin and
Brandon McCreary. The second-place team was comprised of Hanna Bogart, Muzna Mahmood and Susannah
Tokarz. Taking third-place honors was the team of Skylar Abraham and Colin McCarthy.
Other Vestal High School winners included Joshgua Mertens, who was awarded first place in the area of
Impromptu Speaking, and the team of Nicholas Barney, Eamon Reynolds and Eric Salomons, who took first place
in Marketing and second place in Sports Management.
A Lesson in Forensic Anthropology
S
eniors in Andrea Smith’s
elective Forensics II
class and Mitzy Benjamin’s
Mystery and Crime course
enjoyed a lesson in Forensic
Anthropology on May 11
from an expert in the field.
Binghamton University
Assistant Professor Dr.
Elizabeth DiGangi and
some of her students
brought in specimens and
Abigail Klenchik and Brianna
shared their knowledge on the
Cordi examine some of the
subject. This was a first-time
specimens Dr. DiGangi brought in.
collaboration, which was very
well-received by students. During the presentation, they were
able to rotate through three “bone” stations on species
identification, gender identification and bone type.
20
Safety Assembly focuses
on Impact of Heroin Abuse
A
s a follow-up to a panel discussion
presented in January on “Heroin and
our Community,” Vestal High School’s
Lighthouse Committee, in conjunction
with community partners, sponsored two
assemblies on May 13 to build insight into
the heroin epidemic from a student’s pointof-view.
Some of the speakers, including Captain
Pat Garey, New York State Police; Caitlyn
G., a person in recovery; Chris Musser,
Brandon Youngstrom Foundation; Sergeant
Chris Streno, Vestal Police Department;
and Alan Wilmarth, UHS New Horizons,
prefaced their comments with a reassurance
to students that “we’re not trying to scare
you.” Except for Capt. Garey, that is.
Continued on next page
Invest
Safety Assembly continued
Year-End Highlights
“I’ve seen what this stuff does, and I’m NOT afraid
to scare you,” he stated emphatically.
Swing into Spring Dance
Once again, students from Vestal
High School clubs, athletic teams
and other student groups asked
area senior citizens “can I
have this dance?”
The panelists shared a lot of sobering information.
From how opiates can permanently change your
brain’s chemistry to how many times a week local
first responders are encountering instances where
they need to administer Naloxone (in an attempt to
reverse an opioid overdose), they were blunt about
the effects from using heroin. “At 24, I overdosed
and flat-lined for the first time,” said Caitlyn G.
about her spiral into heroin addiction, which began
with trying prescription drugs in ninth grade.
The third annual “Swing
into Spring” Dance was
May 20. Vestal Senior
Matthew Benko took a
turn on the dance floor
with Maria Tinklepaugh.
They all stressed the importance of personal responsibility and making the right decisions. “Just
say ‘no’ doesn’t cut it anymore, said Sgt. Streno.
“You have to take ownership of the decisions you
make, and the repercussions of those decisions,”
urged Chris Musser, speaking on behalf of the
Brandon Youngstrom Foundation. “Be conscious
of the person you want to become.”
Student Recognition Breakfast
International Festival
Graduating seniors Sakshi
Vasiu and Montana Boone
hope to leave a lasting legacy
at Vestal High School. As part
of their IB Creative Service
Action project, they organized
the International Festival to
bring the school and community together in a celebration
of our cultural diversity. The
second annual International
Festival was on June 3.
C
Grade 9
onsistent affirmation... A biennial tradition, the Student Recognition
Breakfast serves to underscore to students that their teachers, fellow
students and other staff are paying attention. Someone has noticed when
they have made an extra effort to become better students, more conscientious
classmates and quiet leaders. On May 19, VHS staff and administrators took
time to recognize these students at the Spring breakfast:
Gr. 9: Kaitlyn Cooke, Hannah Moyer, Ben
Huckabone, Nate Knipscher, Daniel O’Brien,
Sharon Ojo, Brock White and Samantha White.
Gr. 10: Zachary Aiosa, Harrison Barnes, Carter
Grade 10
Beaulieu, Zayne Benedict, Vivi Mandizha,
Sarah Martin, Victor Virgilio, Dominic
Warren and Walter Yacynych.
Grade 11
Gr. 11: Amber Bowen, Sydney Cogswell, Alexander Cox, Cassie Grossman,
Sarah Kotchey, Nicole Leska, Joseph Pirc, Ambyr Salisbury, Dallas Whitney,
Cassandra Wickman and Brandon Wilson.
Gr. 12: Kaitlyn Bailey, Montana Boone, Emily Brennan, Bailyn Brink, Shannon
Farley, Hannah Keister, Erin Kelley, Lizz Marcello, Brandon McCreary, Bach
Nguyen, Paige Osinski, Amarissa Scelsi, Joseph Seif, Michael Spivak, Valerie
Waters, Evan Weber and Margaret Winchell.
Grade 12
21
Together, we are Golden
Ready for action! Maria Paula Chapero, Tatiana Rivera,
Samantha Eder, Samantha Cooper and Jared Reester are
ready to take part in a fun Vestal Graduation tradition.
Above, Afrah Ahmed, Tyler Cingranelli
and Daria Pronina are picture perfect
before the ceremony.
Left, Vestal High School
graduate Dhyani James is
congratulated with flowers
by her family outside the
Events Center.
Joshua Lewis accepts
his diploma from
School Board member
Mario Nunes while
Feng Lin waits for his
big moment.
Above, Drew Sprague,
Marissa Pompeii, Alicia
Kasson, Aubrianna Rice
and Alex Niermeyer enjoy a
moment before the ceremony.
22
Leyna Ruvola shows off her diploma.
Above, Lillian Clark has
accessorized for the occasion.
Left, “Mr. Vestal” himself,
Joseph Seif, is now a proud
Vestal grad!
Challenge
Teacher Honored continued
Students are asked to identify the high school teacher and Cornell University professor who have most impacted their academic success and
career. Joseph chose to honor his former teacher, Mr. Jeffrey Dunham,
who teaches IB English.
“It was the highlight of my career as a teacher,” said Mr. Dunham, after
attending a reception, dinner and other ceremonies at Cornell University
for the occasion. “It’s just such an honor for a student to remember you in
that way.”
(For more information on the Merrill Presidential Scholars
Program, visit www.alumni.cornell.edu/merrill)
The 2015-16 Student Government
President Josh Walsh hands off the gavel
to President-Elect Cassie Grossman at
the school board meeting on June 14.
Vestal High School
2016-17 Officers
Student Government:
President - Cassie Grossman
Vice President - Sydney Cogswell
Secretary - Michelle Anderson
Treasurer - Haashim Shah
Senior Class:
President - Shelby Virkler
Vice President - Caitlin Jennings
Secretary - Andrew Wagner
Treasurer - Andrew Struble
Junior Class Officers:
President - Shaniya Morrison
Vice President - Gavin Bleir
Secretary - Yuval Tessman-Bar-On
Treasurer - Meaghan Farley
Sophomore Class Officers:
President - Jonathan Shapiro
Vice President - Trevor Barnes
Secretary - Alyssa Warren
Treasurer - Noah Bruster
Freshmen Class Officers:
President - Catherine Deskur
Vice President - Xandria Heidrich
Secretary - Angelique de Rouen
Treasurer - Ashley Sinicki
Section 4 and STAC Champs
Many seniors who played on Spring athletic teams saw the final season
of their high school careers finish on a high note.
The Girls Lacrosse team was crowned Section IV Class B champs
in May for the fifth straight year after they defeated Horseheads in
the title game. Undefeated, in April they helped Coach Williams
score his 100th career victory!
Also on the Girls Lacrosse team, Nicole Leska scored Section IV
All-American honors!
Eight members of the Track team qualified for States. They were
Angelina Fahrenkrug, Jasmine Fahrenkrug, Tia Jones, Rani Marhaba,
Muzna Mahmood, Jecholiah Stephenson, Johannes Stromhaug and
Emily Xiao.
Also in Track, Tia Jones broke Section IV records in both the 100and 200-meters. Breaking the school record in the pole vault was
Johannes Stromhaug with a 14-foot vault.
Letter of Intent Signing
On April 11, Nicholas Barney accepted
a golf scholarship from Division II
Le Moyne College. The dual
varsity golf and lacrosse player
also scored a New York State
scholarship for Academic Excellence from Section IV, the fourth
Golden Bear in four years to do so!
At Le Moyne, Nick plans to study
Biology as a Pre-Med student.
Nicholas Barney
23
Board of Education
201 Main Street
Vestal, NY 13850
Michon Stuart, President
Jerry Etingoff, Vice President
Rick Bray
Linda Daino
David Hanson
John Hroncich
Mario Nunes
Sylvia Place
Tony Turnbull
Superintendent of Schools
Jeffrey J. Ahearn
[email protected]
757-2241
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 4
Vestal, New York
13850
Current Resident or
ECRWSS
Postal Patron
Public Information Coordinator
Regina M. Felice
[email protected]
757-2205
Student Registration Procedures
Beginning July 2016, new students registering in the Vestal Central School District will be registered
at the district’s administration building, 201 Main Street, Vestal. This change will include kindergarten
student registrations. For more information, please contact Pat Ackley at 607-757- 3500.
Public Use of Facilities
In conjunction with the Town of Vestal, the Vestal High School pool and weight room are open to the public.
Swimming lessons for children are offered June through August. Contact the Town of Vestal Recreation Dept.
for times and fees at 754-3368 or visit www.vestalny.com. Open swimming and adult-lap swimming are offered
weekends, October to March. See the district’s Public Use of Facilities web page for Town of Vestal costs at
http://www.vestal.stier.org/PublicUseofFacilities.aspx
The weight room at Vestal High School is available to district residents at no charge 7 - 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from October through March. On Saturdays during the same time period, the weight room hours are
noon - 2 p.m. For your own safety, sneakers are required when using the weight room.
The track inside Dick Hoover Stadium is open to community residents for walking 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. or dusk,
when not being used by students. At Tioga Hills Elementary, the tennis courts are available Spring through Fall
from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., when not reserved for Vestal athletes. (Courts are reserved for Vestal athletes 3 - 7 p.m. from
March 1 to June 15 and August 15 to November 1.) Tennis lessons through the Town of Vestal are available from
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday from June through August. Contact the Town of Vestal for fees.
Senior citizens are welcome at the Town of Vestal’s Senior Center located in the Vestal Central Junior School
building, 201 Main Street, Vestal. It is open to everyone and offers lunch daily, plus a variety of activities. For
more information, please call Jennifer Fontana at 754-9596.