Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
Hoosick Falls Central School seventh grade Open House/Orientation will take place on Wednesday, September 3, from 5:30 to 7:45 pm at the High School. Due to the limited space in each classroom, only the grade seven student and parent(s) should plan to attend.
If you cannot attend this orientation, please contact Judy Woodard, Guidance Counselor, to set up a meeting to conduct a tour and to review necessary materials before the beginning of school. She can be reached at 686-7321, extension 1508.
The Berlin Central School Code Of Conduct night will be held on Tuesday, September 2, at 6 pm in the auditorium. All student athletes from grades 7 to 12 for all school sports, fall, winter an spring, must attend this mandatory meeting, along with a parent or legal guardian, to stay eligible to play a sport this year at BCS.
Upcoming Sports Schedule
Friday, August 29 – Boys Varsity Soccer at Hoosic Valley – depart 8:30 am, play at 10 am
Saturday, August 30 – Girls JV and Varsity Soccer at Queensbury – depart 7 am, play at 9 am
Modified sports start practices on Thursday, September 4.
by Thaddeus Flint
The school tax rates for each of the five towns that make up the Berlin Central School District were announced and accepted at the August meeting of the School Board Tuesday night.
The total 2014-2015 budget levy for the BCS District is $18,188,563. Local taxes will account for 48.44% of the budget, or $8,810,940.
Tuesday, September 2, and Wednesday, September 3, are Superintendent Conference Days – no students.
Tuesday, September 2 – Open House for Grade Universal Pre-k through Grade Two (6 – 7:30 pm).
Thursday, September 4 – Open House for Grade Three through Grade Six (6 – 7:30 pm).
Students in grades Universal Pre-k – 12 will begin with a full day of instruction on Thursday, September 4. Breakfast and lunch will be provided as usual. Students should follow their regular bus assignments and schedules.
Here are some helpful hints for the opening days of school:
1. Every year, all free/reduced applications must be filled out and returned before the first day of school. Any questions, contact Heather Brooks at 686-7321, ext. 1708.
2. Have your children at their bus stops 5-10 minutes early each day.
3. If you cannot walk your child to the designated bus stop, have a responsible adult or older child do so.
4. Meet and get to know your child’s bus driver. K-1-2 students must have a designated responsible person at the bus stop for pick-up. Please be sure to come to the bus stop so your child can identify you to the bus driver. If no one is at the bus stop for pick-up, your child will be brought back to school and you must come to school and pick him or her up.
5. Ensure that your child knows his/her bus number. Please be sure to let us know as soon as possible if you have changed your location or your children are going to a new baby-sitter. This is particularly important for a younger student, in grades k, 1, 2 or 3.
6. Reinforce bus safety with your child.
7. Label all your child’s possessions with first and last name.
8. Ensure that our school nurse and the Elementary School office have up to date emergency telephone numbers in case you need to be reached.
9. Always feel you can contact the Elementary School (686-9492) or the High School (686-7321) offices for information.
Parents are cordially invited to meet their child’s teacher, view text, materials and student work. Children are welcome as this night is informal and not meant for individual conferences.
• Tuesday, September 2, for grades Universal pre-k, kindergarten, first and second from 6 to 7:30 pm. The Principal’s Welcome will be in the High School Auditorium from 6 to 6:15 pm. Visit your child’s classroom from 6:15 to 7:30 pm.
• Thursday, September 4, for grades three, four, five and six from 6 to 7:30 pm. The Principal’s Welcome will be in the High School Auditorium from 6 to 6:15 pm. Visit your child’s classroom from 6:15 to 7:30 pm.
Refreshments will be available in the elementary school cafeteria from 6:45 to 7:30 pm each evening.
Sept. 1, 2014 – Labor Day – No School
Sept. 2, 2014 – Grades Universal Pre-K (UPK) – Grade 2 Open House (6-7:30 pm)
Sept. 2 & 3, 2014 – Superintendent Conference Day – no students
Sept. 4, 2014 – First Day of School for students grade UPK-12
Sept. 4, 2014 – Grades 3-4-5-6 Open House (6 – 7:30 pm.)
Sept. 25, 2014 – Grades 7-12 Open House (6:30-8 pm)
Oct. 13, 2014 – Columbus Day – No School
Nov. 7, 2014 – Emergency Release Day – (Closing Drill)
Grades 7-12 at 2 pm/K-6 at 3 pm
Nov. 10 and 11, 2014 – Not in Session and Veterans Day – No School
Nov. 13-14, 2014 – Grades. UPK-6 Parent/Teacher Conferences
(1/2 Day Sessions)
Nov. 26-28, 2014 – Thanksgiving Vacation
(School Resumes Dec. 1)
Dec. 24 – Jan. 2, 2015 – Christmas Recess
(School Resumes Jan. 5, 2015)
Jan. 19, 2015 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Holiday) – No School
Feb. 16, 2015 – Presidents Day – No School
Feb. 17-18-19-20-23, 2015 – Mid-Winter Recess
Feb. 24, 2015 – School Resumes
Mar. 12-13, 2015 – Grades UPK-6 Parent/Teacher Conferences
(1/2 Day Sessions)
Mar. 27 through April 3, 2015 – Spring Recess
(School Resumes Apr. 6, 2015)
May 25, 2015 – Memorial Day Holiday – No School
June 2, June 16 – 24, 2015 – Regents Testing
June 23-24-25, 2015 – Grades UPK-6 Early Dismissal
(1/2 Day Sessions)
June 25, 2015 – Last Day Of School for Grades UPK-6 Students
(Last Day For Teachers)
June 26, 2015 – High School Graduation
2014-2015 School Hours
The Elementary School day will begin at 8:35 am and end at 3:20 pm. The High School (grades 7-12) will begin at 7:40 am and end at 2:15 pm.
k-6 7-12
Buses Arrive 8:30 7:25
Attendance & Instruction 8:45 – 3:20 7:40 – 2:15
Student Dismissal 3:20 2:15
Student Pick-Up by Parents 3:35
Extracurricular, Detention 3:20 – 4:20 2:20 – 4:20
(Mon. – Thurs. only) – No late buses on Friday
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, Berlin Central School District
Phase 2 of the $6.8 million Capital Improvement construction project at Berlin Elementary and Berlin Middle School/High School is running on schedule as the District gears up for the start of school. The project will be complete by August 29 – in time for the first day of school on September 4.
[Read more…] about Berlin CSD Buildings Receive Summer Face Lift
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, New Lebanon CSD
On August 14 the Board of Regents and the State Education Commissioner released the results of the spring 2014 Grades 3-8 Math and English Language Arts (ELA) assessments. Overall, New Lebanon CSD’s results indicate growth from the previous year, and this data will allow the District to focus its efforts in areas requiring further improvement.
The first administration of assessment of Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) was seen in 2013. In 2014 New Lebanon is tracking the progress of its students from 2013 to 2014. For example, New Lebanon is comparing the proficiency of 2013 third-graders to those same students as 2014 fourth-graders. This comparison is important because it allows the District to focus on student growth. This growth information has proven more useful than simply comparing the performance of one year’s students at a particular grade level against the next year’s students at that same grade level.
New Lebanon CSD analyzed the data of students who scored 3s and 4s – indicating the student is on track for college and careers – compared to statewide results and other districts in the county and one nearby district in Rensselaer County. New Lebanon CSD students are outperforming those in other districts and in many cases they are outperforming the statewide scores. Even in cohorts where the proficiency percentage was lower than the statewide average, most results show growth from the previous year. In areas where the proficiency level stayed the same, the scores were at or above the statewide average.
According to New Lebanon CSD Superintendent Leslie Whitcomb, the growth in student achievement is partially attributable to the District’s in-house coaching model of professional development.
“This early data shows New Lebanon CSD students are clearly making progress with the new Common Core State Learning Standards,” she said. “We are continually tweaking the curriculum to ensure students are gaining the skills and knowledge they need to be college and career ready. Further analysis of the data will allow us to focus our professional development and curriculum alignment where it is most needed, as well as on individual student’s needs.”
Highlights Of The New Lebanon CSD Grades 3-8 Exam Results
ELA
• In Grade 3 – where students took the test for the first time – significantly more New Lebanon CSD students scored 3s and 4s compared to the statewide average. This cohort also outperformed all other districts in the county and another nearby district in Rensselaer County
• In Grades 4-8, where the cohort results can be compared to the previous year, New Lebanon CSD students showed growth in nearly all grade levels. In Grades 6 and 7, more New Lebanon CSD students scored 3s and 4s than did all other schools on the county as well as one other nearby district in Rensselaer County.
Math
• In Grade 3 – where students took the test for the first time – fewer New Lebanon CSD students received 3s and 4s compared to the statewide data, however this cohort did outperform those of two other districts in the county.
• In Grades 4-8, where the cohort results can be compared to the previous year, most cohorts performed below the statewide average, however nearly all cohorts saw growth. The Grade 7 cohort also outperformed all other districts in the county as well as one other nearby district in Rensselaer County.
submitted by Judy Frost, Public Information Specialist, Hoosick Falls CSD
The Hoosick Falls Panther Football team will open its season against the Owego Indians, a Class B school, in a game at 1 pm on Sunday, September 7, at the Syracuse Carrier Dome. Tickets for the game cost $7 and are on sale in the main office of the high school and also will be available for purchase during Code of Conduct Night on Tuesday, August 26, from 6 to 8 pm.
The Panthers are one of 20 teams from across New York State invited to play in the annual Kick-Off Classic at the Syracuse Carrier Dome the weekend of September 5-7. The Kick-Off Classic is a Section III sponsored event that raises money for the Central New York Chapter of the National Football Foundation Scholarship. This year, for the first time, Section III is opening the competition to other divisions in the state.
Hoosick Falls has twice competed at the Carrier Dome in State Championship games in 2003 and again in 2012 when the Panthers won the State title after defeating Hornell, 34-21.
Coach Ron Jones said the team has approximately 300 general admission tickets for the September 7 game. Tickets cost $7 each, and a spectator bus is being offered by the School District for students and staff who purchase tickets to the game. The Hoosick Falls cheerleaders and the Pep Band will travel to Syracuse to support the Panthers on game day.
Local businesses are invited to show their support for the Panthers by placing ads in the Kick-Off Classic program. Half page ads may be purchased for $50, and full page ads cost $100. For more information, email Coach Jones at jonesr@hoosickfallscsd.org, or contact Athletic Coordinator Tom Husser via email at hussert@hoosickfallscsd.org or call Hoosick Falls High School at 518-686-7321, ext. 1500.
The Hoosick Falls High School Educational Trip to Hawaii is having a tag sale on Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, at 5032 Rt. 67, Hoosick, near the entrance to the Battlefield, from 10 am to 4 pm. Baked goods and fresh squeezed lemonade will also be available.
