[Read more…] about And The Band Played On (in Hoosick Falls)
Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon Yankees Raffle
Your chance of winning front row seats at Yankee Stadium has never been greater than it is right now! On September 4, at 7:05 pm Derek Jeter will play one of his last games ever as a Yankee in his 20th and final season. You can be there. Enter the Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon’s 2014 raffle to win a prize package valued at nearly $2,000!
Each raffle ticket is only $25. The prize drawing will be at 12 noon on August 28. Enter now before it’s too late! Purchasing a raffle ticket is a great way to help us and yourself at the same time.
Tickets can be purchased via our online store by going to http://squareup.com/market/shaker-museum—mount-lebanon/yankees-red-sox-raffle-ticket.
Hoosick Falls Central School Opens Thursday, September 4
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.
Hoosick Falls Elementary School Open House – “Meet The Teacher”
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.
Hoosick Falls Central School District 2014 – 2015 School Year Calendar
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
Berlin CSD Buildings Receive Summer Face Lift
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
Initial Assessment Data Indicates Growth At New Lebanon CSD
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.
Marriage of Figaro Is Superb
a review by Alex Brooks
The Hubbard Hall Opera has opened a new production of The Marriage of Figaro (and also Gianni Schicchi, not reviewed here), which is the most enjoyable opera production I’ve ever seen. The company has been able to recruit a dozen or so rising young opera stars from all over the country and bring them to Cambridge for a few weeks to put on these two productions. Local people put them up in their houses while they are here.
The result is a show bursting with youthful vitality that is also carried off with astonishing skill and professionalism. There are perhaps a dozen gorgeous young voices assembled here, and just about all of them have the rare combination of vocal ability and dramatic ability. The star of the show is the incredibly expressive Marielle Murphy as Susanna, the Countess’ maid who is Figaro’s fiancee and also the object of the Count’s (unwanted) amorous attention. She is ably supported with wonderful performances by Geoffrey Penar as the Count and Luke Scott as Figaro. But some of the less central parts also sparkle, most notably Blake Friedman as Don Basilio the music master, who delivers some beautiful vocal passages, and Shane Tapley as Don Curzio the lawyer. Tapley does a hilarious turn as a nervous lawyer (borrowed from Austin Pendleton’s classic performance in the movie “My Cousin Vinny”).
The Marriage of Figaro is one of the finest comic operas ever written. It is based on the second of Beaumarchais’ trilogy of plays about Figaro, with music by Mozart and a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, who collaborated with Mozart on several operas. It is the sequel to The Barber of Seville, which Hubbard Hall Opera did last year.
The plot revolves around a series of schemes and intrigues. The Count, while fiercely jealous of his countess Rosina, is also chasing her maid Susanna, and since she is about to marry Figaro, the Count engages in a (losing) battle of wits with the clever Figaro to try to win her. He tries to force Figaro to marry a woman old enough to be his mother, and then it turns out she is his mother, to the consternation of the Count and the lawyer Don Curzio.
But while the hilarious hi-jinks of the Beaumarchais play are retained, and the show is often laugh-out-loud funny, Mozart’s magnificent music manages to deepen our experience of the characters. Rosina’s pain trying to win back her wayward husband, and the genuine love between Figaro and Susanna make the opera emotionally engaging and very moving.
Remaining performances of Figaro are at 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday, August. 23 and 24. The remaining performance of Gianni Schicchi is Friday evening, August 22, at 8 pm. Details can be found at www.hubbardhall.org.
GLSP To Hold Dance In The Park
Grafton Lakes State Park, the Dance Flurry Organization, Capitol USA Dance and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host Dance in the Park on Saturday, August 30. Dance in the Park is open to dancers at all levels of experience with or without a partner. The event will take place at the Deerfield Pavilion from 5 to 10 pm, starting with a lesson and a swing dance following. All proceeds from the night will benefit the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park.
The lesson will be taught by Jason Fenton and will cover the basics of East Coast Swing. The main swing dance will feature a live band, the Dylan Perrillo Orchestra, and Fenton will DJ during the break between sets. There will also be food from Brunswick Barbeque and Brew and a raffle with prizes including a gift certificate from Saratoga Savoy, a gift basket from Capitol USA Dance and CDs from Ms. Patti Melita, a local musician.
Registration costs $15 per person for the dance only and $25 per person for dinner and the dance. Both fees cover the dance lesson and a night of live music. Pre-registration for those who want dinner is required by Wednesday, August 27, but drop-ins for the swing dance are also more than welcome.
For more information about Dance in the Park, please call the Park Office at 518-279-1155.
Remaining Summer Programs At The Dyken Pond Center
• Full Moon Paddle – September 9, 7 to 9 pm. Join us for the full “Harvest” moon paddle on Dyken Pond. This event is limited to 15 people. Kayaks or canoes can be rented for $10 per boat. Pre-registration is required; call 518-658-2055 or email dykenpond@fairpoint.net to register or find out more information.
• Hike Across the Rensselaer Plateau – Sept. 13 and 14. This two day, 32 mile hike will take serious hikers from end to end across the Rensselaer Plateau. The event is co-sponsored by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance. Pre-registration is required. Please call us at 518-658-2055 for more details.
Jr. Naturalist Program
• Lake Ecology – August 27, 1 to 3 pm. Our final Jr. Naturalist program of the summer will give students some experience in one of their favorite places – the water. We will be exploring the animals and plants that inhabit Dyken Pond by hiking the shoreline. We will discuss water quality and give students a chance to test the water conditions in the lake. A $1 donation is suggested.
Behind The Scenes
This summer the Forest Conservation Corps took place the last two weeks of July. Twenty-one teenagers from Rensselaer County volunteered time out of their summer to do trail work and maintenance at the Center. The teens worked on over six miles of hiking trails and paved the way for a brand new trail at the Center. The Forest Corps teens also helped prevent shoreline erosion on Dyken Pond by piling up rocks along the shoreline. The staff at Dyken Pond is very proud of these teens and would like to say thanks again for all of their hard work.