Elementary school students in Pavilion were entertained today by Jill Jayne, who travels the country using a face-based, rock-show format called Jump with Jill to teach kids about nutrition. The hour-long show is participatory and educational, with messages about taking care of "my body" and that fruit is sweet like candy, but gives you energy and is better for your body.
Jeff Maziel, of Nickle City Reptiles and Exotics, brought out a boa constrictor and invited some of the children in the audience to come up and hold it during Family Night at Batavia Middle School on Tuesday night.
Isabelle Stearns meets Paris, a tracking K-9 with State Police. Paris's handler is Trooper Frank Velletta.
Zharia Newton, 12, and Jeannine Mobley, work on a Mexican-themed collage.
Asa Wooten, 13, dances to some mariachi music.
Hailey Kirkpatric, 11, draws a book cover.
Ladi Terry leads an exercise using photos to help foster creative engagement during one of the seminar classes at today's creative conference at Genesee Community College.
The half-day event included an opening speaker and several seminar sessions on a variety of topics.
Below, Shawn Adamson talks about storytelling frame and form using examples from Pulp Fiction. Bottom photo, a marketing session.
Staff made this video for the Mr. Batavia show last week showing just how happy they are to be working at the school.
Press release:
Almost a decade ago, Gerald Sheridan made a single visit to Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School Technology Education teacher Jay Wolcott’s classroom. A member of the Finger Lakes Woodturners (FLWT), he was there to demonstrate the art of woodturning to a new generation of artisans.
Now, many years and many visits later, committed FLWT volunteers like Sheridan and Michael Hachey are on campus almost daily for six weeks every spring. They’ve added woodturning to the wide range of skills, including construction, metal work, and parts making, that young men and women learn in the school’s manufacturing systems class.
“We would never have been able to give our students this rich experience without the help of these volunteers,” Wolcott said. “They are able to give each student personalized instruction on the wood lathe.
"With their one-on-one attention, all our students get comfortable with the equipment and learn to operate it correctly and safely. Their passion for the art is something that our kids can really relate to.”
In the beginning, Sheridan, Hachey, and other FLWT members like David Harp and David Leupold brought their own home equipment into the classroom. The group applied for, and was awarded, a grant from the American Association of Woodturners several years ago, which the district matched. Wolcott was able to purchase two new woodturning equipment stations for the school.
Woodturning instruction begins with two introductory projects: turning handcrafted pens and small spinning tops. Each employs the wood lathe plus one or two additional tools.
“We begin with demos,” Sheridan said. “But Michael (Hachey) instituted step-by-step instructional photos that have been a huge help to kids trying to follow the process after the demo. They are a great teaching aid!”
After completion of the two beginner’s projects, students choose a personal project, like a bowl or a birdhouse. One student even combined woodturning and metalwork to create a wedding ring.
“You can see students working on the lathes almost every day,” Wolcott said. “They are very creative. A lot of their work goes far beyond craft into art.”
The Finger Lakes Woodturners (FLWT) Association Inc. is a nonprofit organization with more than 75 members of all skill levels operating in the Rochester area. They are active volunteers in many parts of the community. Visit http://www.fingerlakeswoodturners.com/
Press release:
The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club is announcing its annual scholarship and Community Service Awards and calling for applications.
Scholarships are open to all Genesee County high school seniors (male or female).
The students need to have maintained an 85-percent average, need to complete the one-page application and attach a letter of recommendation from a school staff member. The students will also need to submit a personal essay discussing their achievements and future goals as well as an essay from a parent. The application can be found and printed at the Batavia Business and Professional Women’s website: bataviabpw.wordpress.com under the Giving tab.
All schools in Genesee County were emailed packages on this program in February. These included the eligibility requirements, guidelines and applications. Parents and students are advised to seek out their school’s guidance counselor/department to receive the needed information and application.
The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club has established a scholarship for a returning student from Genesee Community College as well. The recipient is chosen by a college representative and the award is applied to their account in the fall.
Recognition is also given to two outstanding students from Genesee Valley Educational Partnership in a form of cash awards for their outstanding scholarship performance.
The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club has given scholarships since 1961. The number and amount of scholarships given is dependent on the club’s annual fundraiser.
The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club will also offer monetary awards for service groups in June. Deadline for both the scholarship applications and the service awards letters are to be postmarked by Friday, April 14.
Please share with your local service groups that they need to send a short letter requesting to be considered for our service award on service group letterhead to:
Batavia Business and Professional Womens’ Club Service Award
PO Box 1778
Batavia, NY 14020Any questions contact Peggy Johnson through email at bratvfm@hotmail.com or 585-409-8769.
Le Roy Central Schools has been named one of the best communities in the nation for music education by the National Association of Music Merchants. It was one of only 527 schools, or 4 percent of the eligible schools, in the United States to earn the award.
Le Roy High School Principal Tim McArdle said the award recognizes the efforts of teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have helped make music education an important part of students' lives.
"This award represents our district's long-standing commitment to valuing what music education does for our students and the true pleasure it brings to our community," McArdle said. "We are so proud of all of our music students and staff that year in and year out produce high-level performances on our stages, in the pit, in competition, on the field, and in many places across the region. Our strong music program is one of the many aspects of our school that makes being an Oatkan Knight so special!"
Press release:
Genesee Community College is pleased to announce that Bill Kauffman will help congratulate and send off the College's 49th graduating class on Sunday, May 21 when the homegrown political writer serves as the commencement speaker for the event. Kauffman's selection was announced at the last Board of Trustees' monthly meeting. The ceremony will take place in the College's Anthony T. Zambito Gymnasium and will begin at approximately 1 p.m.
Born and raised in Batavia, Bill has been a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal and also written for publications such as The American Conservative, The American Scholar, the Los Angeles Times Book Review, The Nation, New York History, Newsday, The Australian and The Spectator of London.
Kauffman has authored 10 books, including "Look Homeward, America: In Search of Reactionary Radicals and Front-Port Anarchists," which the American Library Association named one of the best books of 2006 and won the Andrew Eiseman Writers Award. His book "Ain't My America, The Long Noble History of Antiwar Conservatism and Middle American Anti-Imperialism" was named by Barnes & Noble as one of the best books of 2008. Locally, he is probably best known for his "Dispatches from the Muckdog Gazette: A Mostly Affectionate Account of a Small Town's Fight to Survive (2003)," the story of Batavia and its changing fortunes.
He is profiled in Who's Who in America and Contemporary Authors and his screenplay adaptation of Harold Fredric's novella, "The Copperhead," was filmed in King's Landing, New Brunswick, Canada, and visited theaters in 2013. The DVD was released in 2014 and more information is available at www.copperheadthemovie.com.
While his political views may be difficult to categorize, Kauffman is critical of development and often writes approvingly of distributism and agrarianism, and is strongly anti-corporate. He has described his politics as "a blend of Catholic Worker, Old Right libertarian, Yorker transcendentalist, and delirious localist," and considers himself an independent as well as a "a peace-loving football fan."
Bill has lectured or given readings at many colleges, including Alfred University, Brown University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, the University of Louisville, Utica College and Wellesley College.
A familiar face in the local community, Bill is vice president of the Genesee County Baseball Club, which owns the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn Baseball league. He can be found at Muckdogs' games during the summer months along the third baseline at Dwyer Stadium.
Bill earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester before joining the staff of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the U.S. Senate. After leaving Moynihan's team for the West Coast, Kauffman relocated back to Batavia from California in 1988 with his wife, Lucine. The couple now resides in Elba and has a grown daughter, Gretel.
The College anticipates recognizing more than 800 students at commencement, including those completing programs of study in August 2016, January 2017, May 2017 and the anticipated graduates in August 2017. Approximately 220 graduates with their families will be participating in May 21 ceremony.
While the event is open to the public, seats in the gymnasium are reserved for family and friends of graduates. The ceremony will be streamed live on monitors across the Batavia campus and also around the globe. To view the live streaming, just go to the GCC website www.genesee.edu and click on the Live Streaming link directly from the homepage.
Immediately following commencement, a reception with punch and light refreshments will be hosted in the William S. Stuart Forum for all guests and graduates.
The college is also offering free child care services during commencement for children 8 weeks to 5 years of age. Please sign your children up in the Student Activities office or call 585-343-0055, ext. 6261.
School Board Member Peter Cecere used a not-too-obscure cultural reference to emphasize the point last night that the proposed tax-rate increase for Batavia City Schools in the proposed budget remains at 0.00.
"That's also Blutarsky grade-point average in Animal House," Cecere said.
Business Administrator Scott Rozanski said the no-increase tax rate should remain the same regardless of the outcome of the overdue state budget.
At the time of last night's meeting, legislators in Albany had not yet come to an agreement on the state budget, which includes provisions to aid to local school districts, which left the district, Rozanski said, trying to calculate a budget with a key missing component.
Since last night, the folks in Albany have come to terms on a state budget, but this morning, Rozanski said he hasn't yet seen the breakout on state aid to schools.
Regardless, the only change anticipated to the budget, he said, if aid is less than anticipated then the cost of four new aides, at $150,000, would come from reserve funds and if the aid does come in at the anticipated rate or higher, those funds would be replenished.
In three of the past five years, the school district hasn't raised the local property tax rate.
If the district had raised taxes at the rate allowable under the state's tax cap over the past five years, the district's levy would be up $2.8 million. There were rate increases of 1.9953 percent in 2012-13 and 1.99 percent in 2014-15, for a levy increase total of $715,867. The difference between what would have been allowed and what was actually raised is $2.1 million.
This year, the district could have raised the levy by 4 percent and remained under the tax cap. That would have increased the levy by $740,000.
The total levy with no increase is $18.5 million.
The total budget is $49 million.
The school board approved the budget, which will be voted on by district residents for final approval in May.
There's a student in the Batavia City School District who a few weeks ago was failing all of her classes. Now she's getting passing grades and is eligible for spring sports.
The student benefited, according to school officials, from an after-school program called WIN (What I Need).
The innovative program started in the school district this year and according to Scott Wilson, principal at the high school, Ashley John Grillo, principal at the middle school, and Teresa Morrill, a middle school teacher, the program is showing great results this year.
"This started as an idea and has come together as a really effective intervention program," Grillo said.
Of the 20 students who have participated so far, 16 have shown academic improvement.
As a testament to the program's success, the school officials noted, some who have been with the program have wanted to continue even after their grades improved enough that it was no longer required.
“It’s nice to see where reluctant learners are becoming really engrossed and engaged in the content and making improvements," Grillo said.
The program consists of two and a half hours of tutoring and study time at the high school, for both HS and middle school students, in an atmosphere that is described as "light." Students can take breaks as needed and snacks are often available.
"The best part of what I love is that every time I walk in, there is the relationship there that the teachers are developing with the students who haven't found their way yet academically," Wilson said. "They're making those connections."
Grillo talked about one student who participates in sports who was cleared to play and Grillo told him he could reduce his participation to just a half hour after school at the middle school. The student immediately asked if he could still show up at the program at the high school after practice.
"He likes the fact he has a quiet place and every teacher is available and he can get his work done," Grillo said. That quiet place, a place to study alone is something not available to the student at home, he said.
Part of the one-on-one tutoring is also talking with students about why they're in the situation they're in, whether it's lack of motivation, issues at home, or anything else, Morrill said.
"it's not just two-and-a-half hours just in a book," Morrill said. "We spend time talking about what's going on and why you're having these issues."
The success of the program could mean it expands at some point, Wilson acknowledged. He said there is already additional staff qualified for the tutoring and mentoring. and since the program takes place after school, there is room to expand.
Not all the students want to stay in the program after their grades improve, so right now, the schools have been able to make room for new students who need help as other students move out of the program. Getting out of the program is its own kind of motivation for some students.
"They know why they have to be there and they have a goal," Morrill said. "They want to get out. If that’s their goal, they don’t want to waste their two-and-a-half hours after school. They want to get it done so they can get out.”
Students at Batavia's middle school and high school are getting exposed to a variety of technology and learning opportunities, Robert Mullen told City School District trustrees during a technology department review at the board's meeting Tuesday night.
While he spoke, Dylan Gaus (top photo), a student at Batavia HS, replaced a broken screen on a Google Chrome laptop computer.
Technology infrastructure goes beyond just computer and networking classes, Mullen explained. Middle school students get a bit of technology instruction with culinary courses or embroidery and STEM/STEAM instruction is woven into the district's curriculum.
There's also the traditional technology classes such as robotics, computer operations, and networking.
Mullen is a Cisco Network Certified Associate Instructor and an AP Plus Certified Instructor.
He described his computer classes as noisy and chaotic with no traditional desks but a series of workstations, with one central workstation where the class comes together "to solve big problems."
The course of instruction is rigorous and difficult, he said, and he's thinking of breaking the course into two components: hands-on repair work and the more academic side of computing (how things work and why) so students can take the path most suitable to them because there is so much to learn.
He said he encourages resilience.
"Most students have a strong fear of failure," Mullen said. "I try to get them more comfortable with the failure process because many times that’s the only time to begin again more intelligently."
One of the technology classes at BHS is computer repair, were students fix the Chromebooks other students have brought in for repair.
So far this year, there have been 59 repairs for equipment assigned to high school students, and since January, 19 for middle school students. The average cost of each repair is $30.
“I think it’s still a significant savings for the district," Mullen said. "It’s just the parts. The school district doesn’t have to pay anybody to do the repairs and our kids have picked up some great skills in the process of doing it.”
The Batavia High School wrestling team, and boys and girls track teams, were honored by the City School District board on Tuesday night with proclamations for their 2016-17 Section V titles.
The wrestling team: Joseph Allegue, Richard Lamkin, Lazavia Price, Bohdan Andriychuk, John Folger, Eric Gimlin, Zeshan Armstrong, Jeffrey Cherry, Ryan Kuhn, Gavin Schmidt, Dylan Zurek and Kaden Marucci, and coaches – Richard Stewart, Kenneth Darch and Thomas Garlock.
Boys track: Campbell Andersen, Samuel Bartz, Ryan Bieniek, Isaiah Ciociola, Freddie Cunningham, Trey Kemp, Jerry Reinhart, Ian SanFratello, Chandler Baker, Andrew Cunningham, Eric Davis Jr., Damian Escobar, Marques Hargrave, Ryan Kabel, Nathan Loria, Luke Maltese, Nichalas Neid, Anthony Ray, Tyler Stewart, Julio Vazquez, Valentino Zinni, Matthew Adams, Cameron Austin, John Bruggman, Evan Bartz, Taiyo Iburi-Bethel, Zakariah Jantzi, David Pillo, Jaheim Smith, Jaydon Barber, Brock Every, Garrick Havens, Daemon Konieczny, Mario Rosales, Nate Crane (Letchworth CSD), Job Smith (Alexander CSD), and Kyle VanSlyke (Letchworth), and coaches – Nick Burk, William McMullen, Richard Boyce, William Buckenmeyer, Andrew Cowan, Daniel Geiger, Aaron Sherman and John Williams.
Girls track: Natalie Bigelow, Edmarie Calderon-Torres, Margaret Cecere, Samantha Cohen, Lindsie Cook, Alexis DeLong, Taler Fonda, Aja LeCointe-Wilkinson, Madison Moore, Katherine Wiseley, Rachel Denise, Kiaya Franklin, Tanner Kolb, Madison Murray, Alexis Stork, Paige Wasilewski, Claire Zickl, Brianna Bromley, Emily Caccamise, Elisabeth Cohen, Hannah Finkney, Regan Henrici, Sarah Adams, Juliana Branche, Arianna Brown, Camryn Buck, Sydney DellaPenna, Brianna Gutman, Madeline Taggart, Jadin Vasciannie and Kaitlin Ange, and Coaches – Nick Burk, William McMullen, Richard Boyce, William Buckenmeyer, Andrew Cowan, Daniel Geiger, Aaron Sherman and John Williams.
Photos: Top, wrestlers Joe Allegue and Jack Folger with school Board President Pat Burk and Coach Rick Steward; and girls track members Katherine Wiseley and Madison Murray with Burk and Coach Nick Burk.
Article submitted by Drew Muehlig:
Over the past year, Elba Central School District’s Board of Education has been moving forward with an initiative to bring international high school students from all over the world to their school. The approval, which comes from the United States Department of Homeland Security, was granted after a lengthy process, earlier this month.
These international students, known as F-1 students, will be paying tuition to attend Elba Central School for no more than 12 months. This also grants these students eligibility to participate in all activities as a traditional non-immigrant student.
“These international students typically want to perfect their English and experience the life of an American teenager,” said Laura Williams, Elba Central’s F-1 coordinator. “Attending a high school with cutting-edge academic programs, practicing with high school sport teams, and exploring after-school activities that make American schools what they are today: drama, model UN, cheerleading, band, choir, sports, etc., they are able to achieve this goal. The F-1 student is different than other international students who are strictly in the school district for the cultural interaction.”
“This has potential to be a tremendous opportunity for our families and District,” said Elba Superintendent Keith Palmer, who learned of the program in 2016 at a New York State Counsel of School Superintendents' workshop in Albany.
“Newcomb Central School, a smaller school in the Adirondacks, has been accepting international students for over ten years now,” Palmer explained. “They were initially looking to boost enrollment as a potential source of revenue, but their focus has shifted from a revenue opportunity to a cultural benefit. The impact International students have on the rest of the student body is significant and exposing students to different cultures has been a tremendous learning experience.”
Williams, who also teaches Global Social Studies at the high school, echoes the idea that this experience will be a valuable and exciting opportunity for Elba’s own students to learn the growing importance of globalism in the world beyond their high school education.
“The benefits are endless, but the important benefit is the cultural and international experience that our students will be exposed to as members of classes as well as host families," she said. “As our world is becoming smaller and the work force is becoming more and more globally connected, it is imperative that we introduce our students to the cultures, work ethics, and international experiences that they are bound to experience in college and the workforce.”
Elba Central School is the first school in Genesee County to be approved for this program, according to Williams. Elba’s small size, compared to other areas of the state and country, could actually aid in drawing the interests of international students.
“A surprising number of international students are looking for a safe educational environment, away from large urban areas, in which to perfect their English language and gain the educational benefits offered by a New York State education,” Williams said.
“The importance of creating a school profile that accurately describes our school district as one that provides an individualized education plan in a small rural setting will be important in order to match the specific needs of the international students into our school district.”
There was minimal cost to the school for processing the application which means this program will generate some revenue for the district, according to Palmer.
“International students must pay the subsidized cost per pupil which will be around $20,000," Palmer said. "Because class sizes are relatively low, there will be no need to hire extra staff. Host families will also receive a stipend for offsetting room and board costs.”
With everything set up and ready to go, Elba is looking to start this program as early as next year.
“We are working with a placement organization to finalize the requirements for admission so that we can start the 2017-2018 school year off with a very successful international program. We plan to start small and build as the years progress,” Williams said.
Press release:
The students at St. Joe’s Catholic School look forward to Career Day every year. This year the students had the opportunity to choose three professionals to visit with from more than 20 different professionals that came into their school.
Local businesses as well as many St. Joe’s parents took time out of their busy day to come in to discuss and help the students become more familiar with their career. From seeing what it’s like to be a part of Mercy Flight to learning the ins-and-outs of being a veterinarian, the students had a wide variety of careers to check out.
Here are the results of yesterday's vote in the Byron-Bergen Central School District:
Music students from Genesee and Wyoming counties will perform today at 2 p.m. at Pavilion High School in the second of two all-county music festival concerts.
The festival is organized by the Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators Association.
Today's show features the high school band, the junior high chorus and the elementary band.
Tickets are $4 each at the door.
These photos are from yesterday's rehearsal.
A sold-out crowd packed Batavia High School last evening for the fifth annual Mr. Batavia Competition hosted by its student government.
The mission behind the community fundraiser is to “take care of BHS,” said Lisa Robinson, student government advisor.
Twelve seniors participated in these categories: Dance, Talent, Question & Answer, Swimsuit, Lip Sync and Tux Walk.
The contestants were: Jerry Reinhart, Dominic Brown, Campbell Andersen, Casey Radka, Cody Dioogardi, Sam Bartz, Quentin Branciforte, Ryan Bieniek, Casey Ausin, Joe Allegue, Freddie Cunningham and John Currier.
Lisa said they raised a new record of $4,500 for the local charities chosen by the top three winners. Habitat for Humanity is winner John Currier's charity; first runner-up Ryan Bieniek selected All Babies Cherished; second runner-up was Quentin Branciforte, whose charity of choice is Anna’s Wish Inc.
The judges were: Kaitlin Logsdon, cocreator of Mr. Batavia, past BHS student and senior at Ithaca College; Shawna Murphy, Batavia City Schools Board of Education member; Jim DeFreeze, Batavia City Police officer; and Matt Morasco, Batavia City fireman.
Tuxedos for the event were provided by Charles Men's Shop and Reed Eye Associations donated sunglasses to the dozen seniors who competed.
To view and or purchase photos go to: Steve Ognibene Photography
The Mr. Batavia contest starts at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Batavia High School, but if you don't have tickets, better get their early, because the event is nearly sold out.
Press release:
Families with students attending Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School gathered in the school’s auditorium for College Readiness Night on March 29. The presentation, by College and Career Counselor Robert Kaercher, was an informational overview of the college admissions process.
Topics included SAT and ACT testing, the Common Application Form, recommendation letters, deadlines, scholarships, grants, and financial aid. Although geared toward sophomore and junior students and their families, the presentation was open to all, and several families of eighth-graders took advantage of the evening.
“It’s never too early to begin planning,” Kaercher said.
“Choosing a college can be daunting,” said Principal Patrick McGee. “Researching, narrowing the field, visiting, applying, getting financial aid — there is so much involved at every step.
"That’s why our district is committed to helping students and their families negotiate the process. This is the second year for our dedicated College and Career Counseling Center. This outreach event is another way to increase awareness of the assistance available. Don’t do it alone. We are here to help.”
The Center is a busy place and its resources are growing. In the fall, it hosts a full schedule of visits and special presentations from a wide range of regional and national two- and four-year colleges, trade schools, and military branches. In the spring, the focus is on ensuring all seniors have a plan and have taken the steps needed to be successful after graduation.
Kaercher helps them apply for scholarships and financial aid.
“There are over 50 scholarships available right from our own community,” he said, adding that he can also help job seekers improve their interview skills and write better resumes.
“This is also the time to help juniors get serious,” Kaercher said. “I like to meet with each student to help them find their path. If they plan on college, I can give them personalized lists of college recommendations for them to start researching.
"Spring is a great time to plan college visits. Colleges all have preview days, tours, and open houses.”
The Center is planning a College Fair in May that will bring students together with representatives from a number of regional colleges.
Top photo: Families of college-bound students were welcomed to Byron-Bergen’s College Readiness Night by (l-r) College and Career counselor Robert Kaercher, School counselor Andrea Feeney, and Principal Patrick McGee.
Byron-Bergen HS College and Career counselor Robert Kaercher helped families begin the journey of preparing and applying for college.
Press release:
On March 13, representatives from the Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School Girls’ Soccer Team visited the University of Rochester Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute. Seniors Olivia Audsley, Karson Richenberg, and Kelsey Mauer were there to present a check for $3,200 to help combat head and neck cancer.
The team, led by Coach Wayne Hill, has been raising funds to support cancer awareness for many years. This is the third year they have focused on head and neck cancer, in honor of Richenberg’s mother, Toni, who has throat cancer.
This year’s fundraiser, which raised $1,800 more than last year, was held in September. It was supported by many local businesses, including Sloat Tire Shop, Fullerino’s Pizzeria, and NAPA Auto Parts in Bergen. Donated products and services filled gift baskets that were raffled auction-style during halftime at one of the team’s games.
Principal Patrick McGee said, “I am so proud of our girls’ efforts. They have showed over the past few years a true commitment to fighting cancer. I would also like to thank everyone in our community for their extraordinary generosity and for supporting our students and all of their hard work.”
UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute is the Finger Lakes region’s leader for cancer care and research. To learn more, visit www.wilmot.urmc.edu.
Photo: Byron-Bergen Girls’ Soccer Team members with Wilmot Cancer Institute staff. (front, l-r) Principal Patrick McGee, Coach Wayne Hill, teammates Olivia Audsley, Karson Richenberg, and Kelsey Mauer, and mother Toni Richenberg.
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