Press release:
The Students Against Destructive Decisions Club sold yellow and blue ribbons for $1.00 each. A total of $450.00 was collected. All donations were sent to ROCmaidan, a nonprofit organization providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, based in Rochester, NY. Thank you to all who donated.
Colton Yasses tossed a five-inning no-hitter today to help lead Oakfield-Alabama to a 13-0 victory.
He struck out 14 of the 15 batters he faced.
Yasses was also 2-4 at the plate, scoring two runs.
Kaden Cusmano also had two hits. He also knocked in three runs and scored a run.
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.
It was a see-saw game from the start and both #4 Byron-Bergen and #5 Keshequa entered the game with a 15-5 record in a battle for Class C3 in girls sectional game.
The Bees lead after the first quarter by three and were down three at the half. After the third quarter, Keshequa led by one and what appeared to be a neck-and-neck battle that could go into overtime did not.
The fourth quarter was all Keshequa, which played a scrappy defense to get the ball and score to secure for themselves for a victory and advance to the semifinals.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
Oakfield-Alabama continued to run the table in the 2021-22 hoops season -- they're now a perfect 13-0 -- with a 69-51 win over Byron-Bergen at home on Thursday night.
Kam Cusmano scored 19 points for the Hornets, while Kyle Porter scored 18, and Gaige Armbrewster scored 13.
For the Bees, David Brumsted scored 13 and Colin Martin scored 12.
Also in boys basketball on Thursday,
There were no local girls'd basketball games on Thursday.
Press release:
Are you a student who learns math and science best through projects and collaboration with peers?
The Western New York (WNY) P-Tech Academy provides students with a Regents diploma, a college degree and a career path - all in one program. Trade the traditional classroom for a new way to prepare for your future.
- Engage in a project-based learning environment and have fun while you’re learning
- Earn your high school credits while earning up to 27 college credits before even graduating from high school
- Meet business mentors and experience real-world employment experiences
- Earn an A.A.S. degree from Genesee Community College – FREE
The WNY P-Tech Academy is a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), supporting students in grades 9-14. This Genesee Valley (GV BOCES) program serves 13 regional school districts through a curriculum that places a strong emphasis on hands-on, project-based learning to prepare students for high-skill, financially stable careers in growth industries. Students attending the WNY P-Tech Academy complete all necessary coursework for a New York State Regents Diploma as well as earn an Associate of Applied Science degree through Genesee Community College at no cost. Enrollment in this program is a six-year commitment for students and their school districts.
Students in this program choose Career and Degree Pathways. Each track is a gateway to profitable and fulfilling careers that are in demand by local industries. The pathways include Accounting, Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship and Marketing and Social Media.
Come learn about the many opportunities this unique learning opportunity can provide!
An Open House is set for Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 6-7:30 p.m. The WNY P-Tech Academy is located behind the tennis courts at Byron-Bergen High School, 6917 West Bergen Road, Bergen, NY 14416.
To find out more about the WNY P-Tech Academy, please contact:
Catherine Bennett
Principal
585-494-1220 ext. 3137
cbennett@gvboces.org
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba was dominant once again, beating Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen 50-15.
For the Aggies, Gaige Armbrewster rushed for 144 yards on 11 carries. He scored one touchdown. Noah Currier had five carries for 67 yards and two TDs. Connor Scott rushed for 33 yards on two carries, added 67 through the air on three receptions, and scored a TD. Bodie Hyde was 505 passing for 89 yards and a TD. He also connected on a TD pass.
On defense, Hyde had eight tackles. Kaden Cusmano had 10 tackles. CJ Gottler also had 10 tackles and two sacks. Kameron Cusmano, eight tackles and two interceptions. Ethan Cramer, eight tackles, and TJ Andrews, nine tackles.
"As cliché as it is to say a big win was a total team effort, that line couldn't be more true for tonight's performance," said Head Coach Tyler Winter. "We executed at a high level and a lot of guys got to eat tonight. I'm proud of our boys. This is the type of win our group needed to continue building momentum for a big match-up next Friday."
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.
Children ages 7 and up can learn essential life skills for staying home alone at the Byron-Bergen Public Library’s upcoming class. Safety topics covered in the class, held Aug. 17 from 4-6 p.m. include telephone tips, internet safety, first aid, what to do in a power outage, and how to handle other challenges.
The course fee is $20 cash only. Participants must register and pay before Aug. 13 at the library or by calling 585-494-1120. Class size is limited.
Press release:
The Byron-Bergen Central School District’s Board of Education (BOE), has named three finalists for the next Superintendent of Schools.
Debra List, president of the Byron-Bergen Central School District’s BOE, said she is pleased with the high-quality candidate pool and is enthused about the potential the three finalists have to offer.
“Choosing the best superintendent for the district is the board’s main priority,” List said. “The field of candidates was diverse, which made narrowing the field to three very difficult. We are confident that one of these candidates will be the best choice for our school district and community.”
The three finalists are Patrick McGee, Jennifer Sinsebox, Ed.D., and Tracy Marchianda.
McGee is currently the principal of Byron-Bergen Junior/Senior High School, a position he has held since 2015. From 2013 until 2015, he served as the assistant principal of Byron-Bergen Junior/Senior High School. Before that, McGee was the dean of students from 2012 until 2013. He began his career in education in 2007 as a fifth-grade teacher at Byron-Bergen Middle School and served in this role until 2012. Throughout his career at Byron-Bergen CS, he has served in many leadership capacities including: overseeing and supporting the growth of a Video Coaching Model to assist teachers with professional development; increasing the number of Advanced Placement courses offered; implementing an agriculture program; and revitalizing an FFA Chapter. Under McGee’s tenure, Byron-Bergen High School was named U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools for 2018, 2019 and 2020.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John Fisher College in Elementary and Special Education, and a master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction from the Buffalo State College. McGee earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from the University of Rochester and also holds New York State certifications as School Building and District Leader, as well as Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities.
Jennifer Sinsebox, Ed.D., is the executive director of Curriculum and Data Management at Wheatland-Chili Central Schools, a position she has held since 2008. From 1996 until 2008, she served as a special education teacher at Wheatland-Chili Central Schools. In 1993, Sinsebox started her path in education as a Special Education teacher at Bloomfield Central Schools. Sinsebox is also an adjunct professor at the State University of New York at Brockport, a post she has held since 2015. During her tenure at Wheatland-Chili CS, she: organized district family/community engagement parent university workshops; assisted in the creation of a five-year Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education district plan; and directed and facilitated the district strategic plan with the development of the district comprehensive improvement plan.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Science in Special Education from Nazareth College. Sinsebox holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from The State University of New York at Brockport and also holds New York State certifications in School District Administration, as well as Elementary and Special Education. Sinsebox completed her doctorate in Education in 2020.
Tracy Marchianda has been employed by Geneva City School District since 2011, and currently is the assistant superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Accountability, a post she’s held since 2020. Her leadership roles at the Geneva City School District include director of Innovation and Multi-Language Learners, director of Innovative Programming and Student Services, and principal of North Street Elementary School. Marchianda is presently an adjunct professor at the University of Rochester. From 2000 until 2011, she served the Bath Central School District, first as the principal of Vernon E. Wightman Primary School, and then as the director of Curriculum and Instruction. In these roles, she facilitated a comprehensive curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development program for a high-needs rural school district. Marchianda started teaching in 1989 as a second- and fifth-grade teacher at Dundee Central School District where she also served as a staff development trainer and English Language Arts coordinator.
Marchianda earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia, and two Master of Science degrees in Education from Elmira College. She is in progress of earning her doctoral degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Science of Learning from the University of Buffalo. She earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from the State University of New York at Brockport and also holds New York State certifications as School District administrator and supervisor, as well as literacy specialist, and elementary teacher.
The three candidates will interview with stakeholders on Wednesday, April 7 and conclude the process with final separate interviews with the Board of Education on April 13, 14 and 15.
The anticipated start date for the new superintendent is July 1.
Kevin MacDonald, district superintendent of the Genesee Valley BOCES, who is acting as the search consultant, said the Board has developed and implemented a process that will help determine the best candidate.
“This is a thorough search process,” MacDonald said. “Finalists will visit the Byron-Bergen Central School District to meet with stakeholders. The process concludes with final rounds of interviews with the Board of Education.”
The Hornets beat the Bees 74-56 in Oakfield on Tuesday night behind 17 points for Travis Wiedrich.
Kaden Cusmano added 15 points, Peyton Yasses, 11, Gaige Armbrewster, 10, and Kyle Porter, 8.
For Byron-Bergen, Jerrod Amesbury scored 16 points, Gianni Ferrara 15, and Braedyn Chambry, 11.
Also in boys basketball on Tuesday:
Photos by Kristin Smith. For the varsity game, click here. For JV game, click here.
The Byron-Bergen/Le Roy girls swim team won the Genesee Regional Championship over the weekend, placing first out of seven teams at the meet.
The team scored 492 points. Notre Dame/Batavia finished second with 419 points.
Swim Coach Sara Stockwell said it has been 10 years since Byron-Bergen won the league championship meet.
Senior Alaura Rehwaldt won the 100-meter butterfly and broke her own school record with a time of 1:03.59.
Alaura Rehwaldt, Jorie Strzelecki, Peyton Koukides and Natalee Shepard won the 200-meter freestyle relay and also broke their own school record with a time of 1:46.36.
Information and photo submitted by Sara Stockwell.
Section V Athletics announced eight scholarship winners today to fall sports student-athletes, including one from Genesee County.
The $250 scholarship is awarded to students who excel in scholastics and athletics. Winners are selected based on a letter of recommendation from their coach, their high school transcript and activities sheet, as well as their responses to application questions. There were more than 80 applications for this season’s scholarships.
Press release from Section V:
Girls Soccer: Hope Hersom, Byron-Bergen High School
Hope has been playing soccer for six years, and also participates in basketball and track and field.She says that highlights from this season include “getting to play my last season with an amazingly talented and young team, making it to the final round of sectionals, and all the positive support I received from my school, family and friends.”
In the fall Hope plans to attend college to study Mechanical Engineering.
She shares that one word that best describes herself is “positive -- no matter what the score was, what was going on, or whether it was a game or practice, I always walked off the field with a smile and encouraging words.”
Byron-Bergen's girls' soccer team came up a goal short in an overtime loss to Geneseo on Wednesday night to miss out on a Section V Class C1 title.
Emma Starowitz scored the Bees' only goal.
Athletic Director Rich Hannan (who submitted the team photo) said, "we couldn't be more proud of them! OT losses always hurt but they stayed positive. A great group of kids."
Also in girls' soccer sectional finals on Wednesday, Le Roy lost to Bath-Haverling 5-1.
Here is the response received from Debi List, school board president for Byron-Bergen for the questions we sent each individual board member of the school district. List said this served as a group response. A group response was not an option given to the school board members.
The school board members who failed to provide their own responses:
Response:
We appreciate that you are looking for individual statements from Board members however the Byron-Bergen Board members choose to reply as one. The Byron-Bergen Board of Education fully supports the decision of our district of to bring children back to school as long as we are able to do it safely and with all the many precautions as we can provide to our students and their families. With the CDC guidelines we are able to bring PreK-5Th grade in everyday, but unfortunately the district is not able to bring back all students in 6Th to 12th grade for in person learning 5 days a week and that we will need to do a hybrid model.
Any parent that has reached out to our board members understands the situation and knows that the Byron-Bergen school district is doing what is best for kids.
Top photo: Macayla Burke (right) receives the first-place Holowach Scholarship from Jon Sanfratello, executive principal, GV BOCES Batavia Campus. Macayla is a Health Careers Academy student from Batavia City School District.
Submitted photo and press release:
The Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center is proud to announce the achievements of its seniors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this awards ceremony event that was scheduled to be held in June was canceled.
The 25 Genesee County award winners, their programs, home schools and scholarships received, are noted below.
Andrew Englerth remains undefeated on the season in wrestling with his 47th win, coming in as a 160-pound D2 state qualifier.
He will now wrestle for a state championship in Albany during the tournament Feb. 28 and 29.
Englerth beat Justin Smith, of Marcus Whitman/Penn Yan, in a major decision, 13-4.
Also picking up championship wins were Zach Hannan, Byron-Bergen, at 152 pounds, beating Kade Slayton of Hornel in a 2-0 decision, and Mitchell Gaiser, Alexander, beating William Tennity of Wayne in a fall at 4 minutes.
Photos submitted by Tim McArdle.
Joey Burdick scored 18 points to help propel Oakfield-Alabama over the Bees at Byron-Bergen on Thursday night, 60-54.
The Hornets are now 12-4 and Byron-Bergen falls to 10-6.
Travis Wiedrich scored 15 points for O-A and Kam Cusmano scored 13.
For B-B, Nick Baubie scored 16 points, Alex Brumsted scored 12, and Kevin Smith scored 11.
Also in boys basketball on Thursday:
Both Elba and Byron-Bergen went into Friday's girls basketball games with only a single loss each. Of course, only one team could leave the court with only one loss. In this case it was Elba, now 13-1, who came out on top, 54-43.
The Lady Bees are now 10-2.
For Elba, Brynn Walczak scored 17 points. Leah Bezon scored 15 and Lauryn Engle, nine. Taylor Augello and Maddie Muehlig has seven each.
Julianna Amesbury socred 21 for Byron-Bergen and Kelsey Fuller scored 16.
Also in girls basketball on Friday night:
In boys basketball:
Above, Joshua Roberts, of Attica Central School, races against a clock as he fixes a tire during the Tire Rodeo at the Ron Smith Auto Tech Competition.
Submitted photos and press release:
Each year the Niagara Frontier Automobile Dealers Association hosts a competition that is held at the Erie Community College Vehicle Technology Training Center (ECC-VTTC) in Orchard Park. This event, called the Ron Smith Auto Tech Competition, is open to any high school senior or junior who is enrolled in an automotive program.
The competition draws students from seven Western New York counties. The winners of this contest, along with their high school instructor, receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete in the nationals at the National Automotive Technology Competition.
Six students from the Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center’s Auto Technology Program competed in this year’s Ron Smith Auto Tech Competition, which was held Friday (Jan. 17).
During this daylong event students, who competed in teams of two, were scored on their knowledge of tools, measuring instruments, specific vehicle components, and job interview skills. Students were also required to diagnose and repair a number of preassigned problems under a car's hood.
During the Tire Rodeo, students were put to the test as they raced to replace a damaged tire in the quickest time.
Seniors Lucas Doran from Alexander Central School and Patrick Willis from Attica Central School took second place in the automotive competition.
John McCarthy from Alexander CS, and Michael Roberts from Attica CS, are both seniors and they also competed in the automotive competition. This team took fourth place and just missed third place by only one point.
Devon Zinter from Byron-Bergen Central School, and Joshua Roberts from Attica CS, are both juniors. This team took second place in the Tire Rodeo.
All four seniors were offered the opportunity for tuition-free enrollment into the two-year Ford Automotive Student Service Education Training(ASSET) Program at Erie Community College.
Lucas and Patrick each received a $750 scholarship to the college of their choice, tool boxes, and an assortment of tools. Mike and John received a $250 college scholarship.
Devon and Joshua won jump boxes and have qualified to return to next year’s competition as seniors to represent the Batavia CTE Center.
Bob Yates is the Auto Technology instructor at the Batavia CTE Center. He noted it’s not always about winning but more importantly, how a competition gives students the opportunity to learn about their skill set and how they can improve.
“All of these students worked hard preparing for the competition both during school as well as over winter break, Yates said. "The seniors spent time at Basil Ford working with a senior technician preparing for the debugging of a 2019 Ford Ranger.
"The second part of the competition was based on a series of stations which we prepare for during class and shop time. I am very proud of the students and the effort they put in.
"I was complimented several times about the professionalism, politeness, and knowledge our students displayed during the competition. They were a great representation of our program and the Batavia CTE Center.”
Below, from left, Bob Yates, Batavia CTE Center Auto Technology Instructor, with Auto Technology students Patrick Willis and Lucas Doran, accept their awards at the Ron Smith Auto Tech Competition.
Submitted photo and information from Genesee Valley Educational Partnership:
Decision Day was held Friday at the Western New York Tech Academy. It is similar to a college signing day.
A total of 10 WNY Tech Academy students were honored for officially declaring the pathways they will pursue as they complete their free applied associate degrees through Genesee Community College.
The students could choose to study Accounting, Food Processing Technology, or Supply Chain Management.
Staff, administrators, business partners and parents attended Decision Day.
The high school juniors who participated are named below, along with their high school and declared paths of study. They are in the top photo.
(Everett Claud, of Perry, is not pictured. He will study Supply Chain Management.)
In addition, the Tech Academy also recognized 12 seniors in Friday's program:
For more information about the WNY Tech Academy visit wnytechacademy.org
About Western New York Tech Academy
It is a program of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State.
Above, production still from "Paranormal High." Photo by Sandy Auer.
Press release and submitted photos.
BERGEN -- On Friday, June 7, the Byron-Bergen Adapted Arts class premiered their original movie, "Paranormal High." Taught by Jr./Sr. High Art teacher Sandy Auer, the class incorporates visual and performing arts for Special Education students.
“This class traditionally puts on a play, but some of the students were nervous about performing before a live audience,” Auer said. “The project evolved into a movie. Everyone had a really fun time and we had 100-percent participation.”
The students developed the movie concept and wrote the script in which a specter is accidently released into the Jr./Sr. High School as a result of the ongoing construction projects. The students worked on the props and costumes and acted the major roles.
They were joined in front of the camera by other Byron-Bergen students and staff including a cameo by Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School Principal Pat McGee.
The Adapted Arts class hosted Byron-Bergen students and faculty in the Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium for the premiere. After an introduction from Auer, the 12-minute film screened to tumultuous applause. A reception followed with refreshments and the opportunity to congratulate the cast members.
“Watching the movie was fun and it was great to see smiling faces in the audience,” said senior Adapted Arts student Kae Yun.
Below, production still from "Paranormal High." Photo by Sandy Auer.
Below, the cast of "Paranormal High." Photo by Gretchen Spittler.
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