Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School

The key takeaway from Le Roy High School Regents Exams results is that the pass rate is pretty consistent, Principal David Russell reported to the Board of Education on Tuesday.

Recent pass rate:

• 23-24, 88%
• 22-23, 82%
• 21-23, 88%
• 20-21, 79%
• 19-20, no test due to pandemic
• 18-19, 93%

Naturally, Russell said he would like to see better results.

"As a building principal, you're always going to want to strive for 100 over 100," Russell said. "I think if any principal would come in here and say otherwise, you've questioned their motivation, right? I think what I would say is, looking at this, I think it's encouraging to see passing grades staying consistent. I think one thing that we can focus on with this data is working with our department chairs next year to say, 'All right, what can we do? We have some students who scored 63 and 64. How can we support those students getting to passing?"

Russell, of course, would also like to improve the percentage of students achieving mastery grades.

"I would say that the overall goal would be to try and focus on mastery, right?" Russell said. "We can keep pushing our students to get better, and not just being complacent, looking at passing. There's always going to be room that we're striving for the highest bar that we can attain."

• 23-24, 26%
• 22-23, 28%
• 21-23, 32%
• 20-21, 31%
• 19-20, no test due to pandemic
• 18-19, 39%

Not all districts in the county have posted the Regent results yet so Russell said he can't yet offer comparables with other districts.

Press release:

On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the Le Roy Board of Education unanimously approved Matt Davis as the new Jr/Sr High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. Mr. Davis will start officially on Monday, August 1, 2022.

Mr. Davis is currently a physical education teacher at Brockport Central School District, a position he has held since 2007. During the 2021 summer, Mr. Davis also gained valuable experience at Monroe 2 BOCES as a Regional Summer School Vice Principal. Since 2018 at Brockport Middle and High School, Mr. Davis has served as a substitute assistant principal and completed his internship with the Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics in 2021.

“Throughout the search process, it was evident that Mr. Davis had a bold vision for both our academic and athletic programs. He values teamwork, and cares above all about the success and development of his students, teachers, and staff,” said Merritt Holly, Superintendent of Schools. “Mr. Davis’ coaching experience in both boys and girls varsity sports (soccer and baseball) at Brockport Central Schools was viewed as a huge plus by our committee. We look forward to Mr. Davis leading our Knights as we continue to provide high-level extra-curricular offerings for all students.”

Mr. Davis earned both a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Science in Athletic Administration from SUNY Brockport. Along with his physical education certification, Mr. Davis also holds New York State certifications as a School Building and School District Leader.

• The district posted the position on May 11, 2022, and 17 candidates applied.
• First-round interviews with six applicants were held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
• An 11-member committee consisting of teachers, parents, administration, and board members
• narrowed the field to two finalists.
• Second-round interviews took place on Tuesday, June 28, and Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
• A final interview with the superintendent was conducted on Thursday, July 7, 2022.

Mr. Davis will have the opportunity to transition into his new role with Dr. David Russell and Mrs. Lynda Lowe (who will be retiring in November 2022). The district would also like to thank Mrs. Beth Luckey, who has been interim athletic director since October 2022. 

Photos by Howard Owens.

Information from Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School:

Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School will present the Stephen Sondheim musical "Into the Woods" at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12, and POSTPONED -- Friday and Saturday -- March 13 and 14 -- in the auditorium.

Tickets are $10 presale; $12 at the door. The school is located at 9300 South Street Road in Le Roy.

Based on the book by James Lapine, "Into the Woods" at first appears to be a familar story based on Grimm’s fairy tales that most of us grew up with. But there's frustration afoot as the audience delves into questioning what brings true happiness.

The story is a metaphor for life's journeys. What directions we choose to take in life and the discoveries we make along the way in regards to love, loss, values, choices, and responsibilities. The story also shows the lightness and darkness which we all encounter in life and focuses on how the choices we make in our lives truly do affect those who are around us and the journeys they take, says the production's Artistic Director Jacqueline McLean.

While this show poses a lot of serious questions and thoughts, it also has a delightful score full of beautiful and entertaining music, as well as several comedic characters and moments, and characters we all know who take us through the ups and downs of the journey called life.

Le Roy students have proven up to the extreme challenge of the difficult score as well as developing the deep characters.

"We spent an extensive amount of time developing our characters this year so that we would find ease forming the correct relationships on stage, thus hoping to make it believable," McLean says. "Through the process, students asked themselves questions and did a bit of self discovery as well. 

"There is not a person in the world that can’t relate to or see someone they know in the characters of 'Into the Woods'. While the students portray these characters, it is an exaggerated version of real-life stereotypes and personalities."

The cast includes:

• Erik Schwab (Narrator)
• Hailey Grasso -- Cinderella
• Brady Fix -- Cinderella's Prince
• Wade Dzedzic -- Rapunzel's Prince
• Sean Czyrca -- Wolf
• Evan Williams -- The Baker
• Alexis Pfendler -- The Baker's Wife
• Marlena Pencille -- The Witch
• Emily Overacker -- Jack's Mother
• Ashlyn Puccio -- Little Red Ridinghood
• Nathan Yauchzee -- Jack
• Jackson Cain -- Mysterious Man
• Maureen Klaiber -- Rapunzel
• Allison Primatera -- Cinderella's Stepmother
• Jillian Curtis -- Florinda
• Kylee Wright -- Lucinda 
• Amalia Morris -- Cinderella's Mother
• Catie Long -- Giant
• Jonathan Napper -- Cinderella's Father
• Cooper Terry -- Granny
• Ethan Riggs -- Steward
• Allyson Austin -- Snow White
• Anna Long --Sleeping Beauty
• Maria Calhoun -- Milky White

In addition to Artistic Director Jacqueline McLean, the production crew includes:

• Assistant Director -- Joseph Kusmierczak
• Vocal Director -- Jeffrey Fischer
• Choreographer -- Jessica Pcionek
• Pit Orchestra Director -- Nastassia Dotts
• Costumes -- Mary Platek, Heidi Austin
• Dance Captain -- Allison Primatera
• Assistant Dance Captian -- Aubrey Puccio

"Into the Woods" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.