West Genesee School District
December 29, 2023
Administration Updates
Message from the Superintendent
Dear West Genesee Families,
I very much enjoy noticing milestones and markers of time and find them to be valuable. Each of us may experience them as unique to our own choices, or they may be something relatively common that we share with others. They could range from noteworthy to celebratory.
Some examples for me include a person’s first day at a new job, a team’s last game of an athletic season, an ensemble’s concert that follows multiple rehearsals, or an artist’s finished work from hours of creation. Some that are less of an event include an important date that holds a memory, an annual experience enjoyed with others, meeting an individual for the first time, and many more examples likely different for each of us.
New Year’s Day can bring a freshness of the future, a celebration of accomplishment, and the prospect of change. While it can be argued that it is nothing more than one day moving to the next, December 31 to January 1 seems to represent more. Many past rituals have underscored an increased significance for that annual moment. That particular stroke of midnight and the start of a new calendar year represents possibilities.
In some ways, the excitement of 12:00 a.m. on January 1 could be found in the passing of any month, week, day, hour, and second that precedes it or follows it. Perhaps that one moment should serve as a reminder to regularly seize opportunities, celebrate successes, and strive for possibilities. I believe we are in a special community to do just that.
Happy New Year!
David C. Bills
Superintendent of Schools
Student Recognitions
WGHS Students are Semi-Finalists in Modeling the Future Challenge
Congratulations to West Genesee High School students Colleen Barry, Ty’San Scott, Nicole Vasilev, Erica Volik, and Cameron Zajac for advancing as semi finalists in the Actuarial Science Institute’ s Modeling the Future Challenge.
Their “Data Dominators” team led by high school teacher Gabriela Babcock, as part of their Statistics and Precalculus courses, is one of only nine teams in New York State to be chosen.
Their hard work and dedication, team efforts and creativity has led to their accomplishments thus far, so please join me in wishing them good luck as they move forward!
Students Artwork Honored by NYS Senator John Mannion
NYS Senator John Mannion recently honored many local school district artists by choosing to hang them in his local government office. West Genesee CSD had four pieces of artwork selected for that display.
East Hill second grader Rebecca Dion was honored for her artwork of a fox. WGIS fifth grader Addison Haberek had her flower artwork spotlighted, along with artwork from WGIS sixth grader Kimberly (Kiki) MacArthur Villalobos of a bird. WGHS Junior Gwenyth DeMass also had her artwork of a sunflower selected.
Congratulation to all!
Sports Wrap-Up for Fall 2023 Recognizes Athletes
The Sports Wrap-Up is a section from the Communicator that is published at the end of each athletic season. This section lists all of the teams, comments from coaches, and awards received by the athletes.
Staff Recognitions
West Genesee Teacher Earns National Certification
West Genesee Intermediate School teacher Jacqueline Mills has recently achieved National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Her certification area is in the category of Science/Early Adolescence.
To earn certification from the NBPTS, successful candidates spend between 200 and 400 hours, over a year or more, in an extensive series of performance-based assessments that include teaching portfolios, students’ work samples, video recordings, and a thorough analysis of the candidate’s classroom teaching and student learning.
Teachers also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students.
Congratulations! #WeCelebrateLearning #WildcatPride
It Happened at School...
CMS Welcomes Author Kate Milford
On Friday December 15, 2023 Camillus Middle School welcomed NY Times Best Selling author Kate Milford. CMS Librarian Sharon Bush coordinated her visit for all 7th and 8th graders.
Milford's most famous novel, Greenglass House, won the Edgar Award for juvenile literature. She also wrote nine other adventures set in the shared universe called the Roaming World. All students were delighted to hear a story from her most recent title, The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book.
In addition, a select group of students took part in her creative writing workshop. Milford even shared a sneak peak of her next novel, Rialto, which will be released in 2025. Staff and students are eager to read more of her stories and truly enjoyed her memorable visit.
Dr. Jumbelic Speaks to Forensics Class at High School
On December 18, 2023 Dr. Mary Jumbelic came to speak to Leandra Kovalchik's forensics class. She is an author from Central New York, and a former chief medical examiner of Onondaga County.
A board-certified forensic pathologist, she has performed thousands of autopsies during her 25-year career. She has received awards for her work from the National Transportation Safety Board and the New York State Senate, and has been recognized as a trailblazer by the National Organization of Women. As an expert witness, she has appeared on numerous national broadcasts, most recently Dateline and 48 hours.
In retirement, Mary has published many non-fiction stories, accounts of her life both in and out of the morgue. She also teaches writing, and enjoys sharing her expert tips for a great crime novel or pathology mystery, which made her a wonderful speaker for the forensics students who were very interested in her story.
High School Students Visit and Read to Stonehedge UPK Students
On December 19, 2023 Melanie Deemer's Teaching Tolerance class came from WGHS to Stonehedge to teach UPK students about family traditions and different celebrations. What an awesome morning in UPK! #celebrations #learningjourney #earlychildhood
CMS Students Create and Present their "Personal Portfolio Pizza Project"
Students in Stacey Sommer's CMS classes were working on, and then presenting, their "Personal Portfolio Pizza Project". The project, done in conjunction with the class novel, Some Places More than Others by Renee Watson, was an ongoing project with students focusing on their unique selves.
Some items in the project included a family interview, lyrics from a childhood song, an item representing their ancestry, a personal top ten list, a "perfect fit" drawing, and a letter to their future self, and many more personalized items.
All of these were creatively placed in the box and prepared to present. The culmination of the project was an exhibit, science fair style, in which classes from around the building were in attendance. The students were able to practice their speaking skills and were exuding confidence as they presented to fellow students and teachers!
A big thank you to The Wildcat Pub and Cam's Pizzeria for donating the pizza boxes.
Upcoming Events/Registration/Closing Information
Tickets for the WGHS Musical, Cinderella, are now on Sale!!
WGHS will be presenting Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella on February 8 (7 p.m.), February 9 (7 p.m.) and February 10 (1 p.m. and 6 p.m.). This "Broadway Version" is the newest adaptation (book by Douglas Beane) of the classic musical and features new characters, a hilarious libretto, surprising twists, and the unforgettable score" we continue to love (quote from concordtheatricals.com).
Tickets became available for purchase starting on December 1. All seats are reserved. To purchase via credit card head to wgfinearts.ludus.com (or scan the QR code) and click "buy tickets." To reserve your tickets via check or cash, contact the WG Fine Arts Office at(315) 487-4612. We can't wait for you to see what the students are working so hard to prepare!!
Kindergarten Registration has Started!
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year will open on December 5, 2023 and will go until March 31, 2024.
Watch for registration information on the Central Registration webpage. If you have any questions, email the Central Registrar at centralregistrar@westgenesee.org, or call Central Registration at (315) 487-4683.
When registering, parents should be prepared to upload the following:
- Two proofs of residency (i.e. mortgage or property statement or signed lease agreement, utility bill )
- proof of age
A physical examination and proof of immunizations are also required for entry into kindergarten and a dental certificate is requested for entry into kindergarten. These examinations should be done up to one year prior to the first day of school. Children who enter kindergarten this fall must be five years of age on or before December 1, 2024.
Important Information: Calendar/Emergency Closing Info
Change to 2023-2024 District Calendar
Please note that the Board of Education voted at their meeting on October 18, 2023 to adjust the West Genesee CSD Calendar to move the Half-Day of School for Students-Superintendent's Conference Half-Day from April 10, 2024 to April 8, 2024.
This change is to accommodate a total Eclipse due to occur on April 8 during student dismissal time at some of our schools.
Click here to view/print the updated calendar as posted to the website under the Calendar area.
Emergency Closing Information is Important
Announcements about school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissal will be posted on the News Headlines section of the District website home page. They will also be broadcast on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the following stations which you can access by clicking here.
SchoolMessenger communications software allows us to send emails, texts, and make phone calls. (Phone calls will be used for emergency situations only.)
Parent/Guardians and staff will NOT need to sign-up to receive information from schools that you are registered for in ParentVue. (You will have the option to opt-out if you choose not to receive emails, texts, and/or phone calls. To receive texts, you also have to opt-in per the instructions in the Tips article below. )
New Website and Mobile App
We have redesigned the West Genesee website and took into consideration the information shared in the results of the survey we distributed in June. It is now easier to find items directly related to your school from that school's homepage. It is also very mobile responsive and easy to find items from your phone. However, if you have questions about the new site, please email them to publications@westgenesee.org.
In addition to the new website, we have also launched a new mobile phone app to communicate to students, parents, and community members about West Genesee news, upcoming events, and other important information. The West Genny app is available to download free from the Apple App store or the Google Play store. For more information about the mobile app, click here to view a video about the app.
This app is different from your ParentVUE app which you will continue to use to communicate with teachers, check on schedules, and other items that relate directly to your specific child(ren).
Are you Receiving All of our Communications? Helpful Tips about the SchoolMessenger Communication System:
- To be sure that you are receiving all emails sent from the District/schools/teachers please periodically check your spam/junk/promotions folder for emails with @westgenesee.org, then mark that they are not spam/junk/promotions.
- To be sure that you are receiving text messages this year from WGCSD or your school(s) Text a "Y" or "Yes" to 67587.
If you still have questions about receiving emails and/or text from WGCSD please email them to publications@westgenesee.org.
West Genesee is Hiring
We are Hiring a School Psychologist
West Genesee CSD is hiring a full-time long-term substitute School Psychologist for Camillus Middle School. Information about this position is also available on OLAS.
Inquiries can be made to Human Resources at (315) 487-4555.
WGCSD Needs Substitute Teachers
West Genesee CSD is hiring substitute teachers. We are accepting applicants that are both certified and non-certified (with a Bachelor's degree).
Inquiries can be made to Human Resources at (315) 487-4555.
Substitute Special Education Teaching Assistants are Needed at WGCSD!
West Genesee CSD is hiring Substitute Special Education Teaching Assistants.
Inquiries can be made to Human Resources at (315) 487-4555.
Upcoming Events
- January 1, 2024 No School-Holiday Recess
- January 10, 2024 BOE Meeting-6:00 p.m
- January 15, 2024 No School-Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 26, 2024: Superintendent’s Conference Half-Day