Bird's Eye View

Hello Larries Community,

Welcome to the first edition in the 3rd year of the “Bird’s Eye View”. Each month we will:

1. Give you small snapshots of the great things that are happening here at SLC.

2. We may be asking for a little help with some things to make our school community the most productive we can be.

Our hope is you will continue to follow us every month so we can continue to connect our great community with the students, staff, and programs that are here to help maximize our students’ futures.

We are in the early to mid stages of looking at our next capital project proposal for the district. Our recent building conditions survey, completed by NYS, has given us a number of things to consider when it comes to both maintaining and improving our buildings and grounds. Meetings with architects and fiscal advisors have been occurring, so we can soon begin sharing our thoughts with the community moving forward. Any project proposal we look to bring forward to the Board of Education, will come with NO additional tax impact to the community.

Here I need the community's help:

In today’s digital age, social media plays a significant role in our lives, including the lives of our parents, students, and staff. While it can be a valuable tool for communication and connection, it’s essential that we address responsible social media use, especially when it comes to interactions involving school staff.

As educators, we are all expected to have “tougher skin” than most, and to take things on the chin while also being expected to not let it have a direct effect on our personal feelings, personal lives, or our families. With that responsibility, comes the fact that school personnel cannot ever respond back to negative comments made, nor do they get a chance to give “the rest of the story” that is often left out when someone is upset and makes these posts.

Unfortunately, there have been instances of negative interactions on social media platforms directed towards our dedicated school staff. These actions can have detrimental effects on both the individuals targeted, and our entire school community. They can harm morale, disrupt the learning environment, and undermine the positive relationships we work hard to foster between staff, students, and parents.

I urge you, and your children, to please have open and honest conversations about the importance of respectful and responsible online behavior. I would like to ask all of us to think before we post and/or comment, and to treat everyone with kindness and empathy, whether in person or online. Those of you that have had this happen personally to you, know exactly the impact it can have and those that have not…understand that this is something that could happen to any of us at any time.

• Congratulations to all those that have been recognized, in this October issue, for the outstanding work you are doing!

• Congratulations to all of this year's SLC Class of 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees! They will be here celebrating October 13th and 14th for our Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend.

• I have attached this year's District Goal #1, so anyone interested can take a look.

Please consider sharing this edition with any neighbors, relatives, friends, or alumni you may know that would like to keep updated on what goes on here with us at SLC. Thank you for following and helping as you can with the “I need the community's help portion”.

Have a safe and great October.

Mr. Rose

We are pleased to inform you that all enrolled students of Brasher Falls Central School District are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no cost to your household each day of the school year.

The District sent out a Household Income Application for other funding purposes as many programs within the school rely on this data. We are also providing the form at the link above. We encourage all families to fill out this application and return it to the district, so we can maintain state and federal funding at the highest levels possible.

Please click the links below for more information:

• Parent Letter
• Food Service Announcement

Here is the October Menu.

If you have any questions, please contact Melany Cline at (315)-389-5131 ext. 29138 or

mcline@bfcsd.org

Melany Cline

School Lunch Manager

On Friday, October 6, we will be holding our district-wide evacuation drill. Students may arrive home a little earlier or later than normal due to the drill. We appreciate your patience, and want to make sure all of our students are prepared in the case of any emergencies we may encounter.

Dear Middle and High School Parents,

Thank you for your help in getting our year off to a great start! For those of you who missed orientation, we wanted to share some information to continue our home to school collaboration, and also to help your child be successful at school.

How Parents Can Help:

• Make sure your child is present in school with the exception of illness.

• Download the district App (search Brasher Falls Central School in the App store).

• Make sure your contact information is updated and also update emergency contacts.

• Check agendas daily. They are required to be used in both MS and HS this year.

• Check Schooltool assignment grades weekly. Our teachers do their best to update them by the end of each week. We have included a helpful guide here Schooltool Mobile App Guide to show you how to do this.

• Have a designated time and location at home for homework/studying.

• Keep Chromebooks in a safe location at home. Remember to have your child check that their device is charged and ready for the school day!

• Limit electronic device time, and monitor your child’s social media accounts. Report any suspicious activity to law enforcement as necessary.

• Make sure your child is getting enough sleep.

• Encourage your child to not be a bystander. Also, remind them that being in the presence of negative behaviors may have negative consequences.

• Talk to your child about vaping.

• Report any harassment, discrimination, or safety issues. Encourage your child to do the right thing and report issues, so that we can keep everyone safe and our school buildings and grounds beautiful. Communicate with the school if you have concerns, or need help (if we do not know, we can’t assist)

• Encourage positive relationships with school staff. Reach out to staff proactively, always starting with the most direct person to the situation. For example, if you have questions about your child’s grades in a class, reach out to that teacher specifically.

• Help your child develop self-advocacy skills, and encourage them to reach out if needed.

Club Highlight!

We would like to congratulate The Collective on their great video that they created on Diversity! As we move into October, which is Global Diversity Awareness month, we thought it would be a great time to share the work of our students. Check out their video here.

Upcoming Dates/Events:
Progress Reports come out next week! Students may have assignments that they can turn in by Friday to improve their grades.

10/3 MS/HS Picture Day
10/13 Progress Reports Available Online
10/31 Half Day Dismissal at 11:30

Mrs. Zender, HS Principal and Mrs. LaBarge, MS Principal

Here are some helpful documents and links for your information and use:

• Parent Portal SchoolTool Request
  
• Schooltool Mobile App Guide
• BFCSD Community Code of Conduct
• Adult Volunteer Application

Orange Shirt Day, it’s a day to remember the indigenous people who were racially suppressed and killed. I never knew that part of who I am was effected by this moment that I never even knew about. However, my tota was a part of that moment. As a little kid, my tota was taken from her parents and put into Christian schools where they forced her to learn the English language. She was told that if she uttered a word in Mohawk, she would be struck upon her hands again and again until she understood it in English. My tota still today has scars on her hands and doesn’t like to talk about what happened to her. My tota didn’t want to teach her kids much about the language, and the culture because she feared for them as well. One of those kids was my father, he grew up knowing little about who he was and learned most about his culture in school, because of that, I learned little to nothing about a big part of who I am.

Although some families have persevered and moved past this terrible moment in history, my tota still lets it haunt her at 86 years old. Orange Shirt Day isn’t just another day on your calendar, or something you don’t learn about because it “doesn’t involve you". Just knowing what Orange Shirt Day is, prevents the chance of history repeating itself.

On every September 30th, don’t forget to wear orange, or tell your loved ones about Orange Shirt Day.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Trinity Jacobs

SLC High School Junior

Mr. Tim Brown was the High School "Golden Apple" award winner for the month of June. He was nominated by one of his colleagues for this honor.

"I do not see Tim very often, but over the past 2 weeks, I've randomly heard Mr. Brown's name mentioned on 3 separate occasions, involving at least 4 different students about how Mr. Brown is such an inspiration to his students. I feel that this is a wonderful reason to nominate Tim for this award."

Congratulations, Mr. Brown!

Would you like to recognize a staff member? Stop in and see Mrs. Zender or email her at kzender@bfcsd.org.

High School Guidance Counselors

Rachael Huntley A-K

Michaela Bethel L-Z

Hello SLC Community,

Greetings from the High School Counseling Office! We have two new Counselors this year, Miss Bethel and Ms. Huntley. Whether helping students plan their educational path, offering support during times of personal difficulty, or assisting with college and career planning, our role is to be a resource and advocate for all our students. We are here to serve as a partner in your student’s educational journey, and we look forward to getting to know each of you and working together for the betterment of our school community. Please feel free to reach out to us with questions or concerns.

I am happy to introduce myself as one of your new School Counselors here at SLC. My name is Michaela Bethel, and it is both an honor and a privilege to be a part of this wonderful community. I am excited to embark on this journey of supporting our students’ growth, well-being, and success. As a school counselor, my foremost commitment is to the students and families of our community. I am here to provide guidance, lend a listening ear, and assist in navigating the various challenges of the educational journey. My approach to counseling is founded on the belief that each student is unique, with their own strengths, aspirations, and potential. I am dedicated to fostering an environment where students feel valued, understood, and empowered to achieve their academic and personal goals.

Warm Regards,

Michaela Bethel

High School Counselor, L-Z

mibethel@bfcsd.org

What a great, and positive start to the year it has been! My name is Rachael Huntley, I am one of the School Counselors in the High School. We will be working with students throughout the year to support them academically, socially, emotionally, and assist with post-graduate plans. Throughout October, we will be meeting with all seniors individually to discuss their desired pathway post-graduation, and assist with preparation to achieve those goals. As we approach the busy college application season this fall, we are here to support you and your senior student through the application and financial aid process, and are happy to answer any questions you may have. I am grateful and so excited to be a part of your community, and I look forward to working with you in partnership toward the goal of student success.

Warm Regards,

Rachael Huntley

High School Counselor, A-K

rhuntley@bfcsd.org

Mrs. Barse's Life Skills class made macaroni and cheese together. The students measured and mixed the ingredients and then they were able to eat it together. The students choose the foods they want to cook, wash the dishes, and clean up afterwards.

Several of our student athletes attended Section X’s Student-Athletes Leadership Conference at Clarkson University on September 22nd. They learned a variety of leadership and communication skills that they plan to implent into their sports teams.

Coach Adams brought Courtney Moreau, Harlee Hartson, Michael Donie, Ayden Beach, Austin Mason, Mary Cate-Dow, Alison Jarvis and Ella Bellinger to the conference. The athletes were selected by their fall team coaches and the Athletic Director.

The Section will continue to have this conference each season in hopes of ensuring more of our student-athletes and coaches have the opportunity to learn about leadership.

Mrs. Martin Stone has been employed at SLC for 28 years. In addition to her teaching duties, she has acted as a community liason. Throughout the years she has secured housewares, clothing, personal items, beds, dressers, and more! She has assisted many families that came forward and identified a need.

This year is new and exceptional. There is a designated room in the Elementary School with large racks and shelving units to hold and display the items for those that are in need. If you need an item, or would like to set up a time to drop off donations, please email Mrs. Martin Stone at bemartin@bfcsd.org.

We are always looking for donations of gently used items for boys, girls, teens, men, and women. Suggested items include:

• Boots
• Hats
• Sneakers
• Swimsuits
• Towels
• Sheets
• Housewares
  

Thank you,

Mrs. Martin Stone

As the new school year madness settles, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our families for their quick response in regard to immunization requirements.

For those of you not yet affected, NY state mandates that additional immunizations are required to attend school. In grade 6 and at 11 years old, a Tetanus Booster (Tdap) is required. In grades 7 and 12 years old, a Meningitis (meningococcal) vaccine is required. When entering Kindergarten students are required to receive an additional 4 vaccines (after turning 4 years old). A DTap (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), Polio and Varicella vaccine are required. This is in addition to the vaccines received since birth.

All these vaccines must be completed and documentation received within 14 calendar days from the start of school. This year, parents responded quickly and respectfully. We appreciate this! It allows us to attend to other important tasks within the health office. We look forward to another successful year working with you and your students.

Ms. Hallahan, MS/HS Nurse and Mrs. Tuper, Elementary Nurse

Class of 2024 caps and gowns are now available for order. You can order online at www.nygrad.com. Please see Mrs. Jenkinson in the High School Guidance Office for more information.

In Studio Art, we build our own sketchbooks and create collages that express who we are as a person. Pictured below are a few completed covers.

In Ceramics, we have built a personal Rock Cairn and a Kiln God to protect our work over the course of the year. Check them out below!

In Design and Drawing for Production, we built our sketchbook and we used the drawing concept of one point perspective to make the image look three dimensional.

In Drawing and Painting, we build our sketchbook, but personally design it with images or ideas that answer the questions “I am ?” and “I want to.”

Winter sports signups will be with PE teachers from October 2nd through October 6th. Winter sport physicals will be given in early November with the date to be determined.

A reminder that the athletic schedule website has changed from last year. It is: https://www.sections710.org/public/genie/1817/school/45/. The website can also be accessed from the district website at www.bfcsd.org and the district app. Click on Menu then Athletic Schedules.

The 24th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on October 14th in the SLC High School Auditorium at 5:30 pm.

Individual Inductees:

• Donald Francis
• Gary Collette
• Joanne Delisle
• Darin Richards
• Timothy Crowley
• Michael Zelyez
• Gerald Healy

Team Inductions:

• 1981 Softball Team
• 2009-2010 Boys Hockey Team

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 Hall of Fame inductees!

St. Lawrence Central Athletics is proud to announce that Missy West, a local Professional Speaker, will be presenting in the SLC High School Auditorium on November 15th at 7:00 PM.

Since Missy's Hall of Fame inductions she has been a sought-after keynote and motivational speaker for businesses, national organizations, high schools, youth organizations, colleges & leadership seminars around the country. Her personal experiences of failure, adversity, injury, and serious health struggles have led her on a path to inspire, uplift, and motivate people of all ages and walks of life.

To learn more about Missy, check out this video or her social media feeds: Instagram: @miswest25, Twitter: @missywest25, Facebook: Missy West.

All are welcome!

It has been so nice to see everyone back for the 2023-2024 school year! In September, we focused on the character traits of Digital Citizenship and Organization. If you are interested in tips and tricks to try at home to help your child with organization in middle school, please check out this link.

Here is a helpful article with some tips from Scholastic about keeping your middle schooler safe online.

During the month of October, we will be exploring the monthly themes of Conflict Resolution and Friendship. Students should be on the lookout for the upcoming Kindness Challenge!

Mr. Niles, Counselor for students with last names A-K

Mrs. Roldan, Counselor for students with last names L-Z

After 100s of hygiene items being passed out last year to the SLC students, we are ready for the 2023-2024 year. Thanks to some amazing donations, the SLC Comfort Closet has been restocked! Students can fill out a slip on the cart (top of stairs between 5th and 7th grade hall), put the slip in the lock box, and items will be delivered to their locker privately. Students can also let any staff know if items are needed, or email Ms. Rutledge directly.

Thank you so much for the donations that we have received. The 5th graders love being part of this and are learning about “giving back!”

Middle School Students and Families,

Interested in earning a FREE Middle School 2023-24 yearbook? Please look out for information coming home soon with students in grades 5-8 about the MS Yearbook "Charleston Wrap" fundraiser. You can also see some of the same information below.

The fundraiser will run from Monday, October 9th - Friday, October 20th.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to giving many of you your free yearbooks at the end of the school year!

Sincerely,

Ms. Phelix

The first couple weeks of school in the Middle School Art Room students created sketchbooks! The images are of some finished and in-progress sketchbooks from 5th-8th grade.

BFCSD sponsored some wonderful summer camps last summer. All students had a great time and learned many transferable skills.

Click on the link to see all of the fun that our students had at the School Summer Camps.

How great it is to be back to school! We are starting to settle into our new routines. During the first week, all students participated in lessons regarding the school rules. Below are links to some parent newsletters which have great information. I encourage you to review them as they have some very helpful tips and information for parents.

• September Newsletter
• Daliy Learning Planner - Fall 2023

Thanks to those who joined us for a very successful Open House on September 21st. It was great to see all of those smiling faces as our students shared their excitement for school with their families! A big thank you goes out to our faculty/staff and PTO for the work they put into this evening as well. Thanks to Ms. White for organizing and overseeing our Costume Closet! Over 70 costumes found a new owner for this Halloween! We are always accepting costume donations. They can be dropped off at the elementary office. Many of you also took advantage of the photo opportunity with our lobby bulletin board, which every member of our SLC Elementary family has contributed a crayon to.

There will be no school on Monday, October 9th for Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. School will resume on Tuesday, October 10th and it will be a Day 5.

The week of October 10th is Fire Safety Week. SLC staff members have been collaborating with local emergency response teams to plan a fun-fill week of learning. This will not only include fire safety, but other emergency response teams/people as well.

Please expect information to be coming home about the dental sealant program for our first, second, and third graders in the near future. This will be taking place during the last week of October and into the first week of November.

We are planning to have Halloween celebrations at school on Tuesday, October 31st. Students are encouraged to dress in their costumes. We are very excited to welcome families to join us for this fun event! More information will be coming soon on this. On this day, Tuesday, October 31st, we will also have a 12:30 early dismissal for the elementary.

The month of September went by quickly. I would like to thank all school staff members, and SLC families for their efforts in helping us get off to a great start for the 2023-2024 school year.

Respectfully,

Mrs. Colterman

Student's in Mrs. Jones' class learned about kindness, and how important it is to spread kindness in our world. Each student picked a teacher that meant something to them, and wrote something nice about them. Some of the messages that the students wrote were "you are beautiful", "you have nice hair", "you are very kind", and "you are super sweet!". The students then hand delivered these messages to their teacher of choice with a gift attached. The students were so excited to deliver these messages, and truly felt the power of kindness. Each student was beaming with pride knowing they made someone smile.

Students also participated in "chalk the walk" which was done in sponsorship of suicide prevention week. Suicide was not discussed specifically, but rather associated with spreading love and kindness. The students picked out a saying, and wrote it on the sidewalk including pretty pictures to make it fancy!

The Larries Spotlight Award was created to recognize Elementary Staff who demonstrate a specific trait each month! This award is voted upon by peers who want to give a shout out to one of their colleagues for doing an outstanding job!

Karen Oehler was the Larries Spotlight Award winner for the month of May. May’s trait was honesty and Mrs. Oehler got the award from her peers based on her ability to be refreshingly honest. She always gives constructive feedback with the goal to help. Mrs. Oehler is not one to sugar coat her thoughts and everyone appreciates her for that. Karen is honest, but loving in what she tells you.

Thank you, Mrs. Oehler, for being so honest!

Becky Kingsley was the Larries Spotlight Award winner for the month of June. June’s trait was teamwork and sportsmanship and Mrs. Kingsley got the award from her peers based on her ability to work with anyone. Her go with the flow personality allows her to jump into any situation and support her colleagues at every opportunity. She is always willing to work as a team to achieve a common goal to help each and every student be successful.

Thank you, Mrs. Kingsley, for being a team player!

Mrs. LaVigne, Special Education Administrator, and Mrs. LaFave, Elementary Special Education Teacher, are both very excited about the new communication board located at the SLC Elementary playground. The communication board will assist nonverbal/language limited students in expressing their wants and needs while playing on the playground. Come check it out!

Did you know that you could be eligible for internet at a reduced cost? The FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program is helping connect families and households that are struggling to afford internet service. Please click here for more information, and to see if you are eligible.

Catch up with the latest student stories, events, and news updates. It’s everything Brasher Falls Central School District, in your pocket. Download the app on Android or iPhone it is the best way to get notifications of school closings, delays, and cancellations.

Email: crose@bfcsd.org
Website: www.bfcsd.org
Location: 1039 State Highway 11C, Brasher Falls, NY 13613
Phone: 315-389-5131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrasherFallsCSD