Bird's Eye View

Hello Larries Community,

Welcome to the February edition of the 2022-23 school year's “Bird’s Eye View”. Each month's information will continue to give you small snapshots of the great things that are happening here at SLC along with a few things we occasionally may need to ask for a little help with. 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.

A few shout outs and reminders:

• Congratulations to all those that have been recognized for the outstanding work you are doing, and fun you are having.

• Ticket information for this spring’s Drama Club presentation of, The Wizard of OZ, will be out shortly. Production dates are set for March 3rd & 4th.

• A shout out to our All County band and chorus students that performed this past week, and their teachers for the great preparation they provide them.

• Our student athletes continue to show great efforts during this winter season. February will be “playoff month” for all our varsity athletic teams, final competitions for cheerleading, and final games for JV and modified sports. Please enjoy these final indoor events. Dates, and times for contests can be found on our website, and SLC app.

• Thank you to all staff who participated in the interviewing process, and all the community members that came to our January walk-in, on-site interview/information day. We had 21 people come to be interviewed for substitute positions throughout the district. We look forward to seeing the new hires here at SLC, and continuing to see the joint efforts between our staff and administrators to make SLC an even better place.

• A reminder to all families with a “little one” that is getting to be school age. Both Pre-K, and Kindergarten registrations will begin at the end of this month, and continue into the beginning of next. Please be on the lookout for the information, and get your child registered sooner than later, please.

• I would like to personally thank our administrative team for the many hours they put into organizing both the January 30 staff day events centering around safety, and for the two days January 31 (HS), and February 1st (MS) where students and staff enjoyed a day filled with “other opportunities” centering around leadership skills, relationship building, sharing and exploring the hobbies of others, and some just plain old fun (something we all need to remember to have every chance we get)!

• My final SHOUT OUT goes to two fantastic individuals. Both Mrs. LaVoie (MS Counselor), and Mrs. Beaulieu (MS Math-6th grade), have joined the ranks of those in retirement. Both have more than earned that right, but will be missed tremendously here at SLC. We wish them the very best, and hope that they will not be strangers.

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 at SLC.

Thanks for following us!

Chris Rose

On Tuesday, January 31st our high school held a team building and collaboration day to reset for the second half of the school year. Students began the day meeting with their mentors and getting their schedule for the day. The goal of this event as well as mentoring for this year was to foster relationship building from staff to student as well as student to student. On this day, we had lots of information shared - some essential to running the building, such as our mid-year annual behavioral reset meeting, as well as others that were more educational, and fun in nature.

All students participated in team-building activities with the DiMarco Consulting Group. The goal of these events was to build communication and teamwork through a variety of hands-on activities for students and staff alike. Students had three stations with various puzzles and activities to solve, and also had a scavenger hunt that occurred throughout the school. Students who successfully completed the challenge earned free ice cream at the cafeteria. You can learn more about activities and the DiMarco group here: https://www.dimarcocg.com/

Students had an opportunity to meet with a variety of community organizations on different topics during our “unconference” portion of the day. Mentors signed up for two activities that they thought their group would enjoy. Some students continued our work with Sweethearts and Heroes completing “circle” activities where they got to know more about each other through a variety of activator activities that helped to get them moving and talking. This was the third visit out of four planned this year from Sweethearts and Heroes. We thank Pat, Tom and Rick for their inspiring work! Read more about Sweethearts and Heroes here: https://www.sweetheartsandheroes.com/

Mr. Mark Manske joined many students throughout the day, introducing them to his various owls and introducing students to his work with Adirondack Raptors! Many of our community members will remember Mr. Manske as he is a retired SLC HS teacher. The goal of Mr. Manske and his work through Adirondack Raptors, is to educate the public about birds of prey and to conduct local research about various species. Students loved getting to hold the various owls, and to see them up close. Please check out Mr. Manske’s work and consider reading his books! We were told that Book 7 was started the night of this event! https://www.adirondackraptors.org/

Clarkson University’s Institute for STEM Education paid a visit, and engaged students with various problem solving challenges! Students loved working together to come up with solutions to problems, and test what they created. STEM is a valued partnership with SLC, and more information about the institute can be found here: https://www.clarkson.edu/stem

Cornell Cooperative Extension paid a visit to do two separate presentations. In one presentation, students were able to learn more about dairy, the dairy industry, and how chocolate milk is a great option and health benefit. In another, students learned the basics of “embryology,” taking eggs and seeing them in their various states. CCE has lots of great options for our community, and more information on programming can be found here:

https://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/

Len Mackey brought several West African Drums to help our students create together in an African Drum and Dance circle. Students had a great time creating with one another, playing with the instruments, and hearing more about Len’s story. Below you can find more information about Len’s organization, Ancient Earth Skills, and the various programming that he can offer. Thank you to Len and company for bringing this upbeat offering to the day! https://ancientearthskills.com/about/

Finally, students spent an hour with the ability to skate at the Tri-Town Rink. Students that were not interested in skating were afforded the opportunity to just hang out with friends, to play board games, and to talk amongst themselves. It was a nice, relaxing option to the day. Thank you to Ritchie LaFave for organizing the skating for the students! His flexibility and willingness to accommodate our whole school was greatly appreciated.

All and all, most students reflected that it was a really nice alternative to a traditional day, and a great opportunity to start the second half of the year off great. Most staff and students agreed that the day was busy, and we were tired by the end!

Mrs. Zender

Lisa Lyon and Amy Brownell were the High School "Golden Apple" award co-winners for the month of January. The ladies were nominated by a colleague who has had the pleasure to work with them for the past several years.

They are both seasoned in their positions, in addition to being mothers, and more importantly grandmothers. This especially helps a great deal with solving daily problems, situations and unusual encounters that we face in our classrooms on a daily basis. Lisa Lyon started working here in 2010. All four of her children went to school here as well as her husband. Her father-in-law was an administrator here for years. Amy Brownell started working here in 2001. All three of her children went to school here. They are all successful to date.

They both always step up to whatever the challenge may be. For example, they are the parking lot supervisors both in the morning and afternoon, turning in squealing tires, accidents, and parking mishaps. In addition, they have been doing the yearbook for the high school which takes dedication, tenacity, organizational skills and a great deal of time. It is a tough job, but they both do it with smiles.

Both of these women go into classes and take notes, read material to the students that have disabilities as well as provide other necessary accommodations. The most amazing thing that these two women do is join in the actual class with the IEP student. Amy Brownell goes out to conservation with a young man and checks on the beehive and does exactly what the students do. She provides support for the student. Mr. Newtown is appreciative for the extra hands. Lisa Lyon goes into Woodshop class twice a day and is now a master carpenter. She stands with the students when they are operating the equipment she ensures their safety as well as her own. Under her supervision, and Mr. Newtown’s master skills, the students have made some very nice things to take home.

They are both wonderful women that are always willing to help out at SLC and especially assist our students. I am so pleased that I have the opportunity to work on a daily basis with both Amy and Lisa.

Congratulations, Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Brownell!

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

The high school robotics team, St. Lawrence Stingerz FTC 13359, took 3rd place in the Design award at the Albany Qualifier. At the MVCC Qualifier in Utica, the team won the 1st place Connect Award! They have been absolutely great and have represented our school wonderfully!

Students in Senior Career Academy have had the opportunity to experience several careers within our community. The goal is to help students develop employability skills, and to expose them to a variety of fields. They have also considered what happens if the career someone chooses isn't what they expected, or hoped it would be. Part of that was interviewing people in the school community who have come to their careers in an unexpected way. For the remainder of the school year, Bird's Eye View will feature one of those interviews. This month's interview was conducted by Jose Razis. He interviewed Mr. Jeror, SLC's 9th grade Global Studies teacher.

I had a few changes in career choices before becoming a teacher. After graduating high school, I started college. I attended the first three semesters, and then flunked out so I never finished. After that I went into the Army, and was there for almost four years. When I got out I became a full time truck driver, transporting for two to three weeks at a time for 15 years.

While driving a truck I got married and started a family. I had a daughter and then realized that I needed a new career. This came as a very hard decision for me because I was faced with what felt like an identity crisis. From the time I was very young I knew that being a tractor trailer driver was all that I wanted to do. I felt that I was missing everything at home with my child, so I decided to go back to school.

Going back to school led to many challenges for me and my family. I was not able to pay for college so I had to take multiple loans to get myself through. I also had to work full time. I went back to school as an adult who had many responsibilities. I had a family, home and many bills to pay. It was not always easy on me and my wife, but whenever problems arise we put our heads down and face them head on.

While becoming a teacher I faced many challenges. After doing it, it has proven to be a good career change. I know what my schedule is and know that I will have weekends and holidays off, so I can make plans and be home with my family. I also was able to join a ski patrol which is something that I would have never been able to do in my past job as a tractor trailer driver.

When asked if I could change my career again, I said, “I really, really enjoy what I do.” I changed my career choice from a tractor trailer driver to a teacher and I am happy with my choice.

The Badenhausen Reading Room, located in downtown Brasher Falls, recently hosted a Donor Reception to thank the supporters who helped keep the Reading Room open during its first year of operation through their financial donations.

Attendees enjoyed refreshments provided by the Board of Trustees and musical entertainment provided by Andrew LaMora, a student at Brasher Falls Central School District.

The Drama Club students have been very busy preparing for this year's musical presentation of The Wizard of Oz. The musical performances will be on March 3rd and 4th. There will be more information on the district website for performance times and ticket sales in the near future.

We hope everyone will enjoy the show!

High School Guidance Counselors

Andrea Martin A-K

Rachel Roldan L-Z

A new semester is underway, and as always, we are very busy in the Guidance Office! This is the time of year we meet individually with each student to talk about how their year is going, and make plans for next year. Below is information for you by grade level about what is coming up for your child.

Grade 12: Half way there! This is the time of year that you may start to see “senioritis” starting with your child, if it hasn’t happened yet. Remind them they are almost there, and encourage them to make the most of these last days of high school. If your child is planning to attend college next year, and you need help with financial aid information, please reach out to us! If you have completed the FAFSA form, you should start to see Financial Aid Packages from schools within the next couple of months.

Grade 11: We are almost finished meeting with 11th grade students. Thank you to all of the parents who have been able to join us for these meetings. If your child is planning to attend college, we have encouraged them to start their college exploration now, so they can be ready to start applications in the fall. Many colleges continue to be test optional. However, if your child scores well on an SAT or ACT exam, that could give them a leg up in the application process. Your child will receive a list from us with the dates and registration deadlines for the spring SAT and ACT exams during their individual meeting. If they plan to take an exam, we encourage they take at least one exam before the end of their junior year. This allows time to retake the exam in the fall, if they don’t score as well as they would like to.

Grade 10: This is a big year for sophomores! We just sent out our letter announcing 10th grade meetings. These meetings will begin next week, so if you are interested in joining your child for this meeting, please reach out to Julie Jenkinson in our office, and she will schedule this for you. Students interested in Career and Technical Education programs at Seaway Tech had the opportunity to meet with counselors, and visit the facility during December. Slots are limited for these programs, and applications are accepted on a first come first serve basis. However, students must be on track with graduation requirements at the end of 10th grade to be eligible to attend these programs. Applications will be handed out to students on Wednesday, February 8th during their Global Studies class. The application deadline will be March 17th.

Grade 9: Individual meetings will be coming soon! We will begin meeting with freshmen sometime in early March. Once we have exact dates, parents will receive a letter inviting you to join us, if you are interested.

This time of year can be challenging for many of us. The cold weather, lack of sun and mid-winter blues can sneak up on everyone. We encourage you to stress with your child that spring is coming, and it is important to push through academically even when it is difficult. If your child is struggling with any of their classes, encourage them to stay after school with their teachers during activity period. This smaller group support can make a big difference!

We are here to help, please reach out to us if you have any concerns!

Schedules change frequently due to the weather, and lack of officials, so remember you can get updates at www.sectionxboces.com or download the "rSchoolToday" APP to your phone.

Spring sports sign ups were held this past week. Anyone who didn't sign up, see me ASAP. Physicals will be given on March 14th at school. Anyone without a physical cannot practice.

Spring sports practices for Varsity and JV begin Monday, March 13th. Modified practices begin Monday, March 20th.

Winter Sports playoffs will commence soon. I will post all game dates once we know how everything turns out.

Thanks to Brushton for hosting this year's Coaches vs Cancer Basketball event. A good amount of money was raised, and will be given back to the Brushton community to those in need.

The Hall of Fame Committee has announced the class of 2023 who will be inducted later this Fall. The inductees will include the following:

Athletes:

• Donald Francis '67
• Gary Collette '90
• Joanne Delisle' 99
• Darin Richards '01
• Tim Crowley '03
• Michael Zelyez '07

Coach/Contributor:

• Gerald Healy

Teams:

• 1981 Softball
• 2009-2010 Hockey

Hi SLC,

We have had an eventful end to January, and were happy to kick off our new year with events for both students and staff last week.

The Safety, Health and Wellness team put together some professional development for our staff on January 30th. We had choices of CPR/First Aid, Narcan, Nurse updates, Self Defense, Yoga, and Mindfulness. All of our teaching staff also completed active shooter training on this day. Thank you to our staff members who shared their special talents in leading sessions for others on this day!

On February 1st our students and staff had a special treat with a full day in our mentor groups. We had teambuilding with DiMarco Associates, Adirondack Raptors, World Drumming, Clarkson STEM, Cornell Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Sweethearts and Heroes all offering sessions to our students. We also took advantage of the Tri-Town arena, and many of our staff and students did some skating.

We have a lot to look forward to in February with our Science assembly that was rescheduled, a Pep Rally, and some activities that our 8th grade students are planning as fundraisers for their field trip at the end of the year.

I look forward to sharing more with you next month!

Mrs. LaBarge

The teachers and staff at St. Lawrence Central strive to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment for students to grow. With the help of some funding from the SLC Education Enrichment Grant, a comfort closet will be started to help students beyond their academic growth, and provide them with the things they may not be able to get outside of school. This closet is available to any student in the school who may need it. The comfort closet will be stocked with personal care items including hygiene products. We plan to also include snacks/food in the near future.

The upcoming comfort closet will provide the school’s children with necessities with no judgment, no questions, and easy access. It will be stocked solely with donated items, and will be completely funded by contributions. 100% of all donations will benefit this project.

This project is being done by the students, for the students. The goal is to stock the comfort closet and to keep it stocked throughout the school year. In order to do this, we need your help! We will be collecting donations of the hygiene products, nonperishable food, and snack items. Gift cards, and cash donations will be used to purchase items for the closet.

Hygiene Items Needed:

• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Lice-Killing Shampoo
• Deodorant
• Bath Soap
• Hair brushes/Combs
• Toothbrushes/Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Pocket-Sized Tissues
• Flushable Wipes
• Feminine Products
• Q-tips

All donations can be dropped off at the main district office, or contact Michelle Rutledge at mrutledge@bfcsd.org for arrangements.

Thank you!

Class discussion led to Mrs. Chapman, and her 5th graders being creative with ideas for an unusual Christmas gift.

The "Pizza Pocket" was a big hit, and was found on Amazon. Mrs. Chapman truly enjoyed modeling this gift!

Pictured are some recent art pieces from the Middle School students. The art work includes Model Magic Hybrid Animals created by 6th graders, Clay Pinch Pots done by 6th graders, Optical Illusion Cubes done by 7th graders, and Word Art pieces created by 8th graders.

Hi Everyone!

As most of you know, Mrs. LaVoie retired on January 27th. We will miss her dearly and wish her the best in her future!

As for the remainder of the school year, Mr. Niles will be the main point of contact if parents are unsure of who is working with their child, or if assistance is needed. His email address is

nniles@bfcsd.org. Mr. Niles will then forward you to the appropriate person.

We would like to welcome Ms. White from the elementary, Ms. Zach, school counseling intern,

who has been doing some work in both our middle school and high school, Ms. Roldan from the high school, and Mr. Clookey to our middle school team for the rest of the year. They will be working with and helping Mr. Niles to meet the needs of our students with the last names L-Z.

Middle school counselors will begin to start the scheduling process for next school year and

finish up yearly individual student meetings. Thank you so much for being flexible and patient through this time! If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Niles. Stay warm!

MS School Counseling Team

Hello Again SLC Family,

We are happy to share that starting in February, we will be bringing a new after school program to our building, which will serve some of our second and third graders. We have established a partnership with the Police Activities League of Massena. We acknowledge that our population is greatly impacted by trauma, and many of our students would fall under the category of being “at risk.” The Police Activities League of Massena, and SLC share a common commitment to providing our local youth the support they need through assistance with homework, mentoring, recreational opportunities, STEM Education, life skills workshops, and various other programs and activities. Police Activities League of Massena will offer their services through after school programming right here in our school buildings, in collaboration with district staff, Massena Drug Free Community Coalition and the Village of Massena Police Department. Our common goals are to enhance the quality of life and provide a safe place for youth to be after school, while also engaging kids with law enforcement and their community in a positive way. We very much look forward to sharing resources, and collaborating with the Police Activities League of Massena.

I am also happy to report that our sub recruiting event last weekend was a success! We conducted a total of 21 interviews and hope this will resolve sub shortage concerns. A special thanks goes out to Stephanie Russell, Karen O'Gorman, Kat LaVigne, Jamie LaBarge, and Cindy Delisle for their time on Saturday. Also, thank you to those who came to apply. We are excited to bring you on board!

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten registration will be taking place soon. When you see the advertisements, please do not wait to register your child. Spots are limited in UPK and much of our planning for Kindergarten hinges on numbers. In order to best prepare for your child's Kindergarten experience, we request that you register them sooner than later.

Dates to Know:

• Mid-Winter Break will take place from Monday, February 20 through Friday, February 24.
• On Friday, March 3, there will be a district-wide early dismissal for staff development. MS/HS will dismiss at 11:30 and Elementary will dismiss at 12:30. Please plan accordingly.

Respectfully,

Mrs. Colterman

The Larries Spotlight Award was created to recognize Elementary staff who demonstrate a specific trait each month. Allison Fountain was nominated by her colleagues as the Larries Spotlight Award Winner for the month of December. December's trait was kindness. Ms. Fountain brings a positive outlook to our school, and makes it a better place to work.

Allison shows kindness with everything she does. She is full of positive energy, and always has a smile on her face. She is always willing to help anyone in need, and is a very generous person. We can always count on her to help out with anything and everything in our school.

Thank you, Ms. Fountain for being so kind!

Stephanie Russell was The Larries Spotlight Award winner for the month of January. January’s trait was goal-setting and Mrs. Russell got the award from her peers based on her determination and focus on making things better. She is hardworking and does not stop until every goal she sets for herself is accomplished. Mrs. Russell does not only set goals for herself to accomplish, she sets them for her students as well. She gives her students all the tools they need to accomplish all of her short, and long term goals for them. Almost everyone said that her passion for change, and focus to accomplish tasks is what made her perfect for this month’s award!

Thank you, Mrs. Russell, for being so determined!

To wrap up our latest math unit in Pre-K (Shapes), the students got to make shape pizzas in the Pre-K Pizzeria! From the pizzas hanging from the ceiling, to the pizza boxes scattered around the room, the students knew immediately that they had entered into something fun. Students were able to enjoy becoming chefs and customizing their own pizzas with shape toppings. This was a great way to end the unit while allowing students to have fun, work together with others, and take ownership of their learning.

The last Friday in January was National Pre-K Fitness Day! The Pre-K Team and Mrs. Tuper worked together to plan a day full of activities to get students up and moving. Students were able to explore different stretches, uses for their muscles, and get their hearts pumping. Mrs. Tuper explained to the students about healthy eating versus unhealthy eating. She reminded the students about the importance of drinking water, which was definitely needed after our day of exercising.

Thank you, Mrs. Tuper, for all your help in making the day successful!

February 1 was Global School Play Day! This year in Miss Fountain and Mrs. Potter’s classes, the students learned the basics of coding for beginners. The students worked together as a group to move different objects through various obstacle courses to reach the end targets! The students had a lot of fun and learned valuable skills through the process like planning ahead and working together as a team.

Let’s set goals!!

Since the character trait for January was goal setting, it was only fitting for Perry’s Pals’ January Scholastic book sponsor book to be I Promise by LeBron James! Mrs. Beth Todd came in to read us this book about promises we can all make to ourselves to be successful in life! It was the perfect reminder of why we set goals in our classroom. Earlier in the month, Perry’s Pals set their own personal goals for earning more iReady points in order to show everyone what their brains already know. They brainstormed ways to reach their goals such as trying their best on every question, reading all of the words, and giving their brains time to think!

📚💙Thank you Mrs. Todd and all of our Scholastic Book Sponsors!!! 📚💙

There is a slight change in Life Lab instruction for the time being; Mrs. Ronan will be filling in for Mrs. White in Life Lab as she helps to cover for our recently retired Middle School Counselor, Mrs. LaVoie. Mrs. LaVoie will be missed by many, and I’m sure there are students that will miss class with Mrs. White. For the month of February, Mrs. Ronan will be instructing students in Grades 2, 3 & 4 while Mr. Dinan teaches PK, K and Grade 1.

“Friendship” is the Character trait this month, so we begin exploring friendship with questions such as: Why do we like the people we like? What do we like about ourselves? And, how do you make friends? We will also talk about when friends have arguments, and how and when to say “I’m sorry”. Finally, we will emphasize how important it is to be your own best friend sometimes, and how to cultivate appreciation, and a fondness for ourselves.

The SEL curriculum from Second Step will have us discussing Empathy & Kindness. Students will learn how to use empathy to show others kindness. The goals of this unit include students being able to take the point of view of a specific person by thinking about how they might feel, and generating ways of showing kindness in different situations.

We’d like to reinforce our message from January’s Bird’s Eye View about routine. We’ve noticed several students having happier and more productive days, and they say it’s because of the goals they set in January, and getting their bedtime routines down.

Please find some time to get outside for sunshine, exercise, and winter fun with family!

Mr. Dinan

In recent months there has been an increased attention in the media on the use of artificial intelligence on chatbot websites, where people can interact with these computer programs much like they have an interaction with a human. This very topic was part of a keynote speech during a technology awareness day held by the Northeast Regional Information Center (NERIC) which is one of twelve RIC’s in New York state that assist local BOCES and school districts with technology security.

One of the main messages given on that day was to stress that everyone should be aware that just like with any online resource or technology, people need to ensure they are protecting their personal information before they jump in. This understanding is important because as described in an article by Jake Frankenfeild from the July 6, 2022 online article from Investopedia, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their action.” These simulations include conversations where questions are sent asking for personal information that can put people in harm's way in a number of different scenarios.

This month's submission is to help all stakeholders in the district get an understanding of AI because the number of these programs continues to grow, and many of these sites have disclaimers that state:

• May not be suitable for children - must be agreed to use by a parent or guardian

• The robot learns and imitates and can seem rude and inappropriate

• Have warnings for users to talk with caution, and your own risk

• The robot pretends to be human, and not to give out personal information even if ask to do so

• These sites monitor user activity, and by using the site you are agreeing to such monitoring–or in simpler terms a human is monitoring these conversations can gain personal information based on answers given to questions.

To help protect your family, you should have regular conversations on internet safety when using websites to:

• Check that the website looks and feels reliable

• Review the website's privacy policy

• Be careful about what you post

• Never give out personal information

• Use a website safety checker

• Run regular antivirus updates

If you have any questions about Artificial Intelligence chatbot sites, please contact our technology director at kwelsh@bfcsd.org

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