Superintendent: Mr. Rose
Hello Larrie Community,
Thank you for checking out our November issue of the Bird’s Eye View. Our original thought behind the creation of the digital newsletter was to help inform our great community on what is happening here at SLC, at a time when we could not invite you in to see for yourself. As you are about to see, our students and staff are doing some amazing things here, and are doing everything they can to ensure Covid is not getting the best of them! Our hope is that you will continue to follow us every month, and as things safely open up, that we will also see you back in the buildings, and on campus very soon.
Bids for our Capital Outlay Project came in this month. We will soon be adding a much needed new freezer to the elementary cafeteria (it is holding on) and adding two new door/gate entrances to the new fencing that runs along our soccer and baseball fields near the parking lots.
I know many of you have heard the news stories about the bus driver shortages across the state, which is very true, but what you may not know is that we are short substitutes in many areas as well. If any of you are looking for some extra work, we would love to have you apply. The application process is simple. You can find an application on our Brasher Falls Central School website under the “About” tab and click Employment. Substitute pay rates have increased starting November 1st in the district. Please call to ask any questions you may have, or just drop off, email, or mail in your application.
I would like to thank all parents, grandparents, caregivers, and guardians that are driving students to and from school each day. This continues to help tremendously with our bus loads and spacing for Covid protocols. As the weather gets colder, we will not be able to keep our bus windows down to help with ventilation. If you are also willing to help, by driving your children to and from school, even for just the winter months, please let us know. It is a much bigger help than you realize. Thank you!
In closing, I want to congratulate all students and staff that have continued to achieve at top levels, despite the circumstances. We are beginning to see more of a “light at the end of the tunnel” one we all hope becomes so bright it requires shades….real soon!
Technology Tidbits: Mr. Welsh
Digital Equity Survey
In the spring of 2021, New York State notified school districts of the implementation of a yearly Digital Equity Survey that school districts are required to complete for each student. To meet this mandate, the district sent this survey out in September and to date we have only received 232 responses out of the nearly 1,000 students attending school in the district.
As a result of this low number of responses that provide the information on the internet status and individual computing devices for approximately one quarter of our students, New York State is requiring us to send it out again. We are asking those of you that did not complete the survey the first time, to please do so now. Additionally, if you did complete the original survey and some of your answers have changed, please feel free to complete it again.
District leadership would like to thank those who have taken the time to complete the survey, as it has assisted the district in providing New York State with the information highlighting the need for technological resources in our area. The survey data to date has been shared with the state, and as a result, the district has been awarded grants to assist families with gaining internet access and funding for the purchase of new computers and Chromebooks. As more data is compiled, it can only benefit the stakeholders in the district, and most importantly, the students that need these vital resources for learning in these unprecedented times.
While we understand you may be reluctant to complete this survey, or feel that your input will not matter, due to the parameters of this survey mandate, we do need information on every student. As indicated above from the information already provided, there is a need for reliable internet and other technological needs in our community and every bit of information is important to assist New York State in providing resources to our area.
If you are a parent or guardian with children in the district and would like to complete the survey now, here is the survey link. The survey will also be sent out through email to all of our families. If you do not have access to a computer, we will be happy to provide a paper copy by mail, or alternatively you can fill out a survey at the MS/HS Parent-Teacher night in late November.
Thank you for your time and cooperation as we comply with New York State Education requirements.
High School Principal: Mrs. Zender
It is hard to believe that the first ten weeks of school will be completed here on Friday, November 12th! The year has progressed quickly and many students have found their groove and started to get back to “pre-COVID school.” For some, acclimating back to school both academically and socially has been a challenge. If you have found your student in the latter category, here are a few things that we can do to help your student find success:
Reach out to your child’s teacher as the starting point for discussion. Teachers have many observations and emailing them to understand what they are seeing may help you support your child and develop a plan to meet their individual needs. A reminder that all teacher contact information is available on our HS website at www.bfcsd.org.
If emails or phone calls with your child’s teachers need an additional layer of support, please reach out to their talented guidance counselor for assistance. Our counselors enjoy helping students develop a plan of action for what they can do to find greater success. Mrs. Andrea Martin counsels students with the last name A-K, Mrs. Kim Miller is substituting for Mrs. Rachel Roldan through November 29th for students with the last name L-Z. If you need to meet with several teachers, it is best to request a parent meeting. You can do this by calling Mrs. Julie Jenkinson, Guidance Secretary, who will coordinate with your child’s teacher to get this scheduled. Her contact information is available on the website.
I enjoy being able to help students work through their problems before they get too large. As a former counselor myself, I do like to “get back to my roots” and help students see where their challenges are impeding their abilities. Feel free to call or email me to help!
Teachers are available most days after school from 2:30-3:26 for academic support. A student just needs to make arrangements with the teacher if they need bus transportation. Staying after is a great opportunity for students to get that 1:1 help. The only days that teachers are not available are when there are meetings after school. The schedule of availability is shared via our announcements daily.
Finally, based on family and staff feedback, we are excited to announce that we will be offering a hybrid approach to parent-teacher conferences this year. Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Monday, November 22nd. Students will have a half-day of school on this day. Virtual conference times will be available from 1:00-3:00 PM. Your child’s teacher will be emailing you an invite to the email address you supplied in SchoolTool the first week of November, if you prefer this method. Your child’s Chromebook may be used as a device to meet virtually. If you prefer to meet face-to-face, we will have the teachers available from 6:00-8:00 PM in their classrooms to meet in a socially distanced fashion.
Golden Apple Award
The “Golden Apple” Award is a special recognition of a High School staff member who goes above and beyond the call of duty.
Michael Gendler was the "Golden Apple" Award Winner for the Month of October.
Mr. Gendler encourages students to be themselves and to think outside of the box. Through the clubs that he has started at SLC, he is building relationships with students and giving them a fun place to go and learn during the activity period.
Mr. Gendler was nominated for the Golden Apple Award (Hopefully not Eris' Golden Apple of Discord) for his quest to establish a group for Dungeons and Dragons in the school. There have been a lot of students buzzing about it and a lot of interest in dungeon delving. This is a cool way to get students excited and build some relationships!
Would you like to recognize a staff member? Stop in and see Mrs. Zender or email at kzender@bfcsd.org
WWNY Channel 7 News Arts All Star: Kristen Crump
Kristen Crump was selected as a WWNY Channel 7 News Arts All Star. Kristen has been a very accomplished artist at St. Lawrence Central for many years, and her artwork speaks for itself. She has a skilled hand at observational realism, but she also likes to venture into the strange world of surrealism when she is given the opportunity.
Kristen sat down for an interview with Craig Thornton from Channel 7 News on October 18th. The interview will be airing on November 8th at 10:00 pm on the Fox News, and at 11:00 pm on the CBS News.
The next morning her interview will appear on the WWNYTV website here:
https://www.wwnytv.com/community/all-stars/arts-all-stars/
Congratulations Kristen!
Lettuce Grow donates Farmstand Tower Garden to Greenhouse
The Farmstand arrived and was assembled by members of our Greenhouse club during one of their meetings. Our Farmstand is currently growing: marigolds, oregano, tatsoi, green beans, dill, thyme, sugar sprint peas, alyssum, Italian parsley, spearmint, kale, strawberries, dianthus, celery, snapdragons, cilantro, violas, garlic chives, alpine berries, fennel, and broccoli all in one structure!
Middle School Principal: Mrs. LaBarge
Dear Larries,
It is hard to believe we have already made it to November. Students are starting to settle in, and we will soon have our first report card coming out.
In looking at grades, I encourage our parent/guardians to do weekly checks of assignment grades in Schooltool. If you noticed that your child has 0’s for handing in assignments, please make sure they are staying during activity period for extra help. We have a bus at 3:25 for those students.
If you need Schooltool access please fill out this form for assistance. The form can also be found on our website under Community.
We also have Parent Teacher Conferences coming up on Monday, November 22nd. Parents will be given the option to make virtual appointments with teachers in the afternoon, or visit teachers in their classrooms in person in the evening. We hope to see all of our parents there. If your child is failing any classes, this is a great opportunity to discuss how to improve so they can be successful the rest of the school year.
Outdoor Reminder: All students go out for recess on days when it is nice outside. Please make sure that your child has warm clothing to go outside in the colder temperatures.
As always, if you have concerns or need assistance, please reach out. We want to make sure that all of our students have a successful year.
Jamie LaBarge
MS Principal
Middle School Counseling News
Mr. Niles A-K ~~ Mrs. LaVoie L-Z
Happy November!
The Middle School Counselors have been busy getting 8th graders ready for the transition to high school. (Yes, already!) Our trip to Seaway Tech (BOCES) was a great success. This trip is very valuable in helping students see the relevance of school and to get them to start thinking about their future and setting goals. It is the first step in the Middle-to-High school transition. Following that trip we began our 1:1 individual meetings with each 8th grader. For any students who were unable to attend, BOCES has a series of videos giving an overview of all of their programs. They also will be having their Open House this year. The date for this is November 17th, from 5:00-7:00. This is an excellent way for families and community members to see what Seaway Tech has to offer our students.
Some topics that appear to be very relevant (and some of concern) right now for our Middle School Students:
Internet Safety
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety https://youtu.be/HOqQou75Cxc
Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions?
Social Skills/Resolving Conflict:
Conflict Resolution: How to Settle Your Differences Fairly | BrainPOP
Coping with Stress:
How to help children and teens manage their stress
Grief & Loss:
The Grieving Process: Coping with Death
We are hoping to either get into the classroom to present on some of these topics and/or share resources and information to students and families. Email and the counseling webpage
slcmscounseling (bfcsd.org>ABOUT>School Counseling>Middle School Counseling Page) are the main forms of communication for this. Be sure to check out the links provided in this article.
Have a wonderful, safe, and healthy Thanksgiving!
Elementary Principal: Mrs. Colterman
With the weather changing, I'd like to remind everyone to be sure our children are dressed appropriately for the weather. If you are in need of winter clothing, please reach out and we will see what we can do to help.
We had quite a few students complete the summer reading challenge. As a result, they spent some time making slime with Mrs. Colterman. They also enjoyed listening to music and eating popsicles. Keep up the great work Little Larries!
I would like to thank Mrs. Perry and Mrs. Brouillette for their efforts in planning Fire Prevention Week at SLC Elementary. The highlight of the week was one of our fourth graders, Fisher LaRock, winning a ride home from school in a firetruck!
Upcoming Events:
There will be no school on Thursday, November 11 (Veteran's Day) and Friday, November 12 (Staff Development Day). Please plan accordingly.
Our annual holiday food drive will begin on Monday, November 15. We welcome you to send in non-perishable food items for donation, if you wish to do so.
SLC Elementary will have an 11:30 dismissal on Thursday, November 18 and Friday, November 19, in order to hold parent-teacher conferences. We will have options for in-person and virtual meetings. Be on the lookout for more information on scheduling these conferences in the near future. I cannot believe our first quarter is coming to a close already!
There will be no school on the following dates, in celebration of Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day:
- Wednesday, November 24
- Thursday, November 25
- Friday, November 26
Mrs. Davis's Third Graders
The third graders have also been learning multiplication, time, distributive property, and more in math class. They reviewed all their information stored in their “toolboxes” by writing in shaving cream on the floor!
Mrs. Davis’s father, Mr. Lottie, donated supplies for students to paint pumpkins. Students enjoyed being creative while having some Halloween fun!
Contact Information
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
