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Bird's Eye View
October 2022
Superintendent: Mr. Rose
Welcome to the first edition of our third year of the “Bird’s Eye View”. Each month's information will hopefully give you small snapshots of the great things that are happening here at SLC, along with a few things we 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.
As a reminder, we spent this past spring and summer focusing heavily on rebuilding and creating programs that will first and foremost address the following:
The gaps in learning that have occurred since the pandemic in March of 2020.
The new age of technology and preparing ALL of our students (K-12) for the necessary and safe uses of it (both educationally and socially). This includes the continued support and maintenance of 1-to-1 computing for ALL students and teaching staff.
The reintroduction of work based skills and socialization skills, so our students have the tools they need to again be successful both in and out of the classroom.
As a major lift to building these necessary programs, we hired and would like to welcome 26 new staff “faces” throughout the district. Due to retirements, staff leaving, or the creation of newly needed positions (funded both with general funds and new federal assistance), we have been busy putting the best people we can into each opening.
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 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees. They will be here celebrating October 14th and 15th for our Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend.
Please consider sharing this edition with any neighbors, relatives, friends, or alumni that you may know who would like to keep updated on what goes on at SLC.
Thanks for reading and have a great October.
High School Principal: Mrs. Zender
Hello SLC Community!
We have had a great start to the school year! The school year has been busy with lots of exciting new things happening!
This year we have an extra place where ALL students can go to get help during their study hall and after school time called “The Opportunity Area.” The Opportunity Area is a place where students can get help with time management, organization and homework help. It is a structured environment where a certified Teaching Assistant will work with your child to gain the necessary skills for academic success. Please reach out to Mrs. Murray, Opportunity Area TA, at bmurray@bfcsd.org if you would like to refer your child for assistance.
We have had a great start to our Senior Career Academy. We are thankful to our Community Partners who have graciously agreed to host our students this first year. Our students continue to come back from their work sites energized and excited about all that they are learning. Special thanks to the teachers who have created this program including Mr. Normile, Mrs. Cheevers, Ms. Winters and Ms. Halley who took time away from their busy schedules this summer to prepare for the first year of the program. If you have a junior who is interested in learning more about the program for next year, please have them contact their guidance counselor.
On Friday, September 30th during first period we began our High School Mentoring Program. The purpose of mentoring is to provide an additional opportunity to form a connection with a high school staff member. Students and staff were grouped together based upon similar interests and will meet one time a month to have fun, set goals, and form a connection. From the first meeting, the students and staff have already started planning lots of fun things for the school year based on their common interest. Take some time to ask your student about their mentor!
We are excited about the return to a “more normal” school year so far. This includes bringing back school dances and pep rallies! Homecoming is open to all SLC HS students in grades 9-12 who are in good behavioral standing. The Senior Class sponsoring the event will be putting out additional details this week. Students looking for guests to attend who are not SLC HS students will need to complete a guest pass. Guests of students should be of high school-20 years of age and should be in good behavioral standing at their home district. Students are required to get their passes complete prior to the deadline in order for their guest to attend.
Finally, we will hold a Pep Rally on Monday, October 31st during the morning! Students should be on the lookout for our Spirit Week information!
As always, please let me know if there is anything we can do to help your child succeed! I can be reached via email (kzender@bfcsd.org) or via telephone (315-389-5131).
Kristen Zender
High School Principal
Golden Apple Award
Margaret Dean was the High School "Golden Apple" award winner for the month of September.
Ms. Dean was nominated for the Golden Apple Award for her stirring speech on opening day, her tireless union work, and her relentless concern for her students.
Thank you, Ms. Dean, for everything you do!
Would you like to recognize a staff member? Stop in and see Mrs. Zender or email her at kzender@bfcsd.org.
National Honor Society Blood Drive
National Honor Society will be hosting the next Red Cross Blood drive on Tuesday, November 1st. Interested donors can sign up on the Red Cross Website, by using the Red Cross Donor App, or by contacting Ron Jeror at rjeror@bfcsd.org.
Athletic Notes from Mr. Reome
Winter Sports sign-ups will be the week of October 3rd-7th. Physicals for the winter season will be on November 15th. Athletes without physicals on file with our school nurse are not allowed to practice or play until one is provided. Physicals already on file are good for one year from the date it was completed.
Congratulations to our athletes and coaches on two awards that the district recently won, one for Sportsmanship, and one for Academics.
Hall of Fame weekend is fast approaching. All of our teams will be playing at home in the lead up to the Hall of Fame ceremony at the High School Auditorium on October 15th at 6:00 pm. Pictures and social hour will commence at 5:00 pm in the High School Gym Lobby in the Hall of Fame Wing. The schedule for Hall of Fame week includes:
- Wednesday, Oct 12th at 4:30 pm Modified Football vs Potsdam
- Thursday, Oct 13th at 4:30 pm Varsity Girls Soccer vs Chateaugay
- Thursday, Oct 13th at 4:30 pm Modified Girls Soccer vs Chateaugay
- Friday, Oct 14th at 5:00 pm Varsity Boys Soccer vs Madrid-Waddington
- Friday, Oct 14th at 5:00 pm Modified Swim vs Canton
- Friday, Oct 14th at 6:00 pm Varsity Swim vs Canton
- Saturday, Oct 15th at 10:00 am Modified Boys Soccer vs Madrid-Waddington
- Saturday, Oct 15th 12:00 pm Varsity Football vs Malone
All inductees will be introduced at halftime of the Varsity Football game. This year's inductees include:
Individual Inductees:
William Sutton
Ivan Dyke
Tina Leabo
Lance Cole
Katie Penderghest
Nathan Cole
Randy Roy
Team Inductions:
2009 Boys’ Lacrosse
2012 Boys’ Basketball Team
Fitness Center Open to the Community
Students Activate HOPE with Sweethearts & Heroes
An amazing duo of cape-less superheroes came to show students and educators how they can spread HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist!) during the 2022-2023 school year — and beyond. Tom Murphy and Rick Yarosh, of Sweethearts & Heroes, are a student empowerment and empathy activation team that prevents bullying and suicide.
The Sweethearts & Heroes team is: Murphy, director and co-founder, from St. Albans, VT; Yarosh, a retired U.S. Army sergeant, HOPE expert and motivational speaker from New York who was burned severely while serving in Iraq; and Pat Fish, an aspiring young leader who first saw Sweethearts & Heroes as a student in South Glens Falls, NY.
Sweethearts & Heroes offers a profound, engaging signature presentation that calls for HOPE, Empathy and Action; Circle, which is built on the ancient ritual of communicating in a circle to build empathy; and BRAVES Buddies, which trains older students in bully drills that they, in turn, teach to students in lower grades.
For more than 15 years, Sweethearts & Heroes has presented what Murphy calls “‘the ‘stop, drop and roll’ of bullying” to more than 2 million students in school districts from New England to Hawaii. Murphy, Yarosh and Fish also tailor their presentations and workshops for businesses, non-profits and civic groups. Murphy said, “We go where we’re needed. That’s what heroes do.” In 2021, Sweethearts & Heroes released 13 Pillows For Affective Teachers, a novel that covers the themes of HOPE, Empathy and Action in the Sweethearts & Heroes curriculum. 13 Pillows is based on real students and teachers that Sweethearts & Heroes has encountered. Murphy cowrote the book with Brian McKeon, of Fort Worth, Texas. 13 Pillows is available on Amazon. Digital or printed copies are available upon request. The audiobook is on Audible on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13Pillows.
For more information on Sweethearts & Heroes, visit: sweetheartsandheroes.com.
Or watch these short, impactful trailers:
•https://youtu.be/SWY6Lr3LWaY
•https://youtu.be/RnNW42RPhpQ
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetheartsandheroes/
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChmbRNNgpGWkMRIUxSS-bGg
We are looking forward to having Sweethearts & Heroes come back to work with our students and staff in November.
Band and Chorus Members Accepted to NYSSMA
Ruby Passon- French Horn
Andrew LaMora- Bass
Jonathan Fraser- Tenor
Emily Taylor-Soprano
Emma Stevens- Alto
Thank You to Senior Career Academy Community Partners!
Employers prefer applicants with experience. But how does one gain experience? That is where SLC's Senior Academy comes in.
Students in this program attend classes in the morning before going out in the community to gain valuable work experience. The goal of the program is to give students real world experience and teach skills that they will use in any occupation.
Studies show that employers want employees that are dependable, can communicate effectively, problem-solve, and work as members of a team. The Senior Career Academy gives students the opportunity to develop these skills. In the future, when students are asked during an interview "why should we hire you?" students will be able to show that, not only are they aware of important employment skills, but also provide evidence that they have those skills.
The Senior Career Academy would like to thank its partners in the community. These businesses have truly gone above and beyond. Students are currently working at the IGA and Marie Elaina's Bakery and Diner in downtown Brasher Falls, the Townline Market in Winthrop, and the North Country Dairy in North Lawrence. Numed and W. B. Goodnow Insurance have also been very supportive.
Bluebird Cafe
Starting on October 3rd, Monday through Thursday the Bluebird Café will be open from 2:30-3:00 in the MS/HS cafeteria.
Students and staff can use their B/L account or cash to make purchases.
There will be a variety of snacks including: candy bars, chips, drinks, cookies, candy, slim jims, and more. There will also be hot food options daily including such items as pizza logs, french fries, chicken patties, mozzarella sticks, and more.
We hope to see you there!
Middle School Principal: Mrs.LaBarge
Dear SLC Community,
It has been a busy first month in the middle school. We appreciate the support, and at home follow-up we have had from parents while we focus on teaching behaviors to students.
On September 19th, we had Sweethearts and Heroes come to do an assembly on how to be a positive force in our school community. We learned about their ABC's along with many other things. We look forward to having them return in November.
- A- Away
- B- Buddy
- C- Confront (We reminded students that this means in a positive way, and to seek help from an adult if needed.)
I would also like to share some reminders for parents and students so we can have a successful year:
- Chromebooks need to come to school charged each day.
- Parents can access assignment grades on Schooltool. We recommend checking that weekly.
- Cell phones are not allowed during the school day and must be in a locker powered off, or left at home.
- Students are only allowed to use their school Google accounts for educational purposes.
We have some new exciting things happening in our building:
- Bluebird Café will be open in October for students to buy snacks after school.
- Wifi on busses is now available for students to use for educational purposes.
If you have concerns or questions regarding how your child is doing, I encourage you to reach out to their teachers, counselors, or myself.
Respectfully,
Mrs. LaBarge
Middle School Playground Donation
Thank you to all of the local residents who stopped at the stand and generously made a donation!
Fifth Graders Learn About Queen Elizabeth II
Middle School Counseling News
Mr. Niles A-K
Mrs. LaVoie L-Z
Happy Fall!
The Middle School Counselors are kicking off our transition-to-high-school activities with the 8th graders. We will be taking them to visit Seaway Tech. on October 19th. This is a trip that we look forward to every year. It is a wonderful opportunity for 8th graders to learn about the various vocational and technical programs available to them in high school. It helps them to start the important task of planning for, and thinking about their future, and possible career options. St. Lawrence Central has been focusing on making school relevant to students and this trip does just that.
After this trip, the middle and high school counselors will do a classroom presentation to all 8th graders to talk about the transition to high school and beyond. Individual student meetings with their counselor will follow. Parents are always invited to these meetings. Be on the lookout, parents, for a letter home with the date and time of your child's meeting.
Later in the year, individual meetings will also take place for grades 6 and 7. It’s never too early to start the conversation about career planning. Again, making school relevant for students is important. These meetings are also a good way to check in with students in general.
We hope that everyone has had a good start to the school year. We also hope that students and parents feel that they have everything they need to be successful, and to make school a positive, and relevant experience. Don’t be hesitate to reach out to us for anything.
Fifth Grade ELA with Mrs. Ramie
Fifth graders have transitioned nicely into their middle school routines and are already finished with their first ELA project! Students listened to the book “The Best Part of Me” by Wendy Ewald, and then brainstormed what the best parts of themselves were. After brainstorming, students were asked to choose the absolute best part about themselves. They wrote a paragraph describing this best part while Mrs. Ramie took black and white photos for each student. The photos and writing pieces are now displayed along the 5th grade hallway!
Liberty Partnerships Program
Welcome back to a new school year! My name is Michaela Bethel and I am the Coordinator of The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) here at Brasher Falls.
LPP is a NYS Grant Funded Program based out of SUNY Canton for students in grades 5-12. The purpose of The Liberty Partnerships Program is to foster innovative support programs which help students achieve their full potential, and pursue appropriate post-secondary education or employment. LPP looks different for every student because every student is different in what they need. While enrolled in LPP students will: go on college visits, participate in career exploration and education, receive tutoring, go on field trips, summer programming, unique scholarship opportunities, and have access to myself, and academic counselor who will be monitoring their progress, tutoring, and offering other support services. I meet with students throughout the day during study halls, lunch, and after school. If you think your child could benefit from this unique program and/or have any questions, please contact me at mibethel@bfcsd.org.
I look forward to working with you and your child!
5th Grade Extended Day Students Fly Kites with Mrs. LaRock
Elementary Principal: Mrs.Colterman
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. One thing we are noticing on a greater scale is that students are very good about knowing the rules here at school, but living by them is a little more difficult. Some things that you can do at home to help in this effort are to have boundaries and consistent follow through with consequences. I will share links below to some parent newsletters which have great information to support this cause. I encourage you to review them as they have some very helpful tips.
Thank you 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. Many of you also took advantage of the photo opportunity with our Larries' wings, which every student and staff member created a feather to contribute to.
There will be no school on Monday, October 10th for Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. School will resume on Tuesday, October 11th and it will be a Day 1.
The week of October 11th is Fire Safety Week. SLC staff members have been collaborating with local emergency response teams to plan a fun-filled week of learning. This will not only include fire safety, but other emergency response teams/people as well.
You can expect five week progress reports to be sent home on Friday, October 14th. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
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 from October 7 through October 27.
We are planning to have Halloween celebrations at school on Monday, October 31st. Students are encouraged to dress in their costumes. We are very excited to welcome families back to school for this fun event! More information will be coming soon on this. On this day, Monday, 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 2022-2023 school year.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Colterman
Perry's Pals Thank Scholastic Book Sponsors
Thanks to the generosity of some community members who want to pass on the love of reading, Perry’s Pals received their September Scholastic Sponsor book, How Do Dinosaurs Go To School?, by Jane Yolen.
Mrs. Marcia TenEyck, retired SLC teacher and book sponsor, was our guest reader who read this book to our first grade class. Each month, every Perry’s Pal will receive his/her own copy of the book to keep in his/her bookbox in the classroom so it can be read as many times as desired!
Thank you Mrs. TenEyck and all of our Scholastic Book Sponsors!!!
Building Relationships
Pre-K Learns About Our Five Senses
STEM Activities with Mrs. Hahn
The Human Body with Ms. Zook
Elementary School Counseling News
Hello Larries!
There is a lot going on in the Elementary School Counseling world! First off, we have a new addition to our Larrie family: Mrs. White. She is thrilled to re-join the Brasher Falls School District where she left after first Grade and has already warmed the hearts of our teachers and little ones alike. She joins Mr. Dinan to meet counseling demands and deliver a curriculum through “Life Lab”; a 3 part curriculum that will equip our students with the desirable character traits, social awareness, and emotional intelligence that help us cope with life’s challenges.
LIFE LAB CURRICULUM: All students attend two or three Life Labs per month. Life lab was formerly just “Lab” taught by our Librarian, Mrs. Ronan to help students adapt to the emerging technological world, and it seems they’ve made that adjustment for the most part, perhaps better than many of us adults!
CHARACTER EDUCATION: During the first cycle of the month we discuss the Character trait of the month (also known as the Word of the Month)
September: CITIZENSHIP
October: LEADERSHIP
November: GRATITUDE
December: KINDNESS
January: GOAL SETTING
February: FRIENDSHIP
March: PERSEVERANCE
April: COOPERATION
May: HONESTY
June: TEAMWORK AND SPORTSMANSHIP
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING: During the second cycle we concentrate on social and emotional learning though our Second Step Program. Second Step is one of the oldest and most trusted sources for a thorough curriculum and lesson plans.
First quarter: Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting
Second quarter: Emotion Management
Third quarter: Empathy & Kindness
Fourth quarter: Problem-Solving
CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND OCCUPATIONAL STUDIES (CDOS): During the third cycle students will alternate between a traditional “Lab” class and “Life Lab” as we dive into the world of work, career development, and occupations. CDOS is a major learning objective put forth by New York’s Department of Education and preparing our children to join the workforce with a job or career they like is important and perhaps one of the most important reasons for attending school.
In addition to delivering the curriculum, we offer individual and group counseling and can help parents and caregivers find other professional mental health services. Please feel free to contact Mr. Dinan (ext. 29350), or Mrs. White (ext.29352), if you need assistance or have a question or concern.
Sincerely,
Mr. Dinan and Mrs. White
Technology Tidbits: Mr. Welsh
Each year school districts are required to share with parents, eligible students (students who are at least 18 years of age or attending a postsecondary institution at any age), principals, teachers, and employees of an educational agency how they may file a complaint about a possible breach or improper disclosure of student data and/or protected teacher or principal data. The district must also review and refine the related sample district form and discuss how best to communicate this process to district stakeholders.
If you suspect a possible breach or improper disclosure of student data and/or protected teacher or principal data, you can visit the technology section of the district website and inspect the Parents Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security to get directions on what steps to take.
To report a possible breach or improper disclosure also included in the Technology Section of the website is an Unauthorized Disclosure Complaint Form that must be filled out to initiate an investigation into the reported matter.
A link to a copy of each resource mentioned above is included in this article as a reference for any future reports that may need to be filed.
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