The Newsletter of the Spencerport Central School District January 2011

• Alumni News

• BMI Survey

• Open swim

• And much more

What’s inside

RemindeR: January 17 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

no School

Canal View celebrated the season IEP information night for parentsThe Office of Special Education will be hosting an information night to review the new state mandated IEP (Individualized Education Program) developed by the New York State Education Department. This new document will go into effect for the 2011-2012 school year.

If your child is a student with a disability, you are encouraged to attend this informative session. Deserie Richmond, Director of Special Education, and her team of coordinators will review this document in preparation for upcoming Annual Review meetings. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 349-5140.

DATE: January 6, 2011

PLACE: High School Performing Arts Center

TIME: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Canal View Elementary School first graders celebrated the season by learning about different holiday customs through books, crafts and activities. Pictured here is Marco Cancellieri from Mrs. Lopez’s class with his Spencerport Rangers Santa.

Find out how our schools celebrated the season on pages 4 and 7.

The Cornerstone

Superintendent’s Message: Wonderful initiatives in Spencerport’s

2

Picture yourself when you were in elementary school. Remember when the teacher asked a question? I bet you raised your hand when you knew the answer. Well, in classrooms today, some students register their answers using responders that look much like TV remote controls. Students select a button, and based on their answers, teachers instantly assess whether the class understands the content being taught and/or who specifically may need further instruction.

This is just one example of how our district continues to build on its success in the area of instructional technology. Blogs, wikis, podcasts, glogster, tagging…are new terms to many of us. To our students, they are part of their everyday vocabulary. Our job is to, not only keep pace with instructional technology, but to be a leader in this area.

One of my goals as Spencerport Superintendent focuses on 21st century learning - which expands the walls of our classrooms through the use of technology and integrating more technology into our curriculum. The 21st century learning initiative further embeds communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking in our curriculum and instructional practices to prepare our students for an ever changing global community.

In the last two years, we have introduced such technology as:

• Student responders

• Smart Boards (learn more about how Bernabi participated in a Global Town Hall using a Smart Board in this issue of Cornerstone)

• Online learning with programs: Moodle, Destiny, Castle Learning, Accelerate U

• SKYPE web cams for virtual exchanges

• Interactive math lessons

In order to support these initiatives, our district provides ongoing staff development on how to infuse technology into daily instruction. The Spencerport Instructional Team (SIT) offers frequent training, updates, video tutorials, and daily assistance to our faculty as well as new and substitute teachers in navigating the best access and use of technology. To learn more about our instructional team and watch video of many of the above initiatives, visit our website at www.spencerportschools.org/district.cfm?subpage=4388.

We have also conducted a technology audit, with a complete analysis of the existing infrastructure and support systems. We have addressed many of the audit’s findings, and will continue to revisit the audit as a District Technology Committee to determine future steps.

Being literate in the 21st century requires us ALL to effectively utilize technology to create, publish, communicate, network, research, learn, discover, interpret, and collaborate. Technology is a necessary access point to Spencerport’s students having the tools to be successful in school and life.

Bonnie SeaburnSuperintendent

instructional technology

Exit chalk, enter Smart Board for a math lesson.

Class skypes an author.

History comes alive through glogster.

January 2011 3

RemindeR: school closing procedureSchool closures or early dismissals due to inclement weather or other emergencies only occur when absolutely necessary for the safety and welfare of students and staff. Families will be notified of the decision to close school due to weather conditions first through the use of the district’s automated phone system, Connect Ed, and through the website at www.spencerportschools.org. In addition, the alerts will be announced on radio and television broadcasts by 6:30 a.m. When school is closed or dismissed early, all evening-school activities will be canceled, including sports practices/games, student after-school activities, club meetings, continuing education, and community-related events.

Parent guidelines for early dismissalWhen students are dismissed early due to unforeseen situations – weather emergencies, loss of power, etc. – the district provides students with transportation home. Parents/guardians need to provide the district with the Emergency Closing Data form, which is completed for all K-5 students and updated every year for grades 6-12. This card assists the school in making appropriate arrangements for each child.

Please be sure your child knows where to go in your neighborhood if a parent or caregiver is not home. In addition, please check with your daycare provider about whether they can receive your child at unexpected times.. Contact information, kept in your child’s records, should be kept current (telephone numbers, addresses, etc.) To add, delete or change data, please call your child’s school.

Weather and recess guidelinesMany schools have temperature/weather guidelines to help determine whether recess is held indoors or outdoors. This helps to communicate with the parents and have a consistent understanding in our school. After researching the background and information on this we have set some minimum temperature/conditions.

When temperatures are below 10 degrees Fahrenheit (normal temp. or wind chill) then recess will be indoors. Other conditions may include high wind warnings, pending storms, etc. Recess time is at the discretion of the classroom teacher.

So during this season please make sure your children dress appropriately for the weather: Hats, gloves/mittens, and boots are essential to keep the children safe and warm during the winter months. If you have any questions regarding recess please contact your child’s teacher.

Temperature/Wind Guidelines

Below 10 degrees Indoor Recess

Below 15 degrees Shortened Recess

Below 32 degrees Gloves and Hats to go outside

Below 50 degrees Coat and long pants

Below 60 degrees Jacket or long sleeves

Sign up for E-nEWS

Be the first to be notified of school closings or early dismissals! Sign up for the E-news notifier, a free service on the Spencerport website that allows you to subscribe to news via e-mail. This service allows for faster communication, especially in emergency situations.

Signing up is easy:1. Visit the District website:

www.spencerportschools.org

2. Click on e-news

3. Enter your email address and choose your news

Edit your e-mail or unsubscribe at any time.

Please note impoRtant calendar changeDue to the need for scoring the state assessments in a short time frame, an additional Superintendent’s Conference Day has been scheduled for Weds., May 18.

There will be no SChooL for students in grades K-8.

“It’s in the mail…”Remember to save your Community Education Catalog. Classes run through the first week in June, and highlights this session include:

• Leadership training, • Peaceful Painting, • Self Defense and • Day Trips for skiing and snow

shoeing!

Check out www.spencerportschools.org>communityeducation to learn more.

The Cornerstone

Wearing her brand new coat and snow boots, the little girl recognized the volunteer responsible for her new apparel and hugged her.

“She thanked me, of course,” the volunteer smiled. “But she made me laugh because it was 75 degrees that day!”

“I love to tell that story, because it made it all worthwhile that she was so excited.”

The new winter apparel was part of a larger donation of coats, scarves, boots and mittens to Munn and Bernabi Elementary Schools. Preferring to remain anonymous, a Spencerport community service organization provided the items worth about $900 after sales, coupons, etc.

“We try to find projects that are timely and will make the most impact,” the volunteer added. “We also knew winter was coming, so we didn’t want to wait for Christmas.”

That was a smart move, since the clothes were distributed prior to the almost-record snowfall and frigid temperatures inmid-December!

“These coats make all the difference for a number of our students on whether they are warm or cold this winter,” Principal Michael Canny said. “We would certainly love to publicly thank this group and their compassion for our students.”

Students at Cosgrove donated gifts this holiday season to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children). This private, nonprofit organization trains citizen volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in foster care.

CASA provided Cosgrove teachers with names of four families – each with three children. In turn, students planned, shopped and wrapped the gifts. On Dec. 14, the students loaded the gifts into the car of CASA representative Mary Ann Wolfe, pictured here.

Cosgrove once again gives to CASA

Coat donation

Open Swim will continue at the high school – 6 – 7 a.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Jan. 10 thru June 1.

Purchase a swim card through Community Education

- $30 for 10 swims.

call 349-5680 for more information.

open swim continues

4

Spencerport High School held its annual Elf Day on Dec. 23. Students bid on faculty or student elves for the day with proceeds donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Pictured here, Sophomore Nick Venditti with his elf, Assistant Principal Laurie Boughter.

Elf Day

January 2011

Thirty fifth graders at Bernabi Elementary School connected with students, scientists and a former world leader on Nov. 17, when Bernabi participated in Time Warner Cable’s “Math, Science, and the Future of Our Nation: A Global Online Town Hall.”

Participants joined the forum through the use of SmartBoards, Twitter feeds, texts, or web cams, to compare experiences with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in their schools and communities.

Hosted by former U.S Vice-President Al Gore, the event was part of TWC’s philanthropic initiative, Connect a Million Minds, which featured MythBusters host Dean Kamen and former astronaut Sally Ride. During the forum, Kamen and Ride both offered personal insights into their passion for math and science and stressed that math, science and technology is “cool,” leading to such jobs as video game designers, scientists, astronauts, and even co-host of MythBusters!

• “I think Connect a Million Minds is a great idea because it’s telling Americans, ‘HEY! START MOVING!’ I think that it encourages people to work harder. . .” –Haley

• “It was a nice information-giver to fifth grade because we now know to make our generation the best and to pursue math, science and technology.” –Andrew

Bernabi students on math, science

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. These numbers are used to figure out the student’s body mass index or ‘BMI’. The BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low. Recent changes to the New York State Education Law require that BMI and weight status group be included as part of the student’s school health examination.

Our school district has been selected to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health. The District will report to the New York State Department of Health information about our students’ weight status groups. You may wish to have your child’s weight status excluded from the survey. only summary information is sent.

no names and no information about individual students are sent. The information sent to the New York State

Department of Health will help health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier

If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the Health Department’s Survey this year, please print and sign your name below and return this form to your school nurse no later than Tuesday, January 18, 2011.

Spencerport Central School nurses:Brenda Kurz – BernabiPat Brown – Canal ViewKaren Stein – CosgroveBeth Hoben – MunnDianne Robinson – TaylorKathryn Schlierf – High SchoolJenna Delgallego – High School

Please do not include my child’s weight status information in the 2010-2011 School Survey.

_________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

Important Information on BMI SurveyFrom Sue Lombardo, Director of Student Information Services

Print Child’s Name

Print Parent’s Name

Date

Parent’s Signature

✂

connect with world

• “I learned that math and science are very important and that we need to put more effort in it.” –Justine

• “I learned that being a game designer you have to know a ton of math and science.” –Jon

• “I learned that some children want certain careers, but need the background knowledge.” -Chase

Bernabi students reflected on the Global Town hall by saying:

5

The Cornerstone

alumni newS6

Emmy award winning sportscaster, published author, motivational speaker, and Ranger alumnus, Scott Murray, visited Spencerport Central School District on Dec. 3, to talk with high school and middle school students.

A 1965 graduate of SHS, Murray spent close to a quarter of a century as the Emmy Award-winning sports director and TV Anchor at NBC, Dallas/Ft. Worth. During his career, Murray was named Sportscaster of the Year 17 times by various news/media organizations such as the Associated Press, United Press International, Dallas Press Club, NATAS, among others. He won back to back Emmy Awards for Best Sportscaster in 2000 and 2001 and was the recipient of the prestigious Silver Circle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2002.

Catch up with Murray below:

Year graduated from ShS: 1965, although I still often act like I’m 17! You may remember that i…Played soccer, basketball and tennis; was in band and wind ensembles, and even sang in the choir; was also in student council.

after graduation, i had dreams of…Becoming a pediatrician was something I wanted to do since I was five, but after high school, I kind of switched vocation and avocation. I went to the Eastman School of Music Preparatory School for 9 years, and my free time passion was sports and radio and television. Ironic that I’d end up being a broadcast journalist and television sports anchor for three decades... go figure. I’m back on TV now doing a bi-monthly program on philanthropic endeavors and non-profits on my former station (NBC) and my media production company (Murray Media... I’m Chairman/CEO and my son who went to Baylor and grad school at TCU is President and COO) produce and co-host a lifestyles show about what is going on in north Texas (greater Dallas/Fort Worth area) on our CBS station.

my life is centered around family…I have been married to my best friend and my confidant, Carole (a Bishop Kearney alum) for 38-years. We have a son, Doug, who works with me, and a daughter, Stephanie, who also went to Baylor. She is an international corporate event and hospitality director and travels all over the world.

in our spare time…My wife and I love to travel, with western Europe being our favorite spot internationally and Nantucket being our stateside favorite. We live in a highrise in Dallas, where my office is also located. We also have a lake home on the water west of Fort Worth, so we have the best of both worlds.

My main hobby oddly enough is doing charity work, and I still emcee 700 events a year. I enjoy every one of them.

Visiting my hometown…We return to Spencerport about once a year to see my mother and family and my wife’s family as well. My dad passed away three years ago. Our families usually come see us because of the warmer southern weather. We’ve been in Texas over half our life, and we love it.

TIES (Together Including Every Student) is a program which promotes the participation of children/young adults with developmental disabilities in extracurricular and community activities by providing effective support. This support is provided by trained student volunteers in grades 8-12 in the Spencerport Central School District.

Participants and volunteers join a wide variety of activities, including arts and crafts classes, sports programs, swimming, after-school activities, drumming circles, etc. Volunteers attend a 45-minute training session at their school. The time commitment is based on the volunteer’s schedule.

catching up with Scott Murray

Student volunteers invited to TIES

If you are interested in volunteering or have questions about TIES, please contact Tracey Wysocarski at 957-1324 or email traceywysocarski@rochester.rr.com.

January 2011 7

The chorus, band and faculty each performed during a holiday concert at Canal View on Dec. 20.

Canal View holiday concert

Art of What is compassion? What does it look like? A sculpture offering reflections on these questions was displayed at Cosgrove Middle School recently. Called the “Art of Compassion,” the display showcased a total of 318 reflections from around western New York including 40 of our own Cosgrove students. Among the reflections:

•People talk of caring and sympathy, but it takes true compassion to take action

•Compassion is a willingness to forgive

The idea originated with retired judge and renowned artist, Mr. Jerry Alonzo, who said, “When you read the words you will see that our community believes that listening to each other and putting ourselves in the place of the other are the principal ingredients of compassion.”

Compassion

Kindergarteners at Bernabi Elementary School performed a holiday concert for their families on Dec. 23.

Bernabi holiday concert

Jazz Band performs at county building

The Spencerport Jazz Band performed at the Monroe County Office building on Dec. 8. The band is directed by teacher John Viavattine.

Kindergarteners at Taylor Elementary created gingerbread houses and sampled the candy decorations.

Board of Education:

Mr. William Sweeney,President

Todd Dunn, Vice President

Mr. Gary Bracken

Ms. Jody Gillette

Mr. Jim Oberlin

Mr. Mark Young

Mr. Michael Zale

School Board members are elected to three-year terms and serve without pay.

Superintendent of SchoolsBonnie Seaburn

Editor: Lanette Cypher 349-5104

Design: Lisa Mott

www.SpencerportSchools.org

©2011 SCSD Public Information Office

Designed and printed at Monroe 2–Orleans BOCES

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January 2011

Bernabi BPACanal View CVAMunn MSPATaylor PTO

7 Cosgrove Talent Show 7 p.m.

10 Heath Advisory Committee, DO, 4:30 p.m.

10 SSBC, DO 6:30 p.m.

10 SMA, CMS 7 p.m.

11 HS Financial Aid Night, PAC 6:30 p.m.

11 Board of Education 7 p.m.

13 Taylor PTO 6:30 p.m.

13 Munn MSPA 6:45 p.m.

14-15 Coach Chow basketball tournament

14-15 Sr High Solofest

17 Martin Luther King Jr Day, no school

19 BPA 6 p.m.

19 Taylor Girls Night Out volleyball 6 p.m.

19 CVA 7 p.m.

20 Taylor Guys Night Out volleyball 6 p.m.

20 6th Grade Band and Chorus concert 7:30 p.m.

21 MUNGO 6 p.m.

21-22 Jr High Solofest

25 Board of Education 7 p.m.

25-28 Mid-terms and Regents exams

27 Cosgrove Jazz Concert 7:30 p.m.

28-29 Elementary Solofest

AbbreviationsCV Canal ViewDO District OfficeGr GradeHS High SchoolCMS Cosgrove Middle SchoolSMA Spencerport Music AssociationSSBC Spencerport Sports Booster Club

Parent Teacher Organizations