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ARCHIVED NEWSSeniors Speak to Younger Peers about
(May 14, 2013) After attending the Choices 301 program this winter and thinking about the losses and grieving the community has shared in just the past six years, three Hoosic Valley High School seniors were inspired to share with their peers the dangers of distracted driving. After getting the “ok” from Principal Amy Goodell, Amanda Grossman, Anne Van Vorst and Stephen Justus set their creative minds to developing a presentation they could deliver to their younger peers about distractive behaviors while driving, particularly texting. Click here for more. Hoosic Valley Elementary Pleasant House Players to Present "The Little Mermaid, Jr.", June 6 & 7
Music Students to Participate in (May 16, 2013) Congratulations and good luck to the 28 Hoosic Valley music students who will be participating in the NYSSMA Solo Ensemble Festival May 17-18 at Columbia High School. Click here for more. TVHS Student from Hoosic Valley Featured (May 14, 2013) Tech Valley High School Senior Jesse Hunziker, from the Hoosic Valley Central School District, loves technology. In fact, the technology literacy skills Jesse's gained over the last four years at the school have helped him line up a job at the company he will work in part-time following graduation while he pursues a degree in advanced manufacturing. WNYT featured Jesse and the school's 3D printing program recently. Watch it at http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S3031796.shtml To learn more about Jesse and the technology skills he's learning at Tech Valley High School, visit http://techvalleyhigh.org/news/2012_13/May_1 Camp Counselors Needed May 14, 2013 - The Valley Falls/Pittstown Youth Commission is looking for CIT’s, Junior Counselors and Senior Counselors for their 2013 summer program. Applications are available in the HS Main Office. All applications must be mailed no later than May 20th. If you have any questions, please contact Mary McNeice. Elks honors Hoosic Valley Students of the Month May 14, 2013 - The Mechanicville Stillwater Elks recently held a dinner to acknowledge all the accomplishments of Hoosic Valley, Mechanicville and Stillwater students of the month. Congratulations to Alyse Anderson, Morgan Bayly, Kim Carabis, Kim Connors, Jacob Keasbey, Kimberlee Kocienski, Kevin Pallozzi, Mary Passineau, Alexandra Payne and Ann Van Vorst. Carabis was announced as Student of the Year for Hoosic Valley and Samantha Connors was the recipient of the Elks' college scholarship.
May 14, 2013 - The 2013 5th and 6th Grade Science Club Members enjoyed a field trip May 7th to Pine Bush and Peebles Island as a culmination to their ecosystem study completed during the six weeks of Science Club. Student Council Movie Ticket Fundraiser May 14, 2013 - Student Council is selling Regal movie tickets for $9 each (discount of $2.50) per ticket for a fundraiser. Movie tickets make great gifts and come in handy on a rainy day. Click here for the order form. Order forms are due by May 24.
Prom and Coronation Updated Information May 8, 2013 - The 2013 Junior Prom will be held Saturday, May 18 on the JP Cruise Line. Coronation will be at 5:00 p.m. in the HS gymnasium. Click here for important updated information about Prom and Coronation. For the enjoyment and safety of our students, we ask you to plan in advance and thank you for following the rules as outlined. Click here for information on the After Prom Party. Remember to turn in permission slips by Friday, May 10th to earn extra prize tickets. Click here for the After Prom Permission Slip.
Meet the Candidates Running for the Board (May 2, 2013) Four candidates are seeking election to two unexpired terms on the Board of Education. One term commencing May 22, 2013 and ending June 30, 2014; and the other commencing July 1, 2013 and ending June 30, 2016. The candidate receiving the most votes will receive the three-year seat and the second runner up will receive the one-year seat. The PTO will sponsor a "Meet the Board Candidate Night" on Wednesday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the elementary library. Residents will elect members to the Board of Education and vote on the proposed budget Tuesday, May 21. Meet the candidates
May 7: Public Hearing on Proposed 2013-14 Budget April 30, 2013 -The Hoosic Valley Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2013-2014 district budget on Tuesday, May 7, 7 p.m., in the high school LGIA. The public vote is Tuesday, May 21. A Board of Education meeting will immediately follow the hearing. HV Blue Crew Heading Back to Relay for Life April 30, 2013 - It's once again time for the Hoosic Valley Blue Crew to gear up for the Annual Relay for Life held at Greenwich CSD. The Crew will be at the Subway in Schaghticoke on Saturday, May 11 to raise funds for the Relay. Stop by, say hello to the Crew and join the battle. If you'd like to make a donation on-line, click here to visit their web page. Click here for things you need to know if you're joining the Blue Crew. T-Shirt orders have to be returned by Friday, May 3rd, click here for the order form. One-Hour Delay planned for May 17 April 29, 2013 - On May 17th the Hoosic Valley Student Council will host their Annual Spring Breakfast. In support of their efforts, there will be a one-hour delay to the start of school on Friday, May 17th. Signup for the Learning Fair by May 1 April 29, 2013 -The purpose of our Learning Fair is to have fun, learn by exploring, and see other projects at the fair. It's even OK if your project doesn't turn out the way you expect. That's part of the learning too! The Learning Fair is voluntary and open to any student in grades 4-6. The fair is not till May 21 so you have plenty of time to work on your project, BUT you must sign up by Wednesday, May 1. Click here for more info and the registration form. Please Stay off the Football Field April 25, 2013 - Due to the recent seeding of the football field, we are asking everyone to refrain from using the field over the next 4 weeks to give the field a chance to fill in. Other accommodations can be made. Please contact Athletic Director Jeff Keller at 753-4458 ext. 2512. Thank you for your cooperation with this request. Schaghticoke Summer Program April 26, 2013 - The Schaghticoke Youth Commission Summer Program will be held from July 1- August 1 at the Hoosic Valley Elementary School. This program is sponsored and administered by the Town of Schaghticoke. Camp is from 9 AM – 2 PM Monday – Thursday. Pre-registration dates are May 9 and May 16 from 6 – 7:30 at the Schaghticoke Town Hall. Pre-registration is required, there is no late registration allowed. Click here for a copy of the registration form. A copy of your child’s immunization records are due when pre-registering. Proof of residency is required. Pre-registration forms are included in this newsletter. A $30 recreational fee for each child will required at the reregistering. This fee will help to cover the costs of any in or out of camp activities. Cash or checks made payable to the Schaghticoke Youth Commission will be accepted. Please contact Susan Varone at 238-3496 for further information. Spring Book Fair
PTO will continue the One for Books program! Our primary goal with this program is to help support the Zillah Herrington Literacy Fund. With this program we are able to provide students in PreK-6 a new book to take home and add to their home libraries. One for books is a program that not only benefits Hoosic Valley students but also helps to place books into the hands of children around the country. Click here for more info on the One for Books Program. Basketball Honors April 25th, 2013 - Even as we have moved on to spring sports our basketball stars are still being honored. Cassidy Chapko was named in the Best of BCANY - Top 50 Players for the 2012-2013 season. On the boy's side both John Rooney and Ethan Ross-Hixson received recognition from the NYSSWA all-state team. Click here for the full list of BCANY - Top 50 Players (Girls) Click here for the full listing of NYSSWA all-state team (Boys) Four Candidates to Run for Two Seats April 25, 2013 - Four candidates are slated to run for two unexpired terms on the Board of Education. One term commences May 22, 2013 and ending June 30, 2014; and the other commences July 1, 2013 and ending June 30, 2016. The candidate receiving the most votes will receive the three-year seat and the second runner up will receive the one-year seat. Set to run on the May 21 ballot are: Laurie Crandall-Spear, JoAnn Madigan, Michael J. Reilly and Timothy Salisbury. Profiles of each candidate will be available on this website soon. The PTO will sponsor a "Meet the Board Candidate Night" on Wednesday, May 15 at 7:00 in the elementary library. Board Adopts 2013-14 Calendar April 25, 2013 - The Board of Education adopted the 2013-14 school year calendar at its meeting on April 23. Download the calendar Spring Concert Date Change April 23, 2013 - The dates of the Jr. High and Sr. High Concerts have changed. The Sr. High Concert will be on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. and the Jr. High Concert will be on Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m. Planned Lockdown Drill in the Elementary April 25, 2013 - The district will be conducting a lockdown drill in the PK-6 building on Monday, April 29th. Click here for details. One-Hour Delay planned for May 17th April 29, 2013 - On May 17th the Hoosic Valley Student Council will host their Annual Spring Breakfast. In support of their efforts, there will be a one-hour delay to the start of school on Friday, May 17th. Please Stay off the Football Field April 25, 2013 - Due to the recent seeding of the football field, we are asking everyone to refrain from using the field over the next 4 weeks to give the field a chance to fill in. Other accommodations can be made. Please contact Athletic Director Jeff Keller at 753-4458 ext. 2512. Thank you for your cooperation with this request. Signup for the Learning Fair April 29, 2013 -The purpose of our Learning Fair is to have fun, learn by exploring, and see other projects at the fair. It's even OK if you project doesn't turn out the way you expect. That's part of the learning too! The Learning Fair is voluntary and open to any student in grades 4-6. The fair is not till May 21st so you have plenty of time to work on your project, BUT you must sign up by Wednesday, May 1st. Click here for more info and the registration form.
Mrs. Bridget's Pre-K students show off their colorful mobiles in celebration of Earth day. “I can’t answer the phone right now… On Friday, April 19th National Speaker Jacy Good, one of the faces of distracted driving, returned to Hoosic Valley. Jacy shared her tragic story with our Juniors and Seniors in an effort to send the important message that driving and cell phones don’t mix. Click here for more information on Jacy's experience. Football Ruling April 22, 2013 - In January 2013, The New York State Public High School Athletic Association looked at BEDS (Basic Education Data System) numbers calculations in order to help districts merge for the purpose of helping schools' athletic programs. In the past the rule required both merging schools to combine 100% of both schools BEDS numbers and then the merged teams would have to play in the appropriate classification for the merged numbers. The new rule allows the combined schools to only take 30% of the smaller schools BEDS number and add it to the larger one. Then the merged team would play at that appropriate classification. Due to this change in this rule, Hoosic Valley was approached with the possibility of investigating a football merger with Stillwater. If the merger were to happen it would not be for the 2013-2014 school year. At this point in time, it is unknown if our combined BEDS numbers will allow our schools to merge for football and still allow the merged team to play a class "C" football schedule in 2014-2015. BEDS will be reported in October 2013 and data available sometime in January 2014. If our combined BEDS numbers meet criteria for class "C" football at that time, Hoosic Valley and Stillwater may begin to investigate a possible merger for the 2014-15 school year. If Hoosic Valley and Stillwater do proceed with merger talks, community forums will be held and there will be opportunities for community involvement in the discussions. Dodgeball Tournament - April 26th April 19, 2013 - Make sure you leave Friday night available so you can witness the Hoosic Valley Teachers in action. They will be challenging the Stillwater Teachers to a game of Dodgeball with all proceeds going to the Scholarship Fund at each school. Admission cost is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Come and root for your favorite teacher! Nominating Petitions for Board of Education Seat March 26, 2013 – The Hoosic Valley Central School District Board of Education has one (1) unexpired seat commencing on May 22, 2013 and expiring June 30, 2014. Petitions nominating candidates for this vacancy can be obtained at the District Clerk’s office at 2 Pleasant Avenue, Schaghticoke. Each petition must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District. Nominating petitions must be filed with the District Clerk no later than April 22, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Author Steve Sheinkin to visit the HS on May 8 April 18, 2013 - Hoosic Valley will welcome author Steve Sheinkin on May 8. The former textbook writer has dedicated his life to making up for his previous "crimes" by crafting gripping narratives of American history. He likes to think of his job as being a 'story detective'...Steve is the author of several historical works for young readers, including "The Notorious Benedict Arnold", and his latest "Bomb:the Race to Build-and Steal- the World's most Dangerous Weapon. Mr. Sheinkin currently resides in Saratoga Springs. Click here to learn more about Author Steve Sheinkin. GeraniUMS for MUMS April 17, 2013 - Mother’s Day is approaching quickly! Need a last minute gift for Mom? Unsure of what to get her? Purchase a potted geranium flower for your mom for Mother’s Day! Support the Class of 2015 and show your mom/grandma/aunt/sister she’s appreciated. Order forms were handed out in homerooms and additional forms are located in the main office or click here. The potted plants are just $5 and can include a personalized message for an additional $2! Order forms should be given to Lauren Huber or Colleen Moore. Community Ed Update April 17, 2013 - The always popular Caning Class is full, try again next time and remember to sign up early. We have added a new class..... Getting Paid To Talk, Making Money with Your Voice — is a single evening class that takes a realistic and entertaining look at the positive and negative components of building success as a voice actor in your area. Our instructor will discuss both the creative and business aspects of our field. In addition to having the opportunity to hear voice acting demos from working professionals, each student will have the opportunity to record a real script under the direction of our producer right there in the class. Each student’s recording is then played back at the end of the session as a class finale. Throughout the class students are encouraged to ask questions and our instructor is always willing to provide basic voice assessment to anyone attending. Instructor: Warren Garling
Common Core Assessment Video Series April 12, 2013 - The New York State Education Department has introduced a new series of videos on the EngageNY website. These videos are intended to give parents more information about the Common Core Standards and the upcoming Grade 3-8 state assessments in English language arts and math. Click here to access the SED Video Series. Make sure to check out the related videos as well. Football Bowl-a-Thon Set for April 14 April 9, 2013 - The Hoosic Valley Football program will be holding a Bowl-a-Thon fundraiser at Hilltop Bowl this Sunday, April 14. There will door prizes, a 50/50 drawing and three games of bowling for a minimum donation of $25. Come on out and have a great time while showing your support for the Hoosic Valley Football program. Contact Priscilla Carrozza @ priscillacarrozza1@msn.com for more information. Volunteers Needed for April 13 Cycling Race April 8, 2013 - The Hoosic Valley Community Partners are looking for volunteers to work at the Tour of the Battenkill. If you've never heard of the Tour it is America's largest one-day Pro/Am cycling race and it takes place just up the road in Cambridge. In return for volunteering, money is donated back to our upcoming After Prom Party and every volunteer will receive a Tour T-Shirt. The race is this weekend (sorry for the short notice) and we need about 20 people. If you're interested please contact Trish Pallozzi @ ppallozzi@hoosicvalley.k12.ny.us for more details. It's a lot of fun, you don't have to sell or buy anything and it helps a great cause. McDonald's Night set for April 17 April 12, 2013 - Join your teachers for Hoosic Valley McDonald's Night on Wednesday, April 17th from 4:30 - 7:00 in Mechanicville. Come and be served by Mr. Foti and some of your favorite teachers! A portion of the proceeds will go to the Hoosic Valley PTO. Troy Record All-Stars Announced April 8, 2013 - Congratulations to John Rooney and Ethan Ross-Hixson for their selection to The Record's 2013 Small School All Area Boys Basketball Team, click here for the full story. On the girls side, Cassidy Chapko was named The Record’s 2013 All-Area Player of the Year, click here for the full story. Hoosic Valley Students Compete in April 3, 2013 – Hoosic Valley High School students enrolled in Questar III’s Career and Technical Education programs competed in the SkillsUSA Regional Competition on March 13. Congratulations to Christopher Herrington who took third place in Carpentry, to Robert Horowitz for fourth place in Food Prep Assistant and to Kayla Sharp for taking fifth place in Cosmetology Senior. Click here for more
Hoosic Valley Writing Olympics - March 27, 2013 -- A recent note was sent home regarding the upcoming Writing Olympics, Young Author's Night. The letter incorrectly listed the event as Thursday, April 24th. The 24th is on Wednesday. Sorry for the confusion. Hoosic Valley's Got Talent - April 12th March 27, 2013 -- Oh yea…HV’s Got Talent! And it’s that time of the year to hit the stage and ‘show ‘em what we got!’Hoosic Valley’s 5th Annual Talent Show is returning to the stage Friday, April 12th at 6 pm. Admission as always is a non-perishable food donation per person, help us FILL THAT TRUCK for our local food pantry! New this year and hosted by the Class of 2014, enjoy a Chicken Bar-be-que, cooked by local grilling experts PB&J BBQ. Click here for BBQ order forms (due 4/9) Click here for a glimpse of what to expect Financial Aid Workshop to be Held April 17 March 26, 2013 - Hoosic Valley High School will host a Financial Aid Workshop on Wednesday, April 17 from 6-8 p.m. in the computer lab. In this workshop, parents and students will have the opportunity to work with high school personnel in completing the FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in seeking financial aid for college tuition and other expenses. The process in completing the application is not difficult but can be challenging if you are doing it for the first time. Click here for more info. Pasta Dinner Fundraiser March 30 March 25, 2013 – The Lady Hoopster’s 8th Grade Girls AAU Basketball Team (Hoosic Valley Travel Team) will be hosting a pasta dinner with homemade meatballs and sauce on Saturday March 30, 2013 at the Transfiguration Parish Hall ( Schaghticoke, NY). Dinner will be served from 4:00-7:00pm. Tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling Shannon Madigan 753-4829. Cost: Adults $10.00, Children 10 and under $5.00. 2nd Annual Pops Concert March 27 March 21, 2013 – The 2nd Annual Pops Concert featuring the entire Band Program – all Band students in Grades 5 – 12 – is Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. in the HS gym. Click here for more info Superintendent’s Budget Forum April 3 (3/19/2013) Members of the community are encouraged to attend the Superintendent’s Budget Forum on Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school LGIA. Superintendent Doug Kelley and Business Administrator Sandra Owens will outline the financial challenges affecting 2013-14 budget development, including external rising costs and new costs, staff reductions and cost saving measures. A Question and Answer session will follow. Superintendent Kelley to Participate on Siena Educator Panel (3/19/2013) The Siena College Research Institute has invited Superintendent Doug Kelley to be one of 10 superintendents from the Capital Region to participate on a discussion panel on March 27. Panel members will share their views on integration of the Common Core State Standards, teacher evaluations and thoughts on education in New York State. This group is part of an ongoing research project by Siena that seeks to gather current opinions and experiences with education across the state. Data is shared with the New York State Education Department to contribute to the Department’s work in seeking to address the needs of students, their families, as well as educators through New York State. Register for the Spring Community Education Program (3/19/2013) Whether you're interested in exploring your creative side -- rubber stamping or card making -- or nurturing your practical side -- learning about social security or ways to save for college -- Hoosic Valley's Community Education program has a variety of courses to fit different needs. Some classes start the week of April 7, so please register as soon as possible. Click here to visit the Community Education webpage Hoosic Valley teams compete at regional Odyssey of the Mind competition March 19, 2013 – Teams from Hoosic Valley Central School District competed in the Odyssey of the Mind Regional Competition on March 9 at the Rensselaer City School District. We have one first place team that will compete at the New York State Competition on March 23 at SUNY Binghamton University. Congratulations to all of our teams who competed at regionals and best of luck to our team competing at the state championship! Click here for more info. 2013 Valedictorian and Salutatorian Announced 3/18/2013 Congratulations to the Class of 2013 Valedictorian - Lexy Payne and Salutatorian - Whitney Nightingale. Both girls are incredibly talented and we are so proud of all your achievements. Click here for more..... Author James Preller to Visit March 26 We are very excited to announce that local author, James Preller, will be visiting our district on March 26th. Mr. Preller will talk to all our elementary and middle school students. It is unusual to find an author that writes books that appeal to such a wide range of ages.
Mr. Preller also has picture books and is the author of the popular Jigsaw Jones Mystery books for emerging readers. We encourage all our students to read one of Mr. Preller's books before his visit. 7th and 8th graders can purchase a book from Mr. Preller with the option for an autographed personal message. Click here for the book order form
SAT registration due April 5th 3/15/2013 The May SAT exams will be given at Hoosic Valley. The registration deadline is April 5th, all students interested in taking this exam must log onto http://www.collegeboard.org/ to register (make sure you select Hoosic Valley as the testing site - Hoosic Valley's CEEB # is 335095 ). If you have any questions or need further information please contact the high school guidance office. 753 4458 ext 2507 SAT Review classes start April 16th, Click here for more info.... Student of the Month 3/15/2013 Alyse Anderson, Mary Passineau, and Kevin Pallozzi are Hoosic Valley’s Students of the Month for March, April, and May. They will receive a small gift from the Mechanicville-Stillwater Elks Club at a dinner to be held at the Elks Lodge on May 6th. Congratulations to Alyse, Mary and Kevin. Letter to Governor Regarding Equitable The Hoosic Valley Central School District is a 1,100 student district in rural Rensselaer County. Our property tax base is not growing and Hoosic Valley’s combined wealth ratio (CWR- a calculation of relative wealth based on residents income and property values) is .626 which is below the state average of 1.0. Last year the Hoosic Valley district initiated a cost savings measure by re-financing our building project borrowing at a lower interest rate. This will result in immediate and long term savings for the taxpayers. In response, New York State will take most of those savings away from us by lowering our building aid by as much as $400,000. This results in an overall aid loss to Hoosic Valley of $85,673. Click here for more District's Teacher and Principal Evaluation Plan The State Education Department has approved the district’s Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) plan. The district submitted its plan, which both the district and Hoosic Valley Teachers Association (HVTA) had to agree to. The state’s approval means the district avoids losing a portion of its state aid, which Governor Andrew Cuomo has threatened if school districts do not receive approval by Jan. 15. “I want to thank the HVTA and our administrators for working so well together to get this completed,” said Superintendent Doug Kelley. “It truly was a collaborative effort. “ Click here for the District APPR Plan. Author James Preller to Visit March 26 We are very excited to announce that local author, James Preller, will be visiting our district on March 26th. Mr. Preller will talk to all our elementary and middle school students. It is unusual to find an author that writes books that appeal to such a wide range of ages.
Mr Preller also has picture books and is the author of the popular Jigsaw Jones Mystery books for emerging readers. We encourage all our students to read one of Mr. Preller's books before his visit. 7th and 8th graders can purchase a book from Mr. Preller with the option for an autographed personal message. Click here for the book order form Do not wait any longer! Spots are limited. Starting March 18th, Hoosic Valley will team up with Bryant and Stratton College to offer a night course through the distance learning program to prepare Adults and High School Seniors for careers starting from $35,000 to $45,000. Classes will meet twice a week and will run from 5:30 to 8:30. The class will prepare you for certification programs in Phlebotomy, Medical Coding, Pharmacy Technician and EKG Technician. This is a great opportunity so please do not miss out. For more details and to sign up please contact Peter Fusco at 753-4458 ext 2504. Hoosic Valley Kindergarten Registration Children who will turn 5 years old by December 1, 2013 and reside in the Hoosic Valley School District are eligible for Kindergarten in September 2013. All incoming Kindergartners must go through a screening process; this is conducted by appointment only. Please call 753-4458 ext. 3507 or email avautrin@hoosicvalley.k12.ny.us to register your child. Registration packet will be mailed to you in April. Hoosic Valley Pre-K Program Registration The Hoosic Valley Central School District is presently taking names of children whose parents are interested in having them attend a Pre-K program in the 2013-2014 school year. This program will be contingent upon continued funding from The New York State Education Department. Eligible students must be district residents and have a birth date between December 2, 2008 and December 1, 2009. Once funding is confirmed and the program is approved by the Hoosic Valley Board of Education, eligible students will be drawn at random to fill program slots. To get you child on the list, please call 753-4458, ext. 3507. Deadline for acceptance of new names is May 10, 2013. Parents will receive notification of selection by June 20, 12013. School district stakeholders play Hoosic Valley School District’s parents, students, educators and board members joined together with more than 1,000 community members from all 47 school districts in the Capital Region on Jan. 31 to learn about the fiscal crisis facing their schools and find out what they can do to help.
Health Update The Rensselaer County Health Department has issued an informational message about pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Please note this is precautionary. No cases have been reported in Hoosic Valley CSD schools. Click here for more information...... Changes to Nutrikids We are in the process of changing our online payment method for student lunches and breakfasts. As of December 31st the Nutrikids payment system will no longer be available. In its place we will use myschoolbucks.com to accept payments and provide information on the school lunch system. Parents will NOT have to set up a new account, however, you will have to go in and recreate the low balance notifications in the myschoolbucks system.The student id for this system is the same 4 digit pin number that students currently use to access the system in the cafeteria. This does not in any way effect the current balance of anyone's account. If any parent or guardian needs their child’s ID number they can contact Megan Beck – Food Service/Cook Manager at mbeck@hoosicvalley.k12.ny.us. Please include the child’s name, date of birth, address, and guardian name. More information about this new system can be found at http://learnmyschoolbucks.com/Parent/ Roof Damage at High School Due to High Winds Part of the roof membrane over the “old” section of the high school was damaged by high winds today. There was no apparent structural damage, the roof membrane was lifting off the roof in the wind. Students and staff were moved to other parts of the building and everyone is safe and unharmed. Part of the second floor hallway in the east wing of the high school and at least one classroom has sustained water damage. Contractors are arriving to temporarily secure the roof and district personnel will begin clean up immediately. Message from Superintendent Kelley 12/20/2012 As often happens after situations like what occurred a week ago in Connecticut, districts often hear many rumors. Hoosic Valley is not exempt. Over the past several days, staff, students and parents have heard rumors about threats against our schools and they have been investigated by State Police. Please be assured that these are only rumors, no credible threats have been made. These rumors have been running rampant among capital district area schools. Hoosic Valley has been in touch with the New York State police who will have an increased presence in our district. Again, no one has actually had any threat made directly to them or heard someone make a threat in our schools. It is important to know that if you or your child has first-hand information on any type of threat, please bring it forward so school personnel can address it. Moving forward, we will continue to follow-up on any and all rumors that may emerge. The safety of our students is always of the utmost importance to all of the staff at Hoosic Valley and we are committed to insuring that our students have a safe and comfortable learning environment at all times. If you have any questions, or feel that there is information that you need to share, please feel free to reach out to us. Thank you. Letter from Superintendent Kelley Regarding the Tragic Events in Newtown, CT School Community, The tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut reminds us of the fragility of life and the awesome responsibility we have to safeguard and protect our students from harm. After school on Friday at a K-12 faculty meeting I reminded teachers of our security measures and to report any suspicious individuals seen around our buildings. The district has in place a number security measures but schools are not fortresses. Intruders such as the armed adult that invaded the school in Connecticut today are difficult to stop in a public building. All exterior doors are locked when children are in the buildings and written emergency procedures have been practiced with all staff. We have also practiced lock down, emergency and search procedures with both the State Police and Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department. Join me in praying for those students and adults that were the victims of a deranged individual today. Our flags will be at half-staff for the entire upcoming school week. Sincerely, Parental Guidance on explaining tragic events to children:
The above links offer guidance on making sense of it all and conversations that may need to take place. Take them as suggestions only, in the end you know your child best so follow your instincts. Please contact our School Counselors if you have any additional questions. Many Cases of Common Cold Turning into Bronchitis This year, elementary school Nurse Ellett reports that she has seen many cases of a common cold. In many cases she has seen in the District, this common cold has been accompanied by a barking cough and fever (sometimes a very high fever). Nurse Ellet said that if you or your children are experiencing these symptoms, you should see your doctor because she has seen an increase in this common cold leading into bronchitis. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nurse Ellett at 753-4458 ext.3509. Hoosic Valley is moving in the Right Direction Data analysis is a body of methods that help to describe facts, detect patterns, develop explanations, and test hypotheses. It is used in all sciences. It is used in business, in education, and in policy. Over the past three years the State Education Department changed variables related to the collection of educational data. One thing that has remained stable is the fact that all school districts are reported equally to the NYSED. All districts experienced cut score fluctuations, increased test difficulty, and format changes on both ELA and Math 3-8 assessments. All of these changes impact determining the level of growth or decline when comparing our results internally. New York State has approximately 700 school districts. The following outlines realized growth for Hoosic Valley by identifying the New York State ranking of the following grades and tracking a group of students over time (Cohort Group). Click here for more Information Regarding Lock Out on November 1 We wanted to make you aware that this morning, both the PK-6 and 7-12 buildings initiated a lock-out for about 30 minutes. We received information from a student about a possible threat to our school, and we responded immediately with a lock-out as a precaution to assure that all students and staff remained safe. The police were contacted and after a brief investigation, they were able to assure to our satisfaction that the threat was not credible. We continue to strive to assure that we are familiar with and able to respond quickly to initiate safety activities when possible threats occur. In this same spirit, we will be conducting our annual evacuation drill on Friday November 9th. In brief, we will be practicing our evacuation from the campus to assure that we can speedily get the students off the campus if that is ever necessary. For you as parents, this will mean that your children may return home a little earlier than usual on that day. We will begin our drill at 2:00 pm that day. Please remember that if you need to pick up your child on that day for an appointment or early dismissal, you should be here to pick them up before 1:45 pm. Please feel free to call us if you have any questions or concerns about our safety procedures. New Staff Hired at Hoosic Valley The Hoosic Valley CSD has quite a few new staff members this year. Below are some of the new staff and their profiles. We welcome you all to the Hoosic Valley Family! Additional staff not highlighted here will be published soon!Click here Have questions about the possible Addition of an Academic Enrichment Period for all students? The Hoosic Valley Central School District is looking at the possibility of an Academic Enrichment Period from 2:25-3:05 for all students. The proposal is that the formal academic school day would no longer end at 2:25 every day but rather, it would end at 3:05 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays (Monday and Friday dismissal remains at 2:25). Presently, some students stay for extra help but many that need the help do not. The benefit of the Academic Enrichment Period is all students will have the opportunity to get extra help, consult with teachers and also do homework. Students will be able to work with teachers from music, art, technology and other courses of study during this time. This structure is designed to ensure all students benefit from this extra academic assistance. This period will keep students engaged that otherwise would not be and to also benefit students that already use this extra help time. Many details need to be worked out before a plan can be implemented. There are work groups comprised of teachers and administrators that have been created in each building (as each building has its own unique situations) to work out the details regarding the implementation. Another forum on this topic will be held in December. You can email the Superintendent with your comments at: dkelley@hoosicvalley.k12.ny.us. Measuring Student Growth You may be aware of the new teacher evaluation system that New York State is requiring of schools. Part of that evaluation involves looking at student growth. Our teachers will be giving pre-tests in most classes so that they can measure student learning by the end of the year. These tests serve several purposes. Click here for more New Staff Hired at Hoosic Valley The Hoosic Valley CSD has quite a few new staff members this year. Below are some of the new staff and their profiles. We welcome you all to the Hoosic Valley Family! Additional staff not highlighted here will be published soon! Click here for more New Teacher and Principal Evaluations This Year Starting this school year, all teachers and principals will be evaluated annually as part of New York State’s Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) requirements. The statewide evaluation system, which requires reviews based in part on measures of student achievement, was phased in last year for classroom teachers of English Language Arts and Math for grades 4-8 as well as their principals. This year, it will expand to include all teachers and principals. Click here for more.Come see HV at the Fair! One of the perks to having the ‘Great Schaghticoke Fair’ right down the road is that our students, clubs and teachers are heavily involved. Oh you didn’t know that? Well you best pick a date during fair week and check it out! For starters there is parking that various clubs and teams host and by paying to park you’re making a donation to their year! On the grounds the 4-H building showcases crafts, displays and animals that your kids, your neighbor’s kids and their school buddies have on exhibit. It’s in the 4-H building that the popular ‘School House’ is now located and its here that our K-6 teachers compete against other Rensselaer County teachers with projects their students have completed in the classroom…do not miss this exhibit and bring your camera to capture the expressions of your kids when they find their work and beam! The barns are packed with family farm animals primped and preened for their week at the fair while their stalls are decorated with a taste of home. The arena if you’ve never been to a show there, is a must see…our kids can be found showing their prized animals, competing in horse handling and then there is the ever crazy cow plop bingo…the host is a cow but your never know who’s it might be! However you need not be in 4-H to be an exhibitor at the fair…oh contraire! Open entries for kids can be found in both the Family Living Center where bakers, vegetable and flower green thumbs are displayed. In the Living Center look for HV kids competing against each other in the Amateur Chef for Youth competitions held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:00pm with a final ‘challenge’ on Monday where the winner of each day will come together to compete against the adult first place finishers for the week for Top Chef. This cooking competition is a hoot, come and heckle! If by now you’re tired, hot and need a break… the Living Center has benches right next to the ‘Make your own Scarecrow’ table. You sit and the kids create a scarecrow, ahhhhh peace and quiet for a moment! Just next door is the Arts and Craft Building which isn’t just for adult creations…loads of our kids enter photography, sewing, art and even projects they completed in school last year. Here creativity is spelled k-i-d-s! Area Churches have food booths where you will find HV kids taking orders for some of the best chow on the fairgrounds. And if fried dough is your desire…the very best and the wait line will prove it is from our own Booster Club booth near the park. Grab a fried dough and then sit a while enjoying the entertainment offered. In years past the Talent Search Show has hosted some of our very own talent…oh yes, HV has talent!
Hoosic Valley Students Attend Choices 301 Tuesday, May 4th and Friday, May 7th students from Hoosic Valley’s junior and senior classes traveled to Altamont to participate in a program called Choices 301. This program was developed by Ed Frank, a retired police officer who wanted to give back to the community by helping young adults realize the dangers of risky behavior, drinking and driving as well as distracting behavior such as using a cell phone and texting. As the students entered the building they saw caskets, very vivid and graphic photographs of actual accidents, sounds of accidents taking place and…shoes left behind by the hundreds and hundreds of victims. Mr. Frank’s compassion for the students and the feelings they were experiencing over recent tragedies in the Hoosic Valley community was evident. Speaking to the group were two mothers who lost their daughters over 21 years ago, they spoke of how vivid the pain still is as pictures of the girls were passed around. Later on students went outside to listen to a State Police officer as he demonstrated what occurs during a rollover accident. One student, who had recently lost both her uncle and her cousin in an accident, broke down and was comforted by her friends. A number of students were given the opportunity to drive a golf cart while wearing glasses that simulated the effects of being under the influence with a blood alcohol level of .07. A very sobering moment for all with the sound of hand cuffs being placed on a student for not being able to drive or walk a straight line. After lunch students met a former Hoosic Valley graduate, who admitted that although he graduated, he had no recollection of his freshman through senior high school years because of his addiction to cocaine which he told the group began at the age of 14. His story was real, the students met face to face with someone whose decision to abuse and drive could have cost any one of them or a member of their family or friends their life. Students came away from Choices 301 with a much different perspective than when they arrived. Most left a bit shell shocked and more attuned to the idea that they have choices in life and how important making the correct one is.
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May 14, 2013 - Hoosic Valley Elementary's Pleasant House Players are proud to present Disney's "The Little Mermaid, Jr." June 6 & 7 at 7 p.m. in the elementary Auditorium. Tickets will be sold from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the elementary building ticket booth as follows: May 15 - Everybody in the cast may start with a purchase of 4 tickets total of their choice day; May 21 - Cast members may buy as many tickets as they like; May 22, 28, 29 - Tickets sales are open to the community and more cast tickets. 
April 26, 3013 - It will soon be time for the spring book fair at Hoosic Valley Elementary School. Our students will be previewing books the first week in May. Students will be able to purchase books on May 8th during school hours or at either our Family Buying Nights, May 8th and May 9th. We are not setup for purchases before the 8th but parents can order online anytime after May 1st. 
The Bystander, for Grades 5-8 deals with school bullying. Although there are no pat answers, the message, that a bystander is hardly better than an instigator is clear. 
Last updated on May 17, 2013
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kyavaniski@hoosicvalley.k12.ny.us
