Gardner-Dickinson students are learning about ecology the week of Mar. 5 from guest educator George Steele, who worked in the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Endangered Species Unit.
Mr. Steele is working with all grades from teaching kindergartners about how leaves make food to discussing owl ecology with 7th graders.
The activities tie into Partners As Reading Partners (PARP) month which has an environmental awareness theme.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Reardon would like to share the following message with our community about school safety.
Dear Wynantskill UFSD families,
To say that the events that transpired this past week at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were tragic would be an understatement. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who are a part of this school community.
Please know that such events underscore why we as a district meet monthly to discuss our safety protocols, and why we engage in numerous drills throughout the year to ensure we are prepared for the unexpected.
As Superintendent it is my imperative to ensure the safety of your children each day when they arrive at 25 East Avenue. The safety of our school, from weather-related closings to working closely with the North Greenbush Police Department, has and always will be our number one priority.
Should you have any questions, please know you can reach me via email (treardon@wynantskillufsd.org), phone (518-283-4600 ext. 11), or simply stop in for a visit. Thank you for your continuous support.
Always,
Dr. Thomas Reardon
Superintendent of Schools
Gardner-Dickinson joined hundreds of schools across the country the week of Feb. 5 by participating in Start With Hello.
The initiative, created by Sandy Hook Promise, helps prevent social isolation by empowering young people to create a culture of inclusion simply by reaching out to others with a simple hello.
Wynantskill UFSD is proud to announce the Honor Rolls for the 2nd quarter. Congratulations to our students for your hard work!
Grade 7: Leonardo Clemenzi, Maryssa Crosier, Lauren Czubek, Christian Kim, Isabella Marte, Cooper Murray, Ryan Strang, Ryan Therrien and Michael Zakarka.
Grade 8: Jessica Barbour, Rielly Countois, Samantha Cupp, Nick DeGiorgio, Alayna Penman and Michael Wormuth.
Grade 7: Matthew Blaisdell, Daniel Butler, Theresa Crawford, Kassidy Duda, William Eccles, Kaya George, Joseph Parrottino, Tyler Quinn, Phillip Ryan IV and Anthony Sano.
Grade 8: Madison Andersen, Mackenzie Anslow, Avery Barnes, Hailey Barnes, Nicholas Carbone, Nelson Darling IV, Aidan Flannery, Isadora Geise, Shay Kerwin, Amelia Kulzer, Ryan LeFevre, Hannah McCleery, Carter Morse, Bryce Muldoon, Guiliana Mulinio, Brett Nardacci, Kwintin Nurse, Adrienne O’Malley, Wynn Richards, Jayden Richardson, Tiffany Riddle and Evan Vejvoda.
Sixth graders celebrated the upcoming Olympics by creating their own this past week.
Teacher Karin Carmody explained students studied ancient and modern Olympics and then were challenged to work in groups to make their own.
Students created presentations for class, where they shared the games they invented, their mascot, and medals that could be given out.
Finally, students got a chance to try out one of their games such as Beret Dizzy Discus.
Great job!
First graders got to be surgeons in January by performing “contraction-ectomies”, removing letters from words and placing apostrophes in the correct place.
“Students donned surgical masks and used ‘scalpels’ as they changed two words into contractions,” explained Teacher Bethany Wallace. “We are happy to report that all of the surgeries were a success!”
The NYS Comptroller’s Office informed Wynantskill UFSD on Jan. 23 that it received the best possible score on its annual Fiscal Stress Monitoring System report.
Each year, the Comptroller’s Office reviews each school district’s financial information to assess fiscal challenges such as operating deficits, fund balance, and cash flow.
“It is reassuring to have an outside agency review our financials and determine we have low fiscal stress for the second straight year,” said Superintendent Dr. Thomas Reardon. “Hopefully the state budget will include more than a $23,872 increase in Foundation Aid next year, as the Governor has proposed, to help keep us on solid financial footing.”
Wynantskill UFSD would like to add clarity to a recent Times Union article that stated the district expects a large increase in state aid.
The article fails to mention that the increase in the Governor’s budget is due to reimbursement for the Capital Project (approximately 72% of the project’s cost is paid for by the state).
Foundation Aid, the category of state aid that supports general education, increases by 1.4% or $23,827 in the Governor’s budget.
The district will share more details about state aid in future budget communications.
Please call the District Office at 518-283-4600 ext. 14 if you have questions. Thank you.
New York State is changing the school physical exam requirements for the 2018-19 school year.
Students entering K, 1, 3, 5, 7 and new transfers (regardless of grade) will be required to submit their most recent physical (no older than one year prior to the first day of school) to the Health Office in Sept. 2018.
If you have any questions, please contact School Nurse Tricia Gibbs at 518-283-4600 ext. 18.
