Category Archives: Middle School

Supporting Anthony’s Kindness Closet: Autism Awareness Month

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Dear Gardner Dickinson Family,

We have a student at Gardner Dickinson who unfortunately lost a beloved family member.

Anthony Blaauboer was on the Autism spectrum.

Anthony left a legacy of kindness. He inspired people to choose to be kind.

In his honor, we would like to provide an opportunity to donate to a cause in his name.

 

Anthony’s Kindness Closet is an organization aimed at continuing his legacy. It assists with Waterford-Halfmoon’s school backpack program and is open to students who need a quick snack or meal, personal hygiene products, or school supplies.

This organization also helps families within the Capital District who request assistance with kindness packages. These packages contain canned goods, pasta, sauces, shelf-stable meats, dried fruit, etc.

 

Some suggestions for donations include:

Any kind of dry, pre-packaged snacks, like:

Cup O’Noodles

Velveeta Shells and Cheese cups

Velveeta Cheesy Bowls

Hormel microwavable cups

Yakisoba microwaveable noodles

Granola bars

Cereal bars

Fiber One brownies

Fruit snacks

Nutty Buddy

Little Debbie oatmeal pies

Rice Krispie treats

Personal hygiene products:

Deodorant (men and women)

Shampoo

Conditioner

Body wash

Small tubes of toothpaste

 

We will be collecting throughout the month of April!

Boxes will be located near the Main Office.

Thank you in advance for your support of this project!

 

 

Family Night Out at Grafton Lakes State Park on April 29th! Please RSVP by 4/22

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Wynantskill PTA is excited to present Family Night Out at Grafton Lakes State Park!

Join fellow students, friends, and families as you enjoy an educational program with a special hike led by an
Environmental Educator, then finish up your evening at a toasty campfire complete with delicious s’mores!

Come on out and explore what nature has to offer at our “close-to-home” New York State Park (which we will have to ourselves for an evening!)

Friday, April 29th (Rain date-Friday May 13th)

Please Arrive by 6:15pm (meet at Welcome Center)

Hikes begin promptly at 6:30-7:30pm

Campfire w/ s’mores 7:30-8:30pm

Please contact jenniebrown4pta@yahoo.com to RSVP or with any questions!
Please RSVP no later than 4/22.

 

254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton, NY, 12082

 

 

 

Calling All Scientists! 14 Spots Left for Science Club

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The Wynantskill PTA is proud to bring back Science Club!

Open to Grades 2-6, Science Club will meet on Thursday afternoons from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Gardner Dickinson starting on April 28th. Educators from the Children’s Museum at Saratoga will host the Science Club.

Space is limited to 60 students, and there are 14 spots left!

The cost of Science Club is $30 per student. Scholarships are available; please contact Ms. Cornell if interested.

To register, please return the registration form with a check made payable to Wynantskill PTA for $30 by April 18th.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa at lisa.sternbergwilliams@gmail.com.

Science Club Registration Form

Medical Supply Drive for Ukraine Organized by Builder’s Club

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Dear Gardner Dickinson families,

The Gardner Dickinson Builder’s Club is organizing a medical supply drive to assist the Ukrainians in their fight to save their country.  We have reached out to one of our very own Ukrainian families, here at GD, to see what their local Ukrainian organization is collecting so we can assist in their efforts.

Medical supplies are in high demand across Ukraine due to the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis. We are calling on Gardner Dickinson families to assist with this urgent need for supplies.  Over the course of the next few weeks we are asking families to donate the following items:

 

First Aid Kits

Betadine

Medical Safety Pins

Gloves non-sterile (without powder)

Anti burn hydrogel

Burn Bandages

Sterile Bandages

Occlusive Tape

Elastic Bandages

Soft Gauze

 

Thank you so much for your much needed support and donations.  Please send in donations to your child’s classroom and Builder’s Club will collect them daily. We will collect donations until April 15th. Our thoughts and well wishes go out to these families affected during this time.  

 

Sincerely,        

Mrs. Mitchell and the Builder’s Club

NYS ELA assessments for Grades 3-8 on March 29th & 30th

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March 18th, 2022

Gardner-Dickinson Families,

Students in Grades 3-8 will be taking NYS ELA assessments on Tuesday, March 29th and Wednesday March 30th, with make ups on Thursday, March 31st.

Tips for testing:
Get a full night’s rest before testing
Eat a healthy breakfast the morning of
Have a relaxing night before testing

Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Suzann Cornell
Gardner-Dickinson Principal
scornell@wynantskillufsd.org
518-283-4600 x 0

Grades 7 and 8: After School Tutoring Now Available!

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March 18, 2022

Dear Parents,

We are excited to announce that we are able to offer an opportunity for after school tutoring for students in grade 7 and 8. These sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:30. We will have a bus and transportation home will be provided, if needed.

Please contact your child’s teacher and/or Mrs. Murphy amurphy@wynantskillufsd.org if you are interested in having your child participate. If your child has been recommended for tutoring by one of the middle school teachers, you will receive a separate letter from us.

Thank you,

Suzann Cornell
Principal of Gardner Dickinson

GD Even Stronger!

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Gardner-Dickinson Family

 

Today marks the anniversary of our school’s shut down due to the COVID19 pandemic. On March 16th 2020, the decision was made to close our school and pivot to remote learning, starting on the 17th. At that time, we thought we would be out for a week or possibly two, but never imagined that we would still be battling this pandemic two years later.

And what a battle it has been on each and every one of us. A battle that has changed our lives both personally, and professionally. It has changed the way we operate as a district, our policies, procedures, instructional methodologies, and overall, the way we educate our students. The pandemic has also affected our students in numerous ways as well; physically, mentally, socially, behaviorally and academically. These are all challenges that we continue to battle each day. So much hardship and so much pain for so very long. We acknowledge the immense hardships COVID has brought us so that we can truly celebrate our accomplishments.

We must celebrate today the fact that we have been two years strong despite this pandemic which has now spanned over the 3rd school year. Unlike most other school districts, we at GD, celebrate 17 months of in-school learning 5 days per week. What an enormous undertaking!

We have become complacent and don’t see this as the massive undertaking it has certainly been, with this year even harder than last. Last year we got by with only 15 COVID cases while this year we are at 105 (50 in the 2 weeks following the holiday break). All of this without losing even a day of in-person learning! This is because of our school community’s strength, determination and continuous dedication to our children at Gardner-Dickinson. You are remarkable, thank you!

GD’s faculty and staff were given a green cupcake today for the celebration of St. Patrick’s day of course, as well as the acknowledgement that exactly one year ago we celebrated in-person learning with the same green cupcake. The only difference is that the flag on the cupcake last year read, “GD Strong” and has since been updated to reflect their incredible perseverance in 2022,

“GD Even Stronger!”

Sending you cupcake thoughts 🙂

 

 

Dr. Mary Yodis

Superintendent

Wynantskill UFSD

 

Book Fair: March 16-18

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