Please join us for an upcoming session of  "Common Grounds: Coffee Talk About Education."

"Common Grounds: Coffee Talk About Education" series returns

Do you have questions, comments, or concerns regarding the Guilderland Central School District and its proposed budget or programming? If so, the Board of Education wants to hear from you!

“Common Grounds: Coffee Talk About Education” is designed to give all district residents an opportunity to meet with Board members in a casual setting. The last coffee of the spring session will be held on:

• Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Guilderland YMCA.

Registration is not required. We hope to see you there!

* Please note that the coffee talk originally scheduled for May 3 at the Guilderland Public Library has been cancelled.

Voter information for residents of the Guilderland Central School District

On Tuesday, May 20, Guilderland Central School District residents will go to the polls to decide on a proposed $83,823,160 budget for the 2008-09 school year. This budget represents a 2.08 percent increase in spending over the current year’s budget. If approved by voters, it would result in an estimated 1.43 percent tax rate increase for residents in the Town of Guilderland. On that day voters will also elect three members to the Board of Education and decide on a bus and equipment proposition. For more detailed information, please visit our School Budget News home page or look for the special edition budget newsletter in your mailboxes early next week.

Polls will be open on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. To vote in this election, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of the Guilderland School District for at least 30 days prior to the vote. Residents must vote at the elementary school in their attendance zone.

Voter registration is required in the Guilderland School District. If you are not registered, you must do so prior to the vote. You may register to vote at any of the district elementary schools on May 6, May 12, or May 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or at the district office (6076 State Farm Road) on the above mentioned days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Linda Livingston, district clerk, at 456-6200, ext. 3125.

Absentee ballots will be issued, upon request, to residents of the school district who will be out of town or unable to vote in person due to illness or disability. For more information on absentee ballots, including a printable absentee ballot application, please click here.

District-wide ESL Extravaganza set for May 15

The Guilderland Central School District English as a  Second Language (ESL) Department is proud to recognize, celebrate, and showcase the hard work of all our ESL students in grades K-12 at our annual ESL Extravaganza to be held on Thursday, May 15, from 5:30-7:30 at Farnsworth Middle School Cafeteria. Families will be attending and sharing a dish from their native country. The ESL department would also like to invite everyone who helps our ESL students to be successful: district teachers, supervisors, board members, staff, and community members.

This is an event not to be missed! Department Supervisor Al Martino will kick off the celebration at 5:45 p.m. with a welcome address. Dinner and dessert will be from 5:50-6:45. The stage show and awards ceremony will be from 6:45-7:15. This exciting event will conclude with a multimedia slideshow that pays tribute to the ESL students. Please plan to stop by to experience and appreciate first-hand the multitude of cultures and diversity our district has to offer! For more information, or to sign-up to bring a dish, please contact Susan LaFond at lafonds@guilderlandschools.org.

High Shcool Fall Sports sign-ups are underway

Are you interested in playing a fall sport at Guilderland High School?*  If so, now is the time to sign-up! Fall sports packets may be picked up at the high school nurse's office, or downloaded online at the Fall Sports Sign-up home page. Completed packets must be returned to the nurse's office no later than Friday, June 13, 2008.

* Fall sports include: cross country, field hockey, football, girl's tennis, girls' swimming/diving, golf, soccer, volleyball, and cheerleading.

Notice to all district residents: May 5, 2008

The Guilderland Police Department has asked the school district to help distribute the following notice to all residents:

The Guilderland Police Department is investigating a series of thefts from unlocked parked cars in the Fort Hunter area of the Town of Guilderland. The thefts have consisted mainly of money and change, however, last Friday (05/02/08) one of the vehicles contained a .45 caliber, loaded semi-automatic handgun which was also stolen. The gun is described as a dark blue metal—Star Firearms model PD. For more information, please click here. (PDF) The Guilderland Police Department is asking that the weapon be returned immediately, no questions asked. Parents, students, or any other district residents with information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Guilderland Police Department as soon as possible at (518) 356-1501.

Parents are encouraged to speak with their children about the importance of never touching a found gun; children should notify an adult and the police immediately.

New elementary principals named
Allan Lockwood to lead Guilderland Elementary School;
Christopher Sanita to lead Pine Bush Elementary School

At its meeting on April 29, 2008, the Guilderland Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of two new elementary principals: Allan Lockwood, to the position of Guilderland Elementary School Principal and Christopher Sanita, to the position of Pine Bush Elementary School principal. Lockwood and Sanita will be succeeding current principals Dianne Walshhampton and Martha Beck, respectively, upon their retirement in June.

Since 1999, Lockwood has been a fifth grade teacher at Altamont Elementary School. Prior to that, he was employed as a community based skills teacher with the Neil Hellman School in Albany and also served as a unit supervisor at Parsons Child and Family Center.

He is a graduate of SUNY Potsdam, where he received his bachelor’s degree in psychology, and of The College of Saint Rose, where he completed both his master’s degree in elementary education and his certificate of advanced study in education leadership and administration.

Sanita has been with the Guilderland Central School District since 1994. He began his career as a teaching assistant at Farnsworth Middle School before receiving his tenure as both a special education and math teacher. Since 2003, Sanita has been employed as a House Principal at FMS.

He is a graduate of SUNY Oswego, where he received his bachelor’s degree in psychology, and of SUNY Albany, where he completed a master’s degree in educational psychology and statistics. He went on to complete a second master’s degree, in special education, from The College of Saint Rose and received his administrative certification from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Both Lockwood and Sanita will officially begin their new administrative duties in July, 2008.

Upcoming Board of Education Meeting:
May 13, 2008 - Budget Hearing

The Guilderland Board of Education will be holding a meeting on May 13, 2008 in the Guilderland High School LGI room at 7:30 p.m. All community members are invited to attend this meeting, or watch it live on Time Warner Cable Channel 16 in the Town of Guilderland. Agendas for upcoming meetings are typically posted the Monday before the meeting date. View 2007-08 meeting agendas here.

Please note: May 23, 2008 to be a school recess day

Assuming that the district does not experience any emergency closings within the next three weeks, all Guilderland Schools will be closed on Friday, May 23, 2008 (contingent recess day) due to unused snow/emergency days allocated for the 2007-08 school year. In addition, all district administrative offices will also be closed on that day. As noted in the district calendar, all buildings will also be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

Farnsworth Middle School named a finalist for Intel Schools of Distinction Awards
FMS honored for innovative programs supporting student achievement in science

Farnsworth Middle School was recently named one of nine national finalists for the Intel® Schools of Distinction Awards in the Science Excellence category. The annual program honors schools for implementing innovative and replicable math and science programs that produce positive educational results. Farnsworth Middle School was recognized specifically for innovative use of technologies and extensive community service opportunities linked to its science programs. The grant was written by Demian Singleton, supervisor of math and science.

As a finalist, Farnsworth Middle School will receive a $2,500 grant from the Intel Foundation. The money will be used for acquisition of new and updated science technologies (e.g., probeware and microscopy units).

FMS has been recognized for its innovative and progressive science education program. The school has remained committed to community service while maintaining strong science assessment results and a rich inquiry-based curriculum. This grant will allow for a continuation of these efforts. The school will be notified in June if has been selected from the pool of nine schools as a national winner of the Intel prize worth an additional $7,500 of grant funding and $150,000 of materials and supplies from the Intel Corporation.

Congratulations to Demian Singleton and to all of the science staff for their leadership in science education!

Notice to parents: April 24, 2008

As you may have read in today’s newspaper, the Guilderland Police Department is currently investigating a suspicious incident that occurred around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 in the area of Ardsley Road (across from the Westmere Fire Department). A 16-year-old female was followed home by an unknown white male, about 35-45 years of age, with short hair, a goatee and weighing about 200-225. He was driving a newer model maroon colored SUV. After circling the block once, the man tried to coerce the young woman to get into his vehicle; the female then ran into an area business and the suspect fled the area.

Although the incident did not take place on or near school grounds, we think it is important to inform all parents of the suspicious activity. We would also like to remind parents that this may be a good opportunity to talk with your children about the importance of not talking to strangers or approaching unknown vehicles, as well as what your child should do if approached by a stranger.

A letter containing additional information about this incident will be sent home with all students this afternoon. Download a copy of the letter here. (PDF) The Guilderland Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact them immediately at (518) 356-1501.

Farnsworth Middle School students honored by the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers

Congratulations to Farnsworth Middle School eighth grader Alexander Benninger on being named this year’s Capital Region recipient of the Love of Language Award sponsored by the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers (NYSAFLT). Alexander will receive a certificate of achievement as well as a $50.00 savings bond. Each year, NYSAFLT recognizes one Grade 8 student per region in New York State for exhibiting outstanding abilities in a language other than English. Kudos as well to FMS grade 8 student Monica Chappidi, who was a Capital Region nominee for this honor and will receive a certificate of merit for her superb achievement in a language other then English.

District announces two new scholarships

The Guilderland Central School District is pleased to announce the creation of two new scholarship funds, available to students at Guilderland High School:

Micki Nevett

Micki Nevett Literature Scholarship. As many of you may know by now, Guilderland lost a dear friend and colleague, Westmere Elementary School Library Media Specialist Micki Nevett, just before the winter recess. Micki shared her love of books with all of those around her and touched the lives of countless students, parents, and staff members throughout her 15 years with the district. To honor her memory, the district recently established the Micki Nevett Literature Scholarship. This award will be given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated a love of literature, plans to attend an institution of higher learning, and is an alumnus of Westmere Elementary School.

Gregory J. Aidala Scholarship. In November 2007, former Superintendent of Schools Gregory J. Aidala retired after more than seven years of service to the district. To honor his ongoing commitment to education, the Gregory J. Aidala Scholarship was created to recognize two seniors (one girl, one boy) who have met the following criteria: maintained an 85 average in high school (at the end of junior year); participated in service learning activities, either in the Guilderland community and/or at Guilderland High School; and who anticipate attending a two or four year college to pursue a major in education (pre-school through grade 12).

For more information on scholarship opportunities within the district, or to contribute to either of these funds, please visit the GCSD Scholarship home page.

Above, New York State Commissioner of Education Richard P. Mills (center) visits with students at Westmere Elementary School.

NYS Commissioner of Education visits GCSD

On Friday, January 11, 2008, New York State Commissioner of Education Richard P. Mills, along with a team of distinguished educators, visited the Guilderland Central School District as part of a Department reorganization study.

Throughout the afternoon, Commissioner Mills and his team toured Guilderland High School and Westmere Elementary School—meeting with students and talking with staff. At the conclusion of his visit, Commissioner Mills applauded the district as “a beacon of excellence”.

Operation Recognition underway at Guilderland

Guilderland Central School District is proud to be a partner in Operation Recognition, a New York State program which grants a high school diploma to any veteran who left school prior to graduation to serve in the military during World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam War. Individuals need not have attended GCSD at the time of service to be eligible for this program. Diplomas may also be awarded to next of kin, if eligibility is established.

Community members interested in participating in Operation Recognition are encouraged to contact Guilderland Superintendent of Schools John McGuire at 456-6200, ext. 3102, or visit our Operation Recognition home page for additional details and eligibility requirements.