Guilderland Students Recognized in Media Arts Festival and Competition

Congratulations to the Guilderland High School student winners in the Annual Media Arts Festival and Competition held last month. Sheila Elario, district art supervisor, reports that Guilderland submitted 20 hard copy images, 5 videos and three electronic music entries.

• Shelby Gleason, Gr. 10 for  “Self Portrait” Photoshop color copy (Photoshop Course)
  1st Place Digitally Enhanced Photography

• Angel Silva, Megan Davis, and Hillary Feinman, Gr. 12 for “Megan and Hilary” Photography (Digital Photography Course)
  2nd Place Digitally Enhanced Photography

• Valera Zakharenko, Ethan Young, and Denny Zunon, Gr. 12  for “My First Day” (Studio in Film Course)
  Best Narrative Action

• Valera Zakharenko, Ethan Young, Denny Zunon, Gr. 12 “My First Day” (Studio in Film Course)
  Best Editing

• Ivan Betancourt, Gr. 10 for “Stix” (Studio in Film Course)
  Best Sound

• Emily Butler, Gr. 12 “Tear It Down” (Studio in Film Course)
  Best Music Video

The art work came from the following courses: Advertising and Design, Studio in Film, Cartooning, Music Technology, Animation, Photography I and II, Photoshop, Digital Photography. All works are on display at Niskayuna High School in their gallery.

Guilderland Mentor Program Featured in New York Teacher

The Guilderland mentor program, GEMS (Guilderland Educators Mentoring for Success) is featured in the March 27, 2008 issue of NYSUT’s New York Teacher publication.

ESL Extravaganza

Board of Education members are invited to come to the annual ESL Extravaganza on Thursday, May 15th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Farnsworth Middle School cafeteria. This event showcases the fine work of ESL students. Families attend and share a dish from their native country. Dinner is 5:50-6:45 p.m. and is followed by a stage show and awards ceremony.

FMS Grant for Organic Garden

Farnsworth Middle School science teacher, Dr. Alan Fiero, reports that Farnsworth Middle School received a $500 grant from Children for Children to fund our Global Youth Service Day. These funds will support our Organic Garden program. Funds will be used for gloves, shovels, and scales to create a set of math lessons based on hands on lab work. Congratulations to Al.

Tawasenthan Honored

Congratulations to Julie Higgins, Beth Whitney and Sandra Susan, advisors of the Guilderland High School Yearbook Club, who have been honored with Honorable Mention in the Taylor Publishing 2008 Yearbook for the 2007 edition of the Tawasenthan.

The GHS Yearbook Club staff competes with schools where production of the yearbook is a year-long class and the students receive credit for their work. Guilderland students give up their free time – during advisory, their lunches, after school and on weekends to work on making the Tawasenthan a yearbook one of which we can all be proud. Teachers are delighted that their work has been recognized at this level. The Editor-in-Chief, Lizzie Burger, has done a tremendous job and advisors are pleased that this award was given for a product under her direction.

Guilderland High School Students Win Haiku Contest

Congratulations to Emma Farison and Brittney Ginsburg, grade 10, whose haiku were recognized by the Eastern New York Section of the American Chemical Society as part of the “Chemists Celebrate Earth Day”. Emma was the top choice. Her work will go on to the National Competition. Brittney was in second place.

Guilderland Student Cooks up Success at Cuisine Magic to Help Eddy Visiting Nurse Association

Congratulations to Guilderland High School senior and Culinary Arts Tech Prep student, Maggie O’Mara, who recently earned a bronze medal at the American Culinary Federation’s Cuisine Magic competition, held on March 9th at the Crowne Plaza in Albany. At the event, held as a benefit for the Eddy Visiting Nurse Association, Maggie and Culinary Arts & Hospitality technology teacher Chef Paul Rother cooked four plates of food from scratch in 45 minutes under the watch of three kitchen judges. Their entry featured pistachio crusted red snapper, turmeric/fennel sauce, and a potato/apple/celery puree and sautéed spinach with baby leeks. Maggie’s was the only student who competed in the event. Other restaurants came with seasoned pros.

Freshman Karem Ullah selected as Winner of the 2008 Wounded Warrior Essay Contest

Karem Ullah, a ninth grade student at Guilderland High School, has been chosen winner of the 2008 Wounded Warrior Essay Contest. The contest, sponsored by STRIDE, was open all students in grades 5-12 from school districts throughout the Capital District. STRIDE, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to providing year-round recreational and leisure programs to individuals with special needs in a safe, fun, and educational environment.

The Wounded Warrior Snowsports Event, hosted by STRIDE, was held in Albany from February 29 through March 2, 2008. Invited to the event are Soldiers and Marines who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious permanent injuries.

Pine Bush Principal To Be Honored

Congratulations to Martha Beck, Pine Bush Elementary Principal, who will be honored by the Capital District Association of Women in Administration with their Lifetime Achievement Award. Martha will receive this honor on April 24th at their Annual Awards Dinner at the Italian-American Community Center.