Reminder: Dance has been cancelled

Please note that the middle school's 7th and 8th grade dance, scheduled for Friday, May 9, has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.

"Breakfast with the Principal" events

Approximately once each quarter during the school year, FMS Principal Mary Summermatter will host a "Breakfast with the Principal" event to meet with parents and have conversations about what is happening in and around Farnsworth Middle School and to answer any general questions parents might have regarding the school and its programming. Hiawatha , Mohawk, and Seneca House events were held in October, December, and April, respectively. The Tawasentha House breakfast is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 2008 from 9 to 10 a.m. Please call the FMS main office at 456-6010, ext. 3010, to reserve a spot for the upcoming event. We look forward to seeing you there!

8th Grade Students to visit GHS on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

On Wednesday, May 14, 2008, our eighth grade students are invited to attend an introductory program presented by high school administrators, counselors, students and teachers. Students will be dismissed from the middle school at 1:15 p.m. and will be transported by school bus to Guilderland High School. They will listen to an assembly presentation and will then break into groups to tour the building and attend a brief introductory high school lesson.

Students will be dismissed from the high school to ride 3:30 buses home as was done for the high school musical performance in March. Students who have a commitment, such as a medical appointment, that requires they be picked up and not ride the bus home, need to bring a note from home stating the necessary information. This note must be brought to the student’s house office no later than Tuesday, May 13, 2008. These students will need to be picked up in front of the center complex of the high school building. All other students will ride the 3:30 p.m. buses from the high school. Students will be notified in advance which bus they will take home. If you have any questions regarding this activity, please contact your child’s house office.

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.

Important upcoming testing dates

• May 6: Administration of NYS Science Written test

• May 19 - June 9: Administration of 8th grade Foreign Language Speaking Proficiency

• June 3 & 4: Administration of NYS 8th grade Social Studies tests

• June 23: Administration of 8th grade Foreign Language Written Proficiency

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.

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.

FMS students compete at State History Day Competition

On Friday, May 2, several Farnsworth Middle School students, as well as a high school student, presented in Cooperstown at the New York State History Day competition. Congratulations to Zubin Mukerjee, who won second place for his paper on J. Robert Oppenheimer, as well as his brother Zagreb Mukerjee (11th grader) who won second place for his paper on the conflict and compromises surrounding the division of Pakistan. Both of them will be moving on to the national level of the competition in College Park, Maryland, from June 15-19.

Kudos also to the other FMS students who competed at the State level. Samina Hydery presented an individual documentary on Wounded Knee 1973, Michelle Kang and Michelle Saucedo-Arenas presented a group documentary on Cesar Chavez, and Lian Henderson presented a Web site on the wolves of Yellowstone Park.

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!

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.

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. Upcoming coffees will be held on:

• Wednesday, April 23 at the Guilderland Public Library

• Wednesday, April 30 at the Guilderland YMCA

• Saturday, May 10 at the Guilderland YMCA

All sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 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.

Student Art Show at FMS

The Farnsworth Middle School art department will celebrate the works and efforts of their students by showcasing their curriculum in our annual student art exhibit, with an opening reception set for May 13 from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. This year's exhibit features works by more than two hundred students enrolled in grades six through eight, accelerated studio art, and the seventh and eighth grade enrichment classes. The exhibit consists of two and three dimensional works, with a sampling of media arts pieces prominently displayed in the FMS Art Gallery. The Gallery, located on the first floor of the round building outside of the cafetorium, extends to the cases outside of the art rooms and in the main entrance lobby. The exhibit will be on display through May 29, 2008. We invite you to visit this exciting display and to view the amazing works produced by our students!

Wellness Day/Career Day 2008

On Thursday, March 27, 2008, Farnsworth Middle School held its twelfth annual Wellness Day from 9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. for all students in grades 6 and 7. The event was designed to be a day of learning and sharing about issues that help people grow in positive ways.

Wellness Day kicked off with an exciting multi-media presentation entitled “Voices,” which focused on how every person has a voice and how they can use that voice to make a difference in their community. Students then had the opportunity to participate in several health and wellness workshops set-up throughout the building. More than 40 topics were covered, including everything from weight training, yoga, and self defense to scrap booking, sewing, Internet safety and rock climbing.

In addition, eighth graders spent March 27 exploring possible career paths as part of the 18th annual FMS Career Day seminar. Guest speakers from the community shared “a day in the life of...” scenarios and offered students the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the profession. The event was held in conjunction with Wellness Day, from 9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

Local chefs, chemists, engineers, medical personnel and broadcasters—among many others—were on hand to work with students throughout the morning. Many also offered hands-on demonstrations and activities for students as part of their presentations.

Thank you to everyone that contributed to Wellness Day/Career Day...your efforts helped to make the event a great success!

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.