Syracuse City School District News from the Schools December 2013

Syracuse City School District
News from the Schools
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Patricia Body
President
Maxwell Ruckdeschel
Vice President
Bill Bullen
Calvin L. Corriders
Michelle Mignano
Richard T. Strong
Stephen Swift
Sharon L. Contreras
Superintendent of Schools
Jaime Alicea
Chief Operations Officer
Kim S. Bradley
Chief of Staff
Jeremy Grant-Skinner, Esq.
Exec. Dir. for Talent Management
Brandan Keaveny, Ed.D.
Chief Accountability Officer
Laura Kelley
Chief Academic Officer
Suzanne Slack
Chief Financial Officer
MISSION
To build, support and sustain
school communities that
provide all students with a
high-quality education that
prepares them to graduate as
responsible, active citizens
ready for success in college
and careers and prepared to
compete in a global economy.
December 2013
Dear Parents and Families,
It is hard to believe that the snow is already
falling and that we are a quarter of the way
through this school year. Students and staff
are continuing to work extremely hard in the
classroom and showcase their talents in our
many extra-curricular activities.
This month the Code of Conduct Task Force
begins their work of reviewing and rewriting the
current Code of Conduct. The Task Force will
play a vital role in developing a revised Code
of Conduct that ensures fair, appropriate and
equitable disciplinary practices. The task force
is made up of parents, teachers, administrators,
students and community members.
We are also happy to announce that five more
schools will be working this school year to
develop and plan for the implementation of
high-quality extended learning time in their
schools. With the addition of these five schools,
we will have twelve school buildings offering
extended day next year. Research has shown
that with high-quality extended learning time,
student achievement increases. It is time for
To become the most
improved urban school
district in America.
ULTIMATE GOAL
Stay Connected
Stay Involved
Follow Us
Like Us
Have a Happy and Joyous Holiday Season!
Sharon L. Contreras
Superintendent of Schools
More than 1,200 people and 93 teams from 37 schools in
Onondaga, Madison and Oswego counties crowded into the
MOST for the annual competition. Students learned about
teamwork, time management skills, and how to design and
build bridges out of balsa wood that can hold many times
their weight. The following SCSD teams won awards:
An educational community
that graduates every student
as a responsible, active
citizen prepared for success
in college, careers and the
global economy.
Physical Address:
725 Harrison Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
Please remember to stay involved in your child’s
education by attending meetings at school and communicating regularly with your child’s teacher. You
can also get updates on district news and events by
following us on the web at www.syracusecityschools.
com, on facebook and on twitter.
2013 Build ’em & Bust ’em
Bridge Competition
VISION
Mailing Address:
1025 Erie Boulevard West
Syracuse, NY 13204
us to bring forward the change that is needed for our
children to be successful.
èèIn Category 3 (students in grades 9-12), the winners of first place were “The
Know-It-Alls” with team members Nick Ashley and Aadrien Thayaparan,
both juniors at the Institute of Technology at Central (ITC).
èè“The Lattice Ladies,” made up of Kiarra White, Ka’Shay Williams and
Genesis Evans (6th graders from McCarthy School) and “Puff the Magic
Dragon Slayers,” made up of Curran Shannon, Matt Houck and Addison
Simone (7th graders from Edward Smith Elementary School) won awards for
best team name.
News from the Schools
– 1 –
December 2013
Expanded Learning
Time for Students
Annual Hat and Glove Giveaway
The Syracuse City School District has partnered with the
National Center on Time and Learning to develop highquality expanded learning time for children in five of our
schools. The benefits of providing additional learning time
are numerous and we are extremely excited to be engaging
in this collaboration.
Students attending Dr. Weeks, Dr. King, Franklin, Lincoln
and H.W. Smith will all have extending learning time in
their buildings next year. These five schools have been
identified by the NYS Education Department as Priority
Schools for the 2014-2015 school year. This identification
brings with it changes in the operation of the school
including, but not limited to, extending the school day.
Research has shown that with extending learning time
student achievement increases. The additional hours will
allow the schools to expand opportunities for learning,
enrichment and collaboration among staff for all students.
It will foster greater student achievement, engagement and
teacher effectiveness.
The National Center on Time and Learning will serve as our
technical partner as we begin the planning process for these
changes in the school day. The planning process will take
place during this school year with school planning teams
meeting to develop an implementation plan that best meets
the needs of each individual school. We will be presenting
on the progress at your Parent Teacher Organization
meetings and will be able to answer questions as well.
Keeping with a tradition that began 17 years ago,
the Wladis Law Firm presented over 11,300 hats and
gloves to all elementary schools. Generous donations
by several individuals and companies throughout
the community made the annual giveaway possible.
The drive was started by George Wladis in 1997.
IMPORTANT
UPCOMING DATES
December 23 - HOLIDAY RECESS
January 3
(NO SCHOOL)
January 6
School Reopens
January 8
BOE Meeting, 5:30 pm
January 11
SCSD VEX Robotics Challenge
at the MOST
January 15
Special Education Parent Advisory
and Sharing Meeting, 6 to 8 pm,
Bellevue Elementary
January 20
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
Observance (NO SCHOOL)
January 22
BOE Education Work Session,
4:30 pm
January 25 SAT and Subject Tests
January 27-30 Regents Exams
News from the Schools
– 2 –
January 27 BOE Operations Work Session,
4:30 pm
January 28
Superintendent’s Parent Council
Meeting, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, Board Room
January 31
Pre-K and Elementary Report Card
Distribution
December 2013
Congratulations
} to the Dr. King Choir for performing at the November meeting of the Board
of Education. Accompanied by Robert Brown, music teacher, and principal
Dr. Sheadric Barbra, the students were very well received by the audience
who appreciated the entertainment.
} to our Board of Education members
who spend thousands of hours each
year to ensure every SCSD student
receives a quality education. We
thank them for the time, talent and
energy they so selflessly give to our
students. To celebrate School Board
Recognition Week
(October 28 to
November 1),
the Dr. King
Elementary School
Choir performed at
the November 13
Board meeting.
} to James Nieves, foreign language teacher
at Fowler High
School, for
receiving the
Nosotros Radio –
Your Latino Voice –
Teacher of the
Year award for all
he does for his
students both in
and outside of
class, including
taking a group of
Latino students to
Washington, DC
for a leadership event.
Diana Perez, board member
of Nosotros Radio, Inc.,
congratulates James Nieves
} to Sharon L.
Contreras,
Superintendent,
who was honored
to receive the
Nosotros Radio –
Your Latino
Voice – Leader of
the Year award
in recognition
of her tireless
commitment on
behalf of the Latino community.
Thanks to Wilauer Mateo, a senior in the Media
Communications program at ITC, for the above photographs.
} to Kevin Mixon, music
teacher for Westside
Academy at Blodgett, on
being chosen to receive
an ASCAP Plus Award.
The awards made by
ASCAP (American Society
of Composers, Authors
and Publishers) reflect
continuing commitment to assist and encourage ASCAP composers. Awards
are granted by an independent panel and are based upon the unique prestige
value of each writer’s catalog of original compositions as well as recent
performances in areas not surveyed by the Society. In making these grants,
ASCAP joins with the SCSD in supporting the growth and development of
our nation’s musical future.
News from the Schools
– 3 –
}to the Institute of Technology (ITC) chess
team who took first place overall in the K-12
division of the Syracuse Scholastic Chess
Championships. We applaud advisor Bobby
Kunnath and the fine mental athletes that
make up the team: Charles Hunter, Sam
McKissick, Tran Ngo, Phuong Nguyen and
Aadrien Thayaparan (4th place individual).
December 2013
Code of Conduct
Task Force Announced
In the Syracuse City School District we will be reviewing and
revising the current Code of Conduct throughout the 2013-2014
school year. We have convened a diverse group of 50 members
including parents, teachers, students, administrators,
union leaders and community members to participate
on the Code of Conduct Task Force.
The charge for the Task Force will be as planned:
develop a Code of Conduct that will be implemented in
the 2014-2015 school year. The Task Force will ensure
that the new Code clearly and concisely reinforces the
roles and responsibilities of students, staff and parents;
sets forth expectations for student behavior; ensures fair,
appropriate and equitable student discipline practices; and
complies with all applicable laws and regulations. The scope of
work will include, but is not limited to, the following activities:
▶▶ Review of disciplinary data
▶▶ Review of discipline processes and procedures
▶▶ Review and assessment of SCSD’s resources and supports for
students and teachers
▶▶ Develop familiarity with applicable state and federal laws
and regulations
▶▶ Research best practices for Codes of Conduct
▶▶ Create opportunities for community input and feedback
to gauge perceptions and experiences and to determine
community beliefs and values regarding discipline practices
We will be convening the Code of Conduct Task Force at the beginning
of December and anticipate the timeline to run through June 2014 to
ensure that the process is as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. While the work of the Task Force is
taking place we need to have a Code
in place that is in compliance with
the Dignity for All Students Act
(DASA) for the remainder of this
school year. Since the current Code
is not in compliance, our attorneys
have written an interim Code that
is to be implemented through the
end of this school year. The interim
Code is compliant with DASA
requirements and also sets forth
clearer guidelines for progressive
discipline. The Board of Education
held a public hearing to gather
input from all district stakeholders.
Sign Up Now for Free SAT Prep
There’s still time to take advantage of free SAT prep classes this year. If you want or need
to take the SAT this spring, sign up now for free SAT Saturdays and get prepared for the
exam. In addition to receiving help from trained tutors, students who attend the classes
get free breakfast and lunch and a free SAT study guide. You also have a chance to take a
proctored practice exam and learn some great test-taking strategies.
Students who enroll in the course must still sign up for the SAT exam on their own.
The classes are being offered from February 8 to March 1 for the March 8 exam and from
April 5 to April 26 for the May 3 exam. Students need to register by February 7 for the
February-March classes and by April 4 for the April sessions.
All classes are from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays at Bowne Hall on the Syracuse
University campus. To register for classes, go to www.sayyessyracuse.org and click on
the SAT Prep registration link on the right, or call 315-443-4558.
News from the Schools
– 4 –
December 2013
SCSD Secondary
English Language Arts Booklist
The SCSD launched its curriculum writing process in the spring of 2011. Since
then, curriculum units aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards have
been published to Curriculum Central and implemented throughout the district.
The curriculum development process was driven by the need for a quality core
curriculum with an emphasis on academic rigor and college and career readiness.
To support the implementation of the ELA curriculum, a book selection committee was convened to review and evaluate
texts for inclusion on the secondary booklist. The Read With Us Syracuse initiative yielded considerable feedback from
teachers, students, community members, parents and staff on hundreds of novels and informational texts. This feedback
aided the committee in its selection of core texts for each grade level. The selections represent multiple interests and genres
and include both traditional and contemporary works. We extend sincere appreciation to all who contributed to this process.
Grade 6 Titles
•The Watsons go to Birmingham
(Curtis)
•Heroes of the Environment (Rohmer)
•Lightning Thief (Riordan)
•Dragonwings (Yep)
•Miracle’s Boys (Woodson)
Grade 7 Titles
•Baseball in April (Soto)
•A Long Walk to Water (Park)
•United States Bill of Rights, Preamble
to the Constitution and Emancipation
Proclamation
•Code Talker (Bruchac)
•Chains (Anderson)
•Mississippi Trial: 1955 (Crowe)
•Red Scarf Girl (Jiang)
Grade 8 Titles
•House on Mango Street (Cisneros)
•Flesh and Blood So Cheap (Marrin)
•Monster (Myers)
•Night (Wiesel)
•Maus (Spiegelman)
•Stuck in Neutral (Trueman)
•Am I Blue? Coming Out from the
Silence (Dane)
•Krik? Krak! (Danticat)
•The Immortal Life of Henrietta
Lacks (Skloot)
•Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy
Soldier (Beah)
•Julius Caesar (Shakespeare)
•The Kite Runner (Housseini) •All Quiet on the Western Front
(Remarque)
Grade 11 Titles
•The Crucible (Miller)
•Short stories, essays and poems
from Twain, Emerson, Thoreau,
Baldwin, Sexton, Whitman
•Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
(Jacobs)
•Native Son (Wright)
•The Harlem Stomp (as a classroom
resource)
•“The Yellow Wallpaper” (Gillman)
•The Color Purple (Walker)
•Drown (Diaz) •Always Running: La Vida Loca:
Gang Days in LA (Rodriguez) •The Joy Luck Club (Tan)
Grade 12 Titles
Grade 9 Titles
•Othello (Shakespeare)
•Excerpts from Beowulf
(Anonymous)
•Frankenstein (Shelley)
•White Teeth (Smith)
•Things Fall Apart (Achebe)
•Brave New World (Huxley)
•Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck)
•No Choirboy (Kuklin)
•Fences (Wilson)
•Kindred (Butler)
•Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare)
•Excerpts from The Odyssey (Homer)
•Excerpts from Oedipus Rex
(Sophocles)
News from the Schools
Grade 10 Titles
– 5 –
December 2013
First
Niagara Foundation
Foundation Donates
First
Niagara
Donates
$50,000
Syracuse
$50,000to
toSay
Say Yes
Yes Syracuse
Say Yes Scholar
Honored by
St. Joseph’s
College of
Nursing
MBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL Oct. 28, 2013
Joshua Campbell, a Say Yes
The First Niagara Foundation, as part of their
to
Education
student attending
Mentoring Matters program, donated $50,000
St. Joseph’s
College
of Nursing
YRACUSE, N.Y.,to
Oct.
28, 2013
First Niagara
Foundation,
as part of theirmen’s
Mentoring Matters program, has
Say
Yes -The
Syracuse.
Syracuse
University
onated $50,000 to Say Yes Syracuse.
won the Joanne Paino Walker
basketball coach Jim Boeheim was present at
yracuse University men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim will be on hand at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28,Memorial
2013, at
Scholarship at the
.W. Smith School
at Levy, 111 Fellows
Ave., at
Syracuse,
to celebrate First
Niagara’s generosity. Boeheim,
H.W. Smith
School
LevyN.Y.,
to celebrate
First
hospital’s
Commitment
to Nursing
long with representatives from Say Yes Syracuse and the Syracuse City School District will take part in snack
Niagara’s
generosity.
along
with programming.
me with elementary
school students
enrolledBoeheim,
in Say Yes Syracuse
afterschool
ceremony in late September.
“Say Yes Syracuse
is grateful for First Niagara’s
continued
Our students
have learned valuable life
representatives
from Say
Yes support.
Syracuse
and the
kills by spending time with volunteers from First Niagara and we are pleased that the First Niagara FoundaJosh, a graduate of Henninger
Syracuse
Cityin School
participated
on is continuing
their good work
Syracuse,’’ District,
said Pat Driscoll,
director of Say in
Yes snack
Syracuse.
High School and a Say Yes scholar,
ince 2007, First
Niagara
has provided
more thanschool
$5.25 million
in financial
support forin
mentoring programs
time
with
elementary
students
enrolled
is aMasdual degree student in his
o a variety of nonprofit organizations in communities across New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and
Say Yes Syracuse afterschool programming.
achusetts.
second year at the College of
or further information contact: Kathy Sims at 315-443-4863 or [email protected]
Mentoring Matters has a track record of providing significant, proven results for young people,’’ said David
Nursing,
avney, First Niagara Central New York Market Leader.
where he is working
toward
an
AAS in applied science
Mentoring Matters is First Niagara’s charitable giving program that provides monetary and employee volnteer support to organized mentoring initiatives. The program reinforces the importance of mentoring
withand
a major in nursing. He will
he positive impact that it has on today’s young adults. In 2009, First Niagara expanded the reach and impact
be eligible
to sit for his registered
f Mentoring Matters by launching its annual Day of Mentoring, offering young people the opportunity
to
pend a day with First Niagara volunteers.
nurse license after he graduates
in May, 2014. Josh then plans
bout Say Yes Syracuse
ay Yes Syracuse is a landmark collaboration that brings together the Syracuse City School District, Syracuse
to continue his education at
University, the Syracuse Teachers Association (STA), The Syracuse Association of Administrators and SuperviLe Moyne
College and hopes to get
ors, the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, the American Institutes for Research, a diverse group of
Syrause area corporate, non-profit and philanthropic organizations and a number of public and privatehis
higher
BS degree in nursing in May,
ducation partners. Together, the partners work to efficiently and effectively organize people, time and mon2015.
y to support children in the city of Syracuse. To learn more about Say Yes go to www.sayyessyracuse.org
SM
Since 2007, First Niagara has provided more than
$5.25 million in financial support for mentoring
programs to a variety of nonprofit organizations
in communities across New York, Pennsylvania,
Connecticut and Massachusetts.
“Mentoring Matters has a track record of providing
significant, proven results for young people,’’ said
David Kavney, First Niagara Central New York
Market Leader.
Mentoring MattersSM is First Niagara’s charitable
giving program that provides monetary and
employee volunteer support to organized mentoring
initiatives. The program reinforces the importance
of mentoring and the positive impact that it has
on today’s young adults. In 2009, First Niagara
expanded the reach and impact of Mentoring
Matters by launching its annual Day of Mentoring,
offering young people the opportunity to spend a
day with First Niagara volunteers.
News from the Schools
The Joanne Paino Walker
Scholarship is funded by Edward
“Dusty” Walker of Holden, Mass.,
in memory of his wife who
graduated from St. Joseph’s College
of Nursing. Joanne Paino was the
first student admitted with diabetes
and went on to do a number
of notable things in nursing,
including teaching CPR to nearly
5,000 students over the course of
her lifetime. The scholarship in
her name is offered to a student
who has overcome obstacles
dealing with diabetes. Josh’s father
is diabetic and Josh won the
scholarship for an essay he wrote
about his father’s illness.
Josh’s essay focused on a time
when his father was unresponsive
and had to be taken to the hospital
because of his condition. “My
dad almost died when I was a
senior in high school. He had a
hyperglycemic episode. At the
time, I thought diabetes was
– 6 –
something that wasn’t too serious, all
you needed was a ‘shot’ and everything
would be OK.”
Josh said his Dad wasn’t managing
his sugar very well and went into a
diabetic coma. “I was about to go to
Buffalo to see my girlfriend at the time.
I went to say bye to my dad and he
didn’t respond. I called an ambulance
and luckily I did because I would have
been gone for four days. I shudder to
think how I would have felt if I came
home to see him lying there, still.’’
Josh credits his teachers at
Henninger High School with helping
him get into the nursing program.
He said he was part of STEP (Science
and Technology Entry Program) in
his senior year. “The people in that
program helped maintain my focus
for my final year in school and helped
me seek out scholarship opportunities,
advised me to go to Le Moyne College
and were advocates for me.’’
He said even though he struggled
with math in his senior year, he never
gave up because his teachers “helped
me understand it a lot more. They
also encouraged me to maintain a
full schedule my senior year which is
something most students don’t do.’’
Josh says his nursing program is
challenging but he has learned to
manage his time. “Nursing school is
very multi-faceted; there is the clinical
portion, which is challenging because
we have to apply the skills we learn
in the classroom to real people. And
on top of it, the classroom may be
harder because there are only five tests
and those tests are 90 percent of your
grade.”
Josh said nursing students must
score at least a 74 on any tests. “The
school demands the best out of us and
I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
December 2013
Parent University
Fall
Conference
2013
With its commitment to offer SCSD parents and other family
members a variety of meaningful classes and workshops that
complement their existing skills, Parent University held its annual fall
conference at the Institute of Technology on November 16. The day
began with a welcome from Superintendent Contreras and greetings
from our friends at Vera House. Presenters from throughout the
Syracuse community then led the registered participants through
workshops that included such beneficial topics as:
ӺӺ
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ӺӺ
ӺӺ
ӺӺ
ӺӺ
ӺӺ
ӺӺ
How to Help Your Child Meet School Behavior Expectations
Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Your Rights at Work
Building Family Communication with Science Projects
Eating for Energy
Healthy Relationships: A Building Block for Success in School
Math Counts
Getting Your Health in Line
Helping Your Adolescent Succeed in School
Microsoft Word
Exclusively for students in grades 6-9, a workshop entitled “Unblurred
Lines: Getting Clear About Relationships” was also presented. Much
appreciation is extended to Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha,
Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma,
Zeta Phi Beta and 100 Black Men of Syracuse for sponsoring this
special student workshop.
A variety of free classes and workshops designed to provide opportunities
for additional growth and development are ongoing throughout the year.
Courses offered during November and December included:
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ӺӺ
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ӺӺ
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ӺӺ
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Understanding the IEP *
Identity Theft – Who’s Got Your Number? *
Animal ABCs
Making it Happen: College for Adults *
Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
iPhone Tips & Tricks
Google Tools *
Zumba
Preparing for Your CSE Meeting *
PowerPoint 1 & 2
Living with Diabetes *
Stewards of Children: Child Sex Abuse Prevention Training
Beginning in 2014, Parent University
offers the opportunity for families to
participate in mini-conferences at the
MOST during Science Saturdays. These
Science Saturdays will be grade specific
and tailored to parents in the SCSD.
Those titles with asterisks next to them are Lunch & Learn classes where
participants can enjoy a meal during the class or take it to go.
News from the Schools
Science Saturdays
at the MOST
– 7 –
Please join us as we help you help your children
be successful in school and at home. To learn
more, call Monique Wright-Williams, Executive
Director of Parent and Family Engagement for
Say Yes to Education / SCSD, at 435-6275
or visit www.scsdparentuniversity.com.
December 2013
SCSD Celebrates
National Food Day
The Syracuse City School District celebrated
National Food Day in October with mini Farmers’
Markets, guest chefs and other activities.
Food Day is a nationwide celebration of healthy,
affordable and sustainable food. Students in our
elementary schools received educational
supplies including coloring books, bookmarks,
pocket pals, brochures and posters from the
NYSED Office of Child Nutrition.
The Office of Food and Nutrition
showcased a variety of fruits and vegetables
regularly available to students, many of which are
locally grown, and
displayed other
produce that may
be new to them.
Students also
sampled food items
and learned about
the importance of
a balanced, healthy
diet. Guest chefs
were on hand at
the mini Farmers’
Markets preparing
Ken Warner, Director of Food & Nutrition Services
the samples
th
for the SCSD, asks Danforth 7 grader Isho Adan
for the students.
how she liked trying the new fruits and vegetables.
Hughes K-8 students Elicyah Brandon, Gabrielle Lambert and
Shyquez Turk look forward to a nutritious school lunch.
SCSD Presents “Nutrition Nuggets”
The Office of Food and Nutrition is proud to offer parents and families
“Nutrition Nuggets.” Every month there will be a new edition of Nutrition
Nuggets available on the Food and Nutrition webpage containing practical
ideas families can use to improve their nutrition and physical activity. It
will provide information for parents on how to:
ӺӺ Prepare nutritious foods on
a tight schedule and tight
budget
ӺӺ Find time in the daily
routine for physical activity
ӺӺ Help their children choose
healthy snacks
ӺӺ Make exercise fun
ӺӺ Make nutritious foods
attractive to children
If you have any questions about your child’s school breakfast, lunch or snack
options or your child’s dietary restrictions please contact the Office of Food
and Nutrition at 435-4207.
News from the Schools
– 8 –
December 2013
SCSD Student
Theater Productions
Fowler High School recently presented Disney’s High School Musical
in which a popular basketball star and a shy, academically gifted
newcomer (played by Qua’Deer Jones and Nahahme Howard)
discover they share a secret passion for singing. When they sign up
together to
audition for
the lead roles
in the school
musical, it
threatens
the school’s
rigid social
order and
sends their
peers into an
uproar.
English
teacher Mary
McCrone
directed the
ensemble which included Makenzie Cummings, Ramon Estevez,
Santana Frye, Wayne Fussell, Tom Hornsby, Husam Jameel, Cimone
Jordan, Chauntavia McCormick, William Primes, Denzel Rawls,
Ahmanee Simmons, Cherokee Sproill, Priscilla Thunderberk,
N’Dasia Williams and Anthony Willoughby.
C.A.S.T. (Corcoran
Association of Student
Theatre) performed
Steel Magnolias on
November 8 and 9.
The play featured
student cast members
Elaine Dermady,
Anna Livingston,
Alissa Jaquin, Sophia
Therese Kinne,
Tylah Worrell,
Destany Finney and
Axiezar Johnson
Under the
direction
of Virginia
Fennessy,
Nottingham’s
Meadowbrook
Harlequins
staged Arsenic
and Old Lace.
What could be
more amusing
than two Bible
toting old ladies who think nothing of poisoning
lonely old men, because they think of it as a charity?
Combine that with a newly engaged theater critic,
his gangster brother and drunken sidekick, and you
have the ingredients for a delightful romp.
The cast, in order of appearance, was composed of:
Ariel Bryant, William Gorman, Robert Edwards,
Carlos Echenique, Elizabeth Buchanan, Jillian
Carafa, Kaylee Fierke, Keenan Barret, Xavier
Poirier, Donovan Stanfield, Ibrahim Al-Amir,
Sydney Schwab, Oona O’Brien, Alex Freeman,
Taylor Cahill, Josiah Bacon.
Credits also go to the many creative students and
staff members involved in publicity, lighting,
carpentry, painting and costumes.
Going on blind dates can be difficult. Especially
when your date happens to be a raging kleptomaniac,
or your grandmother’s bridge partner, or a mime.
Check Please, a one-act play written by Jonathan
Rand, was the comedy that Henninger High School’s
theater department chose to perform in November.
Directed by Sara Gentile with set design by Lori
Lizzio, the play featured the following student cast
members: Anthony Matthews, Ashley Spinner,
Matteo Piraino, Collyn Cook, Nakie Jones,
Brooklyn Adams, Annie Ellison, Samantha Lopez,
Patty Capone, Sam Gillies, Zia Jackson, Julia
Mazzuca, Ace’Awnah Greene, Julia Klipp, Melynda
Beckwith, Abigail Wysokowski and Alia Anamaria.
On Saturday,
November 9, Corcoran students also performed a matinée of
25 Ways to Mess Up Your College Interview starring Majestic Ross,
Alize Claudio, Dimitrius Webb, Nikira Beale, Shameek Johnson,
Unijah Chatman, Brianna Garfield, Jenaysia Hill, Mallory Garfield,
Jenna Lacey, Kurt Jaquin, Shuauntaliyah Brown, Mark Burnett,
Kennedy Palmer, Alexis Garfield and Thomas Pettitt.
News from the Schools
– 9 –
December 2013
Oratorical
Contest
Winners
On November 7, the Social Studies
Department collaborated with
the local chapter of the Dunbar
American Legion Association
(one of the first African-American
chapters in the nation) to sponsor
a district oratorical contest for our
high school students.
Pictured from left to right: Sean Martin, Nottingham advisor; Oratorical Contest winners
Maza Kaila and Tosheem Stroman; and Jessica Terry, also a Nottingham advisor.
The contest was held at Nottingham
High School and students competed
for a chance to move on and try to
win up to $18,000 in scholarships.
Winners of the SCSD competition
are:
ŠŠ Maza Kaila (1st place)
ŠŠ Nasir Thomas (2nd place)
ŠŠ Tosheem Stroman (3rd place)
ŠŠ Azar Abdulkadir (4th place)
ŠŠ John Medina (5th place)
the U.S. Constitution. The regional
event for the county will be held on
December 11, 2013.
All five students will have the
opportunity to participate in the
American Legion High School
Oratorical Scholarship Program
moving on to the regional
competition. The theme of the
program is “A Constitutional
Speech Contest’’ focusing on the
1st, 14th and 21st amendments of
The Oratorical Contest presents
participants with an academic
speaking challenge that teaches
important leadership qualities, the
history of our nation’s laws, the
ability to think and speak clearly
and an understanding of the
duties, responsibilities, rights and
privileges of American citizenship.
Parent Partnership
Network
The Parent Partnership Network offers assistance and
support to parents, guardians and students in the school
district. Contact us if you:
Are trying to get school district
} information or questions addressed
} Would like help with school issues
Need information on community
} resources and services
}
Want support when a problem
arises
News from the Schools
WE CAN HELP
435-4845
[email protected]
SYRACUSE CITY
Parent
Partnership
Network
1728 South Ave., Room 142
SCHOOL DISTRICT
– 10 –
Together, we make a difference
for all of our children.
December 2013
NSBE Regional
Conference Results
SCSD students traveled to Long Island, NY to
attend the National Society Black Engineers (NSBE)
Conference and to compete in the regional high
school and middle school math competitions. The
conference also offered many engaging leadership
and hands-on science and engineering activities. Students attended workshops that will help to prepare them
for the Science Fair and NASCAR TEN80 competitions they will be facing at the national NSBE convention in
March. Congratulations to all the students for displaying excellent academic skills and exemplary behavior.
Team United took third place in the grade 9 and 10
Cusetown took first place in the grade 7 and 8 math
division:
ӺӺ Myles Cherebin (H.W. Smith)
ӺӺ Chantay Morales (Westside Academy at Blodgett)
ӺӺ Alex Phan and Andru Skinle (Frazer)
division:
ӺӺ Isaiah Ginty (Corcoran)
ӺӺ Zach Mayo and Nazir Muhammad (ITC)
ӺӺ Kamille Davis and Nasheett Usman (Nottingham)
Thinking C.A.P. took third place in the grade 11 and 12
Syracuse Thunder took first place in the grade 9 and
10 division:
ӺӺ Uniyah Chapman, Jamon Martin and Zach Reid
(Corcoran)
ӺӺ Tyrick Mayo (ITC)
ӺӺ Yanira Johnson (Nottingham)
News from the Schools
division:
ӺӺ Ilean Curry, Brandi Fowler, Majestic Ross and
Armondo Shanes (Corcoran)
ӺӺ Alec Harris (Nottingham)
Also participating in the middle school math competition
was team Spirit composed of Brianna Brown (Roberts);
Lavaisha Rouse and Quantenette Torrance (Danforth).
Along with the team competition were individual competition
scores. Alex Phan won first place and Myles Cherebin and
Chantay Morales tied for second.
– 11 –
December 2013
Syracuse City School District
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News from the Schools Staff
Michael Henesey
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Trudy Coleman
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The Syracuse City School District hereby advises students,
parents, employees, and the general public that it offers
employment and educational opportunities including
vocational education opportunities, without regard to age,
gender, race, color, religion, marital status, sexual preference,
national origin or disability. Questions regarding this
policy may be referred to the building principal or Title IX
and Section 504 Compliance Officer at (315) 435-4212 or
1025 Erie Blvd. West, Syracuse NY 13204.
This publication made possible through a generous donation from the Say Yes to Education Foundation
School Delays and Closings
As we enter the winter
season, it is important
that all families are
aware of the school
district’s policies and
procedures for inclement weather. This school year we are
reinstating the option of delaying the opening of school for up
to two hours when weather dictates the need for a delay.
The district, in conjunction with the City of Syracuse
Department of Public Works and the National Weather Service,
will work collaboratively to assess the local weather forecast and
the passability of streets. In instances when the SCSD is forced
to delay, close, or dismiss early (or when afterschool activities
are cancelled) school announcements will be broadcast on
local news outlets as well as on the district’s website at www.
syracuseschools.com. We will also utilize our SchoolMessenger
parent notification system to alert you of the delay or closing.
If weather reports indicate that we need to delay school the
following procedures have been instituted for students:
• School buses will pick up students two hours after their
regularly scheduled pick up time
• Walkers are to report for the start of school two hours after
the regularly scheduled opening of school
• There will be no morning Pre-K for students participating
in half day morning Pre-K
News from the Schools
– 12 –
• Dismissal for students will occur at the regularly
scheduled dismissal time even if the opening of
school is delayed
It is imperative that you have an emergency plan in
place and that your child clearly understands the
plan if and when any of these circumstances arise.
It is also important that your child is always dressed
appropriately for the cold, whether walking or riding
the bus to school. If you have any questions, please
contact your child’s school.
December 2013