SUMMER 2005 - Taconic Hills Central School District

SUMMER 2005Vol. 18 No.4 TACONIC HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

2Superintendent’s MessageDear Parents and Friends:I hope your summer has been an enjoyable and relaxing one. Hereat your school’s Central Office, many things were happening.The remediation efforts to the school facility continued throughoutthe summer. We are very hopeful that your school facility will bein excellent shape by the time the doors open to begin the newschool year.Plans have been made to try to keep disruptions to the school calendarto a minimum. Therefore, the new school year begins with two (2)workshop conference days for all staff on Thursday, September 1, 2005and Tuesday, September 6, 2005. The first day of school for all studentsis Wednesday, September 7, 2005.Mr. Thomas Buccino, Jr., our new Director of OrganizationalDevelopment, has joined us over the summer. He will be responsiblefor student performance efforts, staff development and the district’sdata research.Also, by the time this newsletter reaches your home, we hope to haveselected a new Middle School principal. Mr. Hartner left our school systemto begin a new position in another school district. Additionally, wehope to have a new athletic director in place as well. Mr. Jause has givenus many years of service for the growth of our athletic department.Sadly, a few of our teachers have taken positions in districts closer totheir homes over the summer. However, we have been successful withour attempts to attract highly qualified new teachers to our district.Please mark your calendars for a special evening event this fall. OnMonday evening, October 17, 2005, the famous American poet, RobertBly, will be addressing you, the Taconic Hills Central School generalpublic. He will be in our Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. and ticketswill be available soon. Please plan to attend.We graduated a truly wonderful senior class this past June, and weare anxiously looking forward to the opening of the new school year inSeptember. Thank you for your great support of this school and of its students.Most of all, thank you for entrusting your sons and daughters tous as we try to work with you to build a great future for each and everyone of them.Sincerely,David PacienciaSuperintendentN O T I C E S■ Video cameras may be used on school buses.■ From the Building and Grounds Department: Pesticide application72-hour notification available by calling 325-0452■ Copies of the school budget, emergency management and fire inspectionreport available at the district office.■ Applications are welcome for substitute teachers, substitute bus drivers,custodians, clerical and food service areas.■ For more information on FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)contact your child’s school office.BOARD OF EDUCATIONRobert Garon, President (2008)Paul B. Robertson, Vice President (2009)Tom Bailey (2010)John Mastropolo (2006)Bruce Meyers (2007)John Mullins, Jr. (2006)Hansel Schober (2007)P-L Schroeppel (2008)Richard J. Viebrock (2009)BOARD MEETINGS — The Board ofEducation meets on Wednesday eveningsonce a month as noted in the annual schoolcalendar. The meetings are held in the BoardRoom at the school and begin at 7:00 p.m.The Board welcomes and encourages thepublic to attend these meetings.PUBLIC FORUM — Two 10-minute “PublicForum” sessions are scheduled at eachBoard meeting, at the beginning and near theend. These times are set aside so that residentsmay address the Board directly onissues of importance. Because the Board hasa great deal of business which it mustattend to during meetings, the public isasked to confine its participation to thesepublic forum sessions.DISTRICT OFFICE(518) 325-0310 or (toll-free) 1-877-359-5393David Paciencia . . . . . . . . .SuperintendentThomas Buccino, Jr. . . . . . . . . . .Director of. . . . . . . . . .Organizational DevelopmentMary Grden . . . . .School Business OfficialDavid Paciencia . . . . . . . . . .District ClerkCatherine Drumm . . .Cafeteria CoordinatorRobert McGhee (325-0335) . .Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SupervisorHarriett Kane . . . . . . . . . . . .Tax CollectorPLEASE ADDRESS MAIL TO:Taconic Hills Central School DistrictDistrict OfficeP.O. Box 482Craryville, NY 12521BUILDING ADMINISTRATION• 9–12 High School: 325-0390John V. Gulisane, Jr. – Principal• 5–8 Middle School: 325-0420• K-4 Elementary School: 325-0370Anthony Marchesano – Principal• 9–12 Dean of Students: 325-0400Kelli Campionwww.TaconicHills.k12.ny.us

STUDENTS WIN FLAG DAY AWARDSColton Meriam and Emily Foutch weresecond and first place winners respectivelyin a county-wide Flag Day postercontest sponsored by the Hudson Elk’sLodge #287. The theme was celebratingAmerica’s spirit.A Mentoring Program Grows at Taconic HillsUnder the guidance of Michael Robbins, a mentoring program hasbeen thriving at Taconic Hills. This year, 36 students took part in aprogram that pairs high school students with elementary school students.The mentors help their charges take on special projects andadditional challenges that go beyond their classroom work. The studentsare then able to share what they’ve learned and done withtheir classmates.“The program is student-driven,” Mr. Robbins said. “It resultsfrom brainstorming with teachers who recognize that a studentmight benefit from additional enrichment activities by workingwith a mentor.”Mr. Robbins pairs a mentor with a student and helps oversee theproject they work on together. Frequently, the mentors will help astudent learn more about a subject he or she is already interested in,ranging from dinosaurs to computer graphics to the history of professionalbasketball. The students get the added benefit of meetingother students who may share similar interests. And many mentorrelationships have lasted for several years.“The program really benefits the mentors as much as their students,”Mr. Robbins said. “They learn some of the fundamentalsabout teaching one-on-one and are rewarded by their work withyounger students who are often very bright and just need an extraoutlet for their energies.”Junior Lindsay Robbins works with 1st gradestudents Rusty Elster and Timothy Roberts on aproject on dinosaurs. “We’re going over ourfacts,” Rusty said.SHINING THROUGH Anthony Whitemanwas one of the performers at the annualmiddle school talent show on the last dayof school.3

Meet the 2005 Taconic HillsVALEDICTORIANJason TaylorEvery school year, two TH students finish at the top of theirgraduating class. And each summer, the Titan Herald takestime out to talk with the valedictorian and salutatorian to findout what their interests are and what qualities may have helpedthem be successful. The Titan Herald spoke to Jason Taylor,class of 2005 valedictorian, and Maude White, salutatorian,just before graduation in June.Jason TaylorWas it a goal of yours to try to finish at the topof your class?Basically, my parents always instilled in me when I wasyounger to put academics first and to always do my best.I focused on the basics: paying attention in class, doingmy homework. In the last few years, I knew I was closeto being at the top of my class. My goal was to staystrong.Where are you going in the fall?RPI. I’ll be pursuing a biotechnology major with a minorin computer science. I’m interested in going into the fieldof artificial intelligence. I’m particularly interested in theidea of mixing anatomy and psychology with computerscience and computer engineering.What were your favorite classes at Taconic Hills?Math was my favorite subject. I like to be able to applylogic and reasoning to things. I took accelerated mathstarting in 8th grade and AP calculus this year. I alsoliked my science classes, particularly AP biology withMrs. Brousseau.Were there adults at Taconic Hills who were particularlyinfluential for you?It’s tough to point out a single teacher because they haveall helped me grow personally and academically. Manyof my teachers are more than just teachers, they arefriends that have helped bring out the best in me andmy classmates.Could you offer advice to younger studentswho want to be successful academically?I think it’s really about how much you applyyourself. You don’t get there because you’renecessarily the smartest. I think a lot of peoplethink I’m really smart, but I know I’m far frombeing a genius. I’ve struggled and I know plentyof kids who could get a higher grade pointaverage than I did. I think you have to stickwith it. Do the homework day in and day out.There’s plenty of time for after-school activitiesand socializing if you keep your focus and yourpriorities straight. Staying involved in yourcommunity and school, participating in sportsand clubs, really helps you learn organization.Are you looking forward to the fall?Yes, I am. It’s not that I don’t like it here. I’vespent my years here. It’s time to move on to newthings, not necessarily better or bigger, but justnew. I look forward to getting into the world,seeing other things, meeting new people.What are you doing over the summer?Working at Lake Taghkanic as a lifeguard.I’ll catch up with friends, say goodbye tofriends and get ready to go to college. ▲4▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

andSALUTATORIANMaude WhiteMaude WhiteYou’ve had an interesting background.Can you tell us about your school history?Well, I lived in Buffalo before we moved here.I was home-schooled in grades three, five andeight. I went to the Hawthorne Valley School.I came to Taconic Hills in 9th grade. It was quitea transition to go from a school with 20 peoplein a grade to Taconic Hills. It was really scary,but it was a good transition. I’ve enjoyed myyears here. I’ve enjoyed the diversity of people.Was the difficult part of the transition socialor educational?It was both. There were so many more studentsand so many more people to connect with. Thereare more people who will share your interests ina larger school. Educationally, there is so muchmore offered to students here.What has been most interesting educationally?Creative writing and history. I’ve also been ableto work on a film project. I made a 30-minutedigital film about our class. I did it in my ownfree time but the school provided me with thefacilities I needed. Mr. Lampila was particularlyhelpful.What are you doing in the fall?I’m going to SUNY Geneseo, which is in the areaI’m from originally.What are you planning to study?I’m undeclared. I’m pretty introverted and not verysocial. I wanted to go to a school that wasn’t huge. I’mdefinitely interested in creative writing. I’m interesting inplaywrighting, screenwriting, writing about people.I’d also like to study Greek and Latin at some point.I’m fascinated by that time in history.What were your favorite classes at Taconic Hills?I enjoyed global studies, English, creative writingand U.S. History. Mr. Koroleski, Mrs. Heisey,Mr. Lant and Ms. Dellea have been the teacherswho have influenced and inspired me the most.What are you doing this summer?I’m taking a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland with afriend. When I come back, I’ll be working as a substitutelibrarian at the Philmont Public Library.Do you have advice for younger students?Do your homework. Beyond that, I don’t want to giveadvice. I don’t really know how you should do things.I’m obsessive. I never skipped a homework assignment. ▲GOODBYE... AND HELLO On the last day of school in Junestudents waved goodbye as the bus horns sounded theirtraditional crescendo of sound. Soon, students will be wavinghello. The fall semester begins on Wednesday September 7.▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲5

HATS OFF TOTHE CLASS OF ‘O5At graduation 2005, students tossedtheir caps into the air in the auditorium.Afterwards, George Bray showed off hisdiploma as his mother looked on.STEPPING UP In June, 145 middleschool students earned promotion toTaconic Hills High School. In a ceremonyon June 23, Alyssa Rasweilerand Andre Bergeron were recognizedfor finishing with the highestgrade point averages in their grade.Alexa Piper, Danielle Benassutti,Brianna Miller, Arianna Macchia,Marie Bailly and Meagen Skelleyposed for a photo after the ceremony.6

DATES TO REMEMBERSeptember 1September 5September 6SEPTEMBER 7September 8September 14September 20September 22September 23September 30September 30September 30Superintendent’s Conference DayLabor DaySuperintendent’s Conference DayCLASSES BEGINHS Picture Day, Senior ClassParent Meeting, 6 p.m.K-4 Open House, 6:30 p.m.HS Open House, 6:30 p.m.MS Open House, 6:30 p.m.MS Dance, 7-9 p.m.Senior Class BBQ, 5 p.m.Senior Recognition, 6:30 p.m.Homecoming Football Game, 7 p.m.ON THE WATERFRONT Doug Cropper, who teachestechnology at Taconic Hills, attended a New York StateParks Boating Safety Week event in late May in Albany.Commissioner of Motor Vehicles Raymond P. Martinez wasthe keynote speaker at the event and presented Mr. Cropperwith a proclamation signed by Governor Pataki. As a part ofhis technology curriculum, in which Mr. Cropper teachesstudents how to build and repair boats, cars and almosteverything else under the sun, he is one of the few publicschool teachers in the region who can offer training in marinetransportation safety. Through his class students can earn alicense to operate a power boat in New York State.HAVING A FIELD DAY At the endof the school year, TH elementaryand middle school students participatein outdoor challenges as partof “Field Day.” These middle schoolgirls passed a bucket of water—and found that a little spillingdidn’t hurt.7

TH Teachers Win Fulbright Award—and Travel to MoroccoEvery year, the U.S. government-fundedFulbrightProgram offers 4,500 grants,mostly to graduate students, to travelabroad and continue theirstudies. Of those, the Fulbrightorganization reserves 120 grants forpublic school teachers. This year,two of those 120 teachers comefrom Taconic Hills. Social studiesteachers Barry Emberlin and LindaSullivan are currently in Morocco,participating in a series of workshopsand study sessions that willput them in touch with their teachingpeers from around the world.The grant was earned through theauspices of SUNY Fredonia’s schoolof education and its office of internationalstudies. TH SuperintendentDavid Paciencia, who has a longassociation with the university,learned of the grant possibility andsubmitted documentation thatwould make Taconic Hills teacherseligible. When his submissionwas approved,Mr. Paciencia alertedteachers that they couldapply. Mr. Emberlin andMs. Sullivan submittedwinning applications byoutlining plans for sharingwhat they learn inMorocco with theirstudents and their communityin Craryville.In addition, the teacherswill prepare study kits to be sharedthroughout New York State throughthe BOCES services.“Most of the teachers come fromEnglish speaking schools around theworld,” Mr. Emberlin said. “And itwill be a very diverse group.”Mr. Emberlin said that he wouldbe focusing on social and politicalissues in a modern Islamic monarchy.He is interested in Berber cultureand linguistic traditions. Healso hopes to bring back fossils andother geologic artifacts from theAtlas Mountains.Mrs. Sullivan said that she hopesto bring back a sense of a differentculture to her students. She will befocusing on Morocco’s struggle tomodernize without necessarilyWesternizing. She also plans toshare what she learns with elementarystudents as well as her ownhigh school social studies students.The teachers’ itinerary takes themto Paris to Casablanca and then bybus to the Atlas Mountain town ofIfrane and Al Akhawayn University.The rest of their time will be spentin around the ancient royal city ofMeknes and Ishmael MulayUniversity.Besides learning more aboutIslamic culture and history, Mr.Emberlin pointed out that an opportunitylike this is re-energizing for ateacher. “To travel, to see the worldthrough fresh eyes, I know this canonly enliven my interest in teachinghere at home.”The Fulbright program is basedon an idea expressed by ArkansasSenator J. William Fulbright, whodied in 1995 at the age of 89.Of the program that bears hisname, Senator Fulbright wrote:“Education is the best means —probably the only means — bywhich nations can cultivatea degree of objectivityabout each other’sbehavior and intentions…Educationalexchange can turnnations into people,contributing as no otherform of communicationcan to the humanizingof internationalrelations.” ▲8

TH ART GALLERYSeniors from Nancy Andell’s portfolio preparation classshow off their work. Standing from left to right are JennSchneeberger, Dan Barrett, Clare Garvie, Lindsy Adamsand Heather Garon. In the front are Kim Ostrander andStephanie Haslun.These black and white photographs are the work of Amy Leigh Cutler, who continued her high school art classes byworking independently this past spring with art teacher Nancy Andell. Ms. Cutler was senior class president, presidentof the National Honor Society and led hip-hop and bible groups at the school. She is enrolled at Columbia-Greene College and plans to transfer to Kings College in New York City after a year.9

A Day in the Life of…TH Groundspeople Mary Ryan10Their days are full of living things.Of viburnam and pachysandra.Trees that could use a trimming,a baseball field that needs nurturingand killdeers flying low and loudly overthe Taconic Hills grounds. For MaryRyan and Paul Podmijersky, groundspeople at Taconic Hills, these are daysthey like best: long summer days. Theylove to work outdoors.“During the winter,” Mr. Podmijerskyconfesses, “I look for reasons to getoutside.”Ms. Ryan and Mr. Podmijersky arepart of the TH building and groundsteam that includes Ed Bradway andJim McGill. And the four are part of abuilding and grounds department thatis made up of custodians, maintenancepeople and cleaners. Their job is towork as part of this team, meetingdaily with Otto Meilick, head of thedepartment, and keeping a specialfocus on trees, shrubs and the groundsaround the school. When asked todescribe the scope of their responsibilities,Ms. Ryan and Mr. Podmijerskyoffer a visitor a tour. It does not takelong to suspect that their job is far toomuch for two people to manage. Theydon’t seem to look at it that way.They describe it as a process.Everywhere they point there are thingsthat have been done and things thatwill be done, from weeds that need tobe pulled to a dying tree that will needto be replaced. “We do what we canwith what we have,” Ms. Ryan says.Their main tool is a battered oldToyota pickup truck that is smallenough to traverse the Taconic Hillssidewalks and dependable enough toearn the nickname, “Little Blue.” Thebed of Little Blue is full of pulledweeds, rakes, brooms and other toolsof the groundskeepers’ trade. LittleBlue not only gets Paul and Marywhere they need to get, but haulsweedwackers (they each have theirfavorite of two identical machines)and buckets of water to the far cornersof the campus.With everything from young treesto day lilies—many of the flowers havebeen donated by community members—plantedon the campus, wateris an issue.“We mostly depend on rain,”Ms. Ryan says. “We’ve been blessedthese past few years because therehasn’t been a serious drought.”In fact, both the groundskeepersfeel blessed, period.“Sometimes I’m out here workingand I’ll say to Mary, ‘Look at howbeautiful this place is.’ I’m so lucky tolove what I’m doing.”They agree that being outside allday keeps them both in a good mood.And their playful banter accompaniesa tour of the grounds.“I’ll show you Mary’s tree,” saysMr. Podmijersky.“He won’t let me take care of it,”she says grumpily.

and Paul Podmijersky“MaryiusUniqueness”“Little Blue”The tree in question is growingjust to the right as one approachesthe front door of the secondary schoolentrance.“I call it a ‘Maryius Uniqueness,’”he says, pointing to the tree. In fact,the tree is two different varieties ofcrabapple grown together. Part of thetree is growing tall and thin and bearsmarble-sized fruit. The other part ofthe tree, growing from the same trunk,wants to be lower and wider and bearsa larger apple.“It needs trimming,” Ms. Ryan says.“I like the way it is,” he says.After showing a visitor the“Maryius Uniqueness,” the groundspeople show their visitor around thecourtyard outside the Performing ArtsCenter. Mr. Podmijersky has made thememorial bricks a special project of hisand doesn’t like anyone else installingor caring for them. (“Some of thememorials are happy,” he says. “Someare sad,” pointing to one in memoryof a TH student who died in a caraccident a few years ago.) Ms. Ryanpoints out a flower garden that wasplanted by Jamie Keenan's Englishclass as a Holocaust memorial Sheleans over and pulls out a stringy weedand looks forward to the groundcovergrowing into the memorial.Plants are only part of their job.Their other duties include: picking uptrash, emptying the trash containers,maintaining the tennis courts, the volleyballcourt and fifteen playing fields,from painting the lines on the soccerfields and baseball diamonds to puttingup soccer goals and roto-tilling theelementary school playground; theOccupation Safety and HealthAdministration mandates that playgroundgravel be kept at a certain levelof softness that roto-tilling achieves.Mr. Podmijersky puts up and takesdown the flag every day he works.The groundspeople start each dayknowing what they have to do. Buttheir plans are frequently changed.“Every morning, we have someidea of what we need to do, butoften we get pulled away for somethingthat needs doing in the building,”Ms. Ryan says.As they stand on a summer afternoonand look over the campus, theysee the big picture: of the pear treesgetting bigger and stronger in theparking lot, the prickly hedge that’sholding its own, the flowers thatare growing around the flagpole,pachysandra that’s fighting for itslife in some spots and failing in others,the fields and hills and the red brickbuilding in the middle of it all.“It’s getting there,” Ms. Ryan says.“It’s the greatest thing,” Mr.Podmijersky says. “When you go pastsome small thing that you did on thegrounds and you can see that it looksbetter. It’s just a very satisfying job.” ▲11

TACONIC HILLS AQUATIC/FITNESS CENTERSCHOOL YEAR HOURSSCHOOL YEARMonday – FridaySaturdaySunday6:00 a.m. – 7:20 a.m.5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.SCHOOL VACATIONS (DECEMBER, FEBRUARY, APRIL)Monday – Friday 6:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Saturday9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Sunday1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.The facility is not open on holidays.Please call 325-0432 for information on hours and closings.12THE TITAN HERALDis published by theTaconic Hills Board of EducationEditor: John SlotePhotographers: Brodie Kramer,David LeeDesign: Toelke AssociatesPlease address correspondence to:The Titan Heraldc/o Taconic Hills School DistrictP.O. Box 482Craryville, NY 12521TACONIC HILLSCENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICTP.O. BOX 482Craryville, NY 12521Please deliver to…BOXHOLDER—ORRURAL ROUTE RESIDENTof the Taconic Hills Central School DistrictNON-PROFITORGANIZATION U.S.POSTAGE PAIDHUDSON, NY 12534PERMIT #211