Extra Credit: Education News From Around the Region: December 2014

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Ballston Spa: Adult Sports and Fitness Opportunities in the Schools

The Ballston Spa Community Education Program is currently offering adult sports from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with Co-ed Indoor Soccer and Co-ed Volleyball classes held on Mondays, and Men’s Basketball on Wednesdays. A 10-week session begins the week of January 5^th and requires a $30 fee for school district residents.

The popular Walk About program provides a safe, indoor walking course for those interested in a low-impact fitness activity. The program continues through April when school is in session. A $15 registration fee is required for this program, and nonresidents are charged $18 to participate. Walkers may join the program at any time throughout the session.

Preregistration is required, and fees are due at the beginning of each course. Those interested may register for courses by mail or in person at the district office, 70 Malta Ave. Additional information regarding any of the courses offered is available online at www.bscsd.org or by calling 884-7195, ext. 1329.

Also, the Ballston Spa Aquatics Program is currently offering opportunities for public use of the pool during adult lap-swimming sessions from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A family/open swim is offered on Saturday afternoons from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Additional opportunities are offered throughout the year, including adult Aqua Cardio classes and a Learn-To-Swim program.

The Community Swim Program is open to district students, families and community members. District residents need to show identification and pay a $1 entrance fee to use the pool. Nonresidents are admitted as space allows for a $2 fee. The pool is closed during school vacations, emergency cancellations (i.e., snow days or early dismissals) and when school activities necessitate closure.

Information is available online at www.bscsd.org, by clicking on the Aquatics/Pool button on the left side of the homepage. For more information, contact the pool office directly at 884-7150, ext. 2324.

--Jennie Grey

--Please note my new contact information below--

Education reporter
The Saratogian and The Record newspapers
20 Lake Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
jgrey@digitalfirstmedia.com
Office: 518-290-3898 Work cell: 518-222-2109

Monday, December 22, 2014

Ballston Spa: National Junior Honor Society Completes Pajama Drive

The students and staff of Ballston Spa Middle School collected more than 110 sets of new pajamas for the Scholastic Reading Club’s annual Pajama Drive. The program is coordinated through the Pajama Program in New York City, and items are donated to local youth in need through the St. Catherine’s Center for the Children in Albany. The collection was spearheaded in the Ballston Spa Middle School by the National Junior Honor Society. The goal was to collect 100 sets of pajamas and as many children’s books as possible.

--Jennie Grey

National Junior Honor Society representatives included (front row l-r) Megan McMahon, Caroline Leva, Alexis Mrzyglod, Amanda Parsons, (back row l-r) Michael Poirier, Luke Gold, Alex Hodge and Evan Piscitelli. Photo provided.

Hudson Valley Community College: Offering Digital Marketing Degree Next Fall

Hudson Valley Community College will offer a new associate in applied science degree in digital marketing beginning in fall 2015. Offered through the college’s Accounting, Entrepreneurship and Marketing Department, the 62-credit degree program is designed for students interested in online, digital and social media marketing or advertising; Web design; digital content management; and Web analytics.

The program prepares graduates for employment, or transfer to four-year colleges and universities to further their education. Its students gain knowledge in the core areas of digital marketing and business, and learn to use technology in those environments. The program can be completed through full- or part-time study during the day or entirely online. Classes are also offered in the evening.

Coursework includes the classes Web Page Design and Management; Information Design and Applied Digital Media; Principles of Marketing; Advertising; Digital Marketing; Sales Management; Marketing Management and Strategy; Business Ethics; and more. An internship providing experiential learning may also fulfill degree requirements. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills, effective written and oral communication skills, and understanding ethical marketing and business decisions.

For more information, contact the Accounting, Entrepreneurship and Marketing Department at 629-7148 or Admissions at 629-7309; admissions@hvcc.edu; or on campus in the Guenther Enrollment Services Center, Room 223.

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Sciences; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and in its Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of more than 12,000 students, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 75,000 alumni.

--Jennie Grey--

Please note my new contact information below--

Education reporter

The Saratogian and The Record newspapers

20 Lake Ave.

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

jgrey@digitalfirstmedia.com

Office: 518-290-3898

Work cell: 518-222-2109

Thursday, December 11, 2014

The Sage Colleges: Creative people present ideas at PechaKucha Night

Dec. 5, the Sage Colleges hosted a free PechaKucha Night at the Opalka Gallery, 140 New Scotland Ave., Albany.

PechaKucha nights are fun, informal gatherings where creative people get together and share their ideas, works and thoughts -- just about anything, really.

PechaKucha is a global network of events that follows one simple rule: Show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The slides advance automatically, so the presenter must keep pace.

Since the event is open to the public, many attended the colleges' first PechaKucha Night back in February.

Speakers for this PechaKucha Night were Ken Ragsdale, Martin Hull, Mike Wagner, Chet Boehlke Jr., Scott Ian Berry, Amy Halloran, Dorothea Osborne, Danny Goodwin, Joanne Curran and Kate Cohen.

Check out this video of Brian Cirmo presenting at the first Opalka Gallery PechaKucha in February.
To learn more about PechkaKucha, visit www.sage.edu/opalka/programming/.

--Jennie Grey

--Please note my new contact information below--

Education reporter
The Saratogian and The Record newspapers
20 Lake Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
jgrey@digitalfirstmedia.com
Office: 518-290-3898
Work cell: 518-222-2109

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Berlin: High School Named State Finalist in the $2 Million Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest

Berlin High School has been named a New York state finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest, a nationwide competition to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by challenging teachers and students to take topics out of traditional classroom settings and into local communities.

Berlin High School was awarded two Samsung Galaxy tablet computers for the school. In addition, teacher and team coordinator Dawn Wetmore will receive a PBS TeacherLine professional development course. Berlin is one of five schools in New York to become a state finalist in the Solve for Tomorrow contest.

Berlin High School has moved on to the next round of the competition for its interest in using STEM to create an engineering design project that alerts parents when their child is approaching the roadway. During the next phase of the competition, Wetmore will create a lesson plan to address the issue in an educational setting. Should Berlin High School
win the state competition, the school will receive a video technology kit and a technology package valued at $20,000.

The 51 state winners will be announced this December.

“We are thrilled to announce Berlin High School as a state finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest,"said Berlin High School Principal Dr. Catherine Allain. "I applaud the work and innovation of those students and teachers involved who seek to improve the community through STEM. We look forward to bringing the project to the classroom with Mrs. Wetmore’s lesson plan.”

To learn more about the competition and past winners, visit www.samsung.com/solve.

--Jennie Grey

--Please note my new contact information below--

Education reporter
The Saratogian and The Record newspapers
20 Lake Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
jgrey@digitalfirstmedia.com
Office: 518-290-3898
Work cell: 518-222-2109

Ballston Spa: Middle School Distributes Clothing to Local Families

The Ballston Spa Middle School recently held its sixth annual Scottie’s Closet event, which provided free gently used clothing, coats, shoes, books and toys to nearly 590 students, families and individuals residing in the Ballston Spa Central School District and surrounding areas. Each year, the event is organized by Ballston Spa Middle School social workers Gaylen Wichrowski and Christine Jones; parent volunteer Max Bucholtz; and numerous parents, school and community volunteers.

Scottie’s Closet began more than four years ago to distribute clothing and other items to the school district’s students and families, as well as to community residents. All the items donated to Scottie’s Closet are provided free to students, families and community members who can benefit from those items being “recycled.” This annual community event would not be possible without the more than 85 school and community volunteers who donated, sorted and merchandised all the items in the cafeteria. District employees and school parents also donated numerous gift cards and raffle-basket prizes.

Any of the remaining donated items were delivered to the Franklin Community Center, Dress for Success of Saratoga County and Code Blue of Saratoga Springs. For more information about this community event, please contact Jones or Wichrowski at 884-7200.

--Jennie Grey

Troy: Sacred Heart School's Fourth-Graders Open a Native American Museum in Miniature

At Sacred Heart School, Mrs. Robert’s fourth grade recently opened its New York State Native American Museum in miniature to the public, sharing its project-oriented exhibits with schoolmates and families.

Teams of students had created informative boards and three-dimensional displays, and had even dressed in appropriate costumes as they shared their findings with others. This event was an unique means of culminating a New York state social studies/English language arts module on New York Iroquois and Algonquin Indian Tribes.

Sacred Heart is an elementary school on the east side of Troy that serves children ages three through twelve. Sacred Heart supports families, the first educators of children. Together, staff and teachers work with families to encourage students to become involved, responsible, contributing members of the church and the community.

--Jennie Grey

Saratoga: Parent University Presented 'Saratoga Schools Past and Present'

A Parent University program about Saratoga school history took place Dec. 3. The program was held in the Maple Avenue Middle School Large Group Instruction Room and was open to the public, as are all Parent University events.

Parent University is a community collaboration that offers opportunities for parents and caregivers to continue their learning. All events are open to parents and caregivers from all buildings and grade levels, as well as to teachers and community members.

"Saratoga Schools Past and Present" taught the story of local schools from 1813 to the present. A slideshow presented schools in and around the town with artifacts to show what school was like for students and teachers back then.

The event featured Phyllis Aldrich and Dave Patterson, who each recently wrote a chapter for the book “Centennial History of Saratoga Springs.” Patterson is a former Saratoga Springs High School history teacher and a Saratoga tour guide.

Michael Piccirillo, superintendent of schools, shared facts and initiatives of the modern-day Saratoga Springs City School District.

--Jennie Grey

--Please note my new contact information below--

Education reporter
The Saratogian and The Record newspapers
20 Lake Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
jgrey@digitalfirstmedia.com
Office: 518-290-3898
Work cell: 518-222-2109

Schuylerville: Partner Hudson Crossing Park Awarded a $3,000 Green Ribbon School Grant

Nov. 17, Hudson Crossing Park was awarded a $3,000 grant for Schuylerville’s Green Ribbon School (GRS) Project. The award came from the Community/Land Preservation and Planning Fund of the Community Foundation of the Greater Capital Region.

It is the second grant given by the Community Foundation to Hudson Crossing Park for the Green Ribbon School Project. This latest award will help fund professional development and incentives for teachers and staff who want to learn more about and lead GRS-aligned projects.

--Jennie Grey

Schuylerville: Green Ribbon School Project Receives Recognition

Schuylerville Central School District’s Green Ribbon School (GRS) Project has received national recognition from Green Ribbon Schools (www.greenribbonschools.org), a grassroots project based in Texas that offers a web-based platform for recording and rewarding a school's accomplishments in four cornerstone areas. These areas are natural classrooms, health and fitness, nature and adventure, and EcoCampus.

Schuylerville was one of just 25 schools nationwide to complete all the necessary requirements to receive its Green Ribbon School designation for the 2013-14 school year.

A banner to recognize the GRS Team's accomplishments was presented Nov. 17 at the Schuylerville Board of Education meeting. It will be displayed in the elementary school.

“The banner is a reminder of the hard work these volunteers put in to help promote health in our students, school, community and environment,” Superintendent Dr. Ryan Sherman said.

GRS was started four years ago when Schuylerville parent Cindy Wian proposed the program as a way to promote Hudson Crossing Park’s environmental mission in partnership with the school community.

“Our motto is 'Growing. Learning. Leading ... it's in our Nature!', and it reflects exactly the evolution we see this program experiencing as it moves from one of a few eager volunteers planting seeds to students, teachers, staff, families and community members all stepping forward to learn and lead in exciting new ways,” Wian said.

The next step for the district is to apply to New York state to be nominated as one of the schools awarded the federal Green Ribbon School designation by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Schuylerville Green Ribbon School Project is led by Deborah McGloine, Angela Meislin, Kristen Long and Cindy Wian. To learn more about GRS, sign up for email updates on activities and programs (schuylervillegrs@gmail.com), or visit the group’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/schuylervillegreenribbonschoolproject).

--Jennie Grey