Extra Credit: Education News From Around the Region: March 2015

Friday, March 27, 2015

Troy: Riverfront P-TECH Students Board the BioBus

Troy Riverfront Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) students recently gained hands-on lab research experience through a visit from the BioBus, a lab on wheels operated by Cell Motion Laboratories, an educational nonprofit organization based in New York City.

Troy Riverfront P-TECH is one of only 16 programs of its kind in the state. The Troy Riverfront P-TECH program puts high school students on a direct career path to the region’s most in-demand fields including technology, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.
As a result of taking a combination of high school and college-level courses, P-TECH students will earn 20-30 college credits before they graduate high school. College-level courses are focused on the most heavily demanded skills from the fastest-growing fields — all with the support of a team of teachers, counselors and industry professionals.

Students will also have job shadow and internship opportunities at participating companies. Students will explore careers and see firsthand how their academic studies apply to the real world.

Troy Riverfront P-TECH is a partnership of Troy city schools, Questar III BOCES, Hudson Valley Community College, the Center for Economic Growth, GE Healthcare, Simmons Machine Tool Corporation and Regeneron.

The BioBus is a 1974 GMC Transit bus equipped with $100,000 worth of research-grade microscopes normally found in top-tier laboratories and staffed by Ph.D. scientists. Thanks to a sponsorship by P-TECH partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, P-TECH students had the opportunity to observe microorganisms and work through lab activities with research scientists.

Since the first students boarded the BioBus in 2008, the bus has been on the road teaching for 800 days, giving 115,000 people at more than 420 schools and communities the opportunity to work side by side with professional scientists and explore their environment.

Almost every day of the school year, the BioBus parks in front of a school, giving students that board the chance to use a phase-contrast video microscope to make movies of crawling amoeba, to use a scanning electron microscope to image a fly's eye, and to visualize glowing, streaming plant chloroplasts using a fluorescence microscope. The students work alongside the former research scientists that form the BioBus regular staff as well as volunteers ranging from students from local colleges and universities to Nobel Prize winner Martin Chalfie to Bill Nye “the Science Guy.”

Regeneron is a leading science-based biopharmaceutical company based in Tarrytown, N.Y. that discovers, invents, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Regeneron commercializes medicines for eye diseases, colorectal cancer and a rare inflammatory condition, and has product candidates in development in other areas of high unmet medical need, including hypercholesterolemia, oncology, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and atopic dermatitis.

--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
Blog: "Extra Credit: Education News from Around the Region": http://regionaleducation.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Troy: Assemblyman John McDonald Honors Troy Middle School Teacher

Troy Middle School recently held its Annual Career Day, during which eighth-grade students had the opportunity to learn about various careers and how to obtain them. More than 75 local business professionals came to discuss careers with Troy students.

Also this year, a surprise resolution, cosponsored by Assemblyman John McDonald and Senator Neil Breslin, was presented to family and consumer science teacher Linda Lupian for her 43 years in the district and her 24-year commitment to Career Day. She is set to retire this June.

--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
Blog: "Extra Credit: Education News from Around the Region": http://regionaleducation.blogspot.com/

Troy: Sacred Heart Elementary Family Wins School's $1,000 March Raffle

Sacred Heart Elementary School knows how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Sacred Heart School is an elementary school on the east side of Troy that serves children three through 12 years of age. At Sacred Heart, staff is dedicated to the Catholic education of young people within a family-like environment that is caring, challenging, respectful and joyful. The school strives to endow all students with the strongest possible motivation for using their education for God, community, family and self.

March 17, the pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade students had many things to celebrate at their morning assembly led by their principal, Susan Merrill.

The children arrived at school wearing their green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the pulling of the $1,000 winner of their annual March Madness Raffle. Green dresses, T-shirts, hats and even sunglasses filled the church for morning assembly. An expectant drumroll added to the anticipation of our $1,000 winner – an active school family.

The assembly opened with Irish step dancing performed by five Sacred Heart students.

Shown are the step dancers and the drawing of the raffle winner.

United States: Manufacturing Universities Act Introduced

March 18, Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) joined representatives Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Chris Collins (R-NY) in introducing the bipartisan Manufacturing Universities Act. The bill would establish the Manufacturing Universities program within the United States Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology. Colleges and universities with existing engineering programs would be eligible to apply for the Manufacturing University designation, which would include up to $5 million annually for four years to improve engineering programs with an emphasis on manufacturing.The program would also increase the number of joint projects with manufacturing firms, and support students who participate in cooperative education and apprenticeships with manufacturers.

“American manufacturing represents almost $2 trillion in economic activity each year – a figure that could increase if we invest in our workers, and narrow the skill gap that stands between the unemployed and unfilled jobs,” Tonko said. “This bicameral, bipartisan legislation is critical to educating our workforce and supporting continued economic growth through innovation. I look forward to working with representatives Esty, Collins, Meehan, Davis and Thompson to see this bill passed and having New York’s robust manufacturing sector, working in concert with our fine colleges and universities, provide fertile ground for continued job growth.”

"The State University of New York (SUNY) proudly supports the Manufacturing Universities Act of 2015 as it helps pave the way for the advancement of manufacturing efforts across the country," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "We thank Representative Tonko for his leadership in recognizing the valuable role public universities play in educating and training students for the 21st century workforce."

The Manufacturing Universities Act has been referred to the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee. The bill is bipartisan and bicameral. The companion bill in the Senate was introduced by senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).

--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
Blog: "Extra Credit: Education News from Around the Region": http://regionaleducation.blogspot.com/

Troy: Professional Development Day Kicks off Capital Project Teleconferencing

In Troy Enlarged City School District, Professional Development Day March 20 served as the kickoff to the district's $8.4 million capital project approved by voters in 2013. The district installed state-of-the-art, interactive Cisco teleconference technology in 200 classrooms, as well as implemented curriculum with real-world applications.

The technology allows for a unique classroom experience in which students will have an opportunity to interact with community businesses and organizations on a local, national and global level. The collaboration will engage students in real-world learning of their subject areas, and will improve their 21^st century skills to better prepare them for college and careers.

At Troy Middle School, 1976 Burdett Ave., on Professional Development Day, Troy teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, as well as guests from other school districts, used new technology to teleconference with specialists from organizations across the country. These groups included the National Football Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Center for Puppetry Arts, Durham Western Heritage Museum, the University of Nebraska State Museum, the Institute for Holocaust Education and Ann Arbor Hands On Science.

South Glens Falls: Parent University Event Examines Social Media

The Community Coalition for Family Wellness (CCFW) recently held its latest Parent University program at South Glens Falls High School.

The coalition featured Chris Vollum, a recognized educator on various social media platforms who has presented to more than 300,000 students in school districts throughout the United States and Canada. Vollum is passionate about the remarkable potential of social media, and his presentations illustrate the how-tos and whys of the world’s most prominent social sites and apps including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Vine, Snapchat, Tumblr and ASK.FM. He believes parents can best help their children navigate social media using a positive, hands-on approach. Through relatable and realistic exercises, his participants develop practical skills to minimize the risk of bullying, cyberbullying and loss of reputation as well as identifying opportunities and platforms with which to build their reputation.

“We know our students are using social media every day,” said Superintendent of Schools Michael Patton. “As a district, along with the Community Coalition for Family Wellness, we want to educate our students and their families about the best practices for keeping our kids safe. We want them to learn the ways that their digital footprint is an important part of their life and future.”

According to Donna Nichols, executive director of the Moreau Community Center and a founding member of the Community Coalition for Family Wellness, “The coalition addresses pertinent issues that can be applied to today’s challenges, both for kids and their parents. Social media is certainly one of these pervasive issues.”

Jenn Wood, coordinator for the coalition, said, “Many of the points Chris makes in his presentation also apply to handling other situations that teens may find themselves a part of, including the choice to use or not use alcohol and other drugs. His message is aligned with our coalition’s mission.”

The Parent University program is designed to provide knowledge and skills essential for 21^st century parents. This is the third of three events the coalition committed to organizing during the 2014-15 school year to provide families with resources, education and activities that promote safety, health and wellness.

Information is posted at www.ccfw.weebly.com.

sgf community coalition for family wellness

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

North Greenbush: Woodland Hill Montessori School Students Learn about Antarctica

Captain Chris Rickert recently visited Woodland Hill Montessori School to give a presentation about Antarctica to students from age 3 to third grade. He brought a model of an emperor penguin and some survival wear for cold rescues.

Woodland Hill Montessori School, founded in 1965, is a progressive independent school at 100 Montessori Place in North Greenbush. The school is fully accredited by the American Montessori Society and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the Capital Region Independent School Association. There are 290 students from toddler through eighth grade. Visit the website at www.woodlandhill.org.

-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
Blog: "Extra Credit: Education News from Around the Region": http://regionaleducation.blogspot.com/

The Sage Colleges: Sage Professor Speaks about the Islamic State and the New Middle East

Steven Leibo, Ph.D., professor of modern international history and politics at the Sage Colleges, led a talk about the Islamic State and the New Middle East March 25 on the Russell Sage campus in Troy.

Interdisciplinary academics, combining the professions and the liberal arts, community engagement, international exposure, and artistic and athletic endeavors are among the pillars of the educational experience at the Sage Colleges. Sage enrolls more than 3,000 students in bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs at the undergraduate Russell Sage College for women in Troy; the coeducational undergraduate Sage College of Albany; and the graduate-level Esteves School of Education, School of Health Sciences and School of Management, with programs on both campuses. Sage also offers adult education through the School of Professional and Continuing Education, and via the Internet through Russell Sage Online.

Leibo discussed how the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Syria and Iraq has proven as capable of inspiring followers as of terrifying people within the region and beyond. He also spoke about the origins, nature and possible future of the Middle East's newest potential state.

In addition to teaching, Leibo is head of the Climate Crisis Center at Sage. He is a former Fulbright scholar, and is best-known to upstate New York residents for his work as a frequent international political analyst for regional television, radio and newspapers. He was previously the international political analyst for WTEN TV and since 1997 has served as an international affairs commentator for WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Leibo has twice acted as a consultant for the Educational Testing Service's exams on the Modern Middle East.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Troy: Oakwood Christian School Receives a Visit from Senator Kathy Marchione

New York state Senator Kathy Marchione (R, C, I-Halfmoon), chair of the Senate’s Local Government Committee, recently visited Oakwood Christian School at 260 Oakwood Ave. in Troy. She spoke to 70 students in kindergarten through grade 8, along with their parents and teachers.

Marchione was invited to discuss her role as a New York state senator and the importance of public service.

WSWHE BOCES: Barnes and Noble Donates 2,300 New Books

Recently, representatives from Barnes and Noble presented more than 2,300 new books to the librarians of 18 local schools. Towers of tomes were distributed at the WSWHE BOCES Gick Road Conference Center at 27 Gick Rd., Saratoga Springs.

The sheer volume of books is a result of Barnes and Noble Saratoga Springs’ annual Holiday Book Drive, though which generous customers give the gift of reading.

“The Holiday Book Drive is one of our most popular community partnerships,” said Barnes and Noble Saratoga Community Relations Manager Beth Austin. “Our booksellers and customers share the pure joy of giving a book to a child in need. Because each Barnes and Noble store chooses its local nonprofit beneficiary, the donations are very personal. We love the fact that customers can pick their favorite children’s book, designate a school and give the gift of reading for years to come!”

Barnes and Noble coordinates the book delivery to each school with the help of the WSWHE BOCES School Library Services.

“We really want to thank Barnes and Noble, and the community for making it possible to get more books into the hands of children,” said WSWHE BOCES School Library Services Coordinator J’aimé Pfeiffer.

The books will be used for each school’s 1,000 Book Club, which is a reading program designed for preschoolers, kindergarteners and their families. Families borrow a bag of 10 books to read together and return for another bag, with the goal of reading 1,000 books by the completion of second grade. This helps children develop a lifetime bond with books while fostering a positive connection between home and school.

Troy: Sacred Heart Elementary School raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Sacred Heart School collected one week’s worth of loose change for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients Program in honor of the students' hero, Father John Yanas. Yanas, a 30-year leukemia survivor, is the Sacred Heart School pastor and spiritual leader.

Sacred Heart is an elementary school on the east side of Troy that serves children three through 12 years of age. The school supports families, the first educators of children. Together, staff and families encourage students to become involved, responsible, contributing members of the church and the community.

For the penny drive, the schoolchildren found loose change around their homes, earned money by doing chores and bought raffle tickets for three special incentives. Teacher Mrs. Ciccone’s 20 fifth-graders collected more than $188; that is an average of $9.40 per student.

A special segment of the school's daily morning assembly was added to the Feb. 27 gathering at 8 a.m. in the church. Students created cards and gave notes of encouragement to Yanas, and a check for $724 was presented to the local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society chapter representative, Brandy Farber.

Yanas spoke of his long battle with cancer, which he will continue to face in the years ahead. Farber congratulated the children for their efforts and closed with a round of applause.