Wyalusing Area School District
Ram eNews
Winter 2022
Hello and Happy New Year! There’s something about January that feels like a “fresh start”. Maybe it’s the cold, calm mornings or the post-winter break energy of our students, but each January feels like a new beginning, even though it’s often a mid-way point for our school year. Students and staff are excited to see each other, we just completed the second academic quarter, and new projects and lessons are kicking-off in each classroom.
Earlier this week, our Board of Directors met and voted to approve a revised Health and Safety Plan. The link to the revised plan was sent out to families and staff as there are changes to our procedure for students who are identified as Close Contacts:
- As per PA health code requirements, the District is mandated to exclude from school any student or staff who are showing symptoms of COVID19 or who have tested positive. A return to school note is required from your health care provider. 'At-Home' COVID-19 Test results are not allowable for return to school criteria, only your health care provider can authorize a return to school date.
- The district will continue to contact trace and notify parents of children considered Close Contacts, but parents now have the option to keep their child in school (when asymptomatic) or quarantine their child following the CDC recommendations.
- **My child has been identified as a Close Contact from School**: Individuals who are identified as Close Contacts of a COVID19 positive person because of in-school contact may remain in school as long as they are not demonstrating any symptoms. Quarantine and exclusion from school is no longer required for asymptomatic close contacts.
- **My child has been identified as a Close Contact from Home**: Individuals who are identified as Close Contacts of a COVID19 positive person because of living in the same home, regardless of having symptoms or not, must follow the quarantine recommendations as issued by the CDC. Currently, the CDC has household close contacts quarantining and additional 5-10 days after the positive case is released from quarantine. A return to school note from your health care provider or a copy of the test results from an official testing site of the positive household case is required. This will allow the school nurse to determine dates of return based on the CDC standards.
Additionally, as you know, should the district experience an emergency situation on a school day such as a snow storm or power outage, we will pivot to a remote learning day. Many students took advantage of our Emergency Connectivity Fund grant which placed Chromebooks and internet hotspots in homes. These devices, other student issued devices, or other home devices will be utilized for students to connect if the district needs to pivot to a remote instruction day for an emergency situation.
As we move further into 2022, I continue to encourage all of our staff, families, and students to focus on the positive in their lives and I look forward to the possibilities that the upcoming year holds.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jason Bottiglieri
Superintendent of Schools
Inclement Weather Updates
Please be sure we have your most current contact information by informing Mrs. Katy Stoddard x3000 of any contact information changes.
Submit an Anonymous Referral - SAP
Our district has a trained SAP team in each building that meets regularly to develop interventions to assist identified students.
Students may be referred to SAP by parents, teachers, community members, or other students.
To submit an anonymous referral or view the full list of SAP team members for each building, visit our Student Assistance Program page.
To submit an anonymous SAP Referral, CLICK HERE.
Students Help Showcase Next Generation Learning Library
On December 8th, the Greater Wyalusing Chamber of Commerce (GWCC), Wyalusing Area Education Foundation (WAEF), and the Wyalusing Area School District came together to showcase the progress of the WVHS Next Generation Learning Library to community members and supporting businesses.
Representatives from HUNT Engineering shared a projected floor plan of the library with the vision of flexible seating; allowing collaborative work spaces and the opportunity to hold multiple student groups at once.
Students were invited to demonstrate how to use virtual reality (VR) goggles, drones, spheros, and they did a fantastic job engaging with attendees and sharing how the renovated library space will help to enhance their learning!
WVES Donates to Bradford County Humane Society
WVES students from all kindergarten and fifth grade classes, as well as students from Mrs. Koltis, Mrs. Card, Mrs. McMicken, Ms. Ackley and Mrs. Dibble’s classes collected items to be donated to the Bradford County Humane Society! What a generous way to help the animals until they find their forever homes!
Wyalusing Seniors Gain Experience With On-The-Job Training
Seniors attending the Northern Tier Career Center (NTCC) have the opportunity to gain on-the-job training through co-operative education. Co-operative education combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training in a career area of the student’s choice. This unique design helps students relate schoolwork to actual "real world" employment and students can even be paid.
WVHS currently has four students participating in the co-operative education program and working with local businesses while more students are in the process of being placed. This program has been extremely well received and we value our partnership with the Northern Tier Career Center and local industry to continue to provide workforce experience to our students.
Natalie Bennett, T-town Childcare
Mitchall Heller, B&K Equipment
“The best part about on-the-job training is that I’m able to do something different each day.”
Rieley Slocum, Fitzpatrick and Lambert, Inc.
Honoring Our Veterans
Our students did an incredible job representing Wyalusing as they honored U.S. veterans and members of the armed forces. The 6th grade class took their annual trip to Washington D.C. and visited the Arlington National Cemetery, where four students had the opportunity of a lifetime to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In addition, the 6th grade class hosted their Veteran’s Day Assembly where members from our own community joined in on the celebration and local veterans were recognized.
Our 7th graders also had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since their class wasn’t able to attend last year due to the challenges of the pandemic.
Our second grade classes were so excited to see the inside of a M978A4 Fuel Tanker, thanks to SSG Alan Howell and SPC Kadin Baldoni with the Army National Guard.
Thank you to our amazing teachers and chaperones for helping to make these experiences possible!
Six Junior Girl Scouts Earn Bronze Award
The girls began by identifying problems in our community. The issue of residents from the personal care home in Wyalusing trying to cross Route 6 to get to the Farm and Home Plaza was brought up as a dangerous situation. The Scouts invited the town mayor, Suky Burgess, to a meeting to discuss a possible solution of putting in a crosswalk. Suzy agreed and asked the girls to attend a Borough Council meeting. Again, the Juniors shared their concern and idea with the council who also approved. Their part would be contacting PennDot, while the Troop began raising money.
The chosen fundraiser was to collect New York State recyclable cans, bottles, and glass and redeem them for cash. They made posters and began gathering five cent items. They also checked in at several more Borough Council meetings to receive updates and further instructions. The Troop is still collecting recyclables and plans to make a $500 donation towards the project. Although the crosswalk is currently on hold by PennDot, the girls still earned their Bronze Award for the idea, follow through, and execution thus far. These six girls remain in Scouting and have since bridged to Cadettes. They continue to work to make the world a better place!
Our Rams Sports winter schedules were incredibly limited last year, so all of our winter sports are thankful to have our full complement of scheduling opportunities this weekend.
Girls Basketball: Girls Basketball opened up the season with a win over a solid Susquehanna program. The girls have been great on the defensive end of the floor and are working to improve offensively to have more success in the second half of the season.
Boys Basketball: Boys Basketball has battled through some adversity already this winter season having gone through some health issues and some tough early season losses. The boys are working hard to get better and have a chance to compete for league and district titles this season.
Wrestling: Our wrestling team has won a number of early season matches and we have many individuals who are working hard to prepare for postseason success.
Stay up-to-date with all sports by following Wyalusing Rams Sports and Northern Tier Sports Report.
***Photos provided courtesy of Northern Tier Sports Report***
Mrs. Nikki Keeney, Elementary School Nurse
Nichole (Nikki) Keeney recently joined the Wyalusing team as a registered nurse in the elementary school. After graduating from Towanda Area High School in 2000, Nikki went on to complete her Associates Degree from Kauai Community College and became a Registered Nurse. She later completed her Bachelor's Degree from Chamberlain University worked as a home health nurse and a case manager with Nurse Family Partnership.
Nikki has been married to her husband, John, for 8 years and they have 2 sons: Jett (7) and Kai (5). She loves to travel, and as a family, they enjoy camping, fishing, and hiking in the summer time.
View their January newsletter below to see important information and follow them on Facebook!
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2022 Wyalusing Area Education Foundation Spring Fling
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2022
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Black Walnut American Legion Bingo Hall
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the Spring Fling! Tickets are $50/each.
Stay up-to-date with all WEAF events by following them on social media!