Superintendent Newsletter
Panther Strong: April 2022
Dear Spencer Van Etten Community,
I am Kelly Houck and I am the District Superintendent of the Greater Southern Tier (GST) BOCES. One responsibility of a BOCES District Superintendent is to assume the duties and responsibilities of being an Interim Superintendent of one or any of the schools that are part of that BOCES when a need arises, currently there is that need at Spencer-Van Etten, and I am pleased to serve as the Interim Superintendent during this time. I will continue to serve and support the Spencer-Van Etten District in this capacity through April 18, 2022, at which time Mary Ordway will assume the role and continue to work in this capacity until the new Superintendent is appointed and begins their tenure, this is anticipated to be on or about July 1, 2022.
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the Superintendent search and ask for your assistance with this process. Your Spencer-Van Etten Board of Education is diligently working to secure your next Superintendent. They hope to have a candidate selected by the beginning of June and to have this person take office on or about July 1, 2022. This is an invitation to be a part of the Superintendent search process. Your participation is necessary to provide feedback to the Board of Education as they search for the next Spencer-Van Etten CSD Superintendent. We will be gathering feedback with the confidential online survey. The online Superintendent Search Survey can be accessed through Monday April 25, 2022. You can fill it out here Superintendent Survey or go through the school website at Welcome to Spencer-Van Etten Central Schools (svecsd.org)
We need your help by encouraging your neighbors, friends, family members, colleagues and community members to participate in the survey, students are welcome to participate in the survey as well. Your voice matters, we need your input and your Spencer-Van Etten Board of Education values your feedback!
As always, please reach out to the district through sveinfo@svecsd.org with any comments, questions, concerns, or kudos.
Together We Achieve Excellence Beyond Expectations!
#PROUDTOBEGST
Kelly Houck
District Superintendent
Greater Southern Tier BOCES
S-VE Interim Superintendent of Schools
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Career Day
S-VE staff, in collaboration with Career and Development Council, held an Alumni Career Day with 14 alumni returning to share their personal experience and success stories post S-VE Graduation. Among the speakers was one of S-VE's recent graduates, Taylor Rider, who zoomed with students. Taylor, a 2013 graduate, is currently working on her doctorate at Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Special thank you to the following alumni:
- Fred Swayze - Carpenter's Union
- Ian Williams - Carpenter's Union
- Robert Ervay - Tioga County 911
- Frank Purazzie - Chef
- Jeremiah McDaniels - Metal Fabrication
- Taylor Rider - Medical Forensics
- Ben Beauchamp - Engineering
- Stan Winnick - NYS DEC
- Brianna Shollenberger - Nursing
- Maia Kunzman - Distaster Program Manager
- Trey Rider - Business/Accounting
- Preston Sample - Sports Trainer
- Grady Alpert - Tompkins County Corrections
HS Scholars List Marking Period 4
The 21st Annual Shakespearience Project took place in March, led by Ithaca College student-teacher, Noah Rodriguez-Elibol, Instructional Support Specialist, Kimby Alpert, and ninth grade English teacher, William Dove. 9th grade students read “Romeo and Juliet” and became specialists researching and sharing their findings on a chosen subtopic from the Renaissance, presenting their final project to an audience of about 200 people.
Congratulations to the High School Quiz Team for a second place win at the Scholarship Challenge. We nearly lost to Towanda in the final match but still brought home the 1500 dollar prize. Thanks to all the supporters who listened on the radio and who came to watch up compete.
MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Honors Lists: Congratulations Students
MS Scholars List Marking Period 4
MS High Honor Roll Marking Period 4
MS Honor Roll Marking Period 4
Kopernik received a grant from the Floyd Hooker Foundation to bring LEGO SPIKE Robotics to S-VE! Kopernik educators instructed physics and engineering concepts with this STEM lesson. 5th grade students used LEGO kits and iPads to construct and instruct a robot to perform tasks. Thank you Kopernik Observatory and Science Center!
Our 5th and 6th grade Mathalon teams have been working on their math and teamwork skills since early fall in preparation for the March Mathalon. Both teams did very well. Congratulations to our 5th graders, who took 2nd place at the Mathalon! Great job!
Middle School Spring Pep Rally
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
State Test Parade
Yoga and Literacy
Athletic Highlights!
The spring athletic season has begun! Varsity and JV athletes have been practicing and games are beginning. Modified practices begin April 4th.
Athletic schedules are posted on Schedule Galaxy. Please keep in mind that the spring season comes with changes due to weather. You may want to check the schedule before heading out to a game to make sure it hasn't been changed.
We look forward to our community supporting our athletes! Spectators welcome!
Are you interested in serving on the Board of Education?
Petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education must be filed with the Clerk of the District between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. not later than April 18, 2022. The following vacancies are to be filled:
- A three-year term ending June 30, 2022 currently held by Karen Johnson
- A three-year term ending June 30, 2022 currently held by Sean Valley
Each petition must be addressed to the Clerk of the District, be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, shall state the residence of each signer, and the name and address of the candidate. The individuals receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the vacancies.
Questions can be directed to Laurie Cooper at lcooper@svecsd.org.
Electronic Newsletters = Environmentally Friendly
Please help us continue to grow our electronic newsletter listserv so we can achieve our goals of increasing community communication and transitioning to a more environmentally sustainable form of communication.Encourage those you know to submit their name and email address to sveinfo@svecsd.org to get on this electronic mailing list for our Monthly Electronic Newsletters!
All newsletters, both printed and electronic, are available here and on our website.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Clothing and Textile Recycling Drive
April 18-29, the S-VE Greenhouse Program will be running a clothing, footwear & textile recycling drive through UsAgain.
The 3rd Annual Community Fill the Bus event on April 29 from 3-5pm.
Eligible items include: all clothing items, accessories like hats, gloves, belts, bags, purses & household linens like sheets, blankets, drapes, towels. Items do not have to be in good condition, BUT they CANNOT be moldy. Please drop off all items at the middle school after school on April 29th. Thank you for helping divert waste from the waste stream!
Lourdes Mammogram Van
The S-VE Health and Wellness Committee has scheduled the Lourdes Mammogram Booth to come to S-VE for our staff and community!
Locations and dates include:
Elementary School – Monday, April 18, 2022
High School – Friday, May 13, 2022
Middle School – Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Call 607-798-5723 to schedule an appointment.
You do not have to be a Lourdes patient. Your results can be sent to the health care provider of your choice. We welcome insured and uninsured women. No referral needed.
To find out if you are eligible for low- or no-cost screenings, call the Cancer Services Program at 1-833-837-4931.
Current Positions Available
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Science Teacher - Middle School (Grant Funded) 10% Signing Bonus
- Science Teacher - High School - 10% Signing Bonus
- Special Education Teacher - (Grant Funded) 10% Signing Bonus
- Math Intervention Teacher - High School (Grant Funded)
- (2) Intervention Teaching Assistants - High School (Grant Funded)
- (2) Intervention Teaching Assistants - Middle School (Grant Funded)
- District Wide Library Media Specialist - (Grant Funded) 10% Signing Bonus
- Technology/Ag Tech/Agriculture Teacher - Middle School
- Spanish Teacher - Anticipated Opening
- Long Term Substitute Special Education Teacher
- Long Term Substitute English Teacher
- Long Term Substitute Social Studies Teacher - Middle School
- School Monitor - High School (Grant Funded)
- Substitute Teachers/Teaching Assistants
- Night Cleaners and Substitute Night Cleaners
- Bus Drivers (will train)
- RN & LPN Substitutes
Anyone interested can go to Olas to apply or read further about the positions!
Building Use Form
Recently created and posted on our website is an electronic building use form for organizations to access when requesting use of our facilities. Please keep in mind that our facilities will be closed for the summer months due to the Capital Project.Capital Project
Construction for the secure vestibules at the HS and ES will begin over Spring break. Please be patient as we adjust our high school entrance to accommodate the construction. The main entrance for the High School will be through the gymnasium doors. This will be effective for the remainder of the school year, with the anticipated opening of our new vestibule July 1, 2022. We anticipate the entrance for the Elementary School will remain the same throughout the 2021-2022 school year.
High School
High School Office
Elementary School
Budget Vote Information
- The Budget Hearing will be held Thursday, May 5th at 7pm in the Middle School Library.
- The Annual Budget Vote will be held Tuesday, May 17th from noon-8pm in the S-VE High School Auditorium Lobby.
Thank you for your support!
Transportation Vote Results93 - yes
34 - no
FREE Breakfast and Lunch for ALL students!!!
For the 2021-2022 School Year, 1 FREE Breakfast and 1 FREE Lunch is provided daily to all students! Additional portions are available for a charge.
Menus can be accessed on our cafeteria webpage.
Kindness, compassion, patience, character and a vision for improving the world around her are all reasons why Senator Akshar recognized senior Harley White as S-VE's 2022 Akshar All Star. Thank you Senator Akshar and congratulations Harley!!!
Empty Bowls
Grease
Red Cross Blood Drive
S-VE National Honor Society hosted a Red Cross Blood Drive in March for our school and community. All 24 NHS students contributed a minimum of one hour of their time to volunteer, whether that was making posters, tabling during lunch to recruit student/teacher donors or volunteering their time during the actual blood drive.
Thank you to the 5 students, 12 staff members, and 15 community members who donated blood. We collected 32 units of blood, which will save potentially 96 lives!
Because we collected over 30 units of blood, one lucky NHS member will be receiving a $250 scholarship!
Way to go NHS!
Digital Equity Survey Reminder
If you have not done so yet, please complete the Digital Equity Survey for each student in grades Kindergarten – Grade 12.
The Digital Equity Survey:
- is a NYS requirement,
- provides an accurate picture of connectivity/access for district remote learning plans,
- necessary for state and federal funding of broadband initiatives.
Digital Citizenship Newsletter