May's High School Happenings

GHS Students Salute Vets

When sixty Honor Flight veterans from the Rochester area flew to Washington, DC on May 13th, they got quite a surprise on board the plane. A ¨mail call¨ announcement signaled the delivery of dozens of letters, personally written by Gananda High School seniors and freshmen.

Our students wrote to soldiers who served in World War II, Korea, the Cold War, and Vietnam. In ELA classes, students selected paper strips containing brief descriptions of each soldier´s name, nickname, hometown, rank, and job. The vets live in nearby places including Walworth, Farmington, Marion, Canandaigua, Pittsford, and Geneva. The young writers developed questions based on their curiosity and background knowledge about the conflicts. Some asked the vets to explain what their job duties entailed such as the work of a radio operator, or a Seabee in the U.S. Navy. Some called their parents or grandparents to investigate their own relatives´ military history and shared their family connections in their correspondence. The letter writing project is a collaboration with ELA Teachers Mr. Muldowney and Mr. Barresi, Teacher-Librarian Mrs. Lepkowski, and the Honor Flight organization in Rochester.

Wearing bright orange shirts designating their honor status, Mission 77 members and their guardians visited the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery when they reached the Capitol on Saturday. They flew back home on Sunday, May 14th to a heroes´ welcome at the Frederick Douglass International Airport. To witness their stories and see their photos and Facebook videos, visit https://honorflightrochester.org/.

Now that the mission is complete, Gananda students wait to see if the veterans write back. Patience is required, as the immediacy of social media is not part of this tradition. They are counting on the U.S. mail for good news. Just as Mission 77 vets did while stationed in faraway places, more than half a century ago.


Ms. Calisha Bertram, Counselor for Students L-Z Mrs. Kelleher & Ms. Bertram hosted a college preparation workshop in April. They provided a 7-session workshop for students interested in pursuing 4-year colleges. Topics covered included; the application process, college essays, letters of recommendation, filling out the FAFSA, creating a Common App account/beginning the application process, perfecting the college resume, college visits/narrowing down the search, scholarships and important tips along the way! They received great feedback from participants, as well as suggestions for next year!	Mrs. Kristen Kelleher, Counselor for Students A-K Gananda High School students visited New Visions Medical Programs. Students were able to tour the facility, meet instructors, as well as experience hands-on activities that utilized medical equipment. Students can then decide to apply to the program and learn invaluable skills and knowledge to prepare them for a career in the medical field.	Mrs. Audra Marang, Work Based Learning Coordinator Work Based Learning webpage See our job board! Many great opportunities for employment and shadowing. Gananda.org/RACHS/Students/Career Exploration, Job Shadowing and Job Opportunities

Ms. Calisha Bertram, Counselor for Students L-Z

Mrs. Kelleher & Ms. Bertram hosted a college preparation workshop in April. They provided a 7-session workshop for students interested in pursuing 4-year colleges. Topics covered included; the application process, college essays, letters of recommendation, filling out the FAFSA, creating a Common App account/beginning the application process, perfecting the college resume, college visits/narrowing down the search, scholarships and important tips along the way! They received great feedback from participants, as well as suggestions for next year!

Mrs. Kristen Kelleher, Counselor for Students A-K

Gananda High School students visited New Visions Medical Programs. Students were able to tour the facility, meet instructors, as well as experience hands-on activities that utilized medical equipment. Students can then decide to apply to the program and learn invaluable skills and knowledge to prepare them for a career in the medical field.