West Genesee District e-Newsletter
November 10, 2022
Message from the Superintendent
Dear West Genesee Families,
In the last edition of the e-Newsletter, I shared a bit about the experience of attending the event at Onondaga Community College with guest speakers including President Biden. Aside from excitement due to of those in attendance and the impact of the announcement from Micron Technology Inc., I mentioned that we have many changes coming.
There will likely be a transformational impact on Central New York in many areas: job opportunities, impact on local businesses, rising population, and increasing enrollment in schools, to name a few. We at West Genesee have begun to explore and reexamine many facets of program, curriculum, facilities, and partnerships of significance and new meaning. Positioning our students for future opportunities has always been a priority. It is imperative that we anticipate the shifting landscape of our region to drive our short-term and long-range planning.
The West Genesee Strategic Planning Committee continues to meet regarding Strategic Focus Areas (Curriculum and Assessment, Social-Emotional Learning, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), SMART Goals, and Action Steps within the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. Please see the dedicated page on the West Genesee website found here with access to supporting material.
This week, the 30-member group met as a check-in to monitor progress in those areas and review the timelines of actions. Additionally, the group refined a Climate Survey (referenced below) that will gather information and feedback to inform focus areas. The survey is a continued approach to communicate priorities and provides an opportunity for stakeholder input. Please look for the survey in upcoming weeks.
On Monday and Tuesday of this week, we were visited by Composer and Film Orchestrator Rossano Galante who worked with our student-musicians during ensembles and music theory classes. The WGHS Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and the Camillus Community Band experienced a master class/clinic style rehearsal with original works by Mr. Galante. Having visits from accomplished and well-known practitioners such as composers, authors, and professionals in all fields provides unique opportunities and authentic learning for our school community. Kudos to our students for their professional approach and for welcoming our renowned guest.
Enjoy the recognition and celebration of students and staff as detailed in the e-Newsletter. With each accomplishment or performance, please consider the effort and commitment that led to the examples of success. Further, notice community partners that exemplify the special nature of our community that supports our youth, program, and staff to excel at high levels. Put a different way, we are West Genesee Stronger Together!
David C. Bills
Superintendent of Schools
Pictured above from left to right, on the floor are Lukas Borsz, Nikola Jakimoski, and Josephine Carkey. Seated on the boxes are Jacob Gaffney, Madison Potaczala, and Alaina Schuessler. Standing in the middle on the left are Marian Bronson, Isabetta Finney, Kaitlin Grandinetta, and Madeline Persons. Standing in the middle on the boxes are Zoey Hess, Parker Thomas, and Lincoln Millar. Standing in the middle on the right are Maddison Perkins, Alexander Carkey, Kieran Hayden, and Rafael Colaneri. Standing in the back on the boxes are Kenneth Kirby, and Caroline Sperduti.
WGMS Students to Perform the Musical Madagascar - A Musical Adventure Jr.
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo, and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto your stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
Credit for above information to: https://www.mtishows.com/madagascar-a-musical-adventure-jr
The WGMS Musical Production Team includes: Christy Niedermaier Knowlton (Director/Producer/Choreographer), Jeff Bowe (set design and construction), Corey Hobin ( sound design), Sophia Knowlton (assistant to the director, assistant choreographer), Sammi Bullock (assistant choreographer), and Ryan Popp ( assistant to the director).
Performances will be held on Thursday, November 17 at 7 p.m., Friday, November 18 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, November 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the door only.
Click here to read the full article with the cast information.
Middle School Students Compete at District Spelling Bee
West Genesee Middle School students Thomas Cleveland and Blake Bucktooth came in first and second place respectively as they faced-off spelling such words as “judicious” and “respiration” in the West Genesee Spelling Bee held on November 2.
West Genesee will send four students to join others from Central New York for a written test in February. The top 35 spellers from that round will compete in The Post-Standard WCNY Spelling Bee oral spell-down in February.
Listed at right, under the picture, are the students who will represent West Genesee. Below the four qualifiers are listed.
- Thomas Cleveland (WGMS 6th grade) Overall winner
- Blake Bucktooth (WGMS 6th grade) Runner up
- Olivia Capozzi (WGMS 6th grade)
- Max Nolan (CMS 8th grade )
Students and Teachers are Honored by the Camillus Optimists
Sarah Fettig and Ewan Moran from West Genesee High School; Sophia Olson and Max Nolan from Camillus Middle School; and Katelyn Pensabene and Jackson Woody from West Genesee Middle School were honored by the Camillus Optimists with the David Kenna Outstanding Student Award.
Steven Ficarra (West Genesee High School technology teacher), Danielle Paussa (Camillus Middle School special education teacher), and Susan Sheehan (Stonehedge Elementary School ADAPEP counselor) each received the 2022 Joseph A. Witowski Outstanding Teacher Award.
Honorees and their families were guests of the Optimists on November 3 at the Tuscarora Golf Club. School administrators introduced each honoree and described their unique contributions. Optimist David Philippone coordinated the program.
WGHS Student is Selected as the Best and Brightest
Congratulations to West Genesee High School senior Logan Battaglia who has been named in the Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard’s Best and Brightest Award program that sought to find the most amazing high school seniors in the area. #WildcatPride
Students were judged on their academics, honors, extracurriculars, community service, grades, recommendations and their personal story. Winning students and their families were invited to attend an award presentation at the end of October at the Advance Media NY offices in downtown Syracuse.
West Genesee Strategic Planning Climate Survey
The survey will be opened on December 1 and close on December 16. You will be able to take the survey online at home, or when you come to your school’s parent-teacher conferences. More information to come!
We thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses. If you have any questions about the survey administration, please don’t hesitate to contact Rob Leo at rleo@westgenesee.org or Deb Ratcliff at dratcliff@westgenesee.org.
Meet our School Patrol Officers: This Week...Officer Thomas Skardinski
We would like to Welcome back Officer Thomas Skardinski on a full time basis to Stonehedge. Officer Skardinski previously worked as an SPO at Stonehedge and now is in the building full time working both students and staff.
Officer Skardinski has been employed for the Camillus Police Department for the past 3 school years where he was originally assigned to West Genesee Middle School, Stonehedge Elementary and Onondaga Rd Elementary Schools. Prior to coming to West Genesee, Officer Skardinski was employed by the Syracuse Police Department where he retired from in 2019. Officer Skardinski had a 20 year career with the Syracuse Police Department where he worked in the Patrol Division for 5 years, the Crime Reduction Team for 1 and a half years, 10 years as a case Detective in the Criminal Investigations Division and the last 3 years in the Homicide Squad.
In addition to being a West Genesee SPO Officer, Officer Skardinski is a graduate of West Genesee and is a father of two boys who are both currently students at West Genesee High School.
Principal Simmons shared, “Officer Skardinski is a highly-valued member of our team here at Stonehedge. We are incredibly grateful that after several years of sharing time with other buildings, he has joined us on a full time basis. Every morning, as over 700 students arrive to school, Officer Skardinski welcomes a grand portion of the children with a friendly fist bump (there’s often a line of students excitedly awaiting!) At dismissal each day, he can be seen doing the same, with a smile on his face. He regularly conducts safety walkthroughs, visits students during lunches, and supports students and staff in his capacity as a School Peace Officer.
"Safety being his top priority, Officer Skardinski has already assisted in establishing protocols, tips and procedures for classroom and school-wide events. With so many Stonehedge students and families attending school functions, special attention to these details have made events like Pumpkinhedge and our Veterans Day celebration a wonderful success. We are looking forward to our 2nd Annual First Responders Day in the Spring, and to other new activities he will support throughout the year. He has also created a special reward for students who work together as a class to meet our school expectations in all settings. This “Pizza Posse” gets to spend their lunchtime with Officer Skardinski eating (you guessed it) pizza! We are extremely thankful to have Officer Skardinski on our Stonehedge Team as we continue to support a positive connection with our school community.”
Reports Cards Opening Soon
As you may be aware, report cards are electronically accessible in ParentVUE. In addition to this digital format, ParentVUE will also have a printable PDF version in case you wish to print it out. Report cards will be available on the following dates:
WGHS and CMS - November 18, 2022
All other buildings - December 17, 2022
If you are not able to access your ParentVUE account, please use the following link. Once there you can click the forgot password link.
If you need to activate your account, please email: centralregistrar@westgenesee.org. We will be happy to assist you from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Wildcat Marching Band Competes at the Dome!
Fall 2022 Sectionals Update
The Girls Varsity Cheerleaders had another successful season by winning the Section III Championship!
The Boys Varsity Football Team had a great season! They won the Section III semi-Final game last week against Whitesboro and will play Friday night in the Section III Championship against Fayetteville-Manlius,
The Boys Cross-Country runners had a solid season this year. At Sectionals, Peter McMahon was the top finisher for WG coming in 3rd in the boys race and will compete in the NYS Championship on Saturday. The boys team placed 5th overall.
The Girls Cross-Country team finished 4th of 11 in Class A sectionals. Individual top-20 performances by Chloe Fietz, Peyton Long and Zoe Maupin.
The Girls Varsity Volleyball team made it to the Semi-Finals of the Section III Championships.
The Girls Varsity Soccer team won the SCAC League Metro division and made it to the Finals of the Section III Championships.
The Boys Varsity Soccer team made it to the Finals of the Section III Championships for the first time in 20 years.
The Girls Diving team had two divers compete in the NYS qualifiers. Lily Mauro came in 3rd place and Mikenna Komuda placed 9th.
The Girls Swimming team had a successful season and placed swimmers in most events at the Section III Championships including a 2nd place finish for Maddie Owczarzak in the 100 Free and a 3rd place finish for Allison Putnam in the 500 Free.
The Girls Tennis team competed in the Section III Championships.
The Boys Golf team had a successful season and good showing at the Section III Championships. Golfers Ryan Till and Jameson Bard qualified to move on and compete in the NYS Championship in the Spring.
Congratulations to all! #GoWildcats #WildcatPride
Numerous West Genesee Athletes have been awarded League and Section honors. When those lists are made public we will make updates.
The 47th Annual West Genesee Performing Arts Citrus Sale has Begun!
This is the only fundraiser run by the Fine Arts Department and benefits our students by paying for and minimizing cost for a wide variety of services above and beyond those provided by the District.
Each year we award three $500 music scholarships from our citrus profits. We pay for visiting artists like composer Randall Standridge and jazz trumpeter Clay Jenkins, sponsor visits by the Alvin Ailey dancers, purchase new equipment, costumes and instruments, assist with travel expenses, and help minimize student/parent costs for our upcoming WGHS musical “Nice Work If You Can Get It”. Each of these enrichment opportunities directly benefits your children.
You can place your order with a Fine Arts student or click here for the order form which includes information on how to submit your order.
Mark Your Calendars! WINTER 2022 – 2023 Sports Start Dates
- JV & Varsity Winter Sports-November 14, 2022
- Modified: Boys 7/8 Swimming, Girls 7/8/9 Basketball, 7/8 Wrestling-January 9, 2023 (Winter 2)
Sign-ups/Registrations on familyid.com are 30 days prior to the start date.
Emergency Closing Information is Important
Announcements about school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissal will be posted on the News Headlines section of the District website home page. They will also be broadcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and these stations which you can access by clicking here.
SchoolMessenger communications software allows us to send emails, texts, and make phone calls. (Phone calls will be used for emergency situations only.)
Parent/Guardians and staff do NOT need to sign-up to receive information from schools that you are registered for in ParentVue. (You will have the option to opt-out if you choose not to receive emails, texts, and/or phone calls. To receive texts, you also have to opt-in per the instructions in the Tips article below. )
For more information go to the website and click on Communications Sign-up/School App from the Connect section of the home page.
WGCSD Is now on Instagram!
Are you Receiving All of our Communications? Helpful Tips about the SchoolMessenger Communication System:
- To be sure that you are receiving all emails sent from the District/schools/teachers please periodically check your spam/junk/promotions folder for emails with @westgenesee.org, then mark that they are not spam/junk/promotions.
- To be sure that you are receiving text messages this year from WGCSD or your school(s) Text a "Y" or "Yes" to 67587
If you still have questions about receiving emails and/or text from WGCSD please email them to publications@westgenesee.org.
WGCSD is Looking to Hire Transportation Staff
West Genesee CSD is hiring regular bus drivers, substitute bus drivers, and substitute bus attendants.
Inquiries about these positions can be sent to Debbie Price at dprice@westgenesee.org.
WGCSD Seeks a Maintenance Worker
To apply go to https://www.westgenesee.org/staff-resources/job-opportunities/current-job-openings/ to fill out the application (https://www.westgenesee.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/StaffResourcesSupportStaffApp.pdf) and bring it to the District Office (300 Sanderson Drive-behind Stonehedge Elementary).
Please call 315-487-4630 with any questions.
Hiring a Registered Nurse
WGCSD is hiring a full time nurse to float between the buildings within the District.
Inquiries about this position can be sent to Deb Balcourt at dbalcourt@westgenesee.org.
Upcoming Events
- November 11, 2022 Veterans Day - No School
- November 16, 2022 Board of Education Meeting - 6:00 p.m. - High School Library
- November 21-22, 2022 Elementary Parent-Teacher Conference - Dismissal at 11:15 a.m.
- November 26-28 Thanksgiving Recess