West Genesee District e-Newsletter
February 28, 2023
Message from the Superintendent
Dear West Genesee Families,
I hope the change of pace during our Winter Recess brought you enjoyment, a time of productivity, or a chance to attend to something you otherwise wouldn’t have. If my memory serves, the break following Presidents’ Day has roots in the late 1970s during the time of President Jimmy Carter and NYS Governor Hugh Carey during an energy crisis. It continues today, in part, due to parameters of school day requirements and contractual language. Regardless, it is my hope that you have been well, and we look forward to the return of students this week.
Unexpected Kudos
Syracuse Basketball has been a passion of mine since I was young and lived in North Syracuse. Even when living in the Rochester area for years, there were many trips through all kinds of conditions. I cannot say I miss the long drive and time of night returning home from an evening game, particularly a weeknight. Nevertheless, S.U. basketball and “The Dome” have been a part of my life for quite some time. A recent news trivia question reminded me of a non-athletic event in the very early years that I was fortunate to be involved in as a high school student. That truly is "quite some time”.
When leaving an S.U. game recently, a chaperone approached me. He is a friend from the past and my West Genesee jacket likely caught his eye. When he stopped me, he wanted me to know how impressed he was with the West Genesee players, students, and fans at the Section III Football Championship game back on November 11. He was quite specific to mention the appreciation for great attitude, appropriate decorum, and the display of positive energy that accompanied the game. He noted that is not always the case with all schools and wanted to share the compliment with me. I pass that along with pride and appreciation to any of you that were present that day or any other for how our community is represented at home and when visiting other venues. Well done, Wildcats.
Communication Expectations
I would like to provide a couple of comments regarding communication, specifically return calls, emails, and messages from parents and community members. As a District, we strive to return communication in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, sometimes we are less than successful. However, we will continue to try our best and improve. Please understand that many versions of communication can offer challenges. For example, an email correspondence that includes multiple recipients, a phone message that lacks a topic, or an anonymous communication, can present confusion or a missed opportunity for clear communication. We will make every effort in this area and appreciate any opportunity to connect.
To the contrary, occasionally a delay in communication is appropriate. More specific to our extracurricular activities, we borrow from a long standing approach in sports that is not exclusive to West Genesee and is often referred to as the “24 hour rule”. It is the opposite of the above and includes purposefully creating a time for pause. Waiting until 24 hours after a contest allows all of those involved in emotional, exhausting, and possibly extreme feelings from a well-played or closely contested match, to take time to attend to those emotions before communicating. I ask all coaches and family members to remind one another of this expectation, should you be in a position to do so. Don’t have that conversation immediately – wait 24 hours to create a calm and more meaningful dialogue.
Enjoy the interesting stories and student accomplishments in the articles below. Make a special note of some outstanding student accomplishments and remember that the 14th Annual Culture Fair at WGHS will be held this coming Saturday, March 4. Thank you for your continued support as we remain West Genesee Stronger Together!
David C. Bills
Superintendent of Schools
Academic leaders of the Class of 2023 are in front, from left to right, Liam Ryan, Sarah Fettig (Valedictorian), Logan Battaglia (Salutatorian), Joshua Pierce, and Nicolo Benenati. In back, from left to right, are Isabelle Wells, Michale Page, Maria Girazov, Ewan Moran, Chloe Hanousek, Samantha Sapio, and Gianna Corbin.
West Genesee Top Twelve are Announced
The top twelve students of the West Genesee High School Class of 2023 were announced on February 16, 2023.
The Valedictorian is Sarah Fettig and the Salutatorian is Logan Battaglia.
The remaining top twelve are listed below in alphabetical order:
- Nicolo Benenati
- Gianna Corbin
- Maria Girazov
- Chloe Hanousek
- Ewan Moran
- Michale Page
- Joshua Pierce
- Liam Ryan
- Samantha Sapio
- Isabelle Wells
Congratulations!! Click here to read this article on the website.
WGHS Student is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist!
On February 13, 2023 West Genesee High School senior Logan Battaglia was notified that she has been named a finalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations!
Battaglia entered the Merit Program by earning high scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) taken in October of her junior year and was notified this past fall that she was a semi-finalist.
She is among 16,000 candidates nationwide who are in competition for 7, 250 scholarships that will be offered this coming spring. As a finalist, she must have an outstanding academic record throughout school and be endorsed and be recommended by an official at the high school.
WGHS Student Qualified for NYS SkillsUSA Championships
Congratulations to OCM BOCES West Genesee student Riley Flynn who was one of 30 students to qualify for the New York State SkillsUSA championships to be held in April. She accomplished this by placing in the top three at a regional competition held earlier this month at Morrisville State College. Great job Riley on your 2nd place in Cosmetology 2!!
2023 WonderWorks’ WonderKids Winner!
Cristiano Molina has won the Strength Through Adversity Award and Sara Napierski the Future Scientist Award.
These WGMS sixth-grade students were nominated by their science teacher, Sue Bingham. Out of the hundreds of nominations submitted, WonderWorks chose them for these honors.
The Strength Through Adversity award is presented to a student who demonstrates resilience in the face of adversity. They proved through determination that growth and achieving their goals is possible during this demanding time.
The Future Scientist award is presented to a student who exhibits a passion for the sciences. They live each day as an innovator and discoverer, hoping to one day change the world through their love of science.
As winning students, they are invited to attend a special winners live zoom/webinar with astronaut Dr. Don Thomas. In addition to the webinar, they also received a certificate at a ceremony held on February 8 and four tickets to WonderWorks.
Congratulations!!
Sports Sectional/State Updates
Boys Basketball: The Boys Basketball Basketball team is headed to the Section III Finals after defeating Nottingham 65-56. They will play in the Section III Class AA final against Liverpool on March 5 at 7 p.m. at SRC Arena. Congratulations!
Boys Hockey: The Boys Hockey team were scheduled to play Baldwinsville in the Section III final on Monday, February 27 and it has been postponed until this Thursday, March 2, at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and on ice at 5:30 p.m.
Indoor Track: Congratulations to the following athletes who competed at the Section III Indoor Track Championships held on February 9: Claire Griffin who won the girls 600; Boys 4x2 of Dom Burris, Dylan Frost, Rhison Williams and Chris Moser; Girls 4x2 of Mya Rufus, Grace McInerney, Claire Griffin and Molly Doran who came in 2nd; Molly Doran placed 2nd in the 55; and Peyton Long took 2nd in the 1500. Several runners will now be competing in the NYS Championships on March 4 at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island.
Boys/Girls Bowling: WG Bowler Lorelai Leskoske finished 3rd out of 37 at the Section 3 bowling shootout on February 16. Great job!
Wrestling: Congratulations to Maxx Fesinger and Austin Fesinger who competed at the NYS Championships after placing at the Section III Championships! Also to Logan Willis who placed at the Section III Championships.
Swimming/Diving: Congrats to the following WG swimmers for placing at the Sectional Championships held on February 15: Gavin Flanagan-3rd, 500 free, Ryan Goshow-7th, 100 backstroke, WG Medley Relay-8th, and the WG 400 free relay-7th!
Good luck to WG Diver Ethan Martin who will be competing at the NYS Championships on March 4 at Ithaca College.
Celebrating Black History Month: Spotlight on CMS
At CMS they embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, and this month they are celebrating Black History Month.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history. (history.com)
To help educate students about Black History Month and encourage reading of diverse materials, the CMS library has put several books on display in celebration of Black History Month.
Celebrating Black History Month: Spotlight on East Hill Elementary School
Thank you to the East Hill PTA for sponsoring Storyteller Vanessa Johnson who visited East Hill before the Winter Recess to help celebrate Black History Month. The students were engaged and enjoyed her performances which included “A Story, A Story!” as well as “Animal Talk”.
The stories featured interactive tales using hand movements, instruments, and active story games for the younger students.
For the older students, Interactive Stories, Rhythm and Song, and Animals from the African Diaspora Share their Life Lessons and Wisdom! Character Education Issues such as Bullying, Sharing, Tattle-Telling, Joking and Teasing, Honesty and Lying, are addressed through these Delightful Voices of the Animal World!
Mark your Calendar for the West Genesee 14th Annual Culture Fair
The 14th Annual Culture Fair will be held at West Genesee High School on Saturday, March 4 from 12:00-3:00 p.m in the upper gymnasium.
Join us as we celebrate our community’s diversity at this fun event featuring dance performances, live music, cultural demonstrations, food samples, artwork, T-shirts, kids crafts, and more!
Tax Exemptions for Residents-Deadline by March 1, 2023
Residents who are at least age 65 and/or who are disabled may be eligible for a partial exemption on their school property taxes if they meet certain qualifications. At the regular meeting on February 1, 2023, the Board of Education approved this exemption at the same level as the previous year.
Also approved at the meeting was an exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers as well as an exemption for Veterans, both at the same level as the previous year.
To determine if you qualify for any of the named exemptions, please contact your town’s assessor.
"Dance A Difference" Week!
In preparation for "Dance A Difference" Week (March 5-11, 2023), the WG Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts is putting together Comfort Cases for children in foster care and those serviced through the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center. Thousands of teens and youth are moving from house to house carrying their few belongings in a garbage bag. Comfort Cases was created to help end this tragedy.
West Genesee NHSDA dancers are accepting donations of:
(priority needs are backpacks and blankets)
- backpacks
- pajamas
- socks
- soft blankets
- stuffed animals
- coloring books/crayons
- books
- journals/pens
- travel-sized toiletries (shampoo/conditioner, toothbrush/toothpaste, soap/bodywash, deodorant, hair brush/comb/pik, hair ties/headbands)
- gift cards to purchase additional items
Items may be dropped off at the HS Main Office, HS Library, or Fine Arts Office, Monday-Fridays from 8:00-3:00 now through February 28. If you would like to volunteer to help assemble the bags, please email cbrackett@westgenesee.org for complete details.
Help our dancers help others!!
Universal Pre-Kindergarten Registration is Open!
West Genesee partners with local Community-Based Organizations (CBO) for its Pre-K program. Currently, there is one classroom at Split Rock Elementary and 5 classrooms with our CBOs. The number of available seats is dependent on the UPK allocation the District receives from NYS. The State Budget is adopted on or near April 1.
To be eligible for UPK during the 2023-2024 school year, a child must:
- Have a birthdate between December 2, 2018 and December 1, 2019
- Reside in the West Genesee Central School District
In the event that more registrations are received than can be accommodated, the District will conduct an initial selection process via an open lottery in which children will be selected at random.
Those children who have completed the registration process by March 17 will be part of the initial selection process.
Families who are part of the initial selection process will be called in order of selection and informed:
- whether their child has been accepted to the program, and
- which site (including hours of the program) is available for their child;
OR
- where their child is on the waiting list.
Families will be contacted by April 14, 2023.
If at any point after the initial selection process there are more students registered than seats available, students will be placed on the waiting list in the order that their registration was completed.
Transportation to and from the program is the responsibility of parents/guardians, and students must attend the program five days a week to maintain their seat.
Look for registration information on the Central Registration webpage at: https://www.westgenesee.org/district-services/registration/. If you have any questions, email the Central Registrar at centralregistrar@westgenesee.org, or call Central Registration at (315) 487-4683.
When registering, parents should be prepared to upload the following:
- proof of residency (ie. mortgage or property statement or signed lease agreement)
- proof of immunizations
- proof of age
To access the most updated health requirements click here.
To access the UPK/Kindergarten Registration Help document click here.
Kindergarten Registration has Started
Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year opened on December 14 and will go until March 31, 2023.
Watch for registration information on the Central Registration webpage. If you have any questions, email the Central Registrar at centralregistrar@westgenesee.org, or call Central Registration at (315) 487-4683.
When registering, parents should be prepared to upload the following:
- proof of residency (ie. mortgage or property statement or signed lease agreement)
- proof of immunizations
- proof of age
A physical examination is also required and a dental certificate is requested for entry into kindergarten. These examinations should be done up to one year prior to the first day of school. Children who enter kindergarten this fall must be five years of age on or before December 1, 2023.
To access the most updated health requirements click here.
To access the UPK/Kindergarten Registration Help document click here.
Spring Sports Registration Information
The Athletics Department offers the convenience of online registration for athletic sports sign up and clearance through Family ID.
JV/Varsity Spring Sports-Starts 3/16/23; Registration Opened 2/16/23
Modified 7/8/9 Spring Sports-Starts 4/10/23; Registration Opens 3/10/23
Unified Basketball starts 4/17/23; Registration starts 3/17/23
For directions on how to sign up, please go to the Athletics webpage and click on Athletics Registration. Everything will be completed online. Click here for more information.
WGCSD is Looking to Hire Full-time and Substitute Custodians
West Genesee CSD is hiring full-time custodians on all shifts and substitute custodians for the 2nd shift. Inquiries can be made to Buildings and Grounds at (315) 487-4630.
WGCSD is Looking to Hire Transportation Staff
West Genesee CSD is looking to hire regular bus drivers, substitute bus drivers, and substitute bus attendants.
Inquiries about these positions can be sent to Debbie Price at dprice@westgenesee.org.
BOE Meetings Go on the Road to Different Schools!
You may have noticed that West Genesee Board of Education Meetings are “going on the road”. Our typical meeting spot is at West Genesee High School. This year, a meeting is being held at each of the other six school buildings. The Study Session part of our agenda will be led by the school principal and includes topics such as building implementation of District Initiatives, program updates, and most importantly, building points of pride. It is a nice change of routine and chance to more formally operate in all parts of our District.
Please note: The following BOE Meetings will be held at the location listed below. All other BOE Meetings will take place in the usual location in the West Genesee High School Library.
- January 18, 2023- was held at Split Rock Elementary School
- February 15, 2023-was held at Stonehedge Elementary School Library
- March 15, 2023-East Hill Elementary School Cafeteria
- March 29, 2023-Onondaga Road Elementary School Library
- April 19, 2023-West Genesee Middle School Library
- May 17, 2023-Camillus Middle School Library
- June 21, 2023-(HS LGI Room)
Upcoming Events
- March 1, 2023 BOE Finance Committee Meeting-5:00 p.m.
- March 1, 2023 BOE Meeting-6:00 p.m.
- March 4, 2023 14th Annual Culture Fair-12:00-3:00 p.m.
- March 13, 2023 Superintendent's Conference Day-No School for Students
- March 15, 2023 BOE Policies and Bylaws Committee Meeting-East Hill Elementary School Library Conference Room-5:15 p.m.
- March 15, 2023 BOE Meeting--East Hill Elementary School Cafeteria-6:00 p.m.