West Genesee School District
February 29, 2024
Administration Updates
Message from the Superintendent
Dear West Genesee Families,
West Genesee. West Genny. Wildcats. WG. The visual of the West Genesee Wildcat seen on the top of this E-Newsletter. These are all examples of that which moves me when I think about the history, traditions, and accomplishments of our District. It should also serve as a symbol that drives us to continue moving forward, improving, and holding ourselves to a high standard with changing circumstances.
Even more meaningful is when our students represent any of the above; within and outside of our community. Recent examples include Boys Hockey at the Oncenter War Memorial, those involved with the WGHS Production of “Cinderella”, our Boys’ Basketball in sectional play at Liverpool, the JV and Varsity Winter Guards at ESM, the Drumline reveal performance in our own gym, and our many students competing and participating at regional and NYS level programs. When the “WG” is on the hats, uniforms, shirts, jackets and many other spirit wear, I am proud that they are visible and real examples of our community. Please look for it and don’t hesitate to acknowledge it when you see it with a “Great job, Wildcats!”
West Genesee is a special place. Let us continue to learn and grow and hold ourselves to the standard of our history. Please see the examples below that serve as evidence and models of that level of excellence.
Thank you,
David C. Bills
Superintendent of Schools
Please notice the Social Media Tips below that I shared in the last e-Newsletter. Let's keep the conversation going with our youth in order to keep everyone safe!
Social Media Tips
Ways to support our youth with social media:
1) Speak to your children about reporting any concerning posts or suspicious activities on social media to a trusted adult. It is important that children understand they will not be punished for reporting a post and that we will protect their anonymity as we investigate the concern. It is also important for students to refrain from sharing or otherwise passing along inappropriate posts, as it contributes to a violation of the WGCSD Code of Conduct.
2) Explain how TIP411 works to your children. Tip411 is an anonymous communication tool that allows students to report serious concerns to schools. Tip411 will provide an option for those students who may not have a trusted adult to relay their concerns. (Note: At times, there may be follow-up questions. Because of the anonymity, it is important to check back to the original TIP411 report.)
3) Encourage your children to seek the truth regarding information online and reporting questionable posts to trusted adults rather than sharing misinformation that causes more confusion than clarity.
4) Speak with your children about school shootings and other tragic events and the fear we all feel as we navigate this unfortunate reality of online threats. Having an open dialogue about school safety is important, especially when threats occur. Here is a link from Common Sense Media that can help guide that sometimes difficult conversation: How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings.
5) Please relay any social media threats to school administrators so we can begin our investigation and involve the police, if necessary. We take each threat seriously and have a protocol to address each incident. As information becomes available, the District will provide updates to parents.
Student Recognitions
Academic leaders of the Class of 2024 are in front, from left to right, Kelly McManus, Vivian Raposo (Valedictorian), Elena Pacheco (Salutatorian), and Analiese Straub. In back, from left to right, are Karolina Lata, Joseph Paoli, Angus Tarolli, Nathan Smith, Joanna Ray, and Madeleine Barstow.
West Genesee Top Ten are Announced
The top ten students of the West Genesee High School Class of 2024 were announced on February 27, 2024.
The Valedictorian is Vivian Raposo and the Salutatorian is Elena Pacheco.
The remaining top ten are listed below in alphabetical order:
- Madeleine Barstow
- Karolina Lata
- Kelly McManus
- Joseph Paoli
- Joanna Ray
- Nathan Smith
- Analiese Straub
- Angus Tarolli
Congratulations!! Click here to read this article on the website.
The West Genesee High School delegates to the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI) pictured above, from left to right, are Devin Dantuono, Rachel Hann, and Osvaldo Valenzuela.
PRHYLI Delegates Announced
West Genesee High School juniors Devin Dantuono and Rachel Hann have been named new Syracuse delegates to the 2024 Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI) to be held in Albany from March 9-11, 2024. Senior Osvaldo Valenzuela received this honor last year, and he will attend and participate again this year.
This program promotes the involvement of Hispanic/Latino students in public policy issues by learning about the legislative process. These experiences as a participant in the Institute will help delegates to ask many more questions in dialogue and encourage them to seek many more answers in discussion.
Being selected as a PRHYLI delegate speaks highly of Dantuono, Hann, and Valenzuela’s leadership potential and skills for future achievement. Congratulations!
Section III/NYS Championships Updates
Cheerleading: The West Genesee Winter Cheerleading team became Section III Class B Champions on February 17 and will now move on to the state competition on March 2 in Binghamton. Congratulations!
Boys Basketball: The Boys Basketball team is headed to the Section III Finals this Saturday, March 2 at the SRC Arena at OCC at 11:30 a.m. after defeating Fulton 83-53 in the Section III semi-final.
Boys Hockey: The Boys Hockey team played in the Section III final on Monday, February 26 and won over RFA 2-1 in overtime to move on to the NYS Regional Competition against Section VI Champion Orchard Park at 12:15 pm this Saturday, March 2 at Shove Park.
Girls Hockey: The combined Girls Hockey team of WG and Skaneateles won the Section III Championship and competed in the NYS Championships but fell in the Semi-Final game to the eventual champion.
Indoor Track: Congratulations to the following athletes who won Section III Indoor Track Championships held on February 15:
Claire Griffin: Girls 1000m - 2:58.3
Rhison Williams: Boys 300m - 36:54
Boys 4x200m Relay (Dylan Frost, William Fettig, Anthony Edgar, and Rhison Williams) 1:32.35
Boys 4x400m Relay (Zachary Hann, James Mungro III, Logan Scott, Rhison Williams) 3:32.05
Several runners will now be competing in the NYS Championships on March 2 at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island.
Boys/Girls Bowling: WG Bowler Lorelai Leskoske finished 3rd out of 37 at the Section III bowling shootout on February 16. Great job!
Wrestling: Congratulations to Maxx Fesinger and Logan Willis who competed at the NYS Championships after placing at the Section III Championships!
Swimming/Diving: Congratulations to the following WG swimmers for placing at the Section III Championships held on February 16:
Individual podium finishers include:
Gavin Flanagan: 6th-200 freestyle; 2nd- 500 freestyle
David Martin: 3rd-100 breaststroke
Ryan Goshow: 4th-100 backstroke
Sean Putnam: 7th-100 backstroke
Relay podium finishers include:
200 Medley Relay: 6th (Sean Putnam, David Martin, Matthew Keiling, Ryan Goshow)
200 Freestyle Relay: 8th (Owen Kane, Matthew Keiling, Brady Smith, Gavin Flanagan)
400 Freestyle Relay: 5th (Gavin Flanagan, Sean Putnam, David Martin, Ryan Goshow)
West Genesee Musicians Selected for Elementary All-County Concerts
Twenty-four West Genesee Intermediate School sixth graders have been selected to perform in the Elementary All-County Festival at Henninger High School on May 3-4, 2024. Congratulations to all!
Click here to read the full article on the website that lists the students.
It Happened at School...
R.I.S.K. Presentation at High School
On February 16, 2024 an Assistant District Attorney who works with the McMahon Ryan Advocacy Center came to speak to West Genesee High School students with a focus on social media safety along with digital citizenship and how their digital footprint follows them throughout their lives.
Superintendent Bills Joins "Book Tasting" in Ms. Stott's Class at WGIS
Ms. Stott at West Genesee Intermediate School invited Superintendent Bills to join their Book Tasting. The event is an opportunity to 'taste' many different pieces of literature. It is similar to going into a restaurant, but instead of food, it's books on the menu.
Superintendent Bills joins a Book Tasting at WGIS
Ms. Stott's class enjoy reading books during the Book Tasting.
Celebrating Black History Month: Spotlight on CMS
Throughout February, Camillus Middle School proudly commemorated Black History Month, a time to honor the incredible contributions of African Americans to our nation's history and culture.
Their Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Club students have taken the lead in paying tribute to inspiring individuals through the morning announcements and a slideshow they put together, which has been running as a slideshow in the cafeteria and can also be downloaded to viewed by clicking here.
Explore Further: For a deeper dive into Black History, visit the following esteemed institutions online:
East Hill Celebrates Black History Month
During the month of February, East Hill Elementary School students learned about Black History in many different ways. One was to wear hats that they created that put a spotlight on African Americans that have made a huge impact on history that included Maya Angelou, Barack Obama, and other historical figures.
February is Black History Month
Black History Month at WGHS
Black History Month at Stonehedge
WGHS Positivity Project Partners with Erin's Angels
The WGHS Positivity Project and Erin's Angels are partnering in a supply drive to fill Power Packs for families in the District.
Travel size toiletries such as soap, shampoo, conditioner or full sized toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant are needed.
Cash donations are also appreciated and can be made directly to the West Genesee Power Pack Program with 100% of the donations going towards supplies. To learn more about how this program works or to make a contribution visit: https://erinsangels.com/west-genesee-program
Donations can be brought to the Culture Celebration on Saturday, March 2, and the drive will continue through the month of March at the high school.
Dance a Difference Week/Calendar Info
Dance a Difference Week
"Dance A Difference" Week is a week of dance-based community service spread throughout the nation. The National Dance Educators Organization (NDEO) and the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) recognizes the power of dance to make and impact for both individuals and communities. In 2017, "Dance A Difference" Week was instituted to dedicate time to dance based service in communities. Dance A Difference Week is held during the first full week in March, and is coming up this year from March 3-9, 2024.
This year, WG NHSDA is collecting items for a local cancer support group called 13Thirty Cancer Connect. 13Thirty Cancer Connect is a non-profit organization that began in 2001 after Melissa Sengbusch passed away at the age of 19 from Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The mission, vision, and values of 13Thirty is to help adolescents and young adults living with cancer, with their coping skills and self-esteem by building satisfying peer connections. In preparation for Dance A Difference Week this March, WG NHSDA dancers are now accepting donations of :
- pre-packaged snacks (chips, pretzels, fruit snacks, granola bars, etc.)
- taco kits
- bottled water
- Gatorade
- art supplies (markers, colored pencils, crayons, paint markers, acrylic paint, pens, pencils, colored paper)
- copy paper
- air dry clay
- tye-dye materials
Items may be dropped off at the WGHS Main Office, Fine Arts Office, or sent in with students through March 1, 2024 (extended a day due to the Snow Day on February 29, the original due date). Thank you!
Change to 2023-2024 District Calendar
Please note that the Board of Education voted at their meeting on October 18, 2023 to adjust the West Genesee CSD Calendar to move the Half-Day of School for Students-Superintendent's Conference Half-Day from April 10, 2024 to April 8, 2024.
This change is to accommodate a total Eclipse due to occur on April 8 during student dismissal time at some of our schools.
Click here to view/print the updated calendar as posted to the website under the Calendar area.
Upcoming Registrations: Spring Sports/UPK/Kindergarten
Spring Sports Registration has Started
The Athletics Department offers the convenience of online registration for athletic sports sign up and clearance through Family ID.
- JV/Varsity Spring Sports-Starts 3/11/24; Registration Opened 2/11/24
- Modified 7/8/9 Spring Sports-Starts 4/8/24; Registration Opens 3/8/24
- Unified Basketball starts 4/15/24; Registration starts 3/15/24
For directions on how to sign up, please go to the Athletics webpage and click on Sports Registration. Everything will be completed online. Click here for more information. (https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/west-genesee-central-school-district)
Universal Pre-Kindergarten Registration Will Open On March 11, 2024
West Genesee partners with local Community-Based Organizations (CBO) for its Pre-K program.
To be eligible for UPK during the 2024-2025 school year, a child must:
Have a birthdate between December 2, 2019 and December 1, 2020
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 May 1, 2024 will be part of the initial selection process.
Families who were 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 May 2-3, 2024.
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/o/wgcsd/page/central-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:
- Two proofs of residency (i.e. mortgage or property statement or signed lease agreement, utility bill
proof of age
Kindergarten Registration has Started
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year opened on December 5, 2023 and will continue until March 31, 2024.
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:
- Two proofs of residency (i.e. mortgage or property statement or signed lease agreement, utility bill )
- proof of age
A physical examination and proof of immunizations are also required for entry into kindergarten 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, 2024.
Families who have a current UPK student, you will need to register your child for kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.
West Genesee is Hiring
WGCSD Seeks a Maintenance Worker
We are looking for a Maintenance Worker I to undertake the responsibility to preserve the good condition and functionality of our premises.
Inquiries can be made to Buildings and Grounds at (315) 487-4630.
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 Needs Substitute Teachers
West Genesee CSD is hiring substitute teachers. We are accepting applicants that are both certified and non-certified (with a Bachelor's degree).
Inquiries can be made to Human Resources at (315) 487-4555.
Substitute LPN Nurses are Needed at WGCSD
WGCSD is hiring substitute LPN nurses.
Inquiries about this position can be sent to Stephanie Skardinski at sskardinski@westgenesee.org.
Upcoming Events
WGCSD Culture Celebration
The Annual WGCSD Culture Celebration will be held at West Genesee High School on Saturday, March 2 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!
- March 2, 2024 WGCSD Culture Celebration-12:00-3:00 p.m.
- March 6, 2024 BOE Meeting at West Genesee High School Library-6:00-7:00 p.m.
- March 20, 2024 BOE Meeting at West Genesee High School Library-6:00-7:00 p.m.