West Genesee District e-Newsletter
August 31, 2022
Message from the Superintendent
Dear West Genesee Families,
Consider the annual start of a school year. It comes with emotion, change, the expected and the unknown. In some ways it is like a birthday, holiday, or a special trip. In some ways it is an uncertain journey and a new beginning. From my own personal experience, it is all of that and more.
Please know two things. First, each adult in the life of a student shares the emotions that come with a Labor Day Weekend. Regardless of years of service, it always generates strong feelings. Second, working in a school district comes with a privilege and responsibility that is not taken lightly. The staff at West Genesee, whom I am honored to work with, understands the charge to be in service to the youth of our community. We are all invested in this experience of school.
The expansion of our School Resource Officer (SRO) program includes pending approval of both the Camillus Town Council and the WGCSD Board of Education. The result will add more than 85 years of experience in our schools. Anticipating a successful hiring process, each of our schools will welcome new and returning officers to our buildings that are committed to safety and building relationships in the partnership of school and community. Look for upcoming features introducing you to our newest School Patrol Officers (SPOs). Thank you to the Camillus Police Department for partnering in this effort.
A common adjustment in September is the charge of transporting large numbers of students to school in the morning and back home each afternoon with countless variables to consider. This year, routes have been created to maximize staff and minimize shortages that create delays or cancelations. Please be patient as routes and scheduled times adjust to actual riders versus those we believe to be riding prior to the year’s start. Thanks to our hard-working drivers, attendants, mechanics, dispatchers, and office staff in the WGCSD Transportation Department who work hard to deliver students to their destination safely, efficiently, and in a timely manner.
The District e-News will continue to provide updated information and well-deserved recognition. Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year. See you next week!
Sincerely,
David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools
Important Reminder: 988 is now active across the United States. This new, shorter phone number will make it easier for people to remember and access mental health crisis services. See this link to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from the US Department of Health and Human Services. Information from Onondaga County Mental Health Services can be found here.
WGHS Musicians Selected for All-National Concerts!
West Genesee High School seniors Olivia Frizzi and James Manard have been selected to to perform in All-National ensembles that are sponsored by the Reston, VA-based National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
Frizzi will perform in the Mixed Choir as a second soprano, and Manard will be playing the Euphonium in the Concert Band. Congratulations!
New Student Management System Information: Activate your ParentVUE Account yet?
Over the past month families have been logging in and creating their accounts. If you haven't activated your account, no worries, please check your email for an email from Synergy. This activation letter may have ended up in your spam folder. If not, please email centralregistrar@westgenesee.org and we would be happy to send this information your way.
Once you access your account you will do your annual verification. Once this is complete and approved you will be able to see transportation and other academic related screens. Please be looking for future communications and training videos on how to use ParentVUE to the fullest.
USDA Free Meal Program Ending
The Federal child nutrition waivers that allowed all students access to free meals ended on June 30, 2022. This means that West Genesee CSD will no longer be able to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students for the 2022-2023 school year.
Families who qualify for free or reduced price meals must complete a meal application for the 2022-2023 school year and meet income qualifications in order to receive free meals. Households who do not qualify will need to resume paying for breakfast and lunch.
Meal applications can be submitted online here. If you are unable to complete the application online, a copy will be mailed to families in August.
Meal prices for 2022-2023: Breakfast $2.00; Lunch $3.00
WGHS Technology Club Installs Sensory Hallway
CMS Nature Center and Outdoor Classroom get an Update!
Congratulations to Brady and thank you for making the CMS outdoor classroom space ready to be used in the upcoming school year. See the pictures below to see how great it looks!
Students Attend Many Camps at West Genesee this Summer!
MUSIC CAMPS:
Please check out some of the pictures below from those programs, including some of their culminating concerts at the end of the camps.
SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY CAMPS:
The West Genesee Wild Summer Science Camp took place during the weeks of July 18 and July 25. Students participated in hands-on learning activities related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The first week included a robotics course using VEX robotics kits, as well as an ornithology course, Orenda Springs outdoor learning, and an animal studies course. Students visited the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo as part of their experience.
The second week of the summer science camp offered an additional week of the Orenda Springs outdoor learning experience and VEX Robotics course. New courses included Space Sciences and Water Engineering. Students enjoyed visiting the Marcellus OCWA water filtration facility, Onondaga Lake Visitor Center, the Camillus Erie Canal, and the Syracuse Museum of Science and Technology.
Both weeks provided science learning opportunities for about 240 students. Please check out some of the pictures below from those programs.
Calendars for 2022-2023 are Now Available Online
The online District 2022-2023 Events Calendar is now available from the website homepages. To view on a mobile device click here or to view in a grid format on a laptop click here.
You can also access the one-page District calendar by clicking on here.
Note: A hardcopy of the WGCSD 2022-2023 Events Calendar/Information Guide will come home (one per family) the first few weeks of school!
School Supply Lists for 2022-2023 are Available from the Website!
Did You Know? School Supply Lists for 2022-2023 are available on the website by clicking here.
They are also available from each School's homepage in School Links.
Summer Reading Lists for Grades 5-12 are on the Website!
- WGMS Summer Reading Lists for students going into Grades 5-6
- CMS Summer Reading Lists for students going into Grades 7-8
- WGHS Summer Reading lists for students going into Grades 9-12
These lists are also available from the School Links section from each school's homepage and from the school library homepages.
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.
Adult Education Teacher Opening
We are looking for a certified Driver’s Education Teacher for our summer and after school Driver’s Education Programs. Appropriate NYS certification is required.
Please contact Lynn Magoulas (lmagoulas@westgenesee.org) in the Adult Education Office for more information.
Upcoming Events
- September 1, 2022 No School for Students-Superintendent's Conference Day
- September 2 and 5, 2022 No School
- September 6, 2022 No School for Students-Superintendent's Conference Day
- September 7, 2022 School Begins