West Genesee District e-Newsletter
May 25, 2023
Message from the Superintendent
Dear West Genesee Families,
I have been attempting to avoid the cliché reference to a quickly approaching end to the school year. As of this writing, it simply cannot be avoided. It is not as much an observation of the passing of time as the volume of that which is in front of us. There is every opportunity for celebration, recognition, closure, and new beginnings. Please look for the many scheduled events in the coming months to attend a concert, athletic contest, award ceremony, year-end celebration, next year information night*, and many other classroom, building, program, and district events in the coming days.
*4th to 5th Grade Transition Information Nights are currently welcoming the newest families and students to the West Genesee Intermediate School!
The Class of 2023 recently celebrated their Senior Ball entitled “Enchanted Garden” at the Grand Ballroom of the Syracuse Marriott. It was a joy to see our students gathered in this setting with a sense of accomplishment and achievement that bestows such an occasion. My wife Julie and I found ourselves happily enjoying the pageantry of attire, the excitement of a special night, and the friendships displayed in such a formal occasion. Thank you to everyone who made the weekend possible including the extraordinary “After Ball Party” that is still the buzz of many conversations.
The 48th Annual Kaleidoscope will take place this week at the Mulroy Civic Center at the OnCenter. As presented by our High School Performing Arts Department, this is an evening that is unmatched that includes performances by individuals, small groups, and ensembles that is truly the hallmark of the rich tradition at West Genesee.
There is a connection to be made from our present to our past when almost 500 Wildcat Marching Band Alumni gather this weekend for the health-postponed and well-anticipated performance in the Memorial Day Parade. Two similar examples of pride in our community.
As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, May 29 to observe Memorial Day. This year’s calendar and the use of multiple weather-related school closures restricts the addition of further days off for students and staff. There will be school on Friday, May 26 as scheduled.
This e-Newsletter is filled with good news of accomplishments, reminders of important dates, additional information, and links to further contacts with WGCSD including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Look for the many ways to celebrate the remaining days of the 2022-2023 school year.
David C. Bills
Superintendent of Schools
WGHS Varsity Boys Ice Hockey Team Recognized with a Legislative Resolution
On Thursday, May 11, 2023 the WGHS Varsity Boys Ice Hockey team was presented with a Legislative Resolution honoring them as Division 1 NYS Champions! Thank you Senator Mannion, Senator May, Assembly Member Magnarelli, Assembly Member Hunter, and Assembly Member Lemonades!
CMS/WGHS Students Compete in the Special Olympics at Cicero-North Syracuse
On May 18, 2023 CMS and WGHS sent students to compete in the Special Olympics, for grades 7-12, at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. It was great to see them compete and also to be cheered on by their respective schools as they left for the Olympics.
Note: The West Genesee Wildcat Olympics, for grades K-6, will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at West Genesee High School.
CMS Select Chorus Earns a NYSSMA Major Festival Silver Award
On Tuesday, May 16, 2023 the Camillus Middle School Select Chorus, under the direction of Don Schuessler, attended the NYSSMA Major Festival in Owego, NY. The ensemble performed Level IV selections for their performance and received a Silver Award for their efforts.
Thank you to Sabine Krantz who served as the piano accompanist for our NYSSMA Festival performance. Also, thank you to the administrators, teachers, staff and especially the Transportation Department for helping make this opportunity possible. The Select Chorus served as wonderful ambassadors of CMS and West Genesee in their demeanor and musicianship. Bravo!
OCWA Drinking Water Week Poster Awarded to CMS Student
The Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) has selected CMS student Lilianna Martin’s submission as the winner of their Drinking Water Week poster contest in the middle school category. This competition was run as part of Drinking Water Week.
Martin did a fantastic job with the artwork and messaging and demonstrated a real passion for protecting the environment. She will receive a certificate and prize and OCWA plans to post a picture of her poster with her name as the winner, as part of their Feature Friday Facebook series. We congratulate her on a great job!
Stonehedge Librarian Selected as a CNY Librarians Soaring Through Excellence Super Librarian Award
Congratulations to Stonehedge Librarian, Debra Abbott, for being selected as as one of this year’s winners of the Central New York School Librarians Soaring Through Excellence Super Librarian Award. She was nominated for this honor by Onondaga Road Librarian Sarah Manley and CMS/District Lead Librarian Sharon Bush.
The intention of the Soaring With Excellence Super Librarian Award is to honor librarians in the Central New York region who have made significant contributions to envisioning and building the future of school library services. This nomination demonstrates the community’s appreciation of her hard work! The selection of an award winner is determined by a committee of previous winners of the award.
She and the three honorees will be recognized at the Author and Awards dinner on June 2 at Theodore's Restaurant in Canastota, NY.
WGHS Seniors are Recognized by LECNY
Two West Genesee High School seniors received honors at the Language Educators of CNY (LECNY) Celebration held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
French student Chloe Hanousek received an American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) Central New York Chapter Scholarship for Excellence in the Study of French. This honor is awarded to a high school senior with a passion for French language and culture and a French average of 90 or better. The award includes a certificate and $300.
Spanish student Michale Page was awarded a LECNY student scholarship. This award of $200 is given annually to three graduating seniors who have successfully completed multiple years of foreign language study and have a love for learning languages. Congratulations to both students!
CMS Battle of the Books Team Places Third at Super Regional Battle
Congratulations to the CMS Battle of the Books team ‘XL Readers’ who placed third out of 17 teams on Monday, May 15, 2023 in the Super Regional Battle of the Books! They were the top grade 7/8 team in Onondaga County.
Students on the XL Readers team were: Immanuel Perez, Dominick Talucci, Max Nolan, and Keira McGlaughlin. Way to go!
WGMS Battle of the Books Team Competes at Super Regional Battle
Congratulations to the WGMS Battle of the Books winning team ‘The Four Musketeers’ who competed on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 in the Super Regional Battle of the Books! The team members Sarah Friers, Lillian Madden, Addison Davis, and Azdah Mundath took on teams from around the county in the regional Battle of the Books competition. Way to go young ladies!
Onondaga Road Celebrates Diversity with their "We are the World" Display
To celebrate their families, Onondaga Road Elementary School asked everyone to send a family photo or share a fun-fact about a family tradition or celebration.
With sending in the photos they were asked to answer these questions:
- What is your family’s heritage, from what countries?
- What are some traditions, celebrations, holidays that are dear to your family?
They then created a fabulous display for Open House and honored their “Onondaga Road Family”!
First Responder's Day at Stonehedge!
Local, county, and state First Responders paid a visit to Stonehedge last week to share with students what first responders do. Students got to learn just what the jobs entail straight from the professionals. They got to try on equipment, tour a SWAT vehicle, and play CSI as they found clues to determine who stole Santa's sleigh. The whole experience was a great chance for the students to be able to meet the first responders in a positive setting.
Thank you to our First Responders: Camillus Police, Syracuse Police Department, Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, Fairmount Fire Department, WAVES, Syracuse Fire Department, AIR1, the OCSO and SPD K9 officers. A special thank you to School Patrol Officer Skardinski for organizing this event. (This program has also been held at our other elementary schools.)
WGMS PTA Sponsors a Book Swap Event for Students
The West Genesee Middle School PTA held a Book Swap event for students that featured over 1,800 books donated by WGMS families.
Each student had the opportunity to take one book of their choosing home for free, and after all of the students had an opportunity to choose a book, teachers, staff, and interested students were invited to take as many books home that they would like for free.
This is a new school event that takes place of a traditional book fair. WGMS administrators asked the PTA to create an event that focused on celebrating reading and one that was equitable for all students. Each ELA class led by a teacher took turns visiting the Book Swap, and the PTA replenished the titles to ensure popular titles were available for all.
The WGMS PTA would like to thank WGMS administrators and families for supporting this event.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Did You Know? There are Mental Health Resources on the District Website? Are you or someone you know struggling?
West Genesee Mental Health Resources: https://sites.google.com/westgenesee.org/mentalhealthresources/home provide information for help, hope, and healing.
Connect with a mental health professional at West Genesee High School or your school and within your community.
Susan Sheehan - ST Counselor
"Spending time in nature can benefit our mental, emotional, and physical health. Stress can be relieved within minutes of exposure to nature! In addition to relieving stress and anxiety, enjoying time outside can boost our immune system, creativity, and focus; which can teach us to live more in the present. So, take a stroll in your neighborhood or spend the day hiking and enjoy a happier life!"
Marnie Moss - CMS Counselor
"By taking your emotional temperature on a regular basis, you can start to recognize how your emotions are affected by different factors in your life. Knowing more about what makes you feel anxious, frustrated, or restless will help you to anticipate challenging situations and develop healthy coping strategies."
Katie Callaghan - WGHS Counselor
"Staying active is as good for the brain as it is for the body! Regular exercise or activity can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health, relieve stress, improve memory and help you sleep better. Even 10 minutes of walking can help lift your mood and turn your day around."
2023 Summer Music Forms Now Available...
The music camp opportunities that West Genesee will be offering this summer has been announced!
Hiring Registered Nurses
WGCSD is hiring a full-time nurse to float between the buildings within the District. There are also three full-time positions available that would each be dedicated to a school.
Inquiries about this position can be sent to Deb Balcourt at dbalcourt@westgenesee.org.
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.
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.
Reminder About Memorial Day
As published on our District calendar, there will be no school on Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day.
Note: School IS IN session this Friday, May 26 which differs from some of our previous years due to the need for emergency closures this year.
Upcoming Events
- May 29, 2023 Memorial Day - No School
- June 1, 2023 WG Wildcat Olympics at WGHS
- June 5, 2023 NYS Grade 8 Written Assessment
- June 7, 2023 BOE Meeting-6:00 p.m.
- June 8, 2023 WGCSD Retirement Reception-4:00-6:00 p.m. at Camillus Elks Lodge
- June 14, 2023 Flag Day