Gananda is announcing our participation in Dell's Education Purchase Program (EPP). This is a free discount program available to us through Dell. EPP is a discount program that allows all employees, students, family and friends to receive member-only pricing on all personal purchases from Dell. Dell has created a dedicated website that we can shop 24/7. http://www.dell.com/GanandaCentralSchoolDistrict. The link to this site can also be found under the "Parents & Community" and "Staff" menu on the district website. Program discounts are automatically applied at checkout.

Join "The Lift Project" for Mental Health

We all know the importance of health and well-being. For those of you that are looking for ways to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, we wanted to share "The Lift Project." We at Gananda Central School District are partnering with this internationally recognized well-being initiative to provide tools, strategies, and experiences designed to help you take control of your well-being and live a happier life.

The Lift Project is a fun and engaging virtual program that combines proven strategies from Neuroscience, Lifestyle Medicine, and Positive Psychology. Facilitated by award-winning educator and well-being expert Dr. Darren Morton, The Lift Project explores 10 well-being-enhancing topics that are designed to lift your mood and life. This comprehensive well-being adventure is available to you, members of your family, and anyone in your personal or professional community for FREE.

The Lift Project initiative will run through June 30th, so you can complete the challenge at a pace that is comfortable for your schedule.

This is a unique opportunity that has the potential to impact your life positively in many ways. You can register for and learn more about The Lift Project HERE.

We look forward to embarking upon this journey to better health with you.

Richard Mann Elementary is reading across America the week of February 27 - March 3! We are excited to announce our “travel plans” and hope you will join us on our journey across the states. We will start in Niagara Falls, NY and go through a total of 4,560 miles throughout the week, ending in Hollywood, CA. Here's how it works:

1. Record the minutes your student or family reads each day on the Richard Mann Reads Across America form. Each minute equals one mile on our journey.

2. We will be tracking the number of minutes each classroom, student, and family reads each day to see where our "stop" will be the next day. At each "stop" we will explore some fun landmarks!

3. Our end goal is 4,560 minutes! There will be a big poster in front of the library to track our progress across the country so you can see our progress.

Fourth and Fifth grade students are invited to a night of fun hosted by the High School Drama Club on Friday, March 3 from 6-8pm. Students can enjoy an open gym, open swim, Wizard of Oz - themed face painting, photo wall and a viewing of the movie The Wizard of Oz. Admission is $5. Concessions will also be available.

**Event will be chaperoned by teachers and lifeguards with events run by High School Drama Club students. Proceeds help support the upcoming Drama Club's production of the Wizard of Oz.

Gananda Dollars for Scholars News

AmazonSmile

Gananda Dollars for Scholars would like to thank everyone who has participated in the Amazon Smile Program, past and present. Amazon is discontinuing the program, which will end on February 28th, 2023. Throughout its tenure, AmazonSmile raised approximately $1,500 in scholarship funds for GDFS! We appreciate your support!

GDFS 2023 Annual Mail-a-Thon Campaign

Please be on the lookout for an envelope from GDFS, coming by the end of February. Our student volunteers have been working diligently to prepare this mass mailing. 100% of the funds that are raised go directly back to seniors! We appreciate any support you can give us!

Adult Volunteers Needed!

Gananda Dollars for Scholars is looking for adult volunteers willing to help out with our annual activities. The reality is that many of our current volunteers have had their kids already go through the district. Some have grandkids and are ready to move on. We need parents of students who are currently attending school to get involved! GDFS gives out roughly $37.000. Ask yourself, do you really want to see that go away because of lack of support? That's why we don't have a PTSA, because nobody was willing to help out and take it over once those people's kids graduated. You may feel like graduation is a long time from now for your student, but I am here to tell you it goes by very fast. I started volunteering for GDFS when my oldest was in elementary school. My youngest of 3 graduated 4 years ago. It went by in a flash!

We meet the first Tuesday of every month in the high school library at 7:00. Parking is at the back of the school (the gymnasium entrance). Meetings are posted on the district calendar as well. I hope you'll consider joining our committee!

Tickets will be on sale online and sold at the door for $10.