Honeoye Central School District
Monthly Newsletter ~ AUGUST 2023
Greetings from HCS!
I hope that each of you had a phenomenal summer engaging in FUN, FAMILY and all that brings you JOY! Busy as always here at HCS, and in just a few short weeks we will open the doors to begin another great year of learning at the Honeoye Central School District. I could not be more grateful to all of the faculty and staff members who have tirelessly prepped and prepared to ready for the new school year:
- Thank you to the entirety of our clerical staff for their summer long efforts to coordinate materials and supplies, to update documents and protocols for 2023-24, to prepare opening of school information/folders for families and staff, and so much more!
Thank you to our maintenance and grounds team who have been cleaning & polishing, sealing pavement, painting, assembling and moving furniture, mounting directional signage (soon), and so much more!
Thank you to our counseling department and building administrators for the development of Master Schedules which reflect our collective commitment to best meet the needs of all HCS students.
Thank you to the technology team for readying devices, developing an efficient plan for distribution of devices, and wrapping up numerous projects.
Thank you to the entirety of the leadership team at HCS, who have engaged in professional learning and worked tirelessly this summer to advance programming and supports at HCS in advocacy of and for our students.
Thank you to all of the teacher and staff members who engaged in professional learning this summer!
CLASSES BEGIN for K-12 STUDENTS: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
CLASSES BEGIN for PreK STUDENTS: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
With Regrets… Summer Farewell to HCS Faculty Member
Please join me in wishing the very best to this former Bulldog, who is venturing on to other endeavors:
Kaitlin LaFave, Special Education Teacher: Mrs. LaFave will proudly serve the Canandaigua Central School District as an Assistant Principal in 2023-24. We wish her well and could not be more #HoneoyePROUD of her!
Summer Welcome to New Faculty and Staff at HCS
Please also join me in congratulating and welcoming our new Bulldogs... Grateful to welcome these talented, passionate and positive individuals to the dynamic faculty and staff at HCS!
Samantha Braungart, Cleaner
Gerard Brzezinski, Bus Driver
Clarissa Hensler, Math Teacher
Mike Kestler, Director of Facilities
Elizabeth Pink, Special Education Teacher
Mark Pulver, Athletic Director
TBD, Elementary Teacher
Reminder: Capital Project Q & A Session on August 23
At HCS, we take tremendous pride in our school facilities and recognize that the school district serves as a community hub. As such, short and long term facilities planning has been a priority for the district.
In 2021, the district contracted with SWBR to develop a Long-Range Master plan. This plan was developed by survey and focus groups from educators, collective information gathering from all staff and administrators, and community members input. The plan lays out long-range priorities for instructional programs, capital maintenance and improvements.
It is important for our community to proceed with program and capital improvements that benefit our students, parents and community members. For this reason, the Honeoye School District is looking to proceed with a 2023 Capital Project and is seeking input from our constituents. The District has scheduled and will hold a Q & A session for the HCS community on August 23 at 6pm in the LGI (Large Group Instruction room). The district's architect, Joe Kosoriek from SWBR, will present information about the proposed scope of work for the capital project and participants will have the opportunity to provide input. In the event you would like to attend but are unable to be here with us in person, you may join us via this Zoom meeting link. The link will go live on Aug 23, 2023 at 06:00 PM. Participants will have the same opportunity to provide input as in person participants via electronic "straw poll" voting.
Once the District receives feedback on the capital project proposal, the district will put forth a project to the community based on the portions of the project which are supported by the community. With approval from SED, the District is proceeding with a schedule allowing a December 2023 referendum vote. The anticipated schedule of the project is listed below:
December 2023: Referendum
January 2024: Design Start
September 2024: SED Submission
February 2025: Bid
May 2025: Construction Start
September 2026: Construction Completion
Save the Date: Welcome Back Bash Scheduled for August 31!
HCS could not be more excited to invite our students and families to the Second Annual Welcome Back Bash on August 31, 2023 from 5:30 - 8:00. This event is scheduled to run concurrently with Open House so that our Bulldogs may visit campus, connect with teachers, and enjoy some food and festivity together before we officially launch the 2023-24 school year. Welcome Back Bash activities include (but are not limited to):
K-12 Open House, 5:30 - 7:00pm
Food
Live music
“Once loved” swap exchange of clothes, Bulldog clothing, school supplies and sports equipment
A plethora of info tables set-up from Ontario County services to PTA to clubs and activities
FUN including yard games, community art project, face painting, therapy dogs, photo booth, and more!
Teacher Assignments and Student Schedules
Great news! Enrollment at the K level was sufficient to add an additional section in 2023-24... The position has been posted and Mrs. Pfluke is busy with organizing a hiring process to onboard a new teacher.
Elementary teacher assignments and secondary student schedules are scheduled to go out soon (see principal messages below). Due to the addition of a third K section, families may receive a teacher assignment that indicates "To Be Determined" while Mrs. Pfluke wraps up teacher assignments inclusive of a new hire to the district. Note: Upon receiving teacher assignment, parents may request information about the professional qualifications of their student's classroom teachers by making a formal request to the Office of the Superintendent.
Community Partnerships Continued... Plus a Couple New Ones!
HCS is proud to partner once again with PTA and Foodlink to support families in our community via an onsite brick and mortar pantry. The HCS PTA will provide regular updates about access to this resource. Please feel free to reach out with questions about the Foodlink Pantry to hcsptapresident@gmail.com or hcsptafoodpantry@gmail.com
HCS is excited to partner with Mosaic Dental in 2023-24. Mosaic will provide Portable Dental Services delivered by a licensed Dentist and Dental Hygienist two times annually. Services will be offered onsite at HCS for all families who register. More information will be provided to all families this fall. Special thanks to our Social Worker, Molly Perrin, for her tireless efforts in bringing this partnership to fruition.
HCS is thrilled to share that we secured grant funding to launch Primary Project at the elementary level in 2023-24. Primary Project is a Tier 2 intervention for identified students in grades PreK - 3 who may need additional support adjusting to school, gaining confidence and social skills, and focusing on learning. HCS has posted to hire a part time (15 hours weekly) paraprofessional to serve as our Primary Project Child Associate. Natalie Pfluke and Molly Perrin will provide oversight for this program and work with the elementary staff around implementation.
HCS Continued Commitment to Safety and Wellness
As you know, school safety is paramount to the work of our organization. Given our commitment to continuous improvement and enhanced programming in all areas of operation, HCS is proud to launch year two of our BIT model in partnership many Ontario County partners. In 2022-23, the BIT team served as a resource to improve targeted violence threat response protocols and threat mitigation strategies by providing multidisciplinary expert advice and seamless sharing of threat information across systems. We could not have been more pleased to partner with representatives from numerous Participating Member Agencies (PMA), including the Ontario County Sheriff’s Department, DSS/PINS Diversion, CYOA, SPOA, FLACRA, and Ontario County Mental Health. In 2023-24, BIT will continue to act as an organized team to discuss Threat Cases (TC), where there has been a determination that there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals with a nexus to the school community. The Honeoye BIT will utilize the expertise of PMA for the development of balanced intervention and case management strategies for threat cases presented to the team.
The entirety of the HCS Behavior Intervention Team - BIT - (Akers, Bush, Carrier, Davis, Johnson, Perrin, Pfluke, Schneckenburger, VanLare, Ashton) engaged in Level 2 Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) training through Navigate 360 this summer. CSTAG is an evidence-based model developed by Dr. Dewey Cornell and colleagues at UV for schools to conduct threat assessments. This approach has been extensively examined through field tests and controlled studies that demonstrate its utility and effectiveness.
HCS maintains its commitment to restorative practices and partnership with PIRI - Partners in Restorative Initiatives. A team of admin and mental health will engage in a third installment of training with PIRI this summer around restorative practices.
- As you will hopefully recall, the district has been engaging with a sign company to develop internal directional/wayfaring signage for the campus. We have received the signage and aspire to have it all installed prior to school opening.
Bulldogs & Athletics
Welcome to Mark Pulver!
The 2023-24 HCS Athletics and Extracurricular Handbook was approved during a Regular Meeting of the BOE on 8/9. The 2023-24 Handbook includes important updates specific to athlete eligibility and spectator expectations. Mr. Schneckenburger will cover the material with all extracurricular advisors at a date in September, yet to be determined. AD Pulver will review the content with coaches during a Mandatory Coaches’ Meeting on August 17.
The 2023-24 HCS Coaching Handbook includes NUMEROUS revisions. AD Pulver will review the content with coaches during a Mandatory Coaches’ Meeting on August 17.
The New York State High School Athletics Association developed and will require that all school districts implement and enforce Sportsmanship Standards, effective Fall 2023. The NYSPHSAA Spectator Expectations are included below in the August District Newsletter, will be posted on the website, and announced over the PA system during athletic competitions. Additionally, AD Pulver will cover Spectator Expectations during Parent Meetings at the onset of each athletic season. Note: The Fall Sports Parent Meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 21. More information (time,location,other) about the athletics parent meeting will be distributed by Mark Pulver.
Graduates of Distinction
The Graduates of Distinction who were recognized during Commencement 2023 will be honored during Homecoming weekend. It is anticipated that the celebration will be scheduled on Friday evening during halftime of the Varsity game. More information to follow.
HoneoyePROUD
Thank you for your support of the Honeoye Central School District as we prepare to welcome back all of our Bulldogs on September 6. Wishing you a remainder of the summer which is filled with sunshine, fun, laughter, and good health.
Best,
E. Bridget Ashton
Elizabeth Bridget Ashton
Superintendent, Honeoye Central School District
8528 Main Street
Honeoye, New York 14471
On Twitter: @EBridgetAshton
Volunteering at HCS
- Per BOE Policy 3150, volunteers at HCS are “persons willing to donate their time and energies to assist principals, teachers and other school personnel in implementing various pages of school programs.”
- Volunteers may be utilized to assist classroom teachers by providing extra help for students, creating displays or bulletin boards, reading to children, or to support major projects. Volunteers are also an invaluable support when they serve as chaperones on field trips.
- If you are interested in serving as a volunteer for the Honeoye Central School District, please complete the appropriate Volunteer Application form and return it in person to the Elementary or Secondary Main Office.
- Per BOE Policy, only those volunteers approved and included on the district’s list of approved volunteers may support our work in the district. The Superintendent retains the right to approve or reject any volunteer applications submitted for consideration.
- Approved volunteers may opt out of volunteer service at any time.
- Approved volunteers continue from year to year unless the district receives written communication to the contrary from said volunteer.
- ALL volunteers must provide identification and receive security clearance via the Raptor integrated security and safety software system utilized by the district.
Behavior Intervention Team (BIT)
- In 2022-23, the Honeoye Central School District developed and launched a Behavior Intervention Team (BIT). Our BIT concept is modeled after the CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) approach utilized by law enforcement to best identify potentially violent individuals and to develop targeted, intensive supports.
- We are grateful that our team will consist of select representatives from various Ontario County agencies - Sheriff’s Department, OC Mental Health, FLACRA, DSS PINS Division, SPOA, and Lakeview Health
- The Honeoye BIT will act as an organized team to discuss Threat Cases (TC), where there has been a determination that there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals with a nexus to the school community.
- The Honeoye BIT will utilize the expertise of this team for the development of balanced intervention and case management strategies for threat cases presented to the team.
- In compliance with 34 CFR § 99.7 (a) (3) (iii) Annual Notification Requirements, this communication shall serve as notification to parents/guardians of students currently in attendance, or eligible students currently in attendance, that the district has a policy of disclosing education records under 34 CFR § 99.31(a)(1) to BIT members from outside agencies, where necessary and determined appropriate by the District.
- Disclosure of confidential information lawfully shared in-furtherance of the Honeoye BIT mission for purposes other than advancing school-safety or caretaking of the subject of the threat case is strictly prohibited.
- The BIT team shall meet on a monthly basis and be available for emergency BIT callouts.
New in 2023-24: NYSPHSAA Spectator Expectations
NYSPHSAA Spectator Expectations
The New York State High School Athletics Association developed and will require that all school districts implement and enforce Sportsmanship Standards, effective Fall 2023.
NYSPHSAA Expectation Statement: Officials, just like student athletes and coaches, are critical to interscholastic sports programs. Without officials, NYSPHSAA and its member schools would not be able to provide interscholastic sports in the manner that is desired and expected by student athletes, coaches, and parents. In addition to abiding by the HCS Code of Conduct, spectators are expected to “Be Loud, Be Proud, and Be Positive.” Negative comments and inappropriate behaviors by spectators are required to be addressed by all and any school supervisors and administrators, as a member of NYSPHSAA in the following non-sequential order depending on the comments or behavior:
First warning – Directing the spectator or group of spectators to refrain from any negative comments or actions.
Second warning – A personal discussion with the spectators or group of spectators on the above NYSPHSAA expectations and reminding the spectators or group of spectators of the next step - removal of the game or event - will be utilized if the behavior continues.
Removal from the contest – The spectator or group of spectators will be directed to leave the facility for the remainder of the game or event.
If spectators or group of spectators refuse to leave the game or event, play will be stopped until they vacate the premise.
Penalty for being removed from a game or event: Any spectator removed from a game or event will have a minimum penalty of completing the NFHS Parent Credential course or a one game suspension before they are allowed to attend any interscholastic event, home or away.
Once the course is completed the spectator will provide a certificate of completion to the athletic department office.
Schools are required to communicate with the offending spectator on the NYSPHSAA Sportsmanship Spectator Expectations.
Spectators may be prohibited from attending current and future interscholastic contests based on their behavior. (Oct. 2022)
Depending on the severity of the behavior/comments or future disqualifications by the offending spectator NYSPHSAA and the Section may get directly involved in the situation. (May 2023)
For Your Consideration: Shared Decision Making Committee Membership
School districts in New York State are required to adopt and maintain a Board of Education approved Code of Conduct to ensure "the maintenance of order on school property, including school functions, which shall govern the conduct of students, teachers and other school personnel as well as visitors."
Over the course of this school year, HCS intends to assemble a Shared Decision Committee for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive review of the Code of Conduct and for making recommendations for update, as applicable. School districts are authorized to establish a committee and to facilitate the review of the Code of Conduct, taking into consideration the effectiveness of code provisions. HCS hopes to conduct such review in collaboration with representatives from each of the following stakeholder groups: secondary students, instructional staff, operational staff, parents/guardians, PTA, and administration (max of 20 - 24 participants).
Participants must be able to attend monthly meetings scheduled from 4:00 - 5:00pm on the following dates:
- October 26
- November 16
- December 14
- January 18
- February 15
- March 14
- April 11
- May 16, as necessary
If you or your secondary child is interested in serving on this committee, please email me directly at bridget.ashton@honeoye.org between now and September 8. Thank you in advance for your anticipated support of this work!
Content Order of August 2023 District Newsletter
- At the Secondary Level...From Mr. Nate Schneckenburger
- At the Elementary Level...From Mrs. Natalie Pfluke
- From the Desk of HCS AP, Mr. Alex Akers
- In the Event of Question or Concern: Chain of Contact Document Link
- News from the HCS Technology Department, Mrs. Erika Asquino
- From the Desk of Tina Bush, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
- Reminders from the Health Office, Mrs. Marybeth Tonkery
- Scribbles from the School Social Worker, Ms. Molly Perrin
- Counselor's Corner, Mrs. Kate VanLare
- HCS Prevention Educator, Ms. Nicole Drost
- Message from the HCS Wellness Coordinator, Mrs. Lorri Campbell
- Teaching and Learning at HCS - Secondary Library Update
- Athletics, Extracurriculars, and Club Information
- Updates from Kitchen Service Manager, Ms. Amiee Levesque
- Updates from the Transportation Department, Mr. Ray Thomas
- From The Desk Of . . . Mr. Michael D. Bastian, HCS Business Administrator
- Safety Information and Reminders
- ***Safe School Helpline
- ***Intersection of Code of Conduct, DASA and Title IX
- ***GoGuardian and Beacon Alerts
- Partnering with PTA
- Updates from Community Partners
- Employment Opportunities: Substitutes
- ***HCS Employment Opportunities QR Code Available
- Please Mark Your Calendars
At the Secondary Level...Notes and Updates From Mr. Schneckenburger
Dear Honeoye Central School Families,
We are very excited to be welcoming your children back to HCS for the 2023-2024 school year. Last school year was encouraging as HCS students demonstrated significant growth in some key areas, both academically and socially. I am confident our staff is ready to engage our students in learning and support them in their growth. That said, we have two teachers who I am very pleased to welcome to Honeoye this fall: Ms. Clarissa Hensler (Math) and Ms. Elizabeth Pink (Special Education).
Upcoming dates:
Back to school information and student schedules will be mailed on August 21*Please note: Parents may request information from the District about the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher.
Freshman Orientation: August 24 (10:30 a.m.-12:30p.m.)
Grade 6 Orientation: August 31 (4:00-5:30p.m.)
Welcome Back Bash (5:30-8:30p.m.) and Open House (5:30-7:00p.m.): August 31
First day of class: September 6 (First period instruction begins at 7:42a.m.)
I would like to sincerely thank you for your support as the partnership between family and school is such an important factor in creating a positive environment for kids to thrive.
I hope the remainder of the summer is enjoyable, we look forward to seeing you soon- Go Bulldogs!
Sincerely,
Nathan Schneckenburger
Honeoye Central School
Principal (Grades 6-12)
At the Elementary Level...Notes and Updates From Mrs. Pfluke
Dear Honeoye Families,
We are buzzing with excitement to welcome your children to a new school year filled with engaging lessons, creative activities, and a chance to make new friends. We look forward to partnering with you to make sure your child has every opportunity to learn and thrive at school during the coming year. Please be on the lookout for your Welcome Back Packet which will be mailed to families on August 21st. Please plan to take time to look through this packet of important information, as a few of our procedures have changed. We are excited to announce that we are shifting from quarterly reporting to trimester reporting at the elementary school. Report Card indicators have been updated and will align with parent teacher conferences. Information will also include your child’s class placement, updated procedures, and forms to be sent back to school. *Please Note - At any time, parents may request information from the District about the professional qualifications of their student's classroom teachers.
Important reminders:
First day of school for Grades K-5 is Wednesday, September 6th.
First day of school for UPK is Friday, September 8th.
If your address, pick up, or drop-off location has changed, please notify our Transportation Secretary, Jillian Impey at 229-2685. If you moved over the summer, please call Kathy Hoertz in the Elementary Office at 229-5171 x3018.
UPK Screening will take place September 6-7. Please be sure to call the Elementary office at 229-5171 x3018 to schedule your appointment if you have not done so already.
As always, attendance is a top priority. While some absences are unavoidable for health or personal reasons, we ask that you partner with us to ensure that your child is here and on time each and every day possible.
Please mark your calendars for UPK-12th Grade Welcome Back Bash & Open House on August 31st from 5:30-8:00 pm (Please Note - Classrooms are open from 5:30-7:00).
We look forward to a wonderful start to the new school year! Have a wonderful rest of summer and we can’t wait to see you!
With Sincere Gratitude,
Natalie Pfluke, Elementary Principal
From the Desk of HCS Assistant Principal & Data Coordinator, Mr. Akers
I hope you have been having a wonderful summer so far! It’s hard to believe that we are less than a month away from the beginning of the ‘23-’24 school year. Although there is still plenty of time to get in last minute plans and summer activities before September, it is also a good time to start thinking about how to prepare your student to return back to school. Switching back from summer time to a regular school schedule can be challenging. Here are some tips and ideas that you can use to help ease the transition for your student.
One important tip for helping your student adjust for back to school is to begin adjusting their night-time routine beforehand. During summer, students often go to bed later and wake up later. Having your student begin to gradually shift their sleep schedule back over a week or two will make the transition less abrupt as the first day approaches. Related to this, getting them back into a more structured routined will also help ease the transition. This includes getting them up in the morning, making sure they are eating breakfast, and getting ready for the day ahead. By doing this in the weeks leading up to school, your student will already be in the habit and ready to go by the time school comes around!
Another way to prepare for the upcoming year is to involve your student in getting their supplies. Having them involved in choosing the types of school supplies they want or bringing them to get it will help them get more excited for the new year and help them mentally prepare for the start of school. You can find the different supply lists on the school website. Once you are at the homepage, click the "STUDENT & FAMILY RESOURCES" link at the top of the page. Once you are there, there is a box to your right hand side that says "Supply Lists: Elementary" or “Supply Lists: Secondary”. This will take you to the page with list information broken down by grade or subject if applicable.
Enjoy the rest of the summer and we look forward to seeing you all in September!
District Technology Updates
I hope that you have had a restful and relaxing summer break! Over the past two months the Technology Department has been working diligently to update, clean, and prepare over 600 Chromebooks for our students to utilize during the 2023-2024 school year.
In preparation for the school year, we are offering Chromebook pick up for students in grades 6-12 at the end of the month. Information below.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and I look forward to partnering with you in the 2023-2024 school year!
From the Desk of Tina Bush, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
I hope that you had a restful summer and had the chance to read a good book. We are excited about all that this new school year has to offer and look forward to working with our students and families as we focus on continuous improvement in teaching and learning, and all areas of our school environment. We are looking forward to a productive and positive 2023-2024 school year!
As I start my fifth year at the Pound, I am truly grateful to work with each and every one of you! This summer, we had an opportunity to continue our partnership with Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PIRI) and learn about restorative practices in responding to conflict and harm. We also spent time getting a better understanding of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and how we can embrace these ideas within our community.
Thank you to all who are helping prepare for the new school year. Your commitment to ensuring that Honeoye Central School District remains a celebrated and successful school is awe-inspiring. Please stop by and say hello. Together, I know we will make this school year one of growth and achievement for all children.
Warmest Regards,
Tina
Health Office Reminders & News from HCS School Nurse, Marybeth Tonkery
Important Reminders from the Nurse’s Office
A Health Exam is required for new entrants and UPK or KDG, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11). Exam forms need to be current, dated within the year of the start of school: dated after 9/5/22 (note the year).
If your child will need to have prescribed or any Over the Counter medication during the school day, the Nurse’s office requires a Health Care Provider’s note including the following details: student name, medication name, medication dose, medication frequency and Health Care Provider signature. All medications need to be in the original container and brought in by an adult to the Nurse’s Office where they are stored. Students are only allowed to carry emergency medications during the school day such as, Epinephrine for allergy, Inhaler for asthma and Insulin/Glucagon for Diabetes. These medications also require a Health Care Provider's note along with an attestation to self administer and carry. Epi-pens, inhalers and glucagon syringes themselves need to be labeled by the pharmacy for safety reasons, not just the box they come in.
Students entering 6th, 7th and 12th grade have the following Booster Immunizations required before entry to school in September!
- 6th Grade - Tdap booster (Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
- 7th Grade - Meningitis (MenACWY) dose #1
- 12th Grade - Meningitis (MenACWY) dose # 2
Please call the Nurse’s Office with any questions or email Mrs. Tonkery - Phone: 585-229-5171 ext. 3013 and/or Email: mtonkery@honeoye.org
Scribbles from the School Social Worker
Summer Happenings:
Summer Academy: HCS Elementary just wrapped up four weeks of Summer Academy! Students participated in reading, math, and social-emotional learning activities to get them ready for the next school year! In their SEL Rotation, students spent time in community circles learning and practicing core skills, including self awareness, self-regulation, relationship building, social awareness, and responsible decision making.
Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PIRI): HCS continues to work toward building a safe and supportive learning environment for all of our community. Part of this includes training in restorative practices and community building circles. This summer, the HCS administrative and mental health teams will work with PIRI to continue to advance our restorative practice knowledge.
New to HCS! Programs launching in the 2023-24 year: We are so excited to continue to bring resources to our school, and allow for more school based partnerships!
Mosaic Health: HCS has partnered with Mosaic Health to offer school-based dental services, including oral hygiene education, screenings, cleanings, and more! We are so excited to bring this much-needed resource to HCS and will be sure to communicate registration information and dates soon! Make sure to stop by our Welcome Back Bash Resource Fair on 8/31 to meet some members of our school-based dental team!
Primary Project: HCS is very excited to launch Primary Project in Grades K-2! This play-based program is designed to support students with school adjustment challenges, and is sure to make a positive impact on our youngest learners!
Calling all Community Partners!
We are just weeks away from our Second Annual Welcome Back Bash! If you are a representative from a local agency, organization, club, team, etc. and would like to set up a table at our Welcome Back Bash Community Resource Fair on August 31st, please reach out to me at molly.perrin@honeoye.org!
Spotlight on Food Supports!
It is always so fun to see how much your kiddos have grown over the summer! But, growing bodies come with growing appetites as well! See below for an overview of food resources within our community! Additionally, make sure to stop by our Welcome Back Bash Community Resource Fair to check your eligibility for and sign up for SNAP, and Free and Reduced Lunch with our community and school partners!
Honeoye PTA Food Pantry: Available to all students and families within the district! Email honeoyefoodpantry@gmail.com to set up a time to stop in!
Honeoye Community Food Pantry: Open hours on the first Saturday of every month from 9-10:30am. Please bring proof of residency in the Honeoye Central School District.
The Free Little Pantry- Honeoye: Located at 8871 Main St, the Free Little Pantry operated 24/7 as a “Leave what you can, take what you need” program. Email thefreelittlepantryhoneoye@gmail.com for more info!
Hemlock Community Food Pantry: Located at 4620 Main St. in Hemlock, the Hemlock community food pantry is typically open on Thursday mornings, with a variety of products, including fresh produce and refrigerated goods.
Sent by Ravens Food Pantry: The Sent by Ravens Food Pantry is open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on Livonia CSD Campus at 40 Spring St. See their website for eligibility requirements.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): The SNAP program, formerly known as Food Stamps, assists individuals and families in accessing food. Families must meet income eligibility guidelines, and applications can be submitted here. For assistance in completing a SNAP application, please contact me, or reach out to Virginia Torruella, coordinator of the Ontario County Nutrition Outreach Education Program at vtorruella@lawny.org.
Free and Reduced Lunch Program at Honeoye CSD: The Free and Reduced Lunch program can help to make school meals more accessible to families meeting income eligibility guidelines. Families who receive SNAP or TANF benefits are automatically eligible for the program. Feel free to reach out if you need support in completing this application!
HCS Community Resource Guide
The HCS Community Resource Guide is continually updated, and contains information about mental health, medical, food, and financial resources that are accessible to you throughout Ontario County, and beyond. Feel free to reach out with any questions, or if you would like support in connecting with area resources! In addition, if you know of area resources that are not on this list, and may be accessible to our families, please let me know!
Feel free to reach out to me at any time- I would love to connect with you!
Best,
Molly Perrin, LMSW
School Social Worker
Honeoye Central School District
(585) 229-5171 Ext. 2066
Counselors' Corner
What else to expect:
- Meet upperclass peer mentors
- Get your Freshmen year schedule
- Find your locker
- Tour your high school classrooms
- Pizza for lunch!
Hello Juniors and Seniors!
I'm looking for a small group of students to help with Freshmen Orientation. This will be Thursday, August 24th and I will need help from 9:30 am to about 12:45. This will involve touring the high school classes, answering questions they have about high school, and helping them find/open their lockers. There will also be free pizza:)
This is a great opportunity to earn some community service hours (HELLOOOOO NHS MEMBERS/POTENTIAL MEMBERS) and to help our Freshmen have a great start to their high school experience.
Please email me directly if you are interested at kate.vanlare@honeoye.org
HCS Prevention Educator ~ Submitted by Nicole Drost
August 2023 Newsletter
Hello! I can’t believe that in a short time we will be back at school. I hope that you had an enjoyable summer with your family. Towards the end of this month, I will be viewing a webinar given by Idaho Law Enforcement Officer, Jermaine Galloway (his information can be found here Tall Cop Says Stop). He is one of the leading experts in drug and alcohol trends across the United States. I will be presenting this important information at a Board of Education meeting. Please be on the lookout for the exact date.
I hope to see you at the Welcome Back Bash on August 31! I will be there along with Dr. Dan Oftstein, Education Coordinator of Ontario County Schools through The Council on Alcoholism and Addictions of the Finger Lakes. Please stop by to chat, say hello, or grab some swag!
As always, if you have questions or concerns, I can be reached via email at nicole.drost@honeoye.org. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Respectfully,
Nicole Drost
Honeoye Central School
Prevention Educator
585 229-5171 x 2019
From Lorri Campbell, HCS Wellness Coordinator
From the Secondary Library...
Greetings from the Secondary Library! The 2023 - 2024 school year will hold some exciting opportunities in the library. For the first time we will be offering a library skills class for 6th graders. This 10 week class will set-up students for success as they learn about what the library has to offer, along with research skills and informational literacy skills which they will find useful in their studies, and their lives, for years to come.
After a long absence, this school year will also see the renewal of the Secondary Library Club! Members of the club will read and discuss books, short stories, poems, and other materials of interest to the group. Members will have opportunities to participate in makerspace and crafting activities. Members will have the chance to have their voices heard in the development and maintenance of our school library program.
There will be meetings that are middle school only, meetings that are high school only, and also meetings that are open to all secondary students. Member input will drive the direction of our club. We will work to spread positivity in our school community through literary based programs.
Also, community members will see positive changes in the library’s physical environment, as new furniture and new carpeting will spruce up the space.
I can’t wait to see you all in just a few short weeks! In the meantime, don’t forget to check out our local libraries to pick up some reads to beat the late summer boredom!
Meet HCS Athletic Director: Mark Pulver (as originally communicated on July 12)
My name is Mark Pulver, and I would like to introduce myself as your Athletic Director for the 2023-2024 school year. I am thrilled at this opportunity and look forward to our upcoming year together!
Athletics have played a significant role in my life and are very important to me. As a young adult, they were crucial in my development and have continued to be important as I have become a dad, coach, and now athletic director. I am passionate about this position because of its importance and my opportunity to help provide the best situation for the student-athletes of Honeoye Central School.
I look forward to working with the board members, administrators, teachers, coaches, parents, and student-athletes to maximize opportunity and enjoyment for everyone involved. Please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, ideas, thoughts, and praise for our athletics programs.
I look forward to a positive and productive year! I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work alongside all of you!
Sincerely,
Mark Pulver
HCS Athletic Director
From the HCS Athletic Director, Mark Pulver
Fall Sports Registration:
- Registration opened on July 24th, if you have not registered your athlete yet please register them ASAP as fall sports begin August 21 for Varsity/JV and August 28 for Modified/Mod A sports.
- Fall Sport Registration
Important Dates
Mandatory Fall Sport Parent Meeting: Monday, August 21st at 7pm in the Auditorium
Fall Preseason Starts: JV/Varsity- Monday, August 21, Modified/Mod A- Monday, August 28th
Homecoming Weekend: Friday, Sept. 29 & Saturday, Sept. 30th
TENTATIVE Senior Nights
- Cross Country- Tuesday, Sept. 26
- Golf- Thursday, Sept. 28th
- Girls Soccer- Saturday, October 7th
- Boys Soccer- Wednesday, October 11th
- Volleyball- Monday, October 16th
Homecoming Schedule:
Friday Night- September 29th
- Modified Boys’ Soccer vs Marcus Whitman @ 4:30 pm (JV Field)
- Varsity Boys’ Soccer vs Naples @ 6:30 pm
Saturday- September 30th
- JV Volleyball vs Way-Co @ 9:30 am
- Varsity Volleyball vs Way-Co @ 11:00 am
- Girls’ Varsity Soccer vs Naples @ 1:00 pm
HCS Sports Boosters
SPORTS Boosters is BACK!!!!
More information to come at the Fall Sport Parent Meeting and Welcome Back Bash
Concessions will be open through Boosters
Chicken BBQ planned for the Saturday of Homecoming Weekend!
AED LOCATIONS:
Outside of the Nurses office.
Outside of the High School Gymnasium/Foyer.
Middle School/High School Art Wing/Maintenance Area.
1st Grade hallway, near the exit to the athletic fields.
Marybeth Tonkery has 3 additional AED’s that can be signed out for away contests.
Chicken BBQ
HS Y2Y/Interact Club and HS NHS are sponsoring a Chicken BBQ on August 31st during the Open House Bash. Chicken will be ready to go at 2:30. All proceeds go to fund our upcoming Day of Caring on September 29th. We can deliver to your classroom. You can email me back or you can fill out this google form . The price is $13 per meal - checks can be made out to HCS. See attached flyer for more details. Thank you for your support!
Food Service Information
Food Service:
The Free & Reduced Application is on our website along with the myschoolbucks link. September's lunch menu will go out over the summer with a copy of the free and reduced application. We will be sprucing up our ' a la carte' line as new fruit and chip racks have arrived. The free and reduced application will also go live this summer and will be available to complete electronically.
To access the Food Service website for the Honeoye Central School District, do as follows:
- Click District Offices,
- Click on Food Service.
- Once on the Food Service page you can find any of the following: The Free & Reduced Meal application, Access to myschoolbucks (online lunch account funds) and lastly the monthly meal options/menu.
HONEOYE CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION
The safety of your child is our number one priority. Below are a few items for you to read
over so that together we can accomplish this:
Have your child out on time – 5 minutes prior to scheduled pick up time. Also, please be patient the first week of school.
Call the bus garage if your child will not be riding.
When writing notes for your child to ride to a different location we need complete names, addresses and make sure to date it.
We will make every effort not to have your child cross the road.
Seat belts are required for all Pre-K-2nd grade students.
Students (UPK-2nd grade) require that a parent, guardian, sitter or older sibling must be at the bus stop and visible, otherwise your child will not be dropped off. Exceptions can be made with formal written permission. Students who are unable to be dropped off will be brought back to the bus garage until we contact a parent or an emergency contact to make pick up arrangements.
The bus garage is located off County Rd. #37 on Dugan Drive, behind the Greenery. Please feel free to call us at any time or stop by. We are here from 6:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the evening. Our number is (585) 229-2685.
Thank you for your support in making your child’s transportation a positive experience for all who are involved.
Ray Thomas
Transportation Supervisor
Jillian Impey
Transportation Secretary
From The Desk Of . . . Michael D. Bastian, HCS Business Administrator
August is an incredibly busy month in both the Business Office and for our Operational Departments. Here’s an overview of some of the tasks we have been and will be undertaking at the Business Office these next few weeks before the return of students and instructional staff:
Ordering and receiving of teacher instructional materials
Application for multiple federal and state instructional grants & closing out of prior year grants
Completion and submission of NY State Aid Claim forms
Completion of the 2022-2023 annual audit
Calculation and BOE adoption of 2023-2024 property tax rates and preparation of property tax bills for mailing
Submission of annual state reports due in August
Planning, input gathering and development of Capital Project proposal (December vote)
On the operational side, the HCS Food Service Department is prepped and ready to serve students and staff upon their return. Kitchen Manager Amiee Levesque has been working to update and streamline the application process for free and reduced meals. Families are highly encouraged to check out and utilize the new "My School Apps" application portal on the HCS Website to quickly and easily apply for free and reduced meals. Look for the following graphic on the District Food Service webpage to start the application process by clicking on the “My School Apps” link above.
Ms. Levesque has also been working with Gary Shaffer and Todd Swanger from the Maintenance Department to rearrange the kitchen serving line this summer. This work is likely to continue into the first month of school.
Lastly, the HCS Food Service Department is excited to welcome a new member to the team. Beverly DeCills will be joining the crew as our Cook and brings with her a career-full of experience in Food Service with the Pittsford Central School District. We are pleased to welcome her to the team.
The HCS Maintenance Department has also been very busy this summer. Gary Shaffer and his team have been engaged in usual summer cleaning and maintenance tasks as they do each year. However, they have also undertaken additional projects that will not go unnoticed as students and staff return to school. Some of those projects include:
Installation of wayfaring/directional signage throughout the building
Top-coat sealing of some of our parking lots and driveways
Installation of new carpeting and furniture in the secondary library
Painting of several classrooms
Modifications to the kitchen serving line
The Maintenance Department also engaged in hiring processes this summer. We onboarded Smantha Braungart as a new cleaner in July, and we recently conducted a canvas and hiring process for a new position at HCS. We are pleased to announce that Mike Kestler will be joining the HCS Department in the newly created role of Facilities Director. Mr. Kestler brings over 25 years of experience in facilities management and team supervision with the Valvoline Instant Oil Corporation. Mr. Kestler will pick up the mantle of department leadership from Gary Shaffer, who will continue to serve the Honeoye Central School District in a crucial role within the maintenance department until he retires with close to 30 years of service next year.
The HCS Transportation Department has been engaged in traditional summer work this July and August which includes transporting students to summer programming, planning of bus routes, and ordering automotive/mechanical supplies for the upcoming school year. Additionally, Transportation Coordinator Ray Thomas has been engaged with an outside consultant in a study of Honeoye Central’s fleet and our readiness for future acquisition and operation of electric buses, as per NY State mandate. Mr. Thomas and the Transportation Department are also welcoming aboard a new full-time bus driver to the team. Gerry Brzezinski had been serving HCS as a sub bus driver but will now be serving students and families in a full-time capacity.
District-wide, our twelve-month support staff employees take great pride in the important work they do over the summer to prepare the school for a seamless kickoff in early September. Their efforts will certainly not go unnoticed this fall!
Wishing everyone a fantastic end to their summer! See you soon.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Bastian
HCS Business Administrator
Safe School Helpline
How can I report information?
Call: 1-800-4-1-VOICE ext. 359
(1-800-418-6423 ext.359)
Text: 66746, TIPS
Online at: https://www.safeschoolhelpline.com/
Please watch the below video to learn more about the Safe School Helpline:
Social Emotional Wellness and Mental Health Supports and Services at HCS
Intersection of Code of Conduct, DASA and Title IX
HCS Code of Conduct:
- Per SED, the Board of Education of every school district within New York State is required to adopt and amend, as appropriate, a Code of Conduct for the maintenance of order on school property, including a school function, which shall govern the conduct of students, teachers and other school personnel as well as visitors and shall provide for the enforcement thereof.
- Any and all student misconduct may be investigated and enforced under the district’s Code of Conduct. Investigation and enforcement of Code of Conduct violations is the responsibility of building level administration, and may be supported by a Dean of Students and/or other support staff.
- During the Spring of 2022, the HCS administration team invested dedicated time engaging in professional learning specific to student discipline for “higher level” offenses and calibrating responses to such. The Code of Conduct articulates the range of progressive dispositions for offenses, and we are striving for consistency in its application.
- The DASA legislation is intended to provide students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. Please review the above link for more information on DASA.
- Protected classes in the DASA legislation include: race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex.
- Behaviors outlined in DASA are also identified as prohibited student conduct within the HCS Code of Conduct (Section VIII, E4, E5 & E7). As such, any such misconduct may be investigated and enforced under the district’s Code of Conduct.
- Please report any DASA concerns as outlined below:
- Contact your building level administrator. Both Mrs. Pfluke and Mr. Schneckenburger welcome and encourage direct and open lines of communication with students and families.
- Tell a trusted adult, such as any member of the mental health staff or a teacher. School personnel are required to notify an administrator in the event of such a report.
- Complete the HCS Incident Reporting Form. Building principals actively monitor this tool for reports of peer conflict, misconduct, bullying, and/or harassment.
- District appointed DASA Coordinators conduct DASA investigations. Our HCS DASA Coordinators include the following staff members:
- Nate Schneckenburger, Secondary Principal
- Natalie Pfluke, Elementary Principal
- While the DASA Coordinator may conduct the investigation, our building level administrators are responsible for disposition of any "founded" DASA complaint.
- Title IX is a federal law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and provides, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Please review the above link for more information.
- In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Education adopted new regulations to revise the definition of sexual harassment prohibited under Title IX, and also created new procedures for investigating allegations of sexual harassment covered by Title IX.
- Behaviors outlined in Title IX are also identified as prohibited student conduct within the HCS Code of Conduct (Section VIII, E6). As such, any such misconduct may be investigated and enforced under the district’s Code of Conduct.
- Please note, however, in the event of a report of sexual harassment, the family of a student victim will be contacted by a district appointed Title IX Coordinator to discuss investigation options, time parameters for a formal Title IX investigation, and other considerations (such as confidentiality) of such an investigation.
- In the event a Title IX complaint is filed, the family of the alleged offender will also be contacted by district appointed Title IX Coordinator to discuss the investigation, time parameters and other considerations.
- Our HCS Title IX Coordinators include:
- Natalie Pfluke, Elementary Principal
- Nathan Schneckenburger, Secondary Principal
- Questions about Title IX information may be directed to the individuals named above or to titleixcoordinator@honeoye.org.
- Title IX concerns should be reported as previously outlined above (and reinforced here):
- Contact your building level administrator. Both Mrs. Pfluke and Mr. Schneckenburger welcome and encourage direct and open lines of communication with students and families. As Title IX Investigators, they also are “the lead” in any investigation and/or development of action steps to redress issues.
- Tell a trusted adult, such as any member of the mental health staff or a teacher. School personnel are required to notify an administrator in the event of such a report.
- Complete the HCS Incident Reporting Form. Building principals actively monitor this tool for reports of peer conflict, misconduct, bullying, and/or harassment.
- Building level administrators are responsible for the disposition of any "founded" Title IX complaint.
Go Guardian and Beacon Alerts
To support student safety and encourage scholarly behaviors when using devices, the Honeoye Central School District incorporated online services provided by GoGuardian a number of years ago. It may be helpful to know that over 10,000 other schools use GoGuardian to protect 5.5 million students across the world, and the Global Educator Institute has endorsed the GoGuardian Teacher product.
How are we using GoGuardian?
- HCS has chosen GoGuardian Beacon and GoGuardian Teacher services to:
- Help protect students against harmful and inappropriate online material
- Help students stay “scholarly” and more focused when learning online
- Help assess students’ progress towards class assignments
When and how does GoGuardian operate?
- GoGuardian’s web-based services operate on our school’s managed G Suite for Education Chrome accounts (i.e. when a student is logged into Chrome or a Chromebook with his/her school email address).
- GoGuardian Teacher enables teachers to use GoGuardian Teacher with students in their classes only during school hours from Monday through Friday.
- GoGuardian Beacon enables the district to monitor student usage 24/7. When Beacon detects that a student is browsing content related to Self-Harm or Suicide, a notification will be sent to users in order of the Escalation List up to five times or until an action is taken on the alert card. Disclaimer: Regardless of school monitoring specific to reference of self harm, it is simply not possible to catch all activity. Parents maintain responsibility to supervise their children’s use of devices.
What are the school’s responsibilities?
- HCS selected GoGuardian services to help our students stay safer and more scholarly online. We will work with students during class time to help teach them digital responsibility and safety. Additionally, we will train teachers about how to operate GoGuardian and about our policies and procedures to help protect student privacy.
What are my parental/guardian and child’s responsibilities?
- We ask that students uses their school-managed Google accounts and school-managed devices for educational purposes within the boundaries of the HCS Acceptable Use Policy and Agreement.
- When a student is off campus, parents are responsible for supervising internet access and usage. We encourage you to discuss rules for appropriate internet usage with your child, and to reinforce lessons of digital citizenship and safety with him or her. We also highly encourage you to report any potential cyberbullying or other sensitive issues to us.
How does GoGuardian help protect my child’s privacy?
- To help your child remain scholarly and safe online, GoGuardian collects certain personally identifiable information about your child.
- GoGuardian has consulted with privacy experts, participates in privacy organizations, is a proud signatory of the Student Privacy Pledge, and has been awarded certifications by iKeepSafe for complying with both the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and California student privacy laws. For more detailed information about GoGuardian, you may visit GoGuardian’s website, Trust & Privacy Center, GoGuardian’s Product Privacy Policy, and the attached COPPA Notice and Disclosure Form.
Partnering with PTA
Lots of exciting things happening with PTA for our upcoming school year!
• Trunk or Treat
• Dances
• Bulldog gear sale
• Food Pantry
Please join us as a member to help support our students, staff and families!
https://hcspta.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true
For Food Pantry inquiries: Please feel free to reach out with questions to hcsptapresident@gmail.com or hcsptafoodpantry@gmail.com
Thank you,
Kristin Kester
Honeoye PTA President
Join the Honeoye PTA today!
To become a member, click here:
Inspiring news flash! Healthy Kids has been ranked on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list as the:
· #1 fastest growing childcare company in New York State.
· 278 fastest-growing company in New York State overall.
· In the top 5,000 fastest-growing companies in America.
Fast growth means that more and more families are trusting their children to Healthy Kids before/after school programs. We deliver excellence.
The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents private companies that have powered fast revenue growth despite the most difficult hiring challenges ever. For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database go to www.inc.com/inc5000.
For more on the Inc5000 honor, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRisiMDj6OY
Help Wanted: Substitutes Spanning Instructional and Operational Areas
The Honeoye Central School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is currently seeking to hire SUBSTITUTES in the following areas:
School Nurse
Teachers
Teacher Assistants
Monitors (Hall/Cafeteria/Transportation)
Bus Drivers
Cleaners
Typists
Food Service Workers
Please complete the application on the Ontario County Civil Service Employment Portal.
- Web address: https://ontario-portal.mycivilservice.com
For Questions, Contact:
- Jennifer Green Phone: (585) 229-5171, Email: jennifer.green@honeoye.org
2023-24 Instructional Calendar
Save the Date: Commencement Ceremony
Class of 2024 Graduation
Friday, June 28, 2024
7:00pm
How to Reach Me...
Email: bridget.ashton@honeoye.org
Website: https://www.honeoye.org/
Location: 8528 Main Street, Honeoye, NY, USA
Phone: 585-229-4110
Twitter: @EBridgetAshton