Hillside students skip the bus and walk to school
On October 3, many Hillside Elementary School students took a break from riding the bus to instead stretch their legs and walk to school in recognition of International Walk to School Day. Students, family members and even a few four-legged friends strolled from as far away as Morgan Avenue and the Hexam Gardens neighborhood to the school on Cornelius Avenue where they were greeted by Hillside Principal Shireen Fasciglione, teachers and staff. Representatives of the Cornell Cooperative Extension provided fresh apples for student walkers to snack on when they arrived. Read more

Rosendale Elementary School receives national recognition for academic excellence
The United States Department of Education has named Rosendale Elementary School a national school of excellence through its No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools program.
Principal Brian Aylward received word in early October that Rosendale was one of 16 schools in New York State — and among 287 schools nationwide — to receive  this distinguished honor. Blue Ribbon Schools are private and public K-12 schools recognized for either exceptional academic performance or for demonstrating significant gains in student achievement.
On Monday, Oct. 29, a representative from the U.S. Department of Education will join the Rosendale school community to celebrate this honor during an "All-School" assembly at 9:30 a.m. Read more

Class size focus of October 10 Educational Forum
The first Educational Forum of the school year will be held on Wednesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. in the Van Antwerp Middle School auditorium. The topic of the forum will be elementary class size. Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kevin Baughman, will address current enrollment and class size distribution. Assistant Superintendent for Educational Program and Instruction, Dr. Deborah Shea, will present research pertaining to class size and its effects. Hillside Elementary School Principal, Dr. Shireen Fasciglione, who served on the district's 2003 class size committee, will review recommendations and considerations resulting from the committee's work.

Niskayuna Amnesty students to host educational event on Darfur crisis
Members of Niskayuna High School's Amnesty International chapter are planning to host an education and action night concerning the Darfur crisis on Thursday, October 11 at 7 p.m. in the Little Theater. Darfur is a region in Sudan, Africa where a violent conflict has raged for the past four years, killing thousands of people and driving many others from their homes. The event will include a screening of the film, Darfur Diaries. Students have also invited Rabbi Matt Cutler from Temple Gates of Heaven to speak about this ongoing conflict. Community members are welcome to attend.

Niskayuna High School freshman dinner rescheduled
The PTO freshman dinner has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Rosendale chorus dazzles at River Rats home opener
The Rosendale Elementary School chorus opened the first home game of the season for the Albany River Rats hockey team at the Times Union Center in Albany on Saturday, October 13. Chorus director Holly Pierce said the chorus was invited back for this special evening as a result of a previous performance and enthusiastic ticket sales last spring. While standing on a carpet placed near center ice, the choral students performed "God Bless America” as River Rats fans looked on -- including more than 250 Rosendale students, parents and family members seated in a specially-reserved section. Chorus members were dressed in new matching t-shirts designed by fifth-grade parent, Angela Preisman, and screen printed by JCB Specialties of Albany.
“River Rats staff complimented the chorus on their organization and behavior getting on and off the ice,” Pierce said. “I am so proud of the fourth- and fifth-graders on their awesome, patriotic performance.”

Elementary school lunch features 500 lbs of locally grown potatoes
One potato, two potato, three potato, four … food service workers baked 500 pounds of potatoes for lunch in Niskayuna Central School District’s five elementary schools on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Students enjoyed locally-grown Yukon Gold potatoes topped with broccoli and cheese, meat sauce or just plain butter on “Baked Potato Day.” Niskayuna food service director Debbie Mahan purchased the locally grown spuds from Roots and Wisdom in Schenectady – a youth agriculture and community-based program. Roots and Wisdom brings together urban, suburban and rural Schenectady County residents to grow organic vegetables that are donated to local food pantries and are distributed for sale within the county.
”Roots and Wisdom is a great community and educational program that helps provide food to the less fortunate in Schenectady County,” Mahan said, “and teaches young people valuable lessons about agriculture, nutrition and hunger.”
Mahan added that the New York State Education Department encourages school food service programs to purchase locally-grown and produced food to use in school meals.

VA’s boys’ chorus has Got Talent

U.S. Department of Education official presents certificate honoring Rosendale Elementary School for academic excellence
It’s not everyday that a federal official stops by to present a certificate recognizing your school as one of the best in the nation. However, that is exactly what happened at Rosendale Elementary School during an all-school assembly on Monday, October 29. U.S. Department of Education Regional Representative Orysia Dmytrenko joined the entire school community and invited guests, including retired teachers, school administrators, and local and state dignitaries to celebrate Rosendale’s selection as a 2007 No Child Left Behind–Blue Ribbon School. Read more

Single dismissal time for scheduled half days becomes effective in October
Rather than releasing grades 1-5 students a half-hour later than kindergartners, all elementary students will dismiss at 10:35 a.m. on scheduled half days beginning with the parent-teacher conference day on Friday, October 26.
On district-wide Superintendent’s Conference half-days, the high school will dismiss at 11:30 a.m., and the middle school will follow at 12:15 p.m. This schedule will remain in effect throughout the school year. Read more

View answers to frequently asked questions about the district's full and half day schedule. (PDF)

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