merton williams middle school parent newsletter—may 2013

MERTON WILLIAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL
PARENT NEWSLETTER—MAY 2013
THOUGHTS FROM THE PR INCIPAL...
Dear Parents,
The first week of May promises to be sunny and warm. It feels like we’ve
jumped right from winter to summer with very little spring in the middle. It
kind of feels the same way at school – in my last newsletter I discussed midyear
State ELA and Math exams, and this month I’m jumping right to the end
of the year by discussing the Budget Vote and the end-of-year Post-Assessment schedule.
On May 21 st , you have the opportunity to vote for the 2013-2014 HCSD Budget. This year’s
budget development process was strenuous, but in the end, the $72,280,168 spending
plan maintains all major programs with a modest 1.5% tax increase which is well below the
state tax cap. An unexpected $1.7 million increase in state aid helped offset the cost of
building security enhancements and a 12.9% increase in NYS Pension System costs. You
will find two additional items on the ballot; three seats on the Board of Education which
are being contested by four candidates, and a Bus Purchase Proposition for which the
district is reimbursed for 79.6% of the cost. Polls open at Northwood Elementary and the
High School at 6 a.m. and remain open until 9 p.m. Your support is important, so please
come out and vote. (See page 3 for budget details.)
8 th Grade Awards Night is Tuesday, May 14 th at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. 8 th
graders receiving awards were invited by mail earlier this week. It is one of my favorite
events of the year because it acknowledges students who have worked hard and
persevered to fulfill their academic and character potential.
On the next page is the 2013 Post-Assessment Calendar for MW. Included on the calendar are
course post-assessments, make up sessions for post-assessments and Regents exams. Our
goal in creating the schedule was to minimize disruption to students’ routines and have
students take no more than one assessment on a given day. There is one exception to this
on 6/14. We will follow a modified schedule, similar to the one we used for State ELA and
Math testing in April. Students will have all their scheduled classes each day after a 60 or
90 minute testing block beginning at 7:25 each morning.
Thank you for your continued support of Merton Williams!
Sincerely,
Timothy Dobbertin, Principal

MW Post Assessment Calendar June 2013
3
8 th Science State
Exams
4
7 th LOTE
7 th LOTE Make up
session
Math Field Tests 7 Math Field Tests 7
and 8 (in class) and 8 (in class)
There will be modified schedules for Monday and Friday
5
6
7
Art 8
Health 7
10
PE 7 and 8
11
Acc Math 7
12
FACS 7 and 8
13
Social Studies 7
and 8
14
General Music 7
and 8
Post-Assessment Make
up Session
Living Environ.
Regents PM@HS
Algebra Regents
PM@HS
Post-Assessment Make
up Session
Band 7
Earth Sci Regents
AM@HS
Post-Assessment Make
up Session
There will be modified schedules each day except Tuesday 6/11.
17
LOTE 8 Regional
Exam@HS
18
Tech 7 and 8
19
World Cup 7
20 21
Science 7
7 th grade regular
classes
Post-Assessment Make
up Session
5/1/13
Final PA Make up
session 8 th Grade
LAST DAY FOR 8 th
Grade
Final Make up session
7 th Graders
LAST DAY FOR 7 th
Grade
There will be a modified schedule on Monday and Tuesday

HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
2013-2014 School Budget Vote
Tuesday, May 21, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Budget Objectives:
Minimize impact of reductions on students and
learning
Begin to reduce reliance on appropriated fund
balance and reserves in budget
Ensure property tax growth is in line with community
expectations and statutory limits
Overall Budget:
Total Budget Amount $72,280,168 – with an estimated tax rate increase of 1.5%
Tax Cap – Hilton CSD allowed 5%; Proposed Tax Levy 2.95%
Revenue:
Increase in state aid of $1.7 M used to offset increases in pension costs and begin to
reduce reliance on fund balance and reserves
Refinanced 2004 &2005 serial bonds saving $859,000 in interest costs over the
remaining seven years; HCSD received upgraded bond rating from A to AA
Expenditures:
Mandatory contributions to NYS Pension System for teachers up 37.25%; civil service up
12.9%
Enhancements to overall security of buildings, including improved staffing, totaling $85,000
Addition of 1.0 LOTE teacher for IB Middle Years Programme to extend instruction in
Reductions:
languages other than English into the elementary schools
No major program reductions are proposed
The majority of staffing reduction are due to attrition
Also on the Ballot:
Bus Purchase Proposition in the amount of $963,000; 79.6% of cost reimbursed by state
Board of Education Elections – four candidates for three open seats:
Michelle Ames Brandon McAuliff Nancy Pickering Barb Cutrona
Other Factors:
The 2012 Capital Project has no impact on the 2013-14 Budget

IMPORTANT 8 TH GRADE TRIP
DATES
May 7—Final Parent Meeting—7:00pm—
MIR
May 10—Medication
due to School Nurse
May 21-24—DC Trip!!
Could you use a break from your
3-5 year old preschooler to get some
shopping done or run some errands by
yourself Consider giving them a
phenomenal learning experience at the
FREE preschool program put on by the
Child Psychology Classes. The
pre-school will run Tuesday, May 7 th
through Friday, May 10 th from 9:00 am
to 11:00 am. They will have first class
lesson plans, be provided a healthy
snack and play in the learning centers.
Register for one day or all four! To
register, please email
clohrman@hilton.k12.ny.us or call
Cheryl
Lohrman @
392-1000
ext. 2379
Student of the Month
March 2013
Michele Bonanno
Matthew Buri
Carine Chakra
Kacie Coloney
Anthony Denaro
Lou DePrez
Alexis Dixon
Dakota Fair
Sarah Fryer
Alexander Gunkel
Kyle Johnson
Evelina Kalenik
Kolby Lochner
Briana Lowry
Victoria Mack
Jourdan Matthews
William McDowell
Kyle Napier
Myranda Powell
Sara Randall
Emmaline Riester
Madeline Riester
Claudio Rivera
Michael Rudy
Elizabeth Taylor
Lillian Vandenberg
Shawn VanGraafeiland
Elise Wiza
Adam Wuest
LOTE Speaking Exams
Part of the final assessments in LOTE includes a speaking part.
Students in 7 th grade French and Spanish have one speaking task
to complete. In 8 th grade, students must complete four different
speaking tests as part of the final exam. In both grades, teachers
meet with students individually and have conversations in the
target language on material studied throughout the program.
These speaking tests will begin for some 8 th graders at the end
of April. The rest will start in May. As a department, we
suggest that your child begin reviewing vocabulary from the
beginning of the program. All students were supplied with
vocabulary lists and if lost, they can be accessed on the
teachers’ websites. Start studying now and good luck!
Remember, students must pass the 7 th grade LOTE class in order
to proceed to 8th grade French or Spanish. If not, they have the
option to take the 7 th grade summer school program. 8 th graders
must pass both the course and the final in order to fulfill the
graduation requirements of the district. Summer school is also
available for this level.

Jack Gantos, author of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key and many other
books, visited Merton Williams on April 9th. He gave two presentations in
the MIR to our students, met with many students in the Media Center,
autographed books, and it was a great day for our students and school!
Dress Code Reminders…
We are all enjoying the warm weather and what goes along with it are summer
clothes!
Please remind your child that our Dress Code prohibits the wearing of short shorts,
cropped tops, any tops or bottoms that show underwear, and any t-shirts with
inappropriate logos or words. With their arms down at their sides, any shorts above
the tips of your child’s fingers are too short.
Please know that if your child violates the dress code, you may be called to bring
them the appropriate clothes to change into.

FACS Class
7 th Grade FACS
After examining the importance of nutrients to the human body’s overall health, seventh graders completed a
personal computerized nutritional analysis. They evaluated this data for personal nutrients that need
improvement and are reading Nutrition Facts Labels in search of these nutrients. Thanks for sending in all
these labels. A great website that can be used to find nutrition facts on various foods is nutritiondata.com. Just
enter the name of any food and it will show you a Nutrition Facts Label for that food. Students have been taste
testing raw baby spinach for Vitamin A. Try mixing it into salads for a powerhouse of nutrition.
8 th Grade FACS
Eighth graders have just completed their textile unit. Their final Back Sack project should have made an
appearance at home. Don’t overlook the skills they mastered in accomplishing this task. Yes, their sewing
ability drastically improved. Other skills may not be as apparent. This task involved personal time
management on a daily basis. Communication skills were needed to read and follow written directions and
interpret diagrams. Discriminating between natural fibers (cotton, wool,) and synthetic fibers (polyester,
rayon), was essential to the application of information in using an iron in order not to melt their project.
Mastering machine operation was not always easy as they problem solved the solution to incorrect tensions,
stitches, and thread breakage or machines jamming. Creativity and technology went hand in hand to program
and design computerized embroidery designs. Career Exploration is our next unit.

NEWS FROM HEALTH CLASS AND THE I.B. MYP
Program
It’s time for the REMIX!!!
I’m I.B., I’m I.B, I’m, I’m, I’m I.B.! At Merton Williams we are
I.B. This is the message booming loudly from the Merton
Williams Health classrooms. Students in Ms. Drexler and Mr.
Ellicott’s HEALTH classes have been refining their knowledge
of what it means to be I.B. Students learned about the ten
International Baccalaureate learner profile traits in class by
identifying famous individuals that emanate the IB traits of
Communication, Knowledge, Open-minded, Risk-takers,
Balanced, Thinkers, Inquirers, Principled, Caring and
Reflective. After learning about these traits, we identified
which traits were our strong points and which traits needed a
little more development. Some students even identified
teachers in the building that exhibited these traits on a daily
basis and wrote to them to identify their use of the I.B. learner
profile traits. Our I.B. lessons cumulated with the singing and
filming of the ‘I’m I.B. @ Merton Williams Middle School, the
REMIX’ video (type the title into YouTube to see our amazing
final product).
This activity gave students an opportunity to demonstrate their
knowledge of the I.B. learner profile traits, while having a
whole lot of fun in
class. We will be
continuing to
focus on the I.B.
learner profile
traits as we
continue through
the last weeks of
school. Feel free
to ask any 7 th
grader, which
profile trait were
you today
Stay Healthy
Hilton,
Mr. Ellicott
and Ms.
Drexler
Some shots
from the
filming of our
video!!

7 th Grade Day 2
8 th Grade Day 1
8 th Grade Day 2
7 th Grade Day 1
The festival is a school-wide event organized by our Universal PBIS Team and supported by
local businesses like Tops. It is an opportunity to celebrate our students for the positive
behaviors they demonstrate each day that help promote a welcoming, safe, and
productive school climate for all.
a
Spring Festival
Over the months of February and March, students earned pink bonus tickets by staff
members for one of the six Habits of Mind and/or Character Traits of Dignity for All that
staff and students are working on this year.
The following students’ names were drawn so that they could participate in the Spring
Festival:
Lizzy Adams Maeve Connorton Chloe Graupman
Alyssa Bedford Lillie Cook Samantha Grover
MacKenzie Blackburn Anthony DiMaggio Amanda Hartman
Gabby Blaschek Jenna DiNato Harleigh Hess
Michele Bonanno Billy Dobles Rachael Hodgson
William Boula Justin Dude Max Jamerson
Jacob Bush Caleb Fridd Zach Kramer
Annaliese Butera Nick Graham Carter Lovejoy
Brianna Lowry Tom Podgers Lauren Schmitt
Julia Marino Hailey Popielarz Katie Singleton
Hailey McCue Julia Postilli MacKenzie Smith
Aubrey Metzger Marryn Ralyea Amanda Spinelli
Zach Mooney Damian Rapeshovski Brandon Stewart
Will Norton Lexi Rizkallah Shaylyn Wiest
Emma Noto Siena Saluzzo Zac Williams
Ryan Petitti
Giana Santillo
Taylor Alloco Tyler Finewood Emily Harris
Jarek Balent Josh Flannery Joe Herman
Holly Bishop Dominic Florio Audrey Hoyt
Earnie Burapan Kim Fox Kaitlyn Humphries
Aiden Childs Eric Gatto Brenden John
Ryker DeHaan Shauna Glavin Amber Johnson
Yianni Diakomihalis Olivia Gombatto Evelina Kalenik
Alex Doohan
Jon Guest
Bailey Klafehn Taylor McKenzie Jared Spring
Paul Kokorotisis Emily Mullen Lauren Walker
Victoria Korolchuk Kara Phillips Alexis Whitehair
Paige Koss Claudio Rivera Jared Wise
Ben Lazeski Victoria Roesner Nick Weis
Kolby Lochner Sadi Shaibi Matt Buri
Justin LoMaglio
Adam Sisco
Sydney Maier
Chris Sportsman

Dear Class of 2017 Parents,
NEWS FROM STUDENT COUNCIL…..
As you know, plans are currently underway for the Annual Merton Williams Middle School 8 th Grade Night on Friday,
June 7, 2013. The theme this year is ―Hollywood Under the Stars‖. This event has been a tradition at our school to
celebrate the closing of a chapter and the start of a new one at the high school. Our goal is to create a fun night for
students to get together and create some lasting memories. Some planned activities of the night include a D.J.,
distribution of year books, photo opportunities and food.
How can you help: In order for us to provide such a fun and memorable event, we are asking for your help in two
possible ways:
Helpers and Chaperones - In order to plan this fun event, we need some parent volunteers to help with the
organization. Please do not feel that this has to be a huge commitment. As much or as little time as you can spare will
be appreciated. We are looking for parents to help chaperone during the night of the event. We are also looking for
parent volunteers to help sell tickets during lunch the week of June 3 rd , as well as help decorate after school on Friday,
June 7th.
Prizes, Decorations and Food - During the course of the evening, we would like to give out prizes to students. If you
or someone you know would be willing to make a prize donation (gift certificates, free passes, merchandise, etc.), or if
you have a connection with a business (or possibly your employer) that would be willing to help us out with some
donations, please let us know. We are also looking for decorations (balloons, helium tank, streamers, etc.) or anything
else that could help transform our school into a wonderland.
Please remember that it is important not to wait until the last minute to volunteer or donate so that we can begin the
process of purchasing things to make this great event a huge success! If you have an item you would like to donate or
you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail one of us below:
* Sarah Sherwood – ssherwood@hilton.k12.ny.us
* Chris Monfiletto – cmonfiletto@hilton.k12.ny.us
Thank you for your consideration, MW Student Council
1. When will tickets be on sale and how much will they cost
Tickets cost $10 and will be on sale during lunches the week before. All tickets must be purchased in advance.
Tickets will not be sold at the door.
2. What is included with my ticket
8 th grade night is all about celebrating with your classmates. The decorating crew will be working very hard to
make the areas look extra special. We will have dancing in the air conditioned MIR. The gym will have a light
buffet of finger foods, desserts, fruit, and cut vegetables. Pre-purchased yearbooks will also be available in the
gym. A free photo is included in your ticket price. Our photographer will be set up in the back hallway to take
group photos. The photos will be delivered before the end of the school year.
3. How should I dress
8 th grade night is a celebration, meaning that students should come in dress clothes (dresses and slacks). It is NOT
a prom. Prom wear is not required or encouraged. Students do not need formal dresses, tuxedos or
limousines. We encourage students to simply dress nicely as they would if they went out to a very nice
restaurant with their parents. Please note: Girls MAY wear dresses with spaghetti straps, or halter tops, but there
must be something attached or tied to hold the dress up. Strapless dresses are still not allowed. Girls are welcome
to wear dress slacks instead of a dress or skirt if they prefer. Gentlemen should wear a shirt with a collar such as a
dress shirt or polo shirt and pants. IF YOU ARE DRESSED INAPPROPRIATELY, YOU WILL BE SENT HOME TO
CHANGE AND YOUR TICKET PRICE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.
5. Do I need a date
NO! This night is simply meant for you to come and celebrate with your friends.
6. May I bring someone from another middle school, or from the high school
NO! This evening is designed to celebrate with your 8 th grade classmates from Merton Williams.
7. May I leave 8th Grade Night early
NO! Once you enter the dance you will not be allowed to go out to the back parking lot for any reason. You may
only leave when your PARENT picks you up.

From the Counseling Department….Seven Tips to Help Teens Successfully Transition to High School
In the next few months, thousands of children will take one more step toward a significant rite of passage: they will transition from being
middle school students to becoming full-fledged high schoolers. This transition for kids is scary – the fear of anonymity, unfamiliar
surroundings and higher expectations all play a central role in the anxiety leading up to the start of one’s high school career. There are
things, however, that parents can do to assist with this transition.
1. Listen
Parents should not discount their children’s fears by just telling them “it will be all right.” Change can be frightening. Parents should
reassure their kids that they will not be alone in this process. Children at this age need emotional security, support and a listening
ear. Your child is anxious about this transition and wants to know that you are an ally.
2. Get involved
When students are involved with extracurricular activities, such as theatre, art club or sports, it helps promote belonging. Encouraging
involvement in organized school activities fosters teamwork and a sense of place, which ultimately leads to confidence. And confidence
comes with inclusion.
3.Help your child learn the ropes
Many school districts have freshman orientation programs that allow time for incoming freshmen to get oriented to the physical
plant. Schools, for example, usually allow students to come in and try out locker combinations, locate classrooms and get comfortable
with their new surroundings. For students who have their schedules, parents can suggest that they walk through the building as if they
were coming and going from classes. If students have to take a bus to school, parents should help them plan in advance. Students
should know where to get on, when to get on and where to get off. This is especially important for students who have to take multiple
buses to school.
4. Eliminate stress by focusing on details
The more attention that parents pay to small details, the easier things will be for a student on day one. For example, most schools mail
students their new schedules over the summer. Parents should look over their child’s schedule to ensure it appears to be correct. No
matter how much little Billy tries to coerce his parents into believing he is supposed to have three gym classes, he shouldn’t.
Scheduling mistakes do happen, and if there is a problem counselors are usually available a couple of weeks prior to the start of
classes to get these issues resolved. Addressing any scheduling errors early can save your child from waiting in line and missing
classes while his/her schedule is changed.
5. Prepare for the summer brain drain
Almost every student loses a little ground over the summer. However, if your child has done poorly in a subject, you should try to help
him/her find a related enrichment activity over the summer. This will increase your child’s self esteem and help prepare your student
academically for the start of the school year.
6. Adjustments to curriculum take time
The higher academic standards of high school and increased competition will take some time and adjustment. Often students earn their
lowest GPA freshman year, and then begin to figure things out. When I interview students and ask the question “if you could start high
school over again, what would you do differently” many students answer that they would take freshman year more seriously. Some
freshmen don’t even understand that their freshman grades are part of the high school transcript that is submitted when they apply to
college.
7. Know when to seek help
After the first couple of weeks, if your child is having debilitating anxiety or is abnormally worried about school, parents must seek help
and get an intervention. Many students will exhibit uneasiness and a decrease in self-esteem, but adjustment problems lasting longer
than a few weeks may require special help.
Parents know their children and know when they are having drastic mood swings or acting uncharacteristically. If you notice a change
in your child’s eating or sleeping habits, it’s time to talk with someone.
During this time never forget to love your children unconditionally. While they are crossing over into adulthood, understand that change
is hard and their fears are real. Students today are more stressed out than they have ever been. It’s a reflection of what is going on in
our communities and our society. We have so many complex problems – including heightened economic pressures, changes in family
structure, persistent violence, cyber-bullying, etc. – but there are also more resources to deal with these problems than we had 20 years
ago.
Parents, teachers, counselors and school leaders need to work collaboratively to help promote a favorable school adjustment. Nobody
can do it alone.
Bonnie Rubenstein is a professor of education at the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester.
Published July 29, 2012
FoxNews.com

Upcoming Dates for
Merton Williams
May 16
Parent Forum—9am
Topic: 2013-14 Budget
May 21-24
8th Grade Trips
Boxtops for Education
Boxtops for education is a great way
to help Merton Williams! Each box
top that is collected is worth 10 cents!
Last year we raised over $200 worth
of box tops. Check out their web page
for more information on how you can
help us by collecting box tops.
www.boxtops4education.com
May 24
Half Day of School
May 27
Memorial Day
ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Announcements are
posted on our website
every morning —please
check these daily for
important information
regarding activities
going on at Merton
Williams, after school
activities, upcoming
events and cancellations,
etc.
CELL PHONE USE POLICY—
“OFF AND AWAY DURING THE
DAY”
PROCEDURES:
1st Phone is Confiscated
Formal Warning by
Administrator
Phone Picked Up by
Parent
2nd Phone is Confiscated
Saturday School
Phone Picked Up by
Parent
3rd Phone is Confiscated
In-School Suspension
Phone Picked Up by
Parent

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
5 6
D
12 13
A
19 20
F
26 27
MEMORIAL
DAY
NO SCHOOL
7
E
14
B
21
G
28
B
1
A
8
F
15
C
22
H
29
C
2
B
9
G
16
D
23
A
30
D
3
C
10
H
17
E
24
Half
Day
31
E
4
11
18
25
M
A
Y
2
0
1
3