Pre-K registration information for the 2011-12 - Elmira City School ...

Elmira City
School District
Student Success is in our Hands
March 2011 D
I • S • T • R • I • C • T
ialogue
Pre-K registration information
for the 2011-12 school year
The Elmira City School District is now registering
students for the 2011-12 Pre-Kindergarten and
EOP/Head Start programs. The program is open to
children who will be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2011.
There is no fee for participation.
Registration sites and dates
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Wednesday, March 2, Hendy: 9-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 3, Broadway Elementary: 9-
11:30 a.m.
Friday, March 4, Riverside: 9-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, March 8, Pine City: 9-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, March 8, Fassett: 9-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, March 9, Parley Coburn: 9-11:30
a.m.
Thursday, March 10, Beecher: 9-11:30 a.m.
Friday, March 11, Diven: 9-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, March 16, Booth Education Center:
4:30-6:30 p.m.
You may register at any of the above schools
regardless of the school location you seek. Parents
must bring their child’s birth certificate, record of
immunizations and three proofs of residency. For
EOP/Head Start enrollments, income verification is
necessary.
If you have any questions about Pre-K, call
Christine Mecke at 735-3550.
For questions about EOP/Head Start, call Tina
Austin at 734-6208.
Details on the 2011-12
Budget will be posted at:
www.elmiracityschools.com/
budget11-12.cfm
Community residents vote on the budget and elect School Board
members on May 17, 2011.
Inside:
Page 2
Good news
Page 3
Kids jump rope for
heart health;
SHS staff give
mittens to Pre-K
students;
School counselors
honored
Page 4
Elmira College
students donate
backpacks;
SHS quiz team makes
it to top four
Page 5
Coburn kids learn river
safety;
Beecher holds carnival;
Pine City holds science
fair
Page 6
SHS publishes online
literary magazine;
Hendy students win
SPCA awards;
EFA students wait
tables for charity
Page 7
March calendar;
Three Board
candidates sought;
New traffic pattern at
EFA
1

Good news
Diven students win ‘Best
Fin Forward’ awards
Congratulations to the following Diven
Elementary students who recently received
“Best Fin Forward” awards for academic
excellence:
Kindergarten: Selena Aviles, Cierra Durkee,
Cody Gumaer, Kylah Henderson, Emily
Howland, Jade Martin, Kamaria Scharborough,
Alexani Stroman, Jocelyn Walker,
Marsean Williams and Shea Young.
Grade 1: Kayleigh Baynar, Kenneth Bird,
Olivia Blye-McQuaid, Damian Case, Aaron
DeJesus, Zhjasha Lawrence, J’Na Lewis,
Ja’Leah McNeal, Adrian Mundy, Christian
Myers, Elizabeth Pace, Nyasiah Ross,
Breana Wittig and Jayla Wynn.
Grade 2: Justice Austin-Baker, Emily Dodson-McGovern,
Anthony Elledge, Hannah
Ellis, Tyrell King, Kierra Payne, Brianna
Scott, Ashly Silva, Sienna Skinkle, Johnay
Smith and Tyvoris Williams.
Grade 3: Donte Hare, Deja Mundy and
Presley Walker.
Grade 4: Phoenix Andrews, Jhamir Brown,
Savannah Hartford, Robert Hurlburt, Aylish
McCloe, Jade Munson, Paul Parsons,
Divinity Richardson, Shaelyn Spence,
Janelle Thomas, Jemari Thomas, Tahzae
Watkins and Shania Watson.
Grade 5: Carolyn Arnold, Lauren Austin,
Jasmine Bird, Robert Horne, Rose Lovely,
Felicia Maysonet, Breanna McKay, Ishante
Quilez, Zhamari Seals, Caitlyn Snyder and
Makennah Stowe.
Fassett students win
‘Falcon’ awards
Congratulations to the following Fassett
Elementary students who recently received
“Fassett Falcon” awards for outstanding behavior,
effort and achievement:
Pre-K: Alex Daugherty, Amani Green, Alexis
Knox and Trequan Lewis.
Kindergarten: Kayda Brenzo, Jaliyah Gorman,
2
Tamari McGriff, Dakota Randall, Andre
Williams and Aiden Yontz.
Grade 1: Takai Blair, Jacorey Coats, Je’lijah
Fergerson, Piper Holleran, Jazmine
Knox and Ahman Sessions.
Grade 2: Lanayja Bennett, Isabella
Dowdle, Nevaeh Hill, Natalya Kelly,
Antonio Maria, Zachary Pack, Tresean
Terwilliger, Vanessa Troccia, Dreanna
Williams and Brianna Zuke.
Grade 3: C.J. Hintz, Carolina Juarez,
Hannah Rutledge and Ben Tohafjian.
Grade 4: Sydni Baldwin, Mahogany
Freeman, Destiny Holmes, Zachary
McClelland, Risa Stephenson and
Alexis Wilson.
Grade 5: Taylor Daugherty, Abbie
Finnerty, Keria McCoy-Smith and Noah
Verhoeven.
Nineteen district
students graduate in
February
Congratulations to the following EFA
and Southside High School students who
graduated on February 3:
From EFA
• Christopher G. Allen
• LaRon L. Barclay
• Kyle Conklin
• Latrese C. Hardy
• Cody M. Hefner
• Courtney Mitchell
• Benjamin E. O’Hara
• Mandy Seymour
• Rachel Sinsabaugh
• Seth M. Stull
• Levon Sturgis
• Nicholas R. Taft
• Tarince Wilson
• Deserae D.Woodruff
From Southside High School
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Zachary Decker
Ashley Griess
Alyssa M. Harris
Brittany F. Stark
Cassandra M. Voorhees.
SHS junior plans trip to
Guatemala
Congratulations
to Tarica (LAST
NAME WITHHELD),
a junior at Southside
High School,
who plans to go to
Guatemala in July.
Tarica plans to travel
for three weeks with
Global Leadership
Adventures, and that Tarica
landed her an article in the Star Gazette
entitled “Student raising funds for Guatemala
journey.” She plans to improve her Spanishspeaking
skills, travel to many cities and small
villages throughout the Mayan country, visit archeological
ruins, coffee farms and a dormant
volcano. She also will spend time with a group
that’s building a school.
Two art teachers
featured in exhibit
Congratulations to two Elmira City
School District art teachers whose work is
featured in a regional exhibition. Allison
Newkirk and Megan Hugg are exhibiting
work at Inspiring Thousands: Second
Annual Juried Exhibition of Works by
Regional Art Educators. The exhibit takes
place at the Orazio Salati Studio and Gallery
located at 205 State Street, downtown Binghamton.
Gallery hours are from 6-9 on “first
Fridays” and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. all Saturdays.
District social workers
honored
March is National Professional Social
Work Month. Families should know that
social workers are here to assist them in
any way possible. The Elmira City School
District Social Workers are:
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Sharon Conrad, EFA
Maureen Birney, SHS
Beth Arnold, BMS
Wendy Liguori, Beecher/Riverside and
Michelle Kotch, BES/Fassett.

Riverside students jump rope for the
American Heart Association
Riverside Elementary students took
part in a Jump Rope for Heart event on Feb.
18 in the school’s gymnasium.
About 60 students signed up to participate
in Jump Rope for Heart, which benefits
the American Heart Association. Students
received pledges from friends and family
members based on the number of anticipated
jumps they could make. The students received
more than $3,000 worth of pledges.
During the week, students engaged in
heart-related activities during their physical
education classes, such as exploring a
“heart maze,” in order to raise awareness
of the heart’s crucial functions. During the
event, 11 stations focused on a variety of
heart-healthy activities.
The student with the highest amount
of pledges got to be the physical education
teacher for a day, receiving a T-shirt that
said, “I am the Gym Teacher” and a whistle.
Jump Rope for Heart is a national educational
and fund-raising event that engages
elementary and middle school students with
jumping rope while empowering them to
improve their own health and help other
students who have heart-health issues.
SHS staff donate hats and mittens to Booth
pre-kindergarten students
Several students in Anique Van Slooten’s Pre-K class at Booth Education Center
model their new hats and mittens, courtesy of six Southside High School monitors,
who bought a box full of warm, winter accessories for Pre-K students. The monitors,
from back left, are Joy Paulo, Jane Brown, Udean Meggs; not pictured: Connie Besley,
Rita Havens and Paul Tomisman.
School counselors
honored during National
School Counseling Week
National School Counseling Week, celebrated
from Feb. 7-11, focuses public attention
on the unique contribution of professional
school counselors. The week highlights
the tremendous impact school counselors
can have in helping students achieve school
success and plan for a career.
Formerly known as guidance counselors,
school counselors are certified, experienced
educators with a Master’s in school
counseling. The combination of their training
and experience makes them an integral
part of the total educational program.
The Elmira City School District has a
K-12 School Counseling Program that has
been recognized across the state. In Fall
2008, the Elementary Counseling Program
was given the “outstanding program” award
by the NYS School Counseling Association.
In June 2010, Dr. Kathy W. Moore, Districtwide
Counselor for the Elmira City School
District, was awarded the 2010 Tribute to
Women award by the YWCA Elmira.
District-Wide School Counselor: Dr.
Kathy Moore
ECSD Elementary School Counselors:
Sonja Jennings, Beecher; Aimee
Garrett, Broadway; Bridget O’Brien,
Coburn; Jill McLaughlin, Diven; Erica
Sheldon, Fassett; Ashley Elsaesser,
Hendy; Holly Snell, Pine City; Jessica
Reger, Riverside.
ECSD Middle School Counselors:
Monica Beck, Jean Coons, Kimberly
Webster and Michelle Wichtowski,
from Broadway Middle School; and
Christin Bresett, Nancy Coldiron, Justin
Fuchs and Traci Harke, from Ernie
Davis Middle School.
ECSD High School Counselors: Connie
Young, Elmira Alternative High School;
Brian Fitzgerald, Madeline Mathews,
Terry Nicklaus and Eloise Streeter
from Elmira Free Academy; and Joan
Fedor, Nick Ferro, Heather Lutz, Steve
Mastronardi and Mike Middaugh from
Southside High School.
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Elmira College students donate backpacks/supplies to students
A group of 15 students from Elmira
College who call themselves members of
the B.A.S.E. program (Backpacks Aiding
Students’ Education) donated 30 backpacks
full of school supplies, personal hygiene
products and clothes to Beecher and
Diven elementary schools.
The group members are predominantly
education majors at Elmira College who
have either observed classrooms in district
schools or worked in district schools.
Elmira College senior Stephanie Hauck
describes her experience as a freshman observing
a Diven classroom, which became
the impetus for forming the B.A.S.E. group:
“While observing this class, I noticed
that some students were arriving to school
without supplies, proper clothes or food.
I also detected that these students were
struggling, emotionally and academically,
in class. As a teacher’s aide, I spent a lot
of time with the children who needed extra
help, which ended up being most of these
students. (I learned that) teachers and
other members of the school try to provide
supplies to these students in hopes that if
given the right tools, the students can live
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healthier lives and perform better at school.
I decided that I needed to do my part to
help. That year, I donated six backpacks
filled with supplies to give to the students.
“My sophomore year, I also donated six
backpacks, but I felt that there was still more
I could do. I gathered together this group
of college students and asked for their help
with my goal. Upon establishing this group
last year, we were able to provide local
schools with more than 20 backpacks!
“This was a great improvement on the
years before, and the group continues to
grow in strength today.”
Companies that donated and helped
the students obtain this year’s items were
Staples, L.L. Bean, Wegmans, Pfizer (matching
donations) and The Children’s Place.
Elmira College students donated these backpacks to Diven students.
SHS Quiz team makes it to the top four in
regional Scholarship Challenge
The Green Hornet Quiz Team from Southside High School recently competed in a
regional Scholarship Challenge. From a total of 23 teams from New York State and
Pennsylvania, Southside’s team advanced to the final four, for the first time in this
annual competition. The top four teams advance to the next round of competition in
March for even steeper multi-state competition. From left to right, EJ, Kyle, Coach
Tom Milliken, Chris and Team Captain Sean.
Binghamton University a capella group
performs in district schools — “Rockin’
with the Binghamtonics” from BU recently
paid a visit to several district schools.
This prestigious musical ensemble performed
in several schools and hosted a
workshop with EFA choral groups.

Students learn
about winter water
safety
Students at Parley Coburn Elementary
learned about the dangers posed in winter
by rivers and other waterways during a
school presentation on Feb. 17.
Deputy Chief Jim Marks of the Elmira
Fire Department and Jim Pfiffer, director of
the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed,
explained why people should not attempt
to walk on ice on rivers, ponds, lakes
and any other body of water. They also discussed
why it’s dangerous for pets. Marks
demonstrated the use of cold water rescue
gear and explained how water rescues are
done. He also discussed risks that emergency
personnel face during a water rescue.
“Even when we have all our equipment
on and go out on the ice or in the water,
it’s a dangerous situation for the firefighter,”
Marks said. “If a member of the public witnesses
someone falling through the ice or
in danger in the water, don’t try to rescue
them. Call 911, stay put on shore and try
to keep the person in sight until rescuers
arrive.”
Pfiffer and Marks also discussed the
hazards of swimming in waterways in the
summer. The program’s goal is to educate
students to make wise choices, Pfiffer said.
“We want people to respect water and
use common sense and a life preserver
whenever they are in or on the water,” Pfiffer
said. “That way no one gets into danger and
we enjoy our waterways.”
The Friends of the Chemung River
Watershed is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to promoting and protecting
the Chemung River and its tributaries.
Beecher Elementary holds Carnival Night
From left to right: Beecher teachers Josh Teeter, Patrick Allison and Aaron Hopkins and
Principal Mike Lanning become sitting ducks for flying pies.
Beecher Elementary School held a
Friendship Carnival Night in conjunction
with the Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday,
Feb. 10. Proceeds from this event benefited
a day-long visit of local author and illustrator
Tedd Arnold. Arnold’s visit included
workshops with classes, as well as a signed
book for every student in the school.
During the Friendship Carnival Night,
students and their families had the opportunity
to play fun carnival games, peruse
the book fair and enjoy snacks and refreshments.
In addition, ten lucky students received
the chance to throw a pie in the face
of Principal Michael Lanning, Assistant Principal
LeAnne Becker and several teachers.
Pine City Elementary recently held its third annual science fair. Here, Nicholas hosts a display
on crystals.
5

SHS literary
magazine
blossoms
Precipice is Southside High School’s
literary magazine, in which the content is
created, chosen and compiled by students.
Check out the latest edition that includes
poems, photographs, narratives and more
by going to:
goo.gl/zBHPn
EFA students became
waiters for a night
Ten National Honor Society students from
EFA served as “celebrity waiters” on Jan.
26 at Denny’s Restaurant in Horseheads to
benefit Special Olympics. Between 20 percent
of sales and donations from patrons, nearly
$300 was raised for the organization.
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Four Hendy students win awards
Four third-grade students in Valerie Bush’s class at Hendy Elementary were honored
as winners in a writing and poster contest through the Chemung County SPCA. Out of
220 entries, four winners were from her class! Students (l-r) are Kubus, who won second
place in the writing contest and second place in the poster contest; Patrick who won
third place in the writing contest; Erik, who won third place in the poster contest; and
Ali, who won first place in the writing contest.
Pine City students recognized for
good character
The following Pine City Elementary students
were recently recognized for positive
character traits:
Caring:
Brandin Bechler, Ryan Bouille, Kaitlyn
Burnham, Makena Craig, Taylor Elliot, Christian
Kunzman. Madison Morales, Connor
Marvin, Chris Rocchi, Naeshaun Roney, Madelyn
Tolbert, Austin White and Eva Wood.
Citizenship
Santana Chaffe, Ethan Cleary, Noah
Johnson and Ceaira Myers.
Fairness:
Morgan Dotts.
Respect
Mitchell Gromes, Kai Merritt, McKenzie
Oldfield, John Ryan, Miranda Todd, Emma
Turco, Adam Ward, Blake Wood, Olivia
Wright and Russell Wright.
Responsibility:
Adam Arnold, Olivia Cleary, Zach Cole,
Sarah Ketter, Taylor Kozemko, Kalyca Landon,
Nathan Latshaw, Maddy Mallow, Laura
McNairn, Jack Messer, Kiersten Osburn,
Rebecca Shannon, Bryanna Weiskopf, Emily
Wheadon and Adam Wilson.
Trustworthiness
Molly Carpenter, Alivia Kelley and
Alyssa Kelly.

March calendar
March 4
Pine City Primary Talent Show, 6:30 p.m.
March 7
March 8
Hendy PFO, 2:40 p.m.
Beecher PFO, 6 p.m.
Diven DSO, 3 p.m.
Riverside PFCO, 6 p.m.
March 9
HALF DAY FOR GRADES
PreK-5 ONLY
Parent Teacher Conferences,
Dismissal at 11 a.m.
School in session for all other grades.
School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., EFA
Community Room
March 10
Superintendent Budget Development
Meeting, 6 p.m., EFA Community Room
Broadway Elementary Primary Concert,
6 p.m.
March 11 – 13
EFA Musical, 7:30 p.m.
March 15
HALF DAY FOR GRADES
PreK-5 ONLY
Parent Teacher Conferences,
Dismissal at 11 a.m.
School in session for all other grades.
Fassett Grandparents / Friends Day
Superintendent Budget Development
Meeting, 6 p.m., EFA Community Room
March 16
EFA Parent Conferences 4-7 p.m.
March 17
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 18 – 19
Southside High School Musical, 8 p.m.
March 21
Broadway Elementary PFO, 6 p.m.
Fassett Grade 1 Concert, 6:30 p.m.
Ernie Davis MS SPFO, 6:30 p.m.
March 22
Southside High School Parent
Conferences, 4-7 p.m.
Superintendent Budget Development
Meeting, 6 p.m., EFA Community Room
Candidate packets now available for three
Elmira School Board seats
Elmira City School District residents
interested in seeking a seat on the Board of
Education may pick up information packets
and petitions from Janet Mustico, District
Clerk, starting March 7 at Elmira Free Academy,
933 Hoffman Street, Elmira.
Three seats are available for three-year
terms which will run from July 1, 2011 to
June 30, 2014.
Three current Board members have
terms that expire on June 30, 2011:
1.
2.
3.
Larry McGovern
Dianna Brewer-Jackson and
Ted Lax.
Candidates must turn in 100 signatures
of qualified voters by 5 p.m. on April 27 to
be placed on the ballot. Candidates will draw
for position on the ballot April 28.
The next Elmira City School District
School Board budget vote and election is
May 17.
March 2011
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
March 23
Coburn Elementary PFO, 6 p.m.
School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., EFA
Community Room
March 24
HALF DAY FOR GRADES
PreK-5 ONLY
Parent Teacher Conferences,
Dismissal at 11 a.m.
School in session for all other grades.
Diven, Coburn & Riverside
Grandparents / Friends Day
March 25
Ernie Davis MS Dance, 7 p.m.
March 29
Riverside Family Dance, 6-8 p.m.
EFA Pops Concert, 7 p.m.
New traffic pattern
in effect at EFA
There is a new traffic pattern for the
U-shaped drive in front of Elmira Free
Academy’s main entrance.
Cars are not allowed to drive through
the U-drive in the front of the school
between the hours of 7:20 and 8 a.m.
and between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. During
these times, the drive may only be used
by school buses.
Parents who usually drop off or pick
up their children during these hours
now need to do so in the back of the
building.
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Editors:
Kathleen Costello, 735-3091,
and Pam Hawthorne, 739-3581
Board of Education:
Larry McGovern Jr., President;
Lynn Grottenthaler,
Vice President;
René Dickens, Daniel Hurley,
Dianna Jackson, Sara Lattin,
Ted Lax, Jessica Roberts
and Mary Tucker.
Superintendent:
Joseph Hochreiter
Elmira City School District
951 Hoffman Street
Elmira, NY 14905
Non-profit org.
US postage
P A I D
Elmira, NY
Permit no. 39
District Dialogue is published monthly
by the Elmira City School District
for its employees and patrons.
The Devil’s Theater of
Elmira Free Academy presents...
A musical comedy to die for!
A murder mystery that’s
inspired lunacy!
March 18 & 19
Tickets $10 • 735-3259
www.shsboxoffice.com
An ExplosivE MoviE
MusicAl FEAturing
grEAt DAncing!
March 11 at 7:30 p.m.
March 12 at 7:30 p.m. &
March 13 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5
Available at the EFA Main Office
EFA
Auditorium
7:30 p.m.
SHS O’Dell
Theater