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ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron

News ws

Enterprise En April 25, 2015

2015

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A Denton Publication

They out

Serving the Upper Hudson River Region

FREE • Take One

PLAY-VERSARY

This Week REGIONAL

Five local schools faced with opt-outs below 95 percent mark

North Country Ministry plans annual gala

By Ryan Edwards ryan@denpubs.com

NORTH CREEK Ñ Common Core ELA exams began last week for grades 3-8, and a substantial number of parents from area districts have chosen to have their children refuse the test. The state teacherÕ s union, New York State United Teachers, proposed the mass Ò optoutÓ in response to a series of recent education reforms handed down by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. While the union has been opposed to the tests since the inception of the Common Core initiative Ñ resulting in 50,000 students across the state opting out last year Ñ the movement has gained significant traction since the latest wave of reforms were passed with the state budget earlier this month, and this yearÕ s refusal rate is expected to more than triple that of last year. Among these reforms is a change to the formula used by the state to evaluate teachers, which now relies 50 percent on state test scores to determine effectiveness. As of now, there are no established academic consequences for the students, as the scores can not be included on a studentÕ s permanent record until 2018. CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Whitewater derby set to take place next weekend PAGE 9 SPORTS

Play Group is celebrating 10 years of providing opportunities for young children to become “explorers” through play. All those who have participated in North Country Ministry’s Play Group over the past 10 years are invited to come play at its Birthday Party on Sunday, April 26, from 2 until 4 p.m. Come renew friendships and enjoy refreshments in the playroom at the Adirondack Community Outreach Center. Photo provided

QUESTION OF MONTH

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LETTERS

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WHITE WATER

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By Ryan Edwards ryan@denpubs.com

CHESTERTOWN Ñ Jacob Ferguson, a 16 year old freshman at North Warren, is well on his way to reaching the highest rank of Boy Scouts. Unlike most of his fellow Scouts, however, Ferguson is living with autism. As a part of the promotion from his current rank of Life Scout, Ferguson is required to complete a ser-

vice project that impacts his community. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Ferguson chose to forgo the typical building project and hosted an autism awareness fair at the North Warren gym instead. He spent over 300 hours preparing for the event, which he funded by selling t-shirts he designed himself, collecting bottles for a year and hosting a soup and sandwich fundraising dinner.

Myler signs for softball; Sandiford named All-State PAGE 12

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Ò I feel left out sometimes, because I see the world a lot differently than most people,Ó he said. Ò I chose the fair to show how people with autism see the world.Ó The fair was made up of multiple information booths, demonstrations by local organizations and activities for kids. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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