M-ECS March Glances by Jodi Shantal

March 2013

A Message From the Superintendent mdrahos@m-ecs.org

By the time this article appears, the Community Advisory Committee, which has been meeting with a similar committee from the Hamilton Central Schools, will have had its final meeting with the consultants tasked with compiling a study of what a newly merged school district may look like. This is just the latest step in a long and thorough process. It has been just over two years since the two districts sought the High Priority Planning Grant that supported most of the cost of the study. The entire work of this committee can be found on our website at www.m-ecs.org. Once the state has reviewed this study it will be sent back to the two school boards. Each board will then be asked to decide whether it wants to move ahead with the study, culminating in an advisory vote. Any district resident will then make the decision about whether to move ahead with a binding vote on the merger. Either Board could also decide not to move ahead with an advisory vote, thus ending the process between the two districts. The Morrisville-Eaton Board of Education will be seeking community input in the coming months regarding the study and the findings. Even before receiving the study back from the state, they will meet with our members of the Community Advisory Committee and listen to their hopes, concerns, and thoughts regarding what the committee learned throughout the process. These committee members have committed countless hours over the past year pouring over large amounts of data, and discussing implications of a potential merger. On behalf of our Board of Education, I want to thank the following people for their commitment and dedication to the community: Tracy Clark, LeeAnne Lake, Coby Merkle, Lynda Lehr, Corinne Banker, Gary Sprague, David, Leslie, Darlene Haflett, Denise Morris, Jay Dunn, Cynthia Busic-Snyder, and Tom Heitzman. The economic challenges which led us to consider a potential merger continue to have an impact on the education we offer our students. We pledge to be transparent and open with the community as we consider all options. We encourage everyone to visit our website to review the information discussed so far, and we will openly advertise future meetings and community forums as we consider what is in our students’ best interest as we move forward. Sincerely,

Superintendent Conference Day Elementary and Middle/High School Half Day March 15, 2013 Middle/High School students are dismissed at 10:47 a.m. (Lunch will not be served) Elementary School students are dismissed at 12:00 p.m. (Lunch will be served)

Michael R. Drahos, Superintendent

Employee of the Year Nominations In this month’s Glances you will find a nomination form for “Instructional Employee of the Year”, and one for “Non-Instructional Employee of the Year.” District residents, employees, and students are encouraged to nominate any district employee for this award. The Board of Education will review the nominations and select the recipients. The deadline for applications is the end of March (see the nomination applications). The Employee of the Year award recipients are listed on a plaque located at both the elementary and middle/high schools. The past recipients are listed on page 5. We would like to once again acknowledge each of these individuals for their lasting contribution to our school community. We look forward to being able to highlight even more of our outstanding school employees in the future.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

March 2013 TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Music in Our Schools Month

FRIDAY

End of 25 Week Marking Period

SATURDAY

Read Across America Day

MS Dance For Grades 7-9 from 7:00-10:00 PM

3 10

Daylight Saving Time Begins

High School Spirit Week

Spring Sports Begin

High School Spirit Week

Shared Decision Making Group Meeting, 6:00 PM at M/HS Library

PTO Meeting; 6:30 PM

Physicals @ High School from 8:30am-12:00 PM

25 Week Reports Go Home

Blood Drive @ High School Sponsored by NHS

SAT Exam

Progress Reports Mailed

Elementary and M/HS Superintendent’s Conference ½ Day

All County Musical Festival @ Canastota

St. Patrick’s Day

Palm Sunday

Class of 2013 Fundraiser March 3/18-4/1

Modified Spring Sports Begin (weather permitting)

JV/Varsity Spring Begins

½ Day – Parent Teacher Conferences Elementary

22 29

Good Friday – No school

23 30

Easter Egg Hunt, 10:00 AM sharp @ Elementary School

Regular Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM M/HS Library

Easter Sunday

Pre-Kindergarten Registration and Orientation The Morrisville-Eaton Central School District, in collaboration with MadisonOneida BOCES, is conducting its Pre-Kindergarten Registration and Orientation meeting on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., in the Edward R. Andrews Elementary School cafeteria. On Thursday, March 28, 2013 there will be registration only, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Noon) at the elementary school. These meetings are for parents enrolling their children for the 2013-2014 school year. Children who have reached the age of four (4) on or before December 1, 2013 are eligible to register. If you have any questions, or have not received a registration packet in the mail by March 7th, please call Tracy at (315) 684-9288.

Open Skate- March 23rd Come on out to the Morrisville College Iceplex on Saturday, March 23, 2013 for a fun filled afternoon of skating! The open skate is being sponsored by the MECS Class of 2013 and will be featuring the Morrisville College Lacrosse Team. The Lacrosse team will be in attendance to assist inexperienced skaters. The event will run from 2:00 pm through 3:30 pm and the cost is $5, including the cost of skate rentals. So grab your mittens and come join the fun!

March 2013

Shared Decision Making Group Meetings March 12, 2013 (Date change) April 16, 2013 May 14, 2013 June 11, 2013 The MECS Shared Decision Making Group will meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Middle/High School Library. The public is welcome to attend the meetings.

SUNDAY

April 2013

MONDAY

April Fool’s Day

Class of 2014 Fundraiser April 4/1-4/15

7 14

National Library Week April 14-20

No School Spring Recess

Earth Day

TUESDAY

Shared Decision Making Group Meeting, 6:00PM at M/HS Library

No School Spring Recess

Class of 2015 Fundraiser April 4/29-5/1

PTO Meeting; 6:30 PM

No School Spring Recess

THURSDAY

No School Spring Recess

11 18

No School Spring Recess

30 Week Reports Go Home

ELA State Exam For Grades 7 & 8

Report Cards Mailed

NYS Math Testing; Grades 3 – 6

Math State Exam For Grades 7 & 8

Administrative Professionals Day

ACT Exam

NYS ELA Testing; Grades 3 – 6

SATURDAY

End of 30 Week Marking Period

NYS ELA Testing; Grades 3 – 6

Arbor Day

13 20 27

Writers’ Jubilee (Tentative)

NYS Math Testing; Grades 3 – 6 Math State Exam For Grades 7 & 8

Kindergarten Registration

The Edward R. Andrews Elementary School will be holding Kindergarten Registration/Orientation for the 2013-2014 school year on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. An overview of the program as well as a question/answer session will be presented at this time. Eligible students must have reached the age of five (5) years old on or before December 1, 2013. Parents should bring a copy of the following information to the registration: birth certificate, parent identification, immunization record, and any pertinent legal papers. Children currently enrolled in the Pre-Kindergarten program will automatically be enrolled into Kindergarten. Parents who have not received a registration packet in the mail by April 12th should contact Tracy in the elementary office at 684-9288.

Fitness Center Hours The fitness center is open to the public. The hours are: Monday and Wednesday Evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. when school is in session. March 2013

FRIDAY

NYS ELA Testing; Grades 3 – 6

Regular Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM M/HS Library

National Turn off the TV Week April 28- May 4

WEDNESDAY

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

The Writers’ Jubilee will be on

SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013 Keynote Speaker Author, Illustrator & Caldecott Winner Jerry Pinkney www.jerrypinkneystudio.com

DISTRICT NEWS Morrisville-Eaton Central School District Asks Residents: Would you like to become a School Board member? A member of the Board of Education is entrusted with one of the most important responsibilities that can be assigned to any citizen – that of helping to plan the education of the youth of the state. A school board member in New York State, even though sitting on a local Board of Education, serves as a state official. He/she joins more than 5,000 other men and women in guiding a statewide school system which employs more than 250,000 people and serves more than three million children. Board members receive no pay for this service, yet they do earn the satisfaction that comes from rendering an indispensable public service. Morrisville-Eaton Central School Board members serve three-year terms. To qualify for membership on a school board, an individual: • Must be able to read and write. • Must be a qualified voter of the district; that is, he or she must be a citizen of the United States, at least eighteen years or older, and not be a convicted felon or have been adjudged an incompetent. • Must be and have been a resident of the district for at least one year prior to the election, but need not be a taxpayer. • May be the only member of his or her family on the school board. • May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office. • Must not have been removed from a school district office within one year of the election. • Must not be an employee of the district. Petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education must be filed in the Office of the District Clerk between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., no later than April 22, 2013. The three-year Board of Education seat currently held by Melanie Martin expire on June 30, 2013. Petitions for board member will be available from the Office of the District Clerk on March 25, 2013. The office of the District Clerk is located at the Middle/High School on Fearon Road in Morrisville. Phone: 684-9300.

Morrisville Public Library Seeks Candidates for Two Board of Trustees Positions The Morrisville Public Library has two trustee’s seats that will expire this spring. Incumbents, Gloria Hart and Cynthia Busic-Snyder, will seek re-election, but other candidates are encouraged to run as well. In order to run for the office of trustee, prospective candidates must be at least 18 years of age and qualified to vote in the M-ECS District. He/she must be literate, a citizen of the United States and not be a convicted felon or have been adjudged incompetent. Other requirements include: * Must be and have been a District resident for twelve (12) months prior to taking office. * May be the only member of his/her family on the Library Board * May not simultaneously hold an incompatible position. Candidates are also required to complete a nominating petition, which must be signed by 25 qualified M-ECS District voters and be filed with the School District Office by April 22, 2013. For more information and to obtain a petition, please stop by the Library at 83 East Main Street in Morrisville. Hours are: Mon.-Wed- Fri., 12:00 to 8:00 P.M., Tues.-Thurs.-10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. and Sat. 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Phone: 684-9130.

March 2013

DISTRICT NEWS Employee of the Year Award Recipients Patricia Weimer, Teacher and Teacher Aide, 1984-85 Richard Loomis, Physical Education Teacher, 7-12 and Coach, 1985-86 Lillian Crowell, Food Service, Elementary School, 1986-87 Karen Jacobs, School Nurse-Teacher, Elementary School, 1987-88 Helen Russock, Elementary Education Teacher, 1988-89 Patricia Vaughan, Physical Education Teacher, 7-12 and Coach, 1989-90 Sylvia McKinnon, Elementary Education Teacher, 1990-91 James Sterle, Transportation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Head Mechanic, 1991-92 Betty Bonney, Business Education Teacher, 1992-93 Darlene Mennig, Food Service, Middle/High School, 1993-94 Sandra Glenister, Home Economics Teacher, 1994-95 Eileen Parker, Teacher Aide, Elementary School, 1995-96 Clairese Russell, Secondary Mathematics Teacher, 1996-97 Richard Davis, School Bus Driver, 1997-98 Sue Miller, Secondary Science Teacher, 1998-99 Frank Macera, Physical Education Teacher K-6, 1999-2000 Edith Hughes, School Bus Driver, 2000-2001 Anthony Gerakopoulos, Foreign Language Teacher, 2001-2002 Constance Perry, Middle/High School Secretary, 2002-2003 Gina Wisniewski, Elementary Teacher/Technology Specialist, 2003-2004 Jacalyn Groves, Elementary Library/Media Specialist, 2004-2005 Joyce Nevison, Enrichment Teacher, 2005-2006 Lucinda Martin, Elementary Music Teacher, 2006-2007 Lawrence Kline, Elementary A.I.S./Reading Teacher, 2007-2008 Bradley Sherwood, Transportation - Head Mechanic, 2007-2008 Joseph McLean - English Teacher and Coach, 2008-2009 Naydene Ames - Principalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secretary, 2008-2009 Joseph Capotosto, K-12 Assistant Principal, 2009-2010 Ann Marie Martorana, Middle/High School Nurse, 2009-2010 Bruce Donker, Secondary Science Teacher, 2010-2011 Mary Ellen English, Elementary School Nurse, 2010-2011 James McCarthy, Secondary Music Teacher, 2011-2012 Michael Perry, Cleaer, 2011-2012

Transportation Requests Due April 1, 2013 Applications for school bus transportation of students residing in the Morrisville-Eaton Central School District, who will attend private or parochial schools during the 2013-2014 school year, must be filed on or before April 1, 2013. A New York State Department of Transportation regulation permits applications after April 1st, only if there is sufficient evidence to warrant an extension of the deadline. The Board of Education will determine whether late applications can be processed. The deadline of April 1st applies to current school district residents. Parents of private or parochial school students who wish uninterrupted service for their children must have an application filed for each child, every year. Applications are available at the private/ parochial schools and must be forwarded to the District Clerk, Mrs. Jodi Shantal, Morrisville-Eaton Central School, P.O. Box 990, Morrisville, NY 13408.

The Harry Lyndon Fund The Harry Lyndon Fund is a fund that can be used for a student who cannot afford to pay for something needed for academics. A teacher must advocate for the student to request this fund, and be able to explain the circumstances for the need. A committee member will fill out an application and discuss the financial need with another committee member for approval. The application is then given to the M-ECS Business Office and an appropriate check is issued. The district received a generous donation this January from local families. We would like to thank the Szewczyk, Crandall, Gallup, and Raymond families for their thoughtfulness to the district. If you would like to make a contribution or have any questions or concerns regarding the Harry Lyndon Fund, please feel free to contact Ann Marie Martorana at 684-5903.

Celebrating 3P Reading Stars! Thank you for practicing and reading your stories to our classroom community!

March 2013

INSTRUCTIONAL NOMINATION FORM Morrisville-Eaton Central School District Board of Education Instructional Employee of the Year Award Post Office Box 990 Morrisville, New York 13408 Name of Nominee:___________________________________________________________________________________________ List the reasons your nominee deserves to be selected as Morrisville-Eaton’s “Instructional Employee of the Year”: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your Name:______________________________________________________ (Circle: parent, student, colleague, district resident.) Please detach and return this form by March 30, 2013 to: Mrs. Jodi Shantal, District Clerk, Morrisville-Eaton Central School District, P.O. Box 990, Morrisville, NY, 13408. Thank you for submitting this nomination.

March 2013

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL NOMINATION FORM Morrisville-Eaton Central School District Board of Education Non-Instructional Employee of the Year Award Post Office Box 990 Morrisville, New York 13408 Name of Nominee:___________________________________________________________________________________________ List the reasons your nominee deserves to be selected as Morrisville-Eaton’s “Non-Instructional Employee of the Year”: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your Name:______________________________________________________ (Circle: parent, student, colleague, district resident.) Please detach and return this form by March 30, 2013 to: Mrs. Jodi Shantal, District Clerk, Morrisville-Eaton Central School District, P.O. Box 990, Morrisville, NY, 13408. Thank you for submitting this nomination.

March 2013

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS A Message From the Elementary Principal As soon as we return from our Spring Recess, we will begin two weeks of NYS Assessments. The New York State 3-8 ELA Assessments will be administered April 16 – 18 and the New York State 3-8 Math Assessments will be administered April 24 – 26. The Assessments are changing to match the new Common Core. Compared to achievement tests our students have taken, common core assessments will be more difficult. In addition to multiple choice questions, students will be analyzing and synthesizing information, writing essay responses, and answering in-depth questions to show how much they understand. There will be more informational reading The Assessments reflect the changes that are specifically geared towards making all students college- and career-ready when they finish high school. How can parents help in that process? •Ask your child to explain or show how they’re solving problems. Then, have him/her think of multiple ways to solve a math problem, or answer a reading discussion question. •Encourage your child to research a topic he’s interested in using informational texts and original documents. •Read with your children. You can read to them, they can read to you, or you can sit next to each other and read. Go to the public library. Have them help you with the grocery list from the ads in the Pennysaver. As you read with your child, ask him/her in-depth why and how questions that encourage him/her to analyze and synthesize texts. For example, read three different versions of the Goldilocks and the Three Bears and ask your child to compare and contrast them as you read. •Talk with your children (and listen, too!). Ask them what the best thing was they learned in school today is. Tell each other jokes. Talk about your favorites (food, place, toy, etc.). If you’re watching television together, talk about the characters and plot in the program and how you’d change it if you were the writer. •Do activities together. Attend free programs at the Public Library, the Colgate BookStore, or Rogers Center. Do arts and crafts together. Have your children help you grocery shop and figure out which foods are nutritious. Make cookies. There are tons of low- or no-cost activities that you can do with your children. •Most importantly, let your children know that you believe in them. You are your children’s best advocates. Help them find their strengths. Find out what makes them proud about themselves. Compliment their successes and help them work through their failures. Thank you for all of the things you continue to do for our students to help them learn and grow. Working together we can make a difference.

Cycles in Nature

Sincerely, Debra Dushko Elementary School Principal

All-County Music Festival

The second grade has been learning about cycles in nature. Students in Mrs. Lake's and Ms. Keefe's classes demonstrated the water cycle. We learned that water is always moving and that we are using the same water that the dinosaurs used 6 billion years ago!"

The following students represented Morrisville-Eaton in the recent All-County Music Festival held in Oneida. Katherine Boyce, Lyla O'Hara, Meghan Smith, Caitlin Bennett, Kim Chandler, Gabe Camp and Natalee Migonis

March 2013

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

Heart Heroes By Kariane Busch and Sue Osborne

E.R. Andrews has many heart heroes. On Monday Feb. 4th, all the students came to the gym to participate in the 4th annual Jump Rope for Heart Event. To say it was successful is an understatement. The students met every goal that the American Heart Association challenged them to, including surpassing their goal of $4,800 by raising over $7,100! Meg Gibbons, other wise known as The Heart Lady, announced that among 178 schools in 13 counties throughout Central N.Y, we are in first place so far this school year. Riley Dutcher, a Kindergarten student in Mrs. Phillips class raised $1,125. She did this amazing feat in honor of her 15 year old aunt who has had 2 open heart surgeries. She is doing well, attends Brookfield Central School, and is involved in many activities including sports. According to Meg Gibbons, raising over $1,000 by an individual has only been done 5 other Riley Dutcher with Meg Gibbons times in the last 6 years. For the Jump Rope for Heart Event, students in grades 3-6 compete in 3 skill events; most jumps in two minutes, most consecutive long jump rope and consecutive jumps in double dutch. It goes without saying that anyone who walked into the gym during the event could clearly see what great jumpers we have at E.R. Andrews. The students did an amazing job, many setting school records. As incentives for student participation in the optional fundraiser, students were able to sign the annual banner that will be hung in the gym, the class for each grade level that had the most participants received a temporary tattoo, and the student who raised the most money for their grade level were able to be the P.E. teacher for a class. The event would not have been so successful without the support from family involvement and help from all the staff at E.R. Andrews. Thank you for helping save lives!

Pictured above are all the grade level winners for earning the most. They get to be a PE teacher for a class. From left to right Riley Dutcher, Hannah Caruso, RJ Woodworth, Jacob Smith, Carissa Bennett, Lake Dutcher, and Caitlin Bennett.

Shariann and Ayla working on their listening to fluency activity.

March 2013

Martin is in his favorite reading spot enjoying a book.

Mrs. A. Clark brought two baby sugar gliders in to visit in second grade when we were studying mammals. Joshua was enjoying one up close.

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL NEWS A Message From the Middle/High School Principal

Counseling Center News Madison-Oneida BOCES

Greetings Everyone, I hope everyone enjoyed the winter break. Spring is approaching soon and I would like to remind all middle school parents that the ELA and math state exams are right around the corner. The ELA exam for grades 7 & 8 will be given April 16-18; the math exams for grades 7 & 8 will be given on April 24-26. Please put these dates and your calendar and be sure your child gets a good night’s rest before these exams. A few weeks ago I sent an email to all parents in regards to an informational night about the Common Core Standards. Specifically, I am trying to determine two nights that would be most convenient for parents to meet. This meeting is important to understanding the new college and career readiness standards that all students across the state will be expected to meet. Please email me at cbrewer@m-ecs.org to let me know which week night work best. I am planning to hold the meetings in early April. I would also like to remind parents about the Parent Portal. The portal gives you access to your child’s grades, attendance records, and discipline records. Please call the main office at 684-9121 and speak to Karen Dailey to sign up. Sincerely, Christopher A. Brewer

Christopher A. Brewer Middle/High School Principal

There will be an Open House and College Fair Wednesday, March 13th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Rossetti Education Center in Verona. You may contact BOCES at 361-5700 for more information. Everyone is invited to this free event. This is helpful for parents and their students who are interested in participating in a BOCES program next year.

Syracuse National College Fair

Sunday, March 10 (1-4pm) & Monday, March 11 (9am-12pm). The Fair is in the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College. It is open and free to all students and parents who are interested in learning more about the opportunities in higher education. Counselors will be taking 11th grader students who are interested in attending the college fair on Monday, March 11. In order to participate in this field trip, students must bring in a signed permission slip by March 6th. You can learn more about which colleges will be present at the college fair by going to : http://www.nacacnet.org/collegefairs/SpringNCF/Pages/Syracuse.asx

Four Year Planning and Scheduling

All 11th grade students should consider taking the SAT and/or ACT this Spring.

In March, counselors will meet with students in grades 8 –11 to start planning schedules for the 2013-14 academic year. Every student will receive a copy of his or her course selection sheet, which parents will need to review and sign. Students should return a signed copy to their counselor.

Exam

Attention 11th graders

11th grade students: SAT / ACT Deadlines Exam Date

Registration Deadline

If you are interested in applying for either Allied Health, New Ventures, New Visions Engineering or Emergency Medical Service, applications are due April 16th. See your Guidance Counselor about setting up a visit to one of these programs.

ACT April 13, 2013 March 8, 2013 For more information go to - www.actstudent.org SAT May 4, 2013 April 5, 2013 For more information go to - www.collegeboard.org

8th Grade Parent Presentation

SAT June 1, 2013 May 2, 2013 For more information go to - www.collegeboard.org

On Thursday, April 4th at 6:15pm, there will be a presentation for 8th grade students and parents. Information will be provided about high school requirements for graduation as well as an overview of courses students will take in grades 9 through 12.

ACT June 8, 2013 May 3, 2013 For more information go to - www.actstudent.org March 2013

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL NEWS The Lions Club Student Service Award Recipients for February are Kristina Chandler and Amanda Marshall Kristina Chandler, a sophomore, is the daughter of Nicole Benedict and James Chandler. At M-ECS she enjoys playing soccer and tennis. Outside of school she has been involved in Girl Scouts for nine years and also babysits. Kristina is very busy volunteering her time to better her community. Through Girl Scouts, she has helped with the Phyllis Stoddard Benefit, works at the Samaritan Center for the homeless in the soup kitchen and walks the dogs for Classy Canine and Spring Farm Cares Animal Shelter. Kristina also helps out at Wanderers’ Rest and the Harvest Ball to raise funds for the CNY DSO. Kristina has plans on attending college. She is uncertain what she will major in but is thinking of going for writing, auto or psychology. Keep up all the good work and thank you for all you do in the community! Amanda Marshall, a freshman, is the daughter of Nancy Benedict and Randy Marshall. Although only a freshman, she is getting out of the gate to being a very busy young lady. This year she was involved in the high school musical by helping the stage crew. She also helps out at the elementary school and with the community Easter egg hunts. Amanda is thinking about college for the future, and may want to go into acting or cosmetology. Keep up the good work, you’re doing great!

The Lions Club Student Service Award Recipients March are Shelby Jones and Emily Widger

for

Shelby Jones, a junior, is the daughter of Carol Jones. At M-ECS she is involved with Realty Check (youth against smoking ads), a member of the Leos Club, part of the MECS Leadership Council “Warriors of Change” and has participated in HOBY (Youth Leadership Program). Shelby is very busy volunteering in her community. She helps out with the Farmers Market at Madison Hall, Elementary Art Club, Writers Jubilee, Community Easter Egg Hunt, and the makeup for the school plays, Red Cross Blood Drive and bell ringing for the Salvation Army. With all this she also babysits and works part time. Shelby plans on attending college and is interested in becoming a Kindergarten teacher. Great Work Shelby! Emily Widger, a sophomore, is the daughter of Linda and Fred Widger. At MECS she plays basketball, tennis and soccer. Her favorite sport is soccer, so she spends extra time participating in a soccer club and playing with a state soccer team. She is the president for the sophomore class and also is in chorus. She is a Girl Scout and volunteers her time with Wanderers’ Rest and the Soup Kitchen. She helps fill the food baskets at Church and assists with AYSO soccer. Emily plans to attend college and is interested in being an elementary school teacher. She also wants to continue to play soccer in college. Keep up the good work!

March 2013

MIDDLE/HIGH NEWS

Costa Rica Over February break, 10 students and four chaperones took an eco-adventure trip to Costa Rica for nine days. They had the opportunity to experience a lot of “firsts” and some even overcame some fears that they had pre-trip. Don Miguel (Mr. Pavone) would like to thank all of his students for representing M-ECS with pride and appreciates every single student for their attention, patience and willingness to explore and try new things. This trip is a once-in-alifetime for many of the students and Don Miguel and the other chaperones (Mrs. Pavone, Sr. Oshier and Billie Jo Curtis) are happy to be able to experience this wonderful trip through the eyes of the students and being with them outside of the everyday school atmosphere. Hopefully, this trip will be the catapult some students needed and they will explore more, try more things and appreciate everything around them. ¡Pura Vida! Tuesday, 2/19 - We met another Gustavo (and his crew) for our kayak tour of Lake Arenal (a manmade lake built for hydroelectric power). Everyone had a blast and several students jumped in the water. The bus ride to La Fortuna waterfall was next on our agenda. It was approximately 600 steps down to the falls basin and by the time we got down there, a majority of students went swimming. The group went into town for some exploring and souvenir shopping. Our last stop of the day was the Baldi Hot Springs where we relaxed in a number of hot springs, with 12 different temperatures. It was a fantastic way to end the day! Wednesday, 2/20 - We crossed back over the Continental Divide to the Pacific side of CR. We stopped in a small town and went to a German bakery for some coffee, breads and an assortment of pastries. A short while later we arrived at a local school where the children greeted us with much enthusiasm. The children then performed a few dances for us portraying the native cultures and clothing. Then they got us involved in a group dance called the “Perequito”. We had a great time playing a variety of games with the kids. They very much enjoyed a passing game that we played with a soccer ball and throwing paper airplanes. Several of the kids drew pictures and presented them to our students. Don Miguel had an intense conversation with Kendall, who explained what his favorite video game was and he wanted to make sure Don Miguel knew EVERYTHING about it. Priceless! It was very disappointing when we had to leave. As we approached the hotel, we saw a family of monkeys and stopped to take pictures. Some people participated in horseback riding and others chose to walk around town and explore. Thursday, 2/21 - We left for the Cloud Forest Reserve of Santa Elena, where we walked around and saw the underside of the canopy. We learned the difference between vines and air roots and learned about the different species of life that call the forest “home”. Then we boarded the bus to go plant a tree. After lunch we went to the longest zip line in Central America and the second longest in the world. The zip lines started small and got longer and longer. We had to do doubles on the last two lines to save time. After the zip lines we went on a thing called the Tarzan mega swing. It was about 10 stories tall and we were free falling. Friday, 2/22 - Crossed the Continental Divide and headed towards the Pacific Ocean. We took a tour on a boat and did some bird watching and looked for crocodiles. Our tour guide fed both of these crocodiles with pieces of chicken. The group arrived at Jacó beach and checked into a new hotel. Saturday, 2/23 - After breakfast, we took a bus ride to Manuel Antonio National Park. This place has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We heard and even saw monkeys and a three-toed sloth with her baby. Sunday, 2/24 - We boarded the bus and headed towards Sarchi. This town is famous for their ornate ox carts. We went to a famous cart factory and souvenir shop and saw how the carts are made and painted. We were the only group to eat dinner at the hotel and we got to have a private dinner in our own corridor of the hotel. It was a nice dinner and everyone stood up and shared a memory or positive feeling about the trip. Monday, 2/25 - After breakfast, we all got ready and took another walk around San José. This was a much better walk since it was in daylight. The kids got to see what a Monday morning looks like with all of the shops opening and people conducting business.

March 2013

ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE/HIGH NEWS E.R. Andrews Elementary 2nd Quarter Honor Roll

MECS NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY SPRING HAPPENINGS This year has seen some tremendous growth in the National honor Society. Our chapter has had a very successful start to our school year and we would like to see that growth continue. This year, with support from Mr. Brewer, Ms. Lonigan and Mrs. Yancey, the NHS will begin a long term Green House Project. The aim of this project is to begin using our school green house to raise vegetables for two purposes. The first is to provide fresh vegetables to the Morrisville Food Bank. The second is to help offset some of Mrs. Yanceyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food costs for her Home Economics classes and provide fresh grown vegetables for their cooking lessons. Our hope is that this project will be successful and will one day be able to provide not only vegetables, but flowers for fundraisers and community improvement projects. This year the National Honor Society is pairing with the Leukemia/ Lymphoma Society. We will be taking part in the Pennies for Patients program to help raise much-needed fund to support local area research. Every cent that we raise this February and March will be used locally to help fund research initiatives to find a cure for blood cancer. Students, faculty, staff and parents will all be able have the opportunity to stop by the library and drop any loose change they may have in the collection jug. Members will then use local Coin Star machines, which have partnered with this program, to help us send in our donations. Please help us to reach our goal of $1400. On March 9th the National Honor Society will be hosting its first ever Family Portrait Day. We have teamed up with Life Touch Studios to bring the Morrisville-Eaton community a chance to get their family portraits taken. The portrait day will be held at the Edward R. Andrews Elementary School in Morrisville. NHS members will be going around to local families to sign them up for a family portrait. Forms will be going home with parents in the Elementary and Middle/High School before February break. The sitting fee is $10 and families will receive an 8x10 photograph of their family and/or friends. Additional packages are available for purchase on the day of the portrait being taken. The NHS will receive all proceeds from the sitting fees and a percentage of any packages sold. This money will go to helping our chapter send students to the National Honor Society LEAD Conference next school year. Flyers will be sent home soon with students, so please be looking for them. If you would like to sign up but cannot get in touch with a National Honor Society member please contact Mrs. Geatrakas or Mr. Kaun at the MECS Middle High School, the number is 315-684-9121. Please help us to make this first ever Family Portrait Day a great success. On Wednesday, March 13th, the NHS will be sponsoring our first of two spring Blood Drives. The Red Cross is quite low on blood this year and continues to need more donations to function. For every donation you give you can save up to three lives. Members of the NHS will be signing up donors for time slots shortly after break and will continue to do so until Friday March 8th. If you do not get a chance to sign up but would still like to donate, please feel free to stop by on March 13th and donate, walk ins are always welcome and your donation will help save lives. The NHS has some wonderful new projects in development for the spring. We are excited about new fundraising opportunities we hope will expand our aide to the local community. The M-ECS National Honor Society would like to thank the staff, parents and students for all of your continued support. Our members strive to provide continued support for our school and community.

March 2013

Honor High Honor

Grade 4: Avgenikos Michael Akers Maximilian Caruso Hannah Bagnall Catherine Cast Jessica Doroshenko Heather Colvin Robin Henry Haley Dailey Ashton Hilliard Ariana Eaton Tanner Hosler Logan Manwarren Shawna Hynes Daniel Mordus Natasha Jacobs Amy Newton McKenzie Markowski Alexander Olney Corey Martinez Ava Vedder William Migonis Mollie Ward Emma-Lee Moskvich Jenniefer Wiley Carter Muscarella Tanner Woodruff Bayleigh Palmer Katelyn Pittman Paul Vedder Theresa Warner Eric Young Danika Grade 5: Croniser Jordan Domes Lily Eastman Olivia Eaton Lexus Griffin Scott Ford Jackson Hazard Caden Fox Nicholas Jayson Evelyn Koehl Delaney Kochman Brian Jr. LaFever Alexis Orth Lily Sgarlata Victoria VanDusen Samantha Vaill Connor Vaill Carter Waltz Kendra Zheng Darren

Grade 6: Boyden Shelbie Camp Gabriel Carpenter David Cranwell Megan Chandler Kimberly Goodwin Harlee Day Colter Moskvich Eric Grabow Kirsten Ogrydziak Connor Holbert David O'Hara Lyla Manwarren Taylor Phillips Morgan Pearsall Peyton Shelton Collin Robbins Delia Warner Kady Spring Elizabeth Strong Zachary Szewczyk Cole

High School All-County The following student was selected to the H.S. AllCounty Orchestra:

Tristan Martin - Euphonium

The following students were selected to the AllCounty 5/6 Band:

Connor Ogrydziak - Tenor Sax Lyla O'Hara - Trumpet Kimberly Chandler - Flute Kirsten Grabow - Flute

The Spring All-County Rehearsals/Concert will be held at Canastota H.S on March 15th and 16th. Congratulations to all the above musicians!

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL NEWS M-ECS Sports News

By Chris Doroshenko, Coordinator of Athletics This winter has been a very successful winter sports season. All winter sports qualified for post season play and a couple firstâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for our sports program. The volleyball team won a the Class C2 Section 3 title which is the first Section title for volleyball at Morrisville Eaton. Will Thomas a member of our boys basketball team broke the career 2000 point mark for carreer points. Like I said all varsity sports teams qualified for sectionals. Volleyball won the league title and was seeded 1st, Girls Basketball was seeded 8th and faced the #1 seeded Fabius Pompey in the first round, Boys Basketball finished second in the league and goes into the post season with a 5th seed and is scheduled to travel to West Canada for a first round game, and wrestlers had qualified a number of wrestlers for the Section 3 Class B tournament with Wyatt Morris coming out of the tournament as the Champion then place 2nd in the Small School Sectional tournament and represented section 3 and Morrisville Eaton at the NYS Tournament where he went 2 and 2. The upcoming spring season is just around the corner. Varsity Baseball, Track and Field, Tennis and Softball will begin on Monday March 11th. Modified Track and Field, Softball and Baseball will begin on Monday March 25th (weather permitting). A reminder that all athletes must have an updated physical every year to participate in athletics.

Great Season Sports Teams! March 2013

DISTRICT NEWS Secondhand Smoke What Is Secondhand Smoke? Secondhand smoke comes from both the smoke that smokers exhale (called mainstream smoke) and the smoke floating from the end of the cigarette, cigar, or pipe (called sidestream smoke). It may seem pretty harmless, but secondhand smoke actually contains thousands of chemicals — from arsenic and ammonia to hydrogen cyanide — many of which have been proven to be toxic or to cause cancer (called carcinogens). High concentrations of many of these chemicals are found in secondhand smoke. So secondhand smoke doesn’t just impact a person in the future. It can cause problems right now, like affecting someone’s sports performance or ability to be physically active. In fact, secondhand smoke significantly increases a person's risk for: •respiratory infections (like bronchitis and pneumonia) •asthma (secondhand smoke is a risk factor for the development of asthma and can trigger attacks in those who already have it) •coughing, sore throats, sniffling, and sneezing •cancer •heart disease What Can You Do? Chances are, you know someone who smokes. Maybe it's your Grandma or the guy you hang out with at your job at the mall. Whether you smoke or you're regularly around someone who does, it's never healthy to breathe in tobacco smoke. Even occasional or short-term exposure can take a toll on the body. If you smoke, try to quit. Quitting isn't easy because smoking is highly addictive. But plenty of programs and people can help you make the brave effort to becoming smoke free. And just consider the benefits: You'll look, feel, and smell better, not to mention you'll have more money saved to go out and show off the newer, healthier you! Who knows — maybe knowing that you're protecting the people you love by quitting will help give you even more willpower to kick the habit. If you don't smoke, ask the smokers you know to observe these two practical habits: 1.Take all their smoke breaks outside — away from other people, especially kids and anyone who's pregnant. Smoke lingers in the air hours after cigarettes are put out. That means if a smoker is puffing away anywhere inside, other people are inhaling that smoke, too. Because smoke sticks to people and their clothing, when smokers come back inside, they should wash their hands and change their clothing, especially before holding or hugging children. 2.Never smoke in a car with other people. Even exhaling out the window does little, if anything, to reduce smoke exposure. It's been scientifically proven that secondhand smoke is dangerous. So, hopefully the smokers in your life will be willing to take these simple steps. Just as a person who smokes chooses to light up, nonsmokers have a choice, too — to walk away from other people's smoke at home, school, work, restaurants, even friends' and family members' houses. New laws are making it easier all the time for nonsmokers to lead smoke-free lives. Taking a stand on secondhand smoke will keep you much healthier and possibly even help someone you love think twice about their own unhealthy habit, too. Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Date reviewed: November 2011

Order your 2013 AMARIAH Yearbook The 2013 edition of the Amariah will arrive in June. Don’t miss out on the memories - order your copy today! The yearbook is priced at $48.00 and includes sales tax. You can reserve your copy with a $10 deposit before March 28, 2013. Checks should be made payable to MECS Yearbook. The balance on your order will be due by May 1, 2013. Please complete the order form below and return it with your deposit to Mrs. Yancey. For your convenience, orders may also be placed online using a credit card. Please visit www.yearbooksonsale.com to order your 2013 Amariah Yearbook online.Contact Mrs. Yancey at SYancey@m-ecs.org if you have any questions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please reserve my copy of the 2013 Amariah Yearbook. Student Name: Grade:

Telephone #:

Number of yearbooks:

March 2013

Amount enclosed: $

Order Your 2013 AMARIAH YEARBOOK NOW!

DISTRICT NEWS Sun, Moon and Seasons Students in Room 31 recently explored the topic of Sun, Moon, and Seasons. Pictured are students playing the parts of the moon, the sun, and Earth. It was a challenge to rotate and revolve at the same time!

School Closings, Delays and Cancellation of After School Activities Inclement weather or mechanical breakdowns may necessitate that school be closed or starting times be delayed. Local radio and television stations will carry notice of such a change. You may also check the district website at:www.m-ecs.org. A cancellation of district wide after school activities will also be publicized. The district notification service will allow us to send a telephone message to you providing important information again this year. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these calls, please call the District Office at 684-9300. The following are notified for your information: Television Stations: WSTM • Channel 3 WTVH • Channel 5 WIXT • Channel 9 YNN • Channel 10

Employee of the Year Nominations District residents, employees, and students are encouraged to nominate any district employee for this award. The Board of Education will review the nominations and select the recipients. The deadline for applications is the end of March (see the nomination applications on page 6 and 7).

Radio Stations: WKLL • 94.9 FM WMCR • 1600 AM WMCR • 106.3 FM WFRG • 104.3 FM WODZ • 96.1 FM WLZW • 98.7 FM WIBX • 950 AM WOUR • 96.9 FM WUMX • 102.5 FM WOKR • 93.1 FM WTLB • 1310 AM

March 29th - Good Friday, No School April 8th - 12th - Spring Recess, No School SCHOOL PERSONNEL: Michael Drahos, Superintendent Debra Everson, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Support Services Christopher Brewer, M/HS Principal Debra Dushko, Elementary Principal Molly Wheaton, CSE Chairperson Chris Doroshenko, Coordinator of Athletics Tina Hankins, Head Bus Driver Janine Anderalli, Guidance Counselor Michele Cesta, Guidance Counselor Shelly Kempton, Social Worker Ann Marie Martorana, M/H School Nurse Mary Ellen Burt, Elementary Nurse

Regular Board of Education Meeting Monday, March 25, 2013 Middle/High School Library 7:00 PM Public Welcome

SCHOOL PHONE NUMBERS: District Office..................................... 684-9300 Business Office.................................. 684-9158 Middle/High School Office................ 684-9121 Elementary School Office.................. 684-9288 Special Programs Office.................... 684-3639 Head Bus Driver................................ 684-3014 Guidance Office................................. 684-9196 M/H School Nurse............................. 684-5903 M/H School Maintenance.................. 684-7032

SCHOOL ADDRESS: Morrisville-Eaton Central School P.O. Box 990 Morrisville, NY 13408

WEBSITE: WWW.M-ECS.ORG

Morrisville-Eaton Central School P. O. Box 990 Morrisville, New York 13408

BOARD OF EDUCATION: Marian Whitney, President Jacalyn Groves, Vice-President Murry Ames Nichole Doroshenko Melanie Martin

March 2013

FAX NUMBERS: District Office.....................684-9399 Business Office..................684-9171 M/H School Office.............684-7033 Elem. School Office...........684-7252 Guidance Office.................684-9192

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