MARCH 2017 2017 SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS The Scholastic Art Awards have been fostering creativity and talent in students across the country in Grades 7-12 for nearly 100 years. This past fall, 88 schools from the 13-county Central New York region submitted 5,413 pieces of artwork to be judged by 50 professional artists, educators, and photographers. After three days, the panel of judges chose a record 1,817 pieces to receive awards in 19 categories. Union Springs’ students have done very well in this competition the past several years, showcasing some pretty amazing talent within our district, but this year takes the cake. Art teachers, Mr. Charles and Mrs. Spaziani-Gaal, collectively submitted 59 pieces of their students’ artwork to the CNY Scholastic Art competition, and 41 of those submissions received awards. There were an astounding 21 Gold Key Awards, 10 Silver Key Awards, and 10 Honorable Mentions. As if the number of awards received isn’t impressive enough, one student’s piece was nominated for the American Visions & Voices Award. Five pieces of Gold Key artwork that represent the region’s “Best of Show” are nominated, and senior Joan Hodges’ Drawing & Illustration piece titled “Fixated,” will move on to be judged at the national level. From there, an esteemed panel of judges selects the best of the five American Visions Nominees from each region to receive national recognition with the American Visions Medal. When asked what inspired her to create this piece, Joan said, “My older brother, Dave. We have been close since we were little.”
Another noteworthy accomplishment is eighth grader Wyatt Patterson’s piece titled “Links in the Chain,” earning a Silver Key Award. This is the first time a student from Union Springs Middle School has ever won an award in the CNY Scholastic Art competition. “I was in disbelief because I didn’t think I would win anything,” Wyatt said. Central New York award recipients were announced at an awards ceremony at Onondaga Community College in January. All Gold Key pieces will be considered for the next round of national awards and honors. A gallery of the students’ award-winning artwork from the CNY Scholastic Art competition will be on display May 16-19 in the High School Library. It is also on the website, www.unionspringscsd.org, under Quick Links.
Joan Hodges, “Fixated” Gold Key Award Nominee for American Visions & Voices Award
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL | SPRING BOARD
SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE Although it is cold outside, the work of the district is heating up as plans continue to unfold regarding our capital project, the development of our 2017-18 budget, and the realignment of our elementary grade levels in the coming school year.
@UnionSpringsCSD
state, suggests our timeline for breaking ground may be pushed back by a couple weeks, however, the work of the project will still be complete for the opening of the 2018-2019 school year; almost a full year ahead of where we projected the construction process to be completed.
Because we will have only one elementary school next year, we have been operating using position control, As we work to build our as individuals have left our district for employment organizational capacity to meet elsewhere or retirement. Through a detailed review the challenges of the coming school year, we remain of the budget, staff consolidations, and work toward confident in our ability to provide a quality educational creating efficiencies across the areas that comprise experience for all of our students. our spending plan, the budget that we will present in May will be fully balanced and represent zero growth Planning is currently underway for the addition of in spending, while continuing our initiatives with our fourth grade to Cayuga Elementary and fifth grade to Summer Academy, 1:1 student to computer ratios, the middle school for next school year. Surplus items student reading supports, and our college coursework have been listed for sale on our district website, and program. packing and cleaning has been occurring throughout these wintry months. I thank you for your continued support of our district and look forward to the work yet to come. In the coming weeks, we will solidify our staffing configuration for next school year and hopefully hear back from the NYS Office of Facilities Planning regarding Educationally Yours, when we can take our project to bid. Limited staffing at NYS Office of Facilities Planning, along with more than 600 projects awaiting architectural review by the Jarett Powers
2017 CNY SCHOLASTIC ART AWARD WINNERS
Top Row: (L to R): Mrs. Spaziani-Gaal, Rachel Culver, Mackenzie Murphy, Elysia Koffler, Alex Nemo, Danielle Rindfleisch, Baylee Wiler, Seth Gilmore, Joan Hodges, Kayli Wright, Tad Patterson, Hunter Spina, Cassie Brown, Abigail Salico, Mr. Charles Bottom Row (L to R): Jessica Morgan, Alyson Walters, Madelyn Walters, Victoria Lopez, Sarah Lutkins, Victoria Forgham, Wyatt Patterson, Alex Tucker, Emily Irving Missing: Hannah Bedell, Bailey Burr, Laura Cunningham, Cassie Porter
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
MARCH 2017
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE I would like to say spring is just around the corner, but for the most part, this winter has mimicked early spring very well. The mild temperatures, occasional rain showers, and bright sun from time to time have certainly made the winter bearable and hassle free. Our students recently finished their mid-term exams and are now firmly working in the fourth marking period. As we look ahead academically, seniors should be meeting with the guidance office staff to make sure all paperwork and forms are filled out for college applications, scholarships, and financial aid. Underclassmen should be using SchoolTool to help monitor their progress. Students are encouraged to stay after from 2:19-3:00 p.m. for extra help, or stay from 3:00-5:00 p.m. We typically have one or two teachers who stay each night until 5:00 p.m. The teachers who are staying are announced daily. Looking ahead, performances of the high school musical, “Rock of Ages 101: High School Edition,” will be March 16-18. Students are rehearsing and polishing up their lines in anticipation of opening day. Please come out and enjoy the tremendous efforts our students have given as they present this exciting musical. The winter sports season is winding down, and all of our student athletes showed a tremendous amount of determination in their contests. I think I saw more exciting hard-fought contests this year than I’ve seen in some time. There are several sports offered in the springtime as well, including softball, track, baseball, tennis, and golf. Once again, encourage your child to get involved!
@UnionSpringsHS
UNION SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS
TICKETS: $9 March 16 & 17 @ 7:00 p.m. March 18 @ 6:00 p.m. MS/HS Auditorium To purchase advance sale tickets, call Stephanie Berry at (315) 889-4110 ext. 6738, and leave a message, or fill out and return the order form available on the High School Musical page of www.unionspringscsd.org/highschool. “Rock of Ages 101: High School Edition” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
As always, we appreciate your continued support of our staff and students. Enjoy the the rest of winter! Sincerely, Chuck Walker High School Principal (315) 889-4110
Cassie Porter, “Burner Car” Honorable Mention
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL | SPRING BOARD
MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
@UnionSpringsMS
The school year seems to go by faster and faster with each passing year! At this time last year, I was meeting with parents and students to plan for the arrival of our current sixth and seventh grade students. Now, we are more than halfway through the year! As spring approaches and the weather gets nicer, it will become even more important for our students to stay organized and plan out their day. Each school year brings different classes, a different workload, and different opportunities. It is important that students get used to setting aside time for homework each evening so they do not become overwhelmed.
Also this school year, the middle school has been preparing for the arrival of our fifth grade students. I am excited to welcome a new grade level to the middle school and look forward to meeting everyone! I have scheduled a parent forum for Tuesday, March 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school auditorium. This event offers an opportunity for parents to learn about the middle school and what your child’s day will look like next year. The parent forum is designed this year for parents/guardians of incoming fifth and sixth grade students.
The springtime at Union Springs Middle School brings dances, a new athletic season (for seventh and eighth grades), class trips, community service days, and other extracurricular events. Keeping up with grades and maintaining academic eligibility is important for students to take advantage of every opportunity that strikes their interest.
Michael Wurster Middle School Principal (315) 889-4112
We continue to offer individualized supports and interventions for our students. At this point in the year, most students have been scheduled into classes based on their own academic needs. However, if at any time you believe your child could benefit from a different support system here at the middle school, please do not hesitate to contact me. I encourage open communication so that we can work as a team to help your child achieve at their highest level.
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the middle school office. Respectfully,
CONGRATULATIONS, WYATT!
Our after school clubs continue to run each week. If your child has not been able to get involved in any activities yet this year, it is not too late. Opportunities for middle school students are always posted outside of the office and announced by Ms. Mills. Ms. Russell will soon be contacting you, if you have not heard from her already, to set up scheduling meetings for next year. This is an important process in planning for your child’s education and offers a great opportunity to ask any questions that have come up this year.
Wyatt Patterson, “Links in the Chain” Silver Key Award
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
MARCH 2017
ATHLETICS
@USCSD_Wolves
Our winter teams worked hard and had some excellent accomplishments this season. The JV Boys Basketball team started their season off by winning the Groton Invitational Basketball Tournament. They continued their success by picking up the title in the 44th Annual Cayuga County Holiday Basketball Tournament, as well as winning the Division and advancing to the IAC Championships. The Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls Basketball teams also had successful regular seasons, each moving on to play for Sectional titles. Good luck! The Union Springs/ Port Byron Varsity Boys Bowling team finished the regular season with an identical record as Waverly, but lost that title in a tiebreaker. However, the boys came back to avenge that loss with a convincing victory in the IAC Championships hosted in Waverly. They moved on to compete in Sectionals and placed second, which was good enough to move them on to the State Qualifiers. The Union Springs/Port Byron Indoor Track team had several great individual performances and school records. Jon Jackson set a new school record in the High Jump with a jump of 5’8”. Davonte House set the record in the 55 Meter Dash with a time of 6.78 seconds, and he won the Sectional Championship in the Long Jump. In distance events, Olivia Leonti took first in the Sectional Championship for the 3000 Meter run and set a school record in the process. Hannah Yorkey placed first in the 1500 Meter run at the 607 Invitational. Finally, Flynn Anderson won the Sectional Championship for the Triple Jump. Go Wolves! Todd Salls Athletic Coordinator (315) 889-4136
UNION SPRINGS ATHLETICS
HALL OF FAME
The Union Springs Athletic Department is proud to announce the Class of 2017 Hall of Fame inductees: Liz Cornell, Cheol Kessler, Dave Bowman, and the 1983-84 Varsity Boys Basketball team. Liz Cornell made her mark as a key basketball player for Union Springs' teams, ending her career as the leading scorer in the school’s history. She was also a four-time IAC All-Star and League MVP, as well as an IAC All-Star in both soccer and tennis. Cheol Kessler was most known for his success on the gridiron. In one memorable game against Groton, Cheol set the Union Springs single game rushing mark with 361 yards. He was also a member of the track team, and a member of the 4x100 meter relay team that also held the school record. Dave Bowman was not only a great athlete excelling in basketball, football, and track during his time as a student, he also returned to Union Springs to teach and coach for 38 years. He continued his support of Union Springs Athletics even after retirement as the score keeper for the Girls Varsity Soccer team. The 1983-84 Varsity Boys Basketball team had a memorable campaign. Led by Hall of Fame Coach, Jake O’Connor, they won the IAC Northeast Large Division, the IAC Championship overall, and continued to win the Section IV Class C Championship. Members of the team included: Bob Canino, Andy Lucas, Doug Jorgensen, Scott Peacock, Tom Walawender, Jeff Adams, Rusty Nevin, Steve Klock, Ed Erbeck, William Heesbeen, Jeff deRoos, Bernie DeGraw, Brian Tanner, Mark Gaffney, and Dan Daum. In addition to those great accomplishments, the team was also awarded the Sportsmanship Awward from the IAC League. This year’s Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 13 in the Union Springs High School Gymnasium. For tickets, visit www.unionspringscsd.org/athletics or call the Athletic Office at (315) 889-4136.
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL | SPRING BOARD
A.J. SMITH ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE The new year certainly hasn’t slowed business down at A.J. Smith one bit! Our students continue to work hard to polish their college and career readiness skills and practice positive behaviors to be well-rounded citizens.
@UnionSpringsAJ
• Talked about bullying. Presentations were given to all 4th and 5th grade students to learn about the difference between PUNC-ing and bullying, the different forms it can take, and the multiple ways students can handle situations. • Applied our new learning from Physical Education by traveling to Starlite Lanes.
Before 2016 ended, we:
• Toured Nazareth College and enjoyed the play Mistatim. Nazareth is one of our adopted colleges, • Welcomed the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, so it was extra fun for some of our students to visit who shared the many different careers that are places they had researched on the internet. associated with the arts and performance field, which was a great addition to our AVID learning. Be sure to remember these important dates: • Visited our friends at the Frontenac Museum & March 28-30: NYS ELA Assessments Historical Society, who graciously hosted us again May 2-4: NYS Math Assessments for our annual popcorn and movie. Students were June 21, 7:00 p.m.: A.J. Smith Graduation also able to explore some of the displays, and we are looking forward to a return visit this spring. Sincerely, • Danced and sang with the Wassa Pan Afrika Dance Ensemble, who got us all up and on our feet and Karen Burcroff onto the stage! A.J. Smith Elementary Principal (315) 889-7102 • Raised over $360 for the Smile Train through the Student Government sponsored Change War. Mackenzie Murphy, Thanks to Mrs. Valentino for being a good sport and “Geared Shut” being the recipient of the pie-in-the-face. Honorable Mention
Since turning the calendar and welcoming 2017, we have: • Traveled to Cayuga Community College to participate in over 25 different workshops. It was a great day as students learned a variety of new things.
Hannah Bedell, “Left Out to Rust” Honorable Mention
• Danced the night away at the annual A.J. SiteBased Team hosted Snow Ball. This semi-formal event is always a lot of fun for students and their adult “date.” Bubbles filled the air as the DJ played all the popular dance tunes! • Met approximately 20 Union Springs High School students who have volunteered to be our Y-Pals. They visit every Thursday for 30 minutes and help bring smiles to our students’ faces. Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
MARCH 2017
CAYUGA ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Hopefully another mild winter has passed us by, and we are on our way to more sunshine with the increase in daylight hours. I know I can speak for all of our students when I say they are looking forward to getting back outside to run, jump, swing, and slide on our well-equipped playground. Cayuga students continue to be immersed in the day-to-day operations of ELA and math. Each class has found multiple ways to incorporate the use of students’ iPads into their daily routines, allowing an increase in their learning capacity. It is quite amazing how technologically-savvy our young students are. As a reminder to parents, we have changed our morning drop-off procedures to ensure a more safe and secure arrival time for ALL students. Parents who transport their child to school in the morning are asked to drive around the right side of the building where an adult will greet your child as they enter through the cafeteria door. Cayuga folks have been preparing for the addition of our fourth grade students next school year. With this will come classroom movement, a later dismissal time, and a great deal of rearranging resources to make room for the upcoming Pre–K through fourth grade span.
@UnionSpringsCay
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN If you have a child who is eligible to attend preschool (4 years old by Dec. 1, 2017) or kindergarten (5 years old by Dec. 1, 2017) in the 2017-2018 school year, join us for our registration event!
Wednesday, March 29, 2017 Pre-K & Kindergarten Registration 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Cayuga Elementary School
If you are unable to attend but would like to enroll your child, please contact: Jennifer Henry (315) 889-4170 jhenry@unionspringscsd.org
Mark your calendars with the following events: March 16: Pre-K–12 Reading Exchange March 28-3: NYS ELA Assessments for Grade 3 May 2-4: NYS Math Assessments for Grade 3 May 9: Cayuga Curriculum Fair June 14 & 15: Cayuga Spring Concerts I look forward to seeing you at these events! Sincerely, Sheila LaDouce Cayuga Elementary Principal (315) 889-4170
Bailey Burr, “The Stumped Sage” Honorable Mention
Tad Patterson, “Matches” Honorable Mention
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL | SPRING BOARD
CONGRATULATIONS! Four Union Springs High School students, selected from six counties, attended the NYSSMA Area AllState Music Festival at Ithaca High School on February 3 & 4. L to R: Krista Reohr, Treble Chorus; Leah DeGraw, Symphonic Band; Lily Greer, Mixed Chorus; Gabby Greer, Treble Chorus
Colin Rindge from A.J. Smith Elementary won 1st place at the fifth grade level in the Central New York Perennial Math Competition. Colin, along with the 2nd & 3rd place winners, are invited to compete in the national online competition in May!
SYRACUSE CRUNCH NIGHT! Hunter Spina, “Untitled” Honorable Mention
The Schweinfurth Art Center holds two annual art exhibits, Both Ends of the Rainbow and the Three Lakes Sampler, to showcase artwork by students and senior citizens in Cayuga County. The following students had artwork selected to be included in these exhibits! Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Asa Brown Sophia Brown Ellen Crowley Michael Culver Haydyn Cummings Isaac Dennis Ella Dougherty Michael Feocco Hali Gray Maddy Kalet Alexander Lashomb Brett Morrison Gracie Palmer Rocco Testa Lilyana Thornton Abbigail Tracy
Alexandra Batruch Carter Botindari Nadine Cioffa Michael Crowley Emma Dennis Katelyn Herrling Paige Johnson Ella Jorgensen Abby Kozub Austin McIntosh Makenna Pantoliano Devin Platt Karen-Marie Rivera Caroline Smead Paige Smith Brandon Vasquez
Hannah Curtis Griffin Doan Isabel Gilmore Hailey Jackson Morgan Jones Gana Latak Tyler Lutkins Abigail Mach Reilley Patterson Jaden Reyes Colin Rindge Gabrielle Scholz Isabella Tracy Annie Wade
Nearly 40 Union Springs' students from Grades 3–5 will be performing the National Anthem at the Syracuse Crunch Game on March 11. This will be the first time our third and fourth graders will be representing our district, and everyone is very excited! The students and their families will be sitting together after the performance to watch the Crunch play against the St. John’s Ice Caps. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Union Springs PTO. If you are interested in attending this game, call Jonathan Smaldon at (315) 473-4444 ext. 20. *Be sure to mention you are with A.J. Smith or Cayuga Elementary to receive the discounted ticket pricing.
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
MARCH 2017
NHS MAKE-A-WISH PROJECT UPDATE The Union Springs National Honor Society got one step closer to their fundraising goal for their Make-AWish Project with various fundraising events over the holiday season. Special Make-A-Wish nights were held at all home basketball games against Southern Cayuga. At these games, NHS members collected donations at the door, sold t-shirts, bracelets, and calendars, did face painting, and held 50/50 raffles. As a result, approximately $1,300 was raised over the course of these two games. In addition to these funds, $1,000 was donated by the Union Springs Youth Basketball Program. The youth basketball teams were on hand to present a check at the boys’ basketball home game on Jan. 27. A big thanks to Todd Salls, Jeff Culver, and all of the youth basketball teams for this generous gift!
handmade wreath donated by Gretchen Weir and a $25 gift certificate to Jane Morgan’s’ Little House of Aurora. Thank you to both Gretchen and Jane Morgan’s for your donations, and thanks to all of those individuals that purchased raffle tickets. Cans and bottles are still being accepted at A+ Bottle Redemption Center in Union Springs. The Alnutt Family, owners of the redemption center, will graciously donate six cents toward any bottles and cans that are dropped off for the Make-A-Wish fundraising effort. On March 4 from 4:00-7:00 p.m., there will be a spaghetti dinner at the Union Springs American Legion. All proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish. Dinners will include spaghetti and meatballs, tossed salad, and bread. Tickets can be purchased prior to the event from a member of the National Honor Society or at the door. Take-out will also be available. Tickets will be $8 for adults and $5 for children under 10.
Approximately $900 was raised from a wreath and gift certificate raffle before the holidays. Sarah Rindfleisch of Union Springs was the lucky winner of a beautiful
SENIOR CITIZEN HOLIDAY LUNCHEON On Dec. 20, approximately 40 local senior citizens were treated to turkey dinner with all the fixings at the high school. In addition to lunch, seniors enjoyed a musical performance by the Middle School Chorale under the direction of Music teacher Amanda Franco. Members of the National Honor Society served as hosts and guides for the afternoon. Each guest received sock snowmen made by middle school Art teacher Lindsay Spaziani-Gaal and her students. Also helping to make the day a success were Kathy Smith and the cafeteria staff, Valerie Castiglia in the district office, the maintenance department, and Superintendent Jarett Powers and the district administrative team.
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL | SPRING BOARD
MORE GOLD KEY AWARDS
Seth Gilmore, “=”
Elysia Koffler, “First Steps”
Jessica Morgan, “Contemplation”
Cassie Brown, “Wiping It All Away”
Emily Irving, “Kelly”
Emily Irving, “The Roof” Kayli Wright, “Restricted”
Hunter Spina, "Dive In"
Madelyn Walters, “Old Writing”
Victoria Lopez, “House of Bird”
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
MARCH 2017 Abigail Salico, Art Portfolio Gold Key Award
"Me, Myself, and Eye"
Bailey Burr, “Touch of Grey”
Rachel Culver, “Beneath the Shadow”
"In a Jam"
"Kobe"
To see Abigail Salico's full award-winning art portfolio, please visit www.unionspringscsd.org.
Joan Hodges, “Mesmerized”
Alexandria Tucker, “Chilly”
Mackenzie Murphy, “Downcast”
Alexandria Nemo, “Anticipation”
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL | SPRING BOARD
Q & A: COLLEGE COURSES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL Do parents have a financial obligation to college courses?
All Cayuga Community College courses taught at Union Springs High School are free, and we also supply books necessary for the course. If a student takes a course at CCC, they would be responsible for tuition, books, and any other applicable fees.
Are teachers approved by CCC, and do they teach the same content?
Yes, teachers are approved by CCC, and they also teach the same content as CCC professors. We send each teacher’s college transcripts, degrees, and any other credentials to the individual departments at CCC, and they evaluate them to see if the teacher is qualified based on course work, degree type, and experience. Each teacher also has a CCC staff mentor, and each of our CCC teachers is observed by a CCC administrator/mentor every year. The content we teach is the same as CCC, however they do give us choices for some classes (i.e. Novels in ELA). For some of our CCC courses, students take the same final exam as students who are taking that course at CCC.
Will my child be enrolled in consecutive CCC courses automatically?
Elysia Koffler, “Flying Free” Honorable Mention
No. Each course at the college level is its own entity, so we need to sign up for each one separately.
If a class cannot fit in a student’s schedule, can they take it online?
A student might be able to take the course online, but that course would not be part of our program, and therefore the student would have to pay for tuition, books, etc.
How do weighted grades work? Can students have averages greater than 100%? We weight college and AP courses at 1.05, however we do not record averages greater than 100%. See below for examples of how this weighted average influences a student’s final transcript.
Example A: Student has a 92 average in CCC ELA 101, so when the weighted 1.05 is applied toward the overall GPA, that 92 becomes 96.6. Example B: Student has a 78 average in CCC Spanish, so when we apply the 1.05 toward their overall GPA, that 78 becomes 81.9.
Could higher achieving students averages go down by taking advanced courses? It is possible, as these courses in general tend to be more rigorous. However, college courses are weighted as 1.05, and colleges really look to see if students are challenging themselves in high school.
Tad Patterson, “Corded” Honorable Mention
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
MARCH 2017
Q & A: COLLEGE COURSES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL How do Cayuga Community College credits transfer?
CCC is part of the SUNY/CUNY system, therefore all credits will transfer to other SUNY/CUNY schools. Private colleges/universities often times will take CCC credits as electives, or depending on the school, as part of their program. The best thing to do is check with the colleges your child is interested in to see what they will accept. However, even if all of the CCC credits do not transfer to a private college, the experience gained by taking these courses will benefit your child greatly. As a side note, the admission personnel at St. John Fisher said that one of the main admission criteria they consider is the “rigor” a student takes while in high school.
Is all regents exam material taught in addition to college material?
Yes. We try to match up CCC courses we offer with “like” high school courses. For example, CCC Spanish 103 is almost identical in content and skills needed for Victoria Forgham, students to take the regents exam at the end of the year. CCC Geology I and II are “Danielle” slightly more in depth than Earth Science in some respects, but their curriculums Honorable Mention do not include the regents’ topics of Weather and Climate or Astronomy. The teacher will pick up those topics during the year so that students are ready for the regents exam at the end of the year. Remember, college courses at CCC typically run from September through December and again from late January through mid-May. This allows our high school staff time to fill in any missing regents’ content.
Why can’t ELA and Spanish courses only be a half year? Actually, CCC ELA in 12th grade is two separate college courses (ELA 101 and 102), each worth three credits. Spanish 103 matches up with what is taught in Regents Spanish, which is a full year course at the high school. CCC Spanish 104 is what we have traditionally taught to our advanced students. It’s really about matching up the regents courses with the CCC courses as closely as possible.
Should the high school consider dropping the grade requirements for students to be able to take certain CCC courses?
This is a two-part answer. First, we have these grade requirements in place so students are placed where they can be successful. However, if a Sarah Lutkins, student does not quite have the grades or a staff recommendation to get in “Baby Face” a certain course, they can file an appeal to gain entrance into that course. Honorable Mention If an appeal is granted, the student would be on probation and have to maintain an 85% (B) average during the first semester. If successful, they would be off probation for the second half of the year. The second part of this answer pertains to ELA 101 and Math 104. In both cases, CCC requires interested students to take an ACCUPLACER exam to gain entrance into these courses. We offer ACCUPLACER exams at Union Springs High School, and they are typically in the spring.
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL | SPRING BOARD
Q & A: COLLEGE COURSES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL How many credits is health class?
We offer Health 104, which if successfully completed, gives each student three credits.
What can you do to help students be more organized, take responsibility, and understand the importance of transcripts?
The Cayuga 101 class is designed for younger students who need to learn how to be more organized and responsible. It’s a good idea for all students considering taking college courses throughout their high school career to take this half year course. We are also working with the CCC guidance staff to get a liaison to come in and speak with students about transcripts and college programs. This person will periodically visit the high school to talk to students in small groups or individually throughout each school year.
Could you offer different classes for different grade levels?
In some cases, yes. Next year, we will have a CCC Spanish 104 class for juniors and another class for seniors. In other cases, no, because there might not be enough students to run a class for that particular grade level, or it may not be possible in a teacher’s schedule to offer multiple classes along with the other courses they teach.
During the first semester, students earned 93.5% of available course credits and 807 total credits!
MORE SILVER KEY AWARDS
Lauren Cunningham, “Topknot” Emily Irving, “In the Basement”
Danielle Rindfleisch, “Chiaroscuro” Elysia Koffler, “Face of Wisdom”
Emily Irving, “In a Different Light”
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
MARCH 2017
ANNOUNCEMENTS Booster Club Update: The Booster Club Spirit Sale was a success. We continue to work with the Sophomore Class to provide concessions during home basketball games. As always, we are looking for volunteers to help. Stop by the concession table in the cafeteria to sign up. Each year, the Booster Club is able to provide scholarships to students interested in athletic, art, or academic camps. Two scholarships of $200 are awarded each year to students in Grades 7-12. Applications are available in the Guidance Office. Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): The PTO consists of parents, teachers, and school staff within the district whose efforts serve to enhance and maximize the education of every child. We meet once a month at either A.J. Smith or Cayuga Elementary. If you are interested in joining, contact the main office of your child’s school.
Baylee Wiler, “We All Matter” Bailey Burr, “The Exhumed”
Parent Forum
(for incoming 5th & 6th graders)
Tuesday, March 7th @ 6:00 p.m. Middle School Auditorium Learn about your child's teachers, the location of fifth grade classrooms and lockers, daily schedules, academic expectations, and much more. Continuing Education: Spring classes start in March! If you are interested, please contact Lisa Winters at (315) 889-7102 x2202, or email lwinters@unionspringscsd.org. USCSD graduates now in the military: To be included on the high school’s Military Bulletin Board, please submit a recent 5”x7” photo, your name, year graduated, and branch of service to Sue Sciortino, 239 Cayuga Street, Union Springs, NY 13160. Food Services: Did you know your child(ren) may qualify for free or reduced price meals at school? If your child is eligible and has not yet applied, or if your child's eligibility changes during the school year, you can still apply. If you have any questions regarding eligibility, or if you would like help filling out an application, please contact Kathy Smith at (315) 889-4120 or kmsmith@unionspringscsd.org.
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AFTERSCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM
5
$ Alexandria Tucker, “Crazy”
Alyson Walters, “Amy”
TO-GO BOXED MEALS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WHO STAY AFTER SCHOOL FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
For more info, visit the Food Services page at www.unionspringscsd.org.
Union Springs Central School District | 239 Cayuga Street | (315) 889-4101 | www.unionspringscsd.org
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HS Musical Opening Night MS/HS at 7pm
Pre-K & K Registration Cayuga from 3-6pm
Jill's Dance Recital
STAY CONNECTED! Check out more district news and events on our website:
MS/HS at 7pm
Budget Vote HS Lobby from noon-9pm
www.unionspringscsd.org
CONTACT US: 239 Cayuga Street Union Springs, NY 13160
Junior Prom Hilton Garden Inn at 8pm
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 239 Cayuga Street Union Springs, NY 13160
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Rural Route or Boxholder
Phone: (315) 889-4101 Fax: (315) 889-4108
US Postage Paid Union Springs, NY Permit #3 Non-Profit Organization