T he Chronicle
Volume 12, Issue 6
February 2015
G
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T
a
alent
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From left, Marisa
Hanlon and Carley
Lester compete in
“Deal or No Deal”
against Nick Schuth as
the host and numbered
briefcase models
Hannah Reynolds and
Kristen Jacob.
From left,
Cody and
Carley Lester
perform
Crew
dance
On Jan. 16, Kendall students proved once
again that they’ve “got talent” at the annual talent show
in the Junior/Senior High School Auditorium. Five acts
performed at the elementary level and four acts performed
at the high school level. There were also three acts
performed by alumni of Kendall.
The talent show was led by Nick Schuth and Carley Lester
as Masters of Ceremonies. They also appeared in their
own exhibition/alumni acts. Schuth sang and played
the melodica in The Band Boo along with alumni Tyler
Smith and Dustin Furness as they performed a mix of
‘80s hits; Lester sang “Space Oddity” while her brother,
Cody, accompanied her on guitar. Schuth and Lester also
performed in several skits during the two hour talent show.
Vocal teacher Daniel Lauritzson kicked off the talent show
when he sang “The Impossible Dream.” He was followed
by Paige Hardenbrook, Grace Casey, Olivia Barrett, Paige
Beers, Lily Lavacca and Leigha Zugehoer performing
dance numbers, alumni Jourdan Heller singing a song,
and Karlee Robb, Peyton States and Alexis Haskins singing
“Dear Future Husband.” After a short intermission,
the talent show resumed with a piano performance by
Sarah Pearson, singing by Morgan Rae Paige and Kali
Haskins, and a dance performance by Abby Horst. The
final performance was the crew dancing to a medley of
the latest hits. The skits interspersed throughout the show
featured interviews with various Disney princesses, a
Snickers® commercial and a “Deal or No Deal” game.
The show ended with Paige Hardenbrook winning
the Elementary Showmanship Award for her dance to
“Never Grow Up.” Sarah Pearson won the High School
Showmanship Award for her piano performance of
“Slippin’ Around.”
From left, Sarah
Pearson and Paige
Hardenbrook with
their awards
The talent show is used to promote AFS-USA, which is
a student foreign exchange program. While Kendall has
not hosted a foreign exchange student in several years,
school counselor Mirjam Bauer, a native of Holland, urged
the audience to consider participation in the program.
Her experience as an
exchange student
Inside...
resulted in her
Budget Development Calendar.......... 2
staying in the United
States for close to 20
Tax Exemption for Seniors................. 3
years, she said.
Spring Musical.................................. 4
Sports Update................................... 5
Class Lessons & Events.................6-7
Calendar........................................... 8
Message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents and Families,
We have had yet another unpredictable
winter, ranging from extreme cold
temperatures to large snowfalls. Given these
erratic conditions in western New York during
December through March, the weather is
constantly monitored to determine a need for
an emergency school closing.
We consider many variables when determining whether to
close school. The process begins very early when inclement
weather is forecasted. We look at weather predictions and
local radar. The transportation staff gathers reports from
the Highway Department to determine road conditions
throughout the district. The superintendent is in contact with
grounds staff to determine whether the buildings have lights,
heat and water. Nearby school superintendents are consulted
to see what conditions are like in their areas. We use all
possible data to make the best decision for our school district.
Kendall Central School District covers 89 square miles, and
the weather conditions may vary from one point to another.
In addition, we need to consider the ramifications of school
closing on working families who may not be able to find
suitable, safe or well-supervised locations for their children.
When Kendall School District closes, so does our wraparound
before- and after-school care. Over 60 percent of our students
receive a free/reduced breakfast and lunch at school; we
understand a school closing affects that basic need as well.
We also understand some families may be without power at
home; Kendall Schools have backup generators to provide
heat and electricity at both buildings. Ultimately, the decision
comes down to keeping students safe either on the roads or in
the safety of the school buildings.
In the event of school closings due to inclement weather or
other uncontrollable conditions, official announcements will
Budget development
calendar
Please be patient and remember that buses must
travel safely during inclement weather and may be
running late. Also, please understand that weather is
unpredictable and variable; if you believe, as a parent,
that the road conditions at your home are less than
ideal, you have the right to decide if your child attends
or reports to school later. Unless otherwise notified,
there will be no activities held in the school buildings
on emergency closing days. We thank you for your
continued support and understanding during these
western NY winters.
Sincerely,
Julie E. Christensen
Superintendent
Capital Improvement Project Progress
Completed Work Activity at High School:
• Cafeteria Addition – Selective demolition of interior
finishes, partitions, mechanical equipment and
electrical, excavation for new structural footings,
temporary shoring/bracing of existing steel, and
pouring of concrete for new structural footings/piers
• A/C split system for server room
Completed Work Activity at Elementary School:
Budget conferences with superintendent
• Removal of asbestos refractory material from
abandoned boiler
Feb. 11
Regular Board of Education meeting including budget
planning discussions
Current Work Activity:
March 18
Regular Board of Education meeting including budget
planning discussions
April 15
Regular Board of Education meeting including budget
planning discussions
April 20
Transportation department budget presentation
April 28
Elementary School faculty budget presentation
February
• High School Cafeteria Addition – Demolish existing
steel, roof deck and load bearing CMU walls, construct
new load-bearing walls, and rough-in electrical in new
masonry walls
• Elementary School – Add temporary lighting, heating
piping supports, conduit and boxes for new unit vents
in crawl spaces
Upcoming Work Activity:
May 5
High School faculty budget presentation
May 6
Public information meeting on proposed budget at
regular Board of Education meeting
May 19
2
2015-16
be made over radio and television stations, the Kendall
School District website, and through our automated
notification system. Please remember to keep your
contact information current. These announcements
take upwards of 30 minutes to be posted through the
multiple notifications channels; when possible, we
make every attempt to post as many as we can by 7 a.m.
School Budget and board election vote
• High School Cafeteria Addition – Place balance of
new concrete foundations and add structural steel at
kitchen/servery areas
• Elementary School – Demolition/removal of
abandoned boiler
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Friends of Kendall
Elementary School,
It may hold some of the coldest
temperatures of the year, but February
brings my favorite day of the school year,
Valentine’s Day. This is one those truly
happy days at school. What could be
better than a day filled with treats and
funny little cards from every classroom friend? It’s just one
of those magical days in the life of a child. I count myself
fortunate to be part of it each year.
Our school is full of students who show good citizenship.
Student Council has just completed a service project to
benefit Honor Flight. Vicki Spurr and Amy Leone, together
with the members of our student council, are raising
funds to help send a local veteran to Washington, DC.
This month’s fundraiser offers a “Brush-off Service” for
school employees at the end of the day. The first week in
February, Judy Weber will be hosting our annual American
Heart Association “Hoops for Heart” event. Followed by
the annual “Week of Character,” Feb. 9-15. This year’s
theme is “Our Kendall Kids Have Caring Hearts.” The
week will include daily activities encouraging our school
character traits of “Respect, Responsibility, and Caring.”
Keep an eye on the Kendall Elementary sign in front of
In December, the first graders
in Erica Stepanek’s class
spent an afternoon making
gingerbread houses.
the school - it displays which special character trait is our
focus each month. Thank you to the whole school character
education team (Positive Behavioral Interventions and
Supports (PBIS)) for facilitating these essential activities
and planting these important life-lessons into the hearts of
our children.
We are honored to be hosting the All County Music
Festival on Feb. 6 and 7. Jeremy Rath and Leanne Zito have
worked hard preparing this select group of musicians.
We are so proud of these burgeoning young performers. I
am grateful for the talents, patience and dedication of our
music teachers.
Just a reminder, every day we serve a healthy and
varied breakfast, along with lunch. We have “Smoothie
Thursdays”! Most Thursday mornings, we offer fruit and
yogurt smoothies for breakfast as one of our entrees.
Thank you to Linda Crawford and her kitchen staff for
making this delicious treat! For those students who qualify
for free or reduced lunch, breakfast is also free or reduced.
If your kids miss breakfast, have them join us. It’s a great
way to start the day!
Sincerely,
Sharon Smith
Elementary School Principal
Tax exemption for Kendall residents over 65
apply before March 1
For school purposes, residents of the Kendall Central School District who
are 65 or older may apply for a property tax exemption up to 50 percent of
their property’s assessed value. Income limits and statutory requirements
apply. Details and applications for the exemption can be obtained from your
tax assessor. Residents must apply before March 1.
Income Range
Exemption
Percent
$0-$19,500
50%
$19,501-$20,500
45%
$20,501-$21,500
40%
$21,501-$22,500
35%
$22,501-$23,400
30%
$23,401-$24,300
25%
$24,301-$25,200
20%
$25,201-$26,100
15%
$26,101-$27,100
10%
$27,101-$27,900
5%
Town
Advisor
Kendall
Arthur Eugene Massey
1873 Kendall Road
Kendall, NY 14476
Carlton
Arthur Eugene Massey
14341 WaterportCarlton Road
Albion, NY 14411
Murray
Lynn Wood
3840 Route 31
Holley, NY 14470
Hamlin
Elizabeth Spencer
1658 Lake Road
Hamlin, NY 14464
Christopher Lyon
Clarkson 3710 Lake Road
Visit our website at: http://www.kendallschools.org
Clarkson, NY 14430
3
From the Junior/Senior
High School Principal
Dear Parents and Community Members,
The Capital Project has officially begun in the high
school! We are excited about updating our building
so we are better equipped to meet the social,
emotional and most importantly, the academic needs of our students.
In order for our students to be prepared to be competitive in the
21st Century, it is necessary to provide our students with updated
facilities and resources that are comparable to neighboring school
districts.
It is also critical that our students are provided a safe environment.
As you know, the high school is one of the few buildings left in the
state that has an open classroom concept. This update will not only
provide a more safe and secure environment, but it will also enhance
the learning experience for every student.
We will officially turn over the junior high wing (south/west wing)
to the contractors during February break. In order to do so, we must
first move junior high students from six classrooms to other locations
in the building. We placed some computer labs on portable carts,
repurposed spaces and assigned new lockers to our seventh and
eighth grade students. Students will be receiving their vocal lessons
in the auditorium. It is true that there is a lot of movement going
on in the building, but I can assure you that our passion and focus
remains on educating our students and ensuring they are receiving
outstanding instruction every day.
Our junior class took the English Regents in January, and we provided
students the opportunity to retake other state exams to either pass
or improve their grades. We continue to research ways to provide
the necessary support system to students so that they successfully
meet New York State’s benchmarks. Many staff members have
volunteered to participate in a book talk focused on “Mindset - The
New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck. The message of the
book stresses that effort and being a lifelong learner is so much more
important than natural ability. The author explains that a person with
a fixed mindset believes that their qualities are carved in stone. She
goes on to explain that some people feel they are born with a certain
amount of intelligence, personality and moral character. A growth
mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things
you can cultivate through your efforts. Dweck challenges us to ask
ourselves, “What are the opportunities for learning and growth today?
For myself? For the people around me?” Convincing students to
believe they are in control of their futures will empower them to reach
for the stars and to realize their innate potentials.
It is an exciting time in the high school for our students and your
children. The building is being transformed and the staff is eager to
research new ways to meet the unique needs of each child. I look
forward to the “new” building and I am excited about the future. I
look forward to showing you the new building in the fall. As Billy
Crystal would say, it is going to be “marvelous”!
Sincerely,
Carol D’Agostino
Kendall Junior/Senior High School Principal
4
Spring Musical
Kendall High School will be presenting
“Pippin” on March 13, 14 and 15. All
performances will begin at 7 p.m. and feature
one intermission with concessions. The
show will feature senior Carley Lester as the
Leading Player and a cast of circus players
guiding young Pippin (senior Nicholas
Schuth) to find his path in life. Controlled by
his demanding father, Charlemagne (Connor
Henion), Pippin moves through the phases
of his life in this musical, eventually crossing
paths with a young widow, Catherine (Marisa
Hanlon). Recently revived on Broadway,
Pippin won the 2013 Tony Award for Best
Revival. Make sure to join us for a fun-filled,
adventurous performance!
Tickets are
$6 for each
performance
at the door and
$5 in advance
(purchased
through the
main office at
585-659-2706).
Counseling News
Save the date!
The Career and College Readiness Night will be
held on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. in
the Spencerport High School Auditorium. This
event is open to any student in grades 8-12 who
would like to learn more about college and careers.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) has paired
with many college representatives to discuss career
goals and discuss the career planning process.
You can choose two of the following sessions to
obtain more information: Culinary and Hospitality,
Information Technology, Skilled Trades, Advanced
Manufacturing, and Healthcare. A two- and
four-year college panel will also be available.
Representatives from the following SUNY colleges
will be attending: Alfred State College, Binghamton
University, State University College at Brockport,
Finger Lakes Community College, Genesee
Community College and Monroe Community
College. Representatives from the following area
colleges will also be there: Rochester Institute
of Technology, Nazareth College, St. John Fisher
College and University of Rochester. Community/
industry representatives attending: Electrical
Union, Wegmans, Carpenter’s Union, SPX, Earth
Link and Unity Health.
Save the Date!
Athletic Hall of Fame
Nominations due for 2015
Athletic Hall of Fame nominations are due March 1. Nomination forms
can be found here: www.kendallschools.org/highschool/sports/hall_of_
fame/athletic_hall_of_fame.html.
Attention all senior athletes and their
parents: save the date for the Senior Athlete
and Hall of Fame Inductee Banquet on
Sunday, June 14 at the Hickory Ridge
Banquet Hall. Packets of information will be
given to senior athletes soon. Please start
gathering those cute sports pictures of your
seniors to be used in our Senior Video.
SportsHonors
Kendall Beats
Notre Dame in
Basketball
Varsity Cheer Team at the Genesee Region Cheerleading Championship on Jan. 19
Congratulations to Jacob Adams for earning Second Team All-Greater
Rochester honors for Boys’ Soccer. He was included in this article in
the Democrat and Chronicle: http://media.democratandchronicle.com/agr/
main/sport/Boys%20Soccer/2014/fall.
On Wednesday, Jan. 21, the Kendall
Eagles played host to the Fighting Irish
of Notre Dame High School. The Eagles
battled to the final buzzer, recording a
44-40 victory! The last time Kendall had
beaten Notre Dame was in 2005, when the
score was 51-36. The Eagles were led this
time by William Condo with 11 rebounds
and Mookie Nauden with 6 steals and 7
rebounds.
Congratulations to Varsity Girls’ Soccer player Maya Rutland
(junior) for earning Second Team All-Greater Rochester for the 2014
season and also being named to the Third-Team All-State team.
Congratulations also go out to freshman Taylor ReQua, senior Kristen
Jacob, and junior Taylor Rutland for earning All-Greater Rochester Honorable Mention
distinction. Each of the aforementioned girls helped lead Kendall to their first Class CC
Sectional title in 11 years. All four girls were included in this article in the Democrat and
Chronicle: http://media.democratandchronicle.com/agr/main/sport/Girls%20Soccer/2014/fall.
Congratulations to senior Tania Arellano for being named the TWC Scholar Athlete of the
Week. Thanks to Girls’ Basketball Coach Jeffrey Parizek for nominating Arellano for this
award. View the clip: http://rochester.twcnews.com/content/news/800957/scholar-athlete-of-theweek-tania-arellano/.
Visit our website at: http://www.kendallschools.org
5
Iroquois history and culture
In December, students in Shelly Budziszewski,
Tonya Lustumbo and Justin Staebell’s fourth
grade classes gave presentations to the
third graders on what they learned about
Iroquois history and culture. They gave
examples of face and body painting used
by the Native Americans and the meaning behind
the symbols and colors, pottery and corn husk
dolls made, and longhouses lived in. The third
grade classes rotated through each classroom
taking notes and listening to the presentations the
fourth graders gave at each station.
Devin Edick with
his example of
Iroquois pottery
Tori Conner gives
a presentation
on the cornhusk
doll she made to
Camryn Collins
An example of what male and
female Native Americans wore
A look inside a longhouse
Technology Class Pitches Fishing Lures to Expert Angler
Jeff Decker’s technology class recently gave a business sales
pitch to a professional fisherman to show him the fishing
lures they created on the 3-D printer. Ron Bierstine, owner
of Orleans Outdoor, gave the students feedback on their
lures and sales pitches. Each student showed Bierstine
the lure, explained the name of the lure and its features,
presented a visual aid with field data collected on the use
of the lure, set a price, and offered a guarantee. Bierstine
asked questions and challenged each student on their
claims for each lure. He gave them advice for improvement,
whether it was how to market the lure, conduct more field
research to back up their claims or figure out the process for
administering the guarantee. Bierstine suggested that they
target the lure to catch fish that are found in bodies of water
near Kendall and test it in those areas. He also advised that
they obtain a patent for their design if they were serious
about marketing it and customize their pitch to a
specific company or wholesaler.
The students started designing their lures in October
and then printed them off the 3-D printer, with each lure
averaging an hour of print time. After Thanksgiving, they
began working on their sales pitch. Decker graded each
student on their presentation and creation of the lures.
Bierstine was impressed with what the students were able to
design on the printer. He suggested that the students could
also create flys, spoons, jigs or weights as future fishing
projects on the 3-D printer.
Bierstine’s company, Orleans Outdoor, is a full service fly
and tackle shop, providing tributary fishing gear, expert
advice and lodging at the nearby Licorice Lodge in Albion,
NY. He specializes in fishing on the Oak Orchard River and
other parts of western New York State. The website www.
orleansoutdoor.com posts daily fishing conditions in fall,
winter and spring.
Jonathan Hance presents
Small Fry lure
Keaton Freitag presents
The Bumble Bee lure
6
Ron Bierstine (on right) explains a
point while Jeff Decker listens in
Example of a student’s visual aid
Holiday Singa-Lo
ng
The students at Kendall Elementary had a chance to show
off their musical abilities at a holiday concert and singa-long the morning of Dec. 19. The fifth and sixth grade
band, led by Leanne Zito, kicked off the concert, playing
“The Rocking Drummer Boy” and “Siberian Sleigh Ride.”
They were followed by the sixth grade jazz band playing
“Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.” The third and fourth
grade chorus, led by Jeremy Rath, sang “Sixty Million
Snowflakes” and “Wenceslas! The Good King Meets a
Yankee” and the fifth and sixth grade chorus followed with
“Tell Me, Tell Me!” and “One Tin Soldier.” The event ended
with a sing-a-long of familiar holiday tunes, such as
“Jingle Bells” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” in which both adults
and children joined in. Zito projected the lyrics to each
song on a screen set up on stage while Rath accompanied
the songs on the piano.
Many children wore their pajamas to the assembly on
the last day before holiday recess. Some classes also
wore their handmade elf hats or reindeer antlers. Lots of
red and green attire could be seen on display, reflecting
the festive mood in the auditorium.
Project ADEPT Helps Kendall
Students Calculate
“Problems of Great Proportion”
On Jan. 14, a target group of sixth grade students
met with Carol Turkett, a retired math teacher, to
explore mathematical proportions and how they
relate to everyday situations. The “Problems of
Great Proportion” program was part of Monroe
2–Orleans BOCES (BOCES 2) Project ADEPT
program. The students spent two hours with
Turkett gaining an in-depth understanding of how
proportions work and learning new tools to solve
multiple problems. She explained ratios and gave
the students an example of changing a recipe to
make a larger batch of cookies.
With the assistance of BOCES 2 Gifted Education
Resource Teacher Damon Piletz and Kendall Sixth
Grade Math Teacher Eileen Dill, the students
tackled the problem of figuring out how the
measurements of a model truck translated in
scale to the measurements of an actual truck. The
students worked in groups and used the ratios of
1:4, 1:6, 1:8 or 1:10 to recalculate the measurements
to determine which was the correct ratio. They also
participated in an exercise where they measured
the shortest person’s shadow, then measured
the shadow of a ruler and used proportions to
calculate the actual height of the student. By
participating in these exercises, students were
able to understand how math relates to solving
everyday problems.
Project ADEPT (A Diversified
Enrichment Program for the Talented)
is a division of BOCES 2 Gifted and
Talented Education.
Students of the Month
for December
Kendall Elementary and Junior/Senior High Schools recently
recognized their students of the month for December. In the
Elementary School, one student from each classroom was
nominated by a teacher and they received their certificates at the
monthly assembly. The students pictured at right demonstrated
outstanding open-mindedness in December.
Top row, from left, Anika
Kolinsky, Kailie Regan,
Lauren Miller, Colin Willis,
Grace Allen and Jessica
Litchhult.
Middle row, from left,
Grace Levett, Ehlaw Chaw,
Bruce Rasmusson, Lauren
Pilon, Noah Clark, Evan
Levett and Claire Van
Dusen.
Bottom row, from left, Jonathan Conte, Celeste Wardhaugh, Addison Kludt,
Annaleigh Breen, Brooke Rodas, Meghan Snyder, Irelynn Maloney and Ava
Quintern.
In the Junior/Senior High, one student was nominated from each
grade level. Students received their certificates at the monthly
Board of Education meeting and had breakfast at a later date with
Carol D’Agostino and Kevin Watson.
From left, Taylor Requa,
Jessica Coble, Destiny
LaPlant, Jenna LoSapio,
Luke Rath, Tamra Stratton
and Principal Carol
D’Agostino.
Visit our website at: http://www.kendallschools.org
7
Administration
Julie E. Christensen, Superintendent
Carol D’Agostino, Jr./Sr. High School Principal
Kendall Central Schools
Kendall, New York 14476
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
Kendall, NY
Permit #3
Kevin Watson, Jr./Sr. High School Assistant Principal
& Athletic Director
Sharon Smith, Elementary School Principal
Nick Picardo, Coordinator of Student Services
Board of Education
Nadine Hanlon, Board President
Christopher Gerken, Board Vice President
Martin Goodenbery, Board Trustee
Charles Patt, Board Trustee
PATRON, BOXHOLDER, RESIDENT
Chaley Swift, Board Trustee
The Chronicle newsletter is published by Kendall
Central School District, 1932 Kendall Road, Kendall,
NY 14476. It is produced with the assistance of the
Communications and Technology Services (CaTS)
Department at Monroe 2–Orleans BOCES.
Editor: Beth Nash, (585) 349-9028
Layout & Design: Karen Slayton
February
Calendar Correction
16-20 No School, Mid-Winter Recess
Please note that Spring Recess extends
through April 6, with the students and
staff returning to school on April 7. This is
a correction to the district calendar, which
shows Spring Recess ending on April 3.
26
National Honor Society Blood Drive,
HS Gym
10:30 a.m.3:30 p.m.
March
2
Music Boosters Meeting, HS Chorus Room
7 p.m.
3
College and Career Night: Are You Ready?,
Spencerport HS Aud
6 p.m.
4
Faculty Basketball Game vs. Holley - “Cause
for the County” HS Gym/Commons
6 p.m.
4
Board of Education Work Session,
HS Library
7 p.m.
5
Evening Counseling, HS Guidance
5-7 p.m.
5
Winter Sports Awards, HS Aud
6-7
All County Music Festival in Lyndonville
6
Jr/Sr High Progress Reports sent home
12
Sports Boosters Meeting, HS Commons
14
SAT Exam
15-16
National College Fair, Rochester Riverside
Convention Center
10 a.m.
19
All District Instrumental Concert, HS Gym
7 p.m.
20
Mr. Kendall Pageant, HS Aud
7 p.m.
NYS Income Tax Code Number
The code number to be entered at the top of your
2014 New York State Income Tax form for Kendall
Central School District is 318. You must use
this number even if your children attend school
elsewhere or may be temporarily living away from
home.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
From left, Andrue Waugh and Katarina Wlosinski
measure the model truck
Story on page 7
Our Mission:
The mission of the Kendall Central School District is to provide the knowledge,
skills, values and attitudes needed by students to live responsibly and to compete
successfully in today’s and tomorrow’s world.