Dear Friends,
Over the past few months, we've been meeting with and reaching out virtually to all constituents of our Northville community asking them to share the attributes they believe students should have when they graduate from high school. These responses will help us to develop our "Portrait of a Graduate." Communication and collaboration are two of the most mentioned attributes by staff, students, and community members. The ability to work collaboratively to achieve a goal, to draw on others' expertise and thinking, and to be open to new ideas is essential for college and career success. As you'll see below, our students have many opportunities to develop these attributes. I appreciate and look forward to our ongoing communication and collaboration.
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| Bryn, Maddie, & Heidi |
6th Grade Science: Ms. Harris' 6th-grade students are learning about kinetic and potential energy. I interviewed three of the students, Bryn, Maddie, and Heidi. Here is a summary of that interview. Bryn shared, "I like learning about all the different subjects that are a part of science." Heidi shared, "You can learn about math and how it is used in science." Maddie shared, "My dad is a science teacher in Gloversville. After school, he explains more details about science so I can better understand it." The students discussed topics they've been learning about this year: the Periodic Table; Newton's Law; mixtures, compounds, and solutions; some chemistry formulas; and force, mass, and acceleration. When I visited the lab, students conducted potential and kinetic energy experiments. "We started the lab with the question, 'How does gravitational energy impact force?'" In the picture, our young scientists are tracking a steel ball and the difference in force. They measured the diameter of the impact crater at different heights -- gravitational potential energy changed to kinetic energy (GPE=weight x height). They learned that changing the height of the object they drop changes the GPE. They compared objects with different masses to see how mass (weight) changes the GPE. They were surprised to learn that a steel ball weighing 70 grams and an acrylic ball weighing 10 grams make such different impact craters. They collected data for drops from various heights and determined the average size of the impact craters. "After the lab, we had to come up with a conclusion."
Writing Collaboration: The juniors in Mr. Penisten's class are working with the 7th graders in Ms. Bevington's classes on persuasive essays and evidence-based claims. The 11th graders helped 7th graders to develop claims and counterclaims, write topic sentences, identify and cite sources, and improve their writing skills. The teachers are discussing how to make this a more permanent part of our classes. Peer collaboration and mentorship are potent motivators for learning.
29th Annual Contractor's Showcase: Northville was one of nine schools invited to attend the 29th Annual Contractor's Showcase at the Saratoga Springs City Center. This was the first year that schools were invited to attend, and it was an overwhelming success. Students participated in various trades-based workshops. In addition to the hands-on experience in the workshops, our students toured the showcase floor and interacted with several leading professionals in the trades industry. The following Northville students were in attendance: Adrianna VanAllen, John Sikorski, Erik Gutowski, Keaton Tran, Landon Lent, Liam Brooks, Andrew Caputo, Arlie Rickson, and Riley Henderson. The pictures include students attending the following workshops: Building Science & Technology, Architect Project, Deck Design, and Kitchen Design. Students in the Architect Project were able to use computer software similar to what Mr. Hoffman uses in his CNC lab, and we have already started plans to integrate an architecture component into our advanced class offerings next year.
Hydroponics Lab/Classroom: Our hydroponics lab is open for business! The space was developed in record time thanks to everyone's hard work. The hydroponics units were acquired through a grant submitted by a science teacher, Ms. Dickinson. Science teachers Ms. Harris and Ms. Dickinson (middle school and high school) and elementary teachers Ms. Edwards, Ms. Sweet, Ms. Clapper, and Mr. Clapper are collaborating to bring hydroponic learning opportunities into all classrooms.
Odyssey of the Mind: Students who participate in Odyssey of the Mind engage in creative problem-solving and present their solutions in front of a panel of judges. We have 2 teams that earned spots at the NYS Odyssey of the Mind state tournament on April 15 in Syracuse! The teams will invite grades 1-6 to see what Odyssey is about on Thursday, April 6.
Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts in Mayfield: This year, NCS 80 students in grades 1 through 12 had their artwork selected for the Paul Nigra Center Regional Select Art Show in Mayfield from March 31-May 25. A public opening reception is on Thursday, April 6, from 4-7 pm. Thank you, Beth Flanders & Sue Sedon, for showcasing our students' exceptional contributions.
Enjoy the slideshow of the work on display.
Spring Musical: The Mayfield and Johnstown drama club students attended our final dress rehearsal. Seeing how the arts foster supportive connections between students in our local communities is exciting. They were a fantastic audience and offered thoughtful feedback! Footloose had showings on Friday, April 1, at 7 pm and Saturday, April 2, at 2 pm and 7 pm.
Read the Leader-Herald Article about the show!
Our First Founders' Day Dinner: Thanks to our PTO and staff, our senior citizens were treated to a homemade buffet dinner while enjoying the National Anthem performed by one of our choir students, music performed by our band including solos, a preview of a scene from our Drama Club's staging of Footloose, and a virtual art show. A slideshow highlighting the work of our community leaders was created by our senior class students and shared. The Founders' Day team is already making plans for our next Founders' Day, incorporating suggestions from our senior citizens.
Celebrating Dr. Seuss's Birthday: Ms. Reidell, Mr. Ratti, and I visited our elementary, middle, and high school classrooms to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday. The elementary students embraced us, the middle school students weren't quite sure what to make of us, and the high school students, well, I think they wondered if this happens when you "grow up."
If you would like to meet with me in person or virtually, just email or call to schedule a time during the school day or after your work day.
Be sure to visit our website to keep up with district news https://www.northvillecsd.org/.
Dr. Sarah A. Chauncey, DPS-IM
Superintendent of Schools
schauncey@northvillecsd.org
Work: 518-863-7000 x4120
Cell: 845-304-8791
