February-March Newsletter

 Dear Friends,

Celebrating Dr. Seuss

Welcome to the February-March Superintendent's Newsletter. The past couple of months have been exciting for our students as they demonstrated their abilities in the classroom, in academic competitions, the arts, and on the basketball court. 

Our students showcased their creativity in the Odyssey of the Mind competition, had their artistic creations selected for display at the Paul Nigra Center, and participated in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Festival (more to come). The basketball season was a highlight, with our girl's varsity team making it to the final state competition. Their teamwork, tenacity, and sportsmanship made our school and community, Northville, proud - see more below, including a beautiful video created by our own Nurse/Coach, Kalkbrenner.

While we've enjoyed some spring-like weather recently, we've also had our fair share of late winter snowstorms, providing a few wintry blasts before the season changes. As we move into spring, we look forward to our students continuing to bring their passion and talents to their academics and extracurricular activities. 

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GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL

Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Basketball team. Head coach Mr. Zullo and coaches Ms. Kalkbrenner, Ms. Kallen, and Mr. Goodemote for their extraordinary achievements this season. Thank you for taking us along on this remarkable journey to the State Championship game. Observing our young women's tenacity and persistence on the court has been an absolute joy. Their sportsmanship, teamwork, and dedication were evident in every game! A special recognition goes to Coach Zullo for his leadership and mentorship. He recently organized a celebratory dinner for the team and their families. During the event, Coach Zullo took the time to honor each young woman individually, sharing thoughtful reflections that showcased his understanding and commitment to their personal development. His words revealed not only his expertise as a coach but also his genuine care for the well-being of his players. Coach Zullo also highlighted the camaraderie and teamwork he recognized in this team. His coaching, support, and kind words will have an impact beyond the basketball court. Ms. Kalkbrenner, Mr. Goodemote, and Ms. Kallen's consistent presence and encouragement were invaluable in celebrating wins and learning from losses. We are fortunate to have you all on our team! Enjoy this video of the season highlights created by Ms. Kalkbrenner. 

Video produced by Nurse/Coach Kalkbrenner

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND

Congratulations to our Odyssey of the Mind Teams & Staff who supported our students. Northville teams that placed 1st at the regional competition are headed to the New York State Tournament in Syracuse in April. 

• The NightLife and K & 1st grade OM teams had an excellent first Odyssey experience.
• Drive-in Movie - Division I and Division II - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teams earned 2nd place.
• The Tech-No-Art - Division I and Division II - teams of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders earned 1st place.
• The Rocking World Detour - Division I and Division II - team comprised of a 2nd grader & 5th & 6th graders earned 1st place. The 7th grade team also earned 1st place!

FABRICATION LAB ~ Mr. Hoffman

Many thanks to Abby and Danielle for their excellent craftsmanship in building a new shelf for my office. Taking just a few rough specifications, they constructed a beautifully functional piece. The shelf is perfect, but they went above and beyond by incorporating our wood falcon mascot details on each end. Their attention to functional and aesthetic design has made my workspace more organized and visually appealing. Our students learn so much in our fabrication lab; this shelf showcases the blending of design and functionality!

SOLAR ECLIPSE - Ms. Harris, Ms. Dickinson, and Ms. Lazinski

Thank you for sharing an informative presentation on the solar eclipse with our students, staff, and the community. Your focus on safety, providing safety glasses, and inviting children and families to make viewing devices was appreciated! The interactive elements allowed us to better understand and visually experience what happens during the eclipse in an engaging way. Your passion for science and education was evident. Learn more here Link, and view live broadcasts on April 8th from 1 pm to 4 pm EDT here Link.

POSTER CONTEST - Ms. Sedon & Ms. Jackson 

Please join me in congratulating our talented student artists who were selected as winners in their grade divisions for the ARC Lexington Center Disability Awareness Poster Contest. This year's theme was making our communities more accessible to those with disabilities. Our school also won on a regional level for having submitted the largest number of posters. For this, we win a concert by the band FLAME - date and time TBD)

LEARNING SPOTLIGHTS

ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL 

BOOK BUDDY READING ~ Library Media Specialist, Ms. Brown
The Read for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) encourages reading during February and fundraises for RMHC of the Capital Region (Albany). We had an Elementary School kickoff assembly, and Ms. Brown, our library media specialist, visited each Middle School ELA class to introduce and promote the program. The Buddy Reading part of the program began on January 31st, partnering students in 6 different middle school ELA classes with students in the 7 PreK through second-grade classes. Each student read with a "buddy" for 15-20 minutes. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL 

CUPCAKE WARS - Ms. Suders

Cupcake Wars is the final project for Ms. Suders' Baking and Flavor Profiles Unit. Students learned about flavor profiles and how they can be combined to make more flavorful food. Students also learned baking techniques like measuring, mixing, and recipe reading. For the cupcake wars project, students were put into pairs to create a cupcake. They were asked to combine at least two complementary flavor profiles and find a recipe that matched their ideas. Once they had their recipe, they created a shopping list, price analysis, and a written summary of their cupcake and why they chose their flavors. At the end of the project, each group presented their final product to a panel of judges, and the winning team received a plaque designed by Mr. Fredrick's Tech Math class. (I had the pleasure of judging -- the yummiest job ever!)

HIGH SCHOOL 

ROSCA de REYES January 6th ~ Ms. Thomarie

Ms. Thomarie shared the following. Throughout the Spanish-speaking world, January 6th is THE BIG DAY! It is the day that the Three Kings deliver gifts to children, traveling by camel or horse and leaving gifts in the children's shoes, very much like the modern tradition of Santa. It is traditional to eat a rosca with your family. Each person takes a turn cutting a slice of the sweet bread. Whoever finds the figurine in their slice “wins” and is supposed to host the next party on February 2nd, Candlemas. Spanish students were given crowns for their efforts. Spanish 3 & 5 baked the roscas.

CHEMISTRY - Making Ice Cream & Oreo Phases of the Moon ~ Ms. Lazinski

In March, I had the pleasure of visiting Ms. Lazinski's Chemistry Class, where the students were engaged in making ice cream. Ms. Lazinski took the opportunity to explain the chemistry principles involved in the process - learn more in the video below.

Students used Oreo cookies to explore and visualize the lunar cycle. Each Oreo served as a model of the moon, with its cream filling representing the lunar phases, from the new moon to the full moon and everything in between. By carefully removing portions of the cream to mimic each phase, students gained a hands-on understanding of the moon's transitions. Our teachers are experts in using a blend of learning and fun to help students grasp concepts.

FOUNDERS DAY THANK YOU!

Thank you to the PTO, staff, administrators, and students for making our second Founders Day a success. We had over 90 attendees this year. I was approached by numerous community members who expressed their thanks. They were delighted by the activities and performances. From admiring student artwork to gaining insights into local landmarks from our knowledgeable seniors, the event offered something for everyone. The voices of our choir and the performance of the middle school jazz band were uplifting. The theatrical skit from The Lightning Thief was delightful and the perfect tickler for the upcoming performance. The opportunity for attendees to engage in friendly conversations with our students who served refreshments was particularly special and appreciated. Thank you to all who donated and prepared the food, as well as to our dedicated, technology, facilities, and cafeteria staff, whose efforts ensured an inviting, beautiful setting for the evening!

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/.

Superintendent of Schools
schauncey@northvillecsd.org
Work: 518-863-7000 x4120
Cell: 845-304-8791

Dr. Sarah A. Chauncey, DPS-IM