POSTED 3/29/11

All elementary children were given the opportunity to write a poem that connected to making a difference in the world. Ten poems were selected from each elementary school to be read at Shensational. Click here to read the student poems that were selected.

In an effort to create a tangible connection for our students with regard to efforts in other parts of the world, all of elementary schools read the book, “Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa,” written by Jeanette Winter. Wangari was appalled by the deforestation of her homeland and began a movement called “The Green Belt Movement,” in an effort to recreate the beautiful forests of Kenya. Wangari planted nine seedlings in her backyard and enlisted the help of other women from Kenya. Within thirty years, thirty million trees had been planted throughout Kenya. Being that a tree is a symbol of peace in African tradition, Wangari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution by means of “The Green Belt Movement.” In an effort to create a world connection between Shenendehowa, Wangari and the “Plant a Billon Trees” organization, our elementary schools will be planting trees around the Shenendehowa campus.  SHENsational Program.

Posted 3/29/11

Shenendehowa 3rd Annual Trade School EXPO
Tuesday, April 12th, 2010
Lunch periods 4, 5, 6, & 7 (Shen HS students & staff only)
6:00-8:00 p.m. (Open to the public…please join us!)
Shenendehowa High School East – Gym 2
Come explore the many opportunities the Capital Region has to offer students for post high school education and/or training. Shenendehowa will be hosting over 20 local Trade Schools and certificate programs from community colleges. There will be giveaways, and prizes raffled throughout the event!
Email Suzanne Hasko (hasksuza@shenet.org), Transition Counselor with questions.

Participating Programs 2011

Adirondack Dental Assisting School
Austin School of Spa & Technology
Barbizon Modeling & Acting
Bryant & Stratton
Capital District Educational Opportunity Center
Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA)
Capital Region Career & Technical School
Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage
Consumer Directed Choices
Finishing Trades Institute
Flight Attendant Training School
Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy
HVCC 1 yr Certificate programs
ITT Technical Institute
Living Resources
Mildred Elley
Modern Welding School
New York State Apprenticeship Training Program
Northeast Career Planning
Occupational & Environmental Health Center of Eastern NY
Orlo School of Hair Design & Cosmetology
Paul Mitchell School of Hair Design
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local # 11
Southern Adirondack Independent Living
SCCC 1 Yr Certificate programs
Tri - City JATC Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Program

Posted 3/23/11

The Shenendehowa PTA Council Preschool Committee will hold their next meeting on Wednesday, April 6th at 7PM in the Acadia Library on the Shenendehowa campus. Meetings are open to all parents with preschool age children and younger, and all preschool teachers and daycare providers. The committee is dedicated to the education, health, safety and cultural enrichment of children 0-5 years of age, and their families, with the intention of preparing the preschoolers to enter the Shenendehowa Central School District. Please e-mail Kimberlie at preschoolpta@cliftonpark.org with questions.

The Shenendehowa PTA Council Preschool Committee presents an imaginative writing parent/child program. Tammy Robinson from Skribblers Magazine www.skribblersmagaine.com will facilitate a storybook workshop for parents and children. The workshop will model how to foster the imagination of your little one’s with literacy and writing through creative play. Bring your preschooler and join us for this fun workshop. This event is FREE to all and will take place on April 13th between 6:30PM and 7:30PM in the Tesago/Skano cafeteria. Questions: e-mail Kimberlie at preschoolpta@clifton park.org. To view our schedule, visit our website at www.clliftonpark.org/preschoolpta.

Posted 3/21/11

SHENENDEHOWA SENDS THREE STUDENTS TO THE 2011 NEW YORK GEOGRAPHIC BEE

Liam O’Brien (Acadia), Ryan Clemente (Gowana) and Jacob Youmans (Koda) have qualified to represent their respective middle schools and participate in the state level of the National Geographic Bee, sponsored by Google and Plum Creek. The State Bee will be held Friday, April 1, 2011, at the New York State Museum. Liam, Ryan and Jacob are all 8th grade students.
Bees were held in schools with 4th-8th grade students throughout the state to determine each school’s Geographic Bee winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to National Geographic Society. The students with the top 100 scores were invited to compete at the state level.
The state winner will receive $100, the “Complete National Geographic on DVD,” and a trip to Washington, D.C., where he/she will represent New York State in the national finals at the National Geographic Society headquarters, May 24-25, 2011. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership to the Society. The national winner will also travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid, to the Galapagos Islands. For additional information on the National Geographic Bee, please visit, www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee.

Posted 3/20/11

The Shenendehowa Middle School Musical Theater will present Disney’s High School Musical, Jr. on March 24, 25, and 26, at 7:30 pm, in the Middle School Auditorium.  Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.

Posted 3/16/11

At the school board meeting on 3/15, the Shenendehowa Administrators Association (SAA) announced that they have agreed to a salary freeze for 2011-12.

POsted 3/16/11

A Skano student was diagnosed with the MRSA staph infection. The student is undergoing treatment. Please take extra precautions and talk to your children about the importance of practicing basic hygiene.

MRSA

The difficulty with staph is that it is present everywhere and, while students have the commonality of being in school, it is never certain where the exposure took place. We strongly encourage parents and students to contact their school physicians if they suspect any signs or symptoms of MRSA, and encouraging students to practice basic hygiene.

Below is some information prepared by a group of pediatric doctors:

• MRSA is a type of Staphylococcal aureus which has several unfortunate characteristics – it is resistant to many of the common antibiotics used for skin infections and it has the tendency to progress (worsen) rapidly. Staphylococcal aureus is a common bacteria which lives normally on human skin.

• MRSA is not a new infection! In fact, MRSA has been present in our communities for years. Your health professionals have been aware of MRSA for years and have adapted their diagnosis and treatment of skin infections accordingly.

• MRSA is not exclusively a school problem. In fact, MRSA is common throughout our local and national communities. Taking this into account, the reaction of the school district in Virginia (closing and cleaning the schools) makes no medical sense. People carry MRSA on their skin – sterilization of the school will interrupt education of our children but will not eliminate the presence of MRSA infections.

• There is effective antibiotic treatment for MRSA, though choices are limited. Most MRSA infections are treated successfully without need for hospitalization. It is true that in some cases, some of these infections can rapidly progress and require hospitalization. The few cases involving death reported in the media are very unusual – this is not the norm for this type of infection.

• People who have MRSA and are being adequately treated do not need to be restricted from work or school.

• If a person has signs of a skin infection that seems to be worsening rapidly despite good hygiene and topical antibiotic use, they should seek evaluation by a medical professional. This medical advice does not differ from what you already know.

For more information, go to:

Center for Disease Control

NYS Health Department

Brochure for athletes on how to avoid MRSA

Our utmost concern is your child’s welfare and that is why, as a precaution, we are providing you with this information.

Posted 3/14/11

High School students in Sallie Way's graphic design class volunteered to design posters for the SHENsational event for extra credit. Three students submitted designs and the committee decided to use all three. "We were extremely impressed by the professional-looking designs submitted by our students," said Dr. L. Oliver Robinson.
Students who submitted designs: Amanda Summers, Sam Charbonneau and Dan Cavosie


See attached flyer for more information about the Shensational event.

Posted 3/8/11

Odyssey of the Mind competition held on Saturday, March 5, at Shen

This year, Shen had 10 teams compete in the Capital Region BOCES Region 7 Odyssey of the Mind Tournament on March 5; six from Karigon and Orenda, two from the middle school and two from the high school. They were among a record number of more than 650 students comprising 94 teams from Albany, Schoharie, Schenectady and Saratoga counties. The day-long competition was held at Shenendehowa High School East and challenged students from kindergarten through high school to come up with creative, original and imaginative solutions to open-ended problems.

Shen had two teams come in first place in their long term problem and age division and they are now eligible to go on the the NEW YORK State Odyssey of the Mind Association Finals representing Region 7. Listed below are Shenendehowa team results:

Problem #1 – Extreme Mousemobiles: Teams will design, build and run vehicles that use mousetraps as their only source of energy.

• Division I = Orenda 3rd place, Karigon 7th Place

• Division II = Middle School 1st place

Problem #2 – As Good as Gold…berg: Teams will present an uncomplicated existing item that is used in a simple and effective way to complete a real life task.

• Division II = Middle School 4th place

• Division III = High School 3rd place

Problem #3 – Le Tour Guide: Teams will create and present an original performance in which a classical character acts as a Tour Guide.

• Division I = Karigon 4th place, Orenda 7th Place

Problem #5 – Full Circle: Teams will create and present a humorous performance in which something changes form or appearance at least three times and eventually undergoes a final change, through which it returns to its original form and appearance.

• Division I = Karigon 6th place

• Division III = High School 1st place

Region 7 winners will go on to the New York State competition at Binghamton University March 26th and if they win there, to World Finals competition at the University of Maryland.

Posted 3/7/11

Two seats on Shenendehowa's Board of Education are up for election on May 17 each carry a three-year term. The deadline for petitions is April 19.
Education law requires that a candidate provide a petition signed by at least 119 qualified voters (2% of the number of residents who voted in the last district election). Candidates may pick up petitions at the district clerk's office at 5 Chelsea Place.
Petitions must be received by the district clerk no later than 4 p.m. on April 19, 2011. To qualify, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the district for at least one year prior to the election, and at least 18 years old.
The two candidates with the highest number of votes will serve a three-year term commencing July 1, 2011.

Posted 3/3/11

Times Union Commentary from Dr. L. Oliver Robinson

In public schools, we teach students to be responsible, fair, just, and honest in their deliberations and actions. Similarly, as leaders for learning and legislators, we must model what we teach and not be disingenuous in our rhetoric in order to placate to public sentiment. So, with all due respect to Governor Cuomo, it is disheartening and disparaging that he makes schools the scapegoat for the unprecedented fiscal problems of this state. [MORE]

Posted 3/3/11

Non-Public Application for Transportation 2011 -12 School Year

Parents of students living in the Shenendehowa Central School District seeking transportation for their children who plan to attend a non-public school during the 2011/12 school year must submit a written request for transportation services by April 1, 2011. Applications can be obtained from the non-public school your child attends, on the Shenendehowa website at transportation Web page or at the District Transportation office.

The completed application must be returned by April 1, 2011 to Shenendehowa Central School District, Attn: Pupil Transportation Office, 970 Rt. 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065. This form must be renewed on an annual basis. A new form is required even if your children currently attend a non-public.

Students are eligible for transportation to non-public schools if an application is received prior to April 1 and if the school requested is located within 15 miles of the students’ home. Students who reside over 15 miles from the non-public school are not eligible for transportation unless the school district has an eligible student attending and there is room on the bus.

All questions concerning eligibility for transportation should be directed to the Transportation Department at 881-0240.

Posted 3/3/11

The Friends of Music of Shenendehowa, with generous funding from The Harper Family Foundation, is hosting A Day of Music Workshops for Shen middle and high school musicians. The workshops will be held on Saturday, April 2, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Shen High School East. The workshops and lunch are free of charge.
Shen middle and high school student musicians are invited to attend this event. The event will include voice and instrumental workshops, seminars, and a master class. The instructors are on the music faculty at the College of St. Rose.
Courses will include a seminar on auditions and stage presence, a workshop on vocal technique for vocalists and another on basic vocal technique for non-vocalists, a jazz improvisation workshop, a string chamber music workshop and a string master class, and a seminar on the history of rock.
Registration forms will be distributed in the middle and high school music ensemble and music theory classes in mid-March. For more information, go to fomshen.org or send an email to fomshen@gmail.com.

Posted 3/2/11

The Shenendehowa Boys Varsity Swimming and Diving team won their 5th straight Section II Championship. Leading the way were state qualifiers Taylor Nichols, Ryan Gordon, Adam Kalish, Adam Bonk, Eric Tsui, Mike Conley, Jorge Romero and Adam Goodcoff as the Plainsmen put up an astonishing 519 points. The team will now move on to the NYSPHSAA Championships March 4-5th @ Long Island Aquatic Center. Way to Go Shen!!

Posted 3/2/11

High school teacher Dora Myers is directing her tenth musical, Babes in Arms, to be performed in High School East Mar. 17-19. She sat down with Ron Jacobs, the producer, to discuss her long-time love affair with the theater. [MORE]