“Shrek” at Mechanicville High School – by Sandy McBride

With only five returning members of the Drama Club as the school year began, Mechanicville High School’s chorus teacher Sarah Prestigiacomo Bacon might have wondered if she would be able to pull off a musical stage play of the caliber of previous years’ presentations.  She needn’t have wondered.  With the Drama Club opened up to middle school students as well as high school students this year, she challenged them to do “Shrek – the Musical”, and their two performances this past weekend proved beyond doubt that they were up to the challenge.

Article in the 05-12 Express.

Stillwater Central School Budget Vote – by V. Gallagher

STILLWATER – On May 17, Stillwater Central School District residents will vote on a proposed $23,989,459 budget for the 2016-17 school year. The board of education unanimously adopted the budget proposal at its meeting on Tuesday, April 5. If voters approve the spending plan, the projected tax levy—the total amount of money a school district can raise through property taxes—would increase by 4.81 percent. This increase remains below Stillwater’s maximum allowable tax levy increase as determined by the state’s tax levy cap formula.

Read the entire article in the 04-14 issue.

Hoosic Valley Celebrates Music in Our Schools Month – by C. Barton

March was Music in our Schools Month and the Hoosic Valley Music Department and students did an incredible job bringing music to the Hoosic Valley Schools and surrounding communities.  It has been proven that there is a valuable link between music education and academic success.  The study of music helps develop language and reasoning, improves memorization skills,  increases coordination and the sense of achievement keeps students engaged throughout their school days.

Read the entire article in the 04/14 edition.

Stillwater High School Safe Driving Week, March 14-18

Stillwater High School Safe Driving Week, March 14-18

Stillwater High School, along with the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club, are hosting their second annual Safe Driving Week, March 14-18. It’s a campaign designed to help students make good choices and prevent bad decisions when it comes to driving. During the week there will be a variety of activities and reminders for students at school. Those include:

  • Teen driving statistics and safety tips will be played over the morning announcements. At the end of the week, all students will take a multiple choice quiz based on what they’ve learned. Students with a perfect score will be entered in a drawing to win prizes.
  • SADD members will be “chalking” the outside walkway and student parking lot with messages about driving safety.
  • Red ribbons symbolizing drunk driving prevention will be placed on car antennas.
  • Every student will watch a five-minute video in Physical Education class about the importance of driving smart.

“SADD is pleased to partner with the district to bring Safe Driving Week to our school. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens and our SADD members believe it is critical to help bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving and encourage our classmates to be as safe as they can,” said SADD Advisor Amy Carpenter.

“We’re just hoping to reach students in multiple ways. We want them to understand that the impact of their decisions while driving is pivotal.  With so many distractions in our environment, we want students to make positive choices as they continue to grow and become adults,” said Paul Morcone, Stillwater K-12 assistant principal.

This campaign is part of the school’s overall prevention plan. It coincides with the Stillwater High School mission “to empower young people to successfully confront the risks and pressures that challenge them throughout their daily lives.”

New Superintendent for Stillwater Schools – by Vince Gallagher

STILLWATER – The Stillwater Central School District Board of Education is pleased has announced its intent to appoint Patricia Morris as superintendent of schools at the February 23 board meeting. Morris is currently the middle school principal at Stillwater Central School District, a position she has held since 2008. The decision was made on February 12.

Read the entire article in the 12-18 edition.

Hoosic Valley Showcases Musical Talent – by Christine Barton

RENSSELAER COUNTY -On January 29th the All County Winter Festival, hosted by the Rensselaer County School Music Association, was held at Averill Park High School.  In addition to other participating schools throughout Rensselaer County, Hoosic Valley had 22 students selected to participate in various musical ensembles throughout the day’s events.

Read the entire article in the 02/11 edition.

Michael J. Bove Appointed to Student Senate at Siena College

Appointed positions are positions that do have a degree of influence and power in the Student Senate without actually being elected by the class.

Michael was interviewed by the newly elected Senate President, Vice President and a number of other officials. They offered him the position of Executive Assistant on the Student Senate of Siena College. he accepted this position.

The Executive Assistant serves as the Vice President's "right hand man." The Constitution of the Siena College Student Senate defines the position as follows:

Section Six - The Executive Assistant

1) To assist the Vice President wherever it is appropriate and necessary.

2) To chair the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC).

3) To hold a seat on and be an advisor to the Chief of Staff upon the Senate President’s Appointments Committee (SPAC).

The Executive Assistant also sits on the Committee on Chartering and Management of Clubs (CCMC).

Michael will be sworn into this position at the next Student Senate meeting which will take place sometime in January.