Fall 2015 Newsletter - Queensbury Union Free School District

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and William H. Barton Intermediate. School entrances. It will create more secure vestibules that fully divide visitor ch
QUEENSBURY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT WWW.QUEENSBURYSCHOOL.ORG

FALL 2015

Inside this issue: • Balancing Safety, Openness in Public Schools��������2 • District Looks to Fill Bus Driver Positions�������������2 • Solutions for Parenting Challenges Found at Parent University������������������������������������������������3 • Behavioral Health Clinic to Open at QES��������������3 • Collaborative Physicial Education��������������������������4 • Transportation Dept. Maintains Record of Safety���4 • MakerSpaces Planned for QES, WHBI�������������������5 • Trailhead Sign Warns of Tick-borne Illnesses���������6 • Power of Pink Tournament Sets Record�����������������7 • Restorative Justice Helps Prevent Bullying������������8 Empower all students to be lifelong learners, inspired to pursue their dreams and contribute to the global community.

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FALL 2015

QUEENSBURY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Balancing Safety, Openness in Public Schools A Message from the Superintendent of Schools

Queensbury may not have a true regular safety training during School entrances. It will create more town center, but for thousands of workshops, drills and tabletop secure vestibules that fully divide residents, it does have a central hub exercises. The District Safety visitor check-in areas from school of activity: the Queensbury Union Committee reviews and makes hallways (pictured). ID-scanning Free School District campus. recommendations regarding school technology will also help increase safety practices. Schools have security. Construction is expected to As an educational center for more surveillance cameras, sentries, school begin in spring 2016, following delays than 3,400 children, the school greeters, in the state approval process. campus provides traffic guards education, activities However, the most effective means and daily and special events of keeping Queensbury children safe visits by for students and is through vigilance and awareness. the Warren families year round. There is much to be said for knowing our surroundings, It is also a source being alert, of recreation, reporting any entertainment suspicious activity William H. Barton Intermediate School and education for Front Entrance Renovation and making safety residents without a priority in a school affiliation. The capital project approved by voters in everything we do. Music fans pack the May 2014 includes the pictured renovations Queensbury High School The Queensbury to improve security at William H. Barton auditorium for concerts schools campus Intermediate School (above) and Queensbury and musicals. Active is an active and Elementary School (right). Following delays Queensbury Elementary School adults hit the tennis vibrant place, day in the state approval process, the renovation Front Entrance Renovation work is now expected to begin in spring 2016. courts after work or take and night, all year evening classes held on long. It is also a County Sheriff’s Office. The New York safe place for learning, recreation and campus by the Queensbury Parks & State Police are also located across Recreation Department. Sports fans entertainment thanks to vigilant and from the high school. crowd the fields for tournaments. The watchful staff, students, families and list seems endless, and it makes for an community members. To further enhance school safety, active, vibrant and multi-use campus. the capital project approved by voters in May 2014 includes renovations at Simultaneously, one of the district’s Douglas W. Huntley, Ed.D. the Queensbury Elementary School primary responsibilities is the safety Superintendent of Schools and William H. Barton Intermediate and welfare of students. That goal is achieved through a variety of safety measures, some visible and others behind the scenes Queensbury Union Free (www.queensburyschool.org/safety). School District is seeking For example, employees receive qualified applicants for positions in the Transportation Department and the Buildings On the cover... and Grounds Department. Second-graders in teacher A job fair in late October Stacy Conway’s class get brought in many candidates, creative using an Osmo but some positions electronic game in the new A potential applicant speaks with Director of Facilities and are still available. Operations Rob Chapman (right) during a job fair in October. MakerSpace at Queensbury To learn more, visit Elementary School (see p. 5). www.queensburyschool.org/hr.

District Looks to Fill Bus Driver, Buildings/Grounds Positions

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Solutions for Parenting Challenges Found at Parent University How can I reign in my disrespectful child? What’s the trick to ending endless negotiations? Whom should I focus on when siblings fight? These and other tough parenting questions were answered by psychologist Dr. Randy Cale during a Parent University presentation at Queensbury High School this October. More than 100 people turned out for the event, which kicked off a year-long series of free programs featuring child development and education experts. Dr. Cale’s presentation focused on the mistakes parents can’t afford to make if they want their kids to thrive. During a role play scenario, he invited parents to Parenting expert Dr. Randy Cale addressed a large audience during a consider how the behaviors they model when a child Parent University presentation at Queensbury High School in October. is disobedient – repeated nagging followed by yelling choice,” Dr. Cale advised parents. “There’s a non-reality in frustration, for example – can actually reinforce that kids live in. They believe choices don’t come with the undesired, negative behaviors. consequences.” “The real teacher is the consequence to the poor

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Behavioral Health Clinic Treats Barriers to Academic Success Queensbury parents don’t have to issue for kids; mental health issues go it alone in their quest to ensure keep them from going to school,” a child’s emotional and mental wellsaid Deputy Superintendent Theresa being. A new in-school service, the Middleton. She has found there are Behavioral Health Center @ Parsons: limited opportunities in Warren Queensbury Elementary School County for children to receive mental Satellite Clinic, now offers a health services, particularly without supportive and convenient partner for ending up on a long wait list. the journey. Behavioral health refers to “This will give an individual’s mental and our students emotional well-being, which is a better often visible to others through opportunity the expression of thoughts, words and actions. to get the A student’s behavioral health services plays an important role in his they need or her academic success. For in a timely example, the National Alliance manner.” on Mental Illness reports that 1 in 5 children ages 13-18 live - Deputy Superintendent with a mental health condition, Theresa Middleton and nearly half of children aged 14 and older with a mental The overload illness drop out of high school. is a symptom of the growing demand “A high level of anxiety leads for children’s mental health services, to school avoidance, and the less which in Queensbury, reflects an students attend, the more they fall increasing number of hospitalizations behind. That’s a pretty significant

and pediatrician requests for home instruction related to students’ mental health. “This will give our students a better opportunity to get the services they need in a timely manner,” said Middleton. The Behavioral Health Center will provide a variety of services, including individual counseling at all grade levels, family counseling for identified students, behavioral support in school and at home, psychiatric evaluations and medication management. It is expected to be fully operational by December 1, and then it will remain open when schools are in session and year-round by appointment. Any student who attends school in the district may be eligible for services, but a referral from a school staff member is required. Contact your child’s principal or guidance counselor or visit www.queensburyschool.org/parsons to learn more about the Behavioral Health Center.

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QUEENSBURY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Collaborative Physical Education Brings Students Together for Good Health Physical education programs in schools today feature Last time, we did yoga. It can be challenging at times, but comprehensive, standards-based curriculum with it’s going great so far.” health, nutrition, cardio fitness, strength and flexibility Hubert is looking forward to taking students outdoors components. This fall, Queensbury Elementary School also this winter and to exposing them to a variety of healthy added a new component: collaborative physical education. wintertime activities. The collaborative “I want to help get some snow gear for students who may component occurs not have any because I’d like to take them outside as much once a month, when as I can this winter,” students in the same said Hubert. “We’ll go grade level take a snowshoeing, build physical education snow forts, see which class altogether. class can build the Leading biggest snowman, things collaborative time like that. It’s going to is teacher Joseph be fun for them to do Hubert, a new activities they can’t do member of the inside a gymnasium.” physical education staff and a A partnership with Queensbury Elementary School students come together by grade for 2010 graduate of Queensbury collaborative time with physical education teacher Joseph Hubert (right). nearby West Mountain High School. Ski Resort will also Hubert led the entire second grade, consisting of 240 allow second-graders to safely experiment with skis and students, in a series of dance-based fitness activities during snowboards during a visit to the bottom of the mountain collaborative time in October. this December. Parents of second-graders will receive more information on this opportunity. “The kids love the dances. They’re obsessed with Gangnam Style,” he laughed. “But each class is different.

Transportation Department Maintains Record of Safety Queensbury Union Free School District transports students more than 680,000 miles every school year, often in unpredictable traffic and weather conditions. Behind that statistic is a team of drivers and mechanics, as well as aides and office staff, with an outstanding safety record. The New York State Department of Transportation performs semiannual safety inspections on school transportation vehicles. Its representatives can arrive unannounced and at any time to conduct an inspection. They thoroughly check all elements of a school bus, from brake lights and exhaust emissions to corrosion caused by the elements. During the 2014-15 school year, the

district Transportation Department received passing marks following 101 NYSDOT inspections. “Making sure our buses are in good working order is a daily task,” said Director of Transportation Cheri Martindale. “It’s all about the safety of the children we transport.” School bus drivers may complete multiple runs in a single school day and evening and weekend runs for extracurricular sports and activities. They are often the first and last point of school contact for many students. Gail Benson, a school bus driver for 18 years, takes that responsibility seriously. “Everyone in the Transportation Department works hard,” said

Benson, who feels that transportation jobs aren’t always recognized for their full importance. “It seems simple to jump in a bus and take the kids home, but it’s not a simple job at all.”

Queensbury students prepare to board a school bus.

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Students Think, Create and Learn Independently MakerSpaces Planned for QES, WHBI Imagine a space where children can create, tinker and explore without a set of directions, free from the pressure of having to get it right. This type of environment – a MakerSpace designed to inspire creativity, ingenuity and drive – is now found inside several Queensbury schools. A MakerSpace allows students who share a common interest in fields such as science, technology, design and art to work and socialize together. It supports STEM education, which emphasizes instruction in science, technology, engineering and math. MakerSpaces have popped up in schools across the country, and they were an early inspiration for Queensbury High School’s awardwinning innovation space. Queensbury Elementary School and William H. Barton Intermediate School have both adopted the MakerSpace movement. The

Help Make a MakerSpace MakerSpaces are in their pilot years at Queensbury Elementary School and William H. Barton Intermediate School. You can help local students discover, explore and create more by donating: • Craft items • Tools • Old electronics To make a donation, first contact the applicable school administrator: QES Michelle Discenza, Asst. Principal (518) 824-1600 [email protected] WHBI John Luthringer, Asst. Principal (518) 824-2600 [email protected]

elementary school recently opened its MakerSpace, and the intermediate school is in the development phase. “A MakerSpace really gets to that hands-on, tactile aspect of education that may have been lost in the Race to the Top,” said WHBI Assistant Principal John Luthringer. “There’s a big push to get that back into schools, to get kids to create without parameters.” No parameters, no directions, no deadlines. Inside a MakerSpace, students are in charge of their learning. Two second-graders use tape, paper tubes, cardboard boxes “My favorite part is that and their imaginations at the engineering station in the new Queensbury Elementary School MakerSpace. it’s student-driven,” said QES Assistant Principal The intermediate school plans to set Michelle Discenza. “Teachers have up a MakerSpace in one of the rooms to keep the pace with meeting state connected to its library/media center. standards, so there’s not a lot of time School leaders have selected a group allotted for purely creative activities. of fifth-grade students to help create MakerSpaces bring in that element.” the WHBI MakerSpace. Queensbury students are equipped “We’re going to meet with those with age-appropriate tools while in a students, and they’ll come up with school MakerSpace. Young elementary a proposal on what they want the students, for example, might learn to MakerSpace to look like,” said use glue, wrenches, screwdrivers and Luthringer. “We’re putting it on them, hammers, while older intermediate saying, ‘This is a kid-oriented space, students might work with computers, so what do you want it to look like?’” 3D printers, circuit kits and robotics. The group of fifth-graders will The elementary MakerSpace is set pitch their ideas to custodial staff up into different stations, including at the intermediate school in early those for Minecraft, LEGO robotics, December, allowing time for staff to creation, coding and engineering. create the space during winter recess. School leaders also enlisted the help Luthringer said he hopes to have the of art classes to make the space WHBI MakerSpace up and running for visually appealing. During its pilot all fourth- and fifth-grade students in year, the MakerSpace is open only to January 2016. second-graders and special education “We’re really excited to see what students. Discenza is hopeful all students come up with,” said elementary students will be able to Luthringer. “I think they’re going to take advantage of the unique space in have some really creative visions.” the future.

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QUEENSBURY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Donated Trailhead Sign Warns of Tick-borne Illnesses Enjoy the Queensbury schools cross country trails? Developing the trailhead sign required more than 50 Then you may check for ticks more carefully these days hours of research, planning and construction. During after the installation of a tick prevention and education that process, the three Girl Scouts also contacted a local trailhead sign. The tall, Lyme disease expert and raised handmade sign is the finished money by running coat checks at product of a year-long effort by special events, selling lemonade at three inspired Girl Scouts. an arts festival and doing holiday gift wrapping. They raised enough Ninth-graders Kelly-Anne to construct two trailhead signs Evans and Bethany Wells of for about $400, with one each Queensbury and Courtney placed on the Queensbury schools Cameron of Hudson Falls campus and the SUNY worked to increase awareness Superintendent of Schools Dr. Douglas W. Huntley (left) is an avid Adirondack campus. of tick-borne diseases while runner and frequent user of the school cross country trails, where trying to earn a Silver Award, Wells said she hopes a sign made by ninth-graders (left to right) Bethany Wells, Kellythe highest award possible for a the trailhead signs will Anne Evans and Courtney Cameron provides tick prevention tips. Girl Scout Cadette. The award remind runners to check requires applicants to identify and address an issue they themselves for ticks after enjoying the trails this fall. care about, which certainly applied for the three friends. Evans agreed, saying, “We want them to be more aware “My grandmother passed away from anaplasmosis about that ticks don’t just carry Lyme disease. If they ever have three years ago. It’s a tick-borne disease that attacks you a tick, they should just go to a doctor.” from the inside out,” said Evans. by not engaging negative behaviors – dubbed “weeds.” Dr. Cale provided parents with several ideas for how to “starve weeds” such as by withholding He encouraged parents to make sure a child’s preferred entertainment the relationship between a choice device (e.g., video game) for 24 hours and a consequence is very clear. if a negative behavior is displayed “Rules are a dream unless there are (e.g., not cleaning bedroom). To “feed consequences,” he said. the seeds,” he encouraged parents to provide subtle positive reinforcement with a smile, nod or gentle touch every 5-7 minutes when a child is engaging in a behavior the parent likes. “Around seven days, you’ll start to see the effects of giving your energy to the behaviors you want,” he Queensbury High School Key Club members, including (left counseled. to right) junior Tara Foley and seniors Lynn Edwards, Anna Parents who attended Kaiser and Madeline Guay, are providing Parent University participants with free babysitting for children ages 4 and up. the presentation left with useful strategies and some clear ideas on how to implement them Parents can free themselves from with their children at home. having too many consequences to manage, though, by engaging positive Brandi Gilbert, whose children behaviors – dubbed “seeds” – and attend Queensbury Middle School

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Parent University

and William H. Barton Intermediate School, appreciated the practical advice and encouraged other parents to take advantage of Parent University. “I thought it was very helpful. It was nice to have a plan of specific things to do. I definitely feel like he gave some good advice on how to handle the everyday problems,” said Gilbert. For parent Tricia Brindle, Dr. Cale’s caution to not “drown the seed” with constant overpraise struck a chord. “It’s something we’ve been taught over and over; he capped it out,” said Brindle, whose children attend Queensbury Elementary School, the middle school and WHBI. “I think it was a good message.” Parent University continues throughout the 2015-16 school year with other evening presentations, practical skills workshops and casual morning conversations, including two in December (see p. 7). Visit www.queensburyschool.org/parentu for a full schedule of events.

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POP Tournament Sets New Fundraising High In October, Queensbury High School welcomed nearly 50 girls varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams from throughout the region during one of the largest local fundraisers for the American Cancer Society. It was a record-setting year for the annual Girls Volleyball Power of Pink Tournament, which raised $40,488 to support cancer research. “We are so grateful to the volleyball teams for their commitment and dedication. The funds raised will support groundbreaking research and provide programs and services to patients in the community. I am inspired by their efforts and thank them for raising over $40,000! These students are leaders in the fight against cancer and are truly making a difference,” said Jeff Winters, senior market manager for the American Cancer Society. There is no set entry fee for the tournament; participating teams are asked to simply submit as much money as they can collect through fundraisers for the cause. All entry fees for the two-day event, as well as funds from concession stands and merchandise, are donated to ACS. The participating team that raises the most money earns a special trophy. The real prize for players, though, is being able to support important people in their lives as well as a great cause. The Power of Pink volleyball logo includes seven stars that symbolize seven individuals who fought or who are still fighting the battle against cancer.

Parent University Dealing with Childhood Anxiety Thursday, Dec. 3, from 9-10 a.m. Queensbury Elementary School Cafeteria featuring Dr. Randy Cale Stress Management Workshop Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6:30 p.m. Queensbury High School Media Center/ Library featuring Dr. Deb Pietrangelo

At left, varsity team members celebrate the success of the Queensbury High School Girls Volleyball Power of Pink Tournament, which raised more than $40,000 for cancer research. Below, members of the Modified Cross Country Team show off their “Power of Pink” gear before a race.

“This year’s star is in honor of a Queensbury Middle School teacher currently battling cancer of the neck and throat,” said Coach Tyler Carey. Many Queensbury staff members were inspired to support the cause this year, including several who competed in volleyball games with staff from neighboring school districts. Other sports teams also hosted their own Power of Pink races and games, and several classrooms and student clubs held fundraising events. Those combined efforts will make a difference at ACS. “Finishing the fight against cancer is one we cannot win alone,” said Winters.

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Restorative Justice Prevents Bullying the same way, and that is to live in good and right relationships with each other,” Thorsborne said. “To be able to teach people how to fix that when it goes wrong is a wonderful thing.” Thorsborne’s training session is one of several restorative justice workshops organized for faculty and staff. Duke Fisher, a conflict resolution and restorative justice trainer since 1988, also visited Queensbury in early October. Sixth-grade teacher Clare Brady attended Fisher’s restorative justice

workshop. A teacher with 28 years of experience, Brady says the most important piece of restorative justice is making connections with students beyond the rules of the classroom. “The student learning that comes out of this method is huge,” said Brady. “These skills are not just about what grade the child is in at the time: these are life skills. This program allows children to have a voice and take on responsibility. Students are able to understand that when people make mistakes, they deal with it and move forward.”

Board of Education Raymond Gordon, President Jill Borgos, Ph.D., Vice President Patricia Belden Stacy Flaherty Kathleen Holser Daniel Mannix, Esq. Joseph Scriver Michael Shea, Ph.D. Timothy Weaver

Superintendent of Schools Douglas W. Huntley, Ed.D.

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FALL 2015

2015 Board of Education Schedule Queensbury Board of Education meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the Queensbury Elementary School Cafeteria, 431 Aviation Rd., and workshops are held at 7 p.m. in the District Office, 429 Aviation Rd., unless noted otherwise. Nov. 23 – Workshop Dec. 14 – Meeting Jan. 11 – Meeting Jan. 25 – Workshop Feb. 8 – Meeting Feb. 22 – Workshop March 14 – Meeting March 28 – Budget Workshop

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Restorative Justice Training to Help Staff Prevent School Bullying Australian-native Margaret Thorsborne, widely recognized as an international expert on school and workplace bullying, delivered a training session on restorative justice programs to counselors and administrators from Queensbury Union Free School District in late October. A restorative justice program holds students accountable for bad behaviors, but the focus is on giving students a way to repair the harm they caused to others by their actions. For example, offending students meet face-to-face with those they’ve harmed for safe dialogs led by trained facilitators. Victims have the opportunity to talk about how the offending students’ behaviors affected them and to get their questions answered. Together, the students and facilitators come up with a harm-repairing agreement listing consequences that must be completed during a specific period of time. “What we concentrate on is not so much what part of the code was breached, and therefore how can a person be punished, but rather when a code is breached, what harm is done and therefore what does a person need to do to fix the harm,” said Thorsborne. “The ultimate goal in a school is for every adult to

Queensbury school counselors and administrators explored restorative justice practices with guest speaker Margaret Thorsborne (right) in October.

work this way with kids, so [students] learn to clean up the messes they make and to become thoughtful ahead of behaviors they might have done in a thoughtless kind of way.” Thorsborne has played a major role in the introduction of restorative justice practices into schools in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. These schools report improved data around student behavior, higher staff and student morale, lower stress levels, and improvements in measures of safety and school climate. “The universal nature of human nature, no matter where we live in the world or what culture or race we belong to, we all are wired • continued on page 7