Twenty-nine students were inducted into the Broadalbin-Perth High School National Honor Society at a ceremony on Nov. 8.

“These 29 individuals represent the best of the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District,” co-adviser Anthony Mucilli said. “Through our selection process, each of these students demonstrated excellence in scholarship, service, leadership and character. More importantly, throughout the current school year, our newest National Honor Society members have remained steadfast to these attributes and have continued to strengthen our school and the community through their volunteerism.”

• Nicholas Boltash
• Cassandra Bown
• Tesa Brody
• Glenn Buyce
• Alyssa Dumblewski
• Jared Eipp
• Talyn Faulkner
• Christina Fedullo
• Rhys Floyd
• Ryan Gardner
• Jack Hart
• Justin Hertik
• Mallory Jennings
• Richard Kaufman
• Gabrielle Larsen
• Niko Mancini
• Natalie Metz
• Grace Miller
• Erin Morrison
• Robert Munn
• Caitlin Murray
• Ava Naple
• Taylor Orapello
• Hailey Parrotti
• Megan Snyder
• Stephanie Somers
• Shaylyn Springstead
• Lucas Swart
• Amber Vosburgh

Get in the holiday spirit with the PBIS Youth as Leaders Club and dress up for Holiday Spirit Week at Broadalbin-Perth Middle School! Prizes for most festive will be given out daily during lunch!

Monday, Dec. 18, Holiday Sweater Day

Wear your crazy holiday sweaters or shirts.

Tuesday, Dec. 19, Tinsel Tuesday

Sparkle and shine like a disco ball.

Wednesday, Dec. 20, Festive Hat Day

Wear your favorite Santa hat, elf ears or reindeer antlers.

Thursday, Dec. 21, Seasonal Sock Day.

Show off your silly socks (must wear shoes).

The Entrepreneur Club at Broadalbin-Perth Intermediate School has partnered with Pizza Supreme to give students a first-hand look at what it’s like to run a business.

Club members and their adviser Dianne Magliocca recently toured the Calderone family’s pizzeria in Broadalbin to learn the ins and outs of the business. The Calderones also donate pizza for the club to sell at high school basketball games on Fridays.

“We are so thankful that Tony took time out of his own schedule to offer his knowledge on entrepreneurship at such a personal level,” Magliocca said. “The kids gained so much insight into a family operation that’s very supportive of our school community.”

During the tour of Pizza Supreme, students watched Tony Calderone make pizzas and learned about appliances and equipment. They also learned fun facts about the restaurant, such as the insane amount of cheese that has to be shredded for pizzas each week.

“The whole experience was jaw dropping for a lot of them,” Magliocca said. “Tony had his hands in pizza dough, the phone was ringing, customers were walking in and out — it showed them how important it is to have time management skills and be able to multitask.”

Overall, the club has taught students a lot about business management, marketing and market research. For another recent project, the club produced slime and has sold it at multiple events, including the middle school’s antibullying carnival and the intermediate school’s holiday gift shop. They had to make a budget, make the product and man their booth.

“Some of the kids recently cashed a check that we had gotten because they needed to make change, and I couldn’t believe they knew how to do that,” Magliocca said. “They really have the entrepreneurial spirit. They’re using terms that professionals use. I’m always impressed by the questions they ask and the enthusiasm that they show.”

Middle school student musicians recently had the opportunity to observe and perform with the Tempest Woodwind Quintet. Band teacher Laura Jacaruso plays French horn with the group. The other musicians are Elizabeth Day (flute), Diane Baltazar (oboe), Kathryn Brannon (clarinet), and Dave Knorr (bassoon).

Jacaruso said the group taught students a little about chamber music, played for them, and also performed a selection with student musicians. Quintet members joined the band and played one of the tunes from the middle school holiday concert.

“It was a great opportunity for my students to hear a professional quintet play,” Jacaruso said. “In order to make a great sound, we need to know what one sounds like. This was a chance for that to happen. It was also a great opportunity for them to see me, their band teacher, performing. It is important to me that they see me striving to always be a better musician, the same way I ask them to do.”

TLC pre-K students on Wednesday took a trip to Hillcrest Assisted Living Facility in Amsterdam, where they sang holiday songs for the residents. After their performance, the students from Mrs. Scott’s and Mrs. Barker’s classrooms spent some time visiting with the residents.

Jon Aery’s third grade art students recently produced a video in which they were were challenged to create a 3-second animation of a wooden figure. For this STEAM project, they needed to capture 30 frames and set their GIF file to 10 frames per second (fps) to successfully create motion.

Every single B-P 3rd grader is included in the 6-minute video. Students used a number of iPad apps, including DocScanHd, 5s GIF, Google Drive and iMovie.

Broadalbin-Perth Central School District is proud to announce that intermediate school literacy specialist Mariah Duell achieved National Board Certification last week. National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.

It is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education. According to NYSUT, only 3 percent of the national teaching population has achieved this certification.

“National Board Certification was a personal goal that I set for myself, and I’m definitely proud to achieve it,” Duell said. “It was the ultimate piece of professional development. It has made me a better teacher, a better reflector, and I’m grateful to have made connections with other teachers who have the same kind of drive that I have.”

Often considered the “gold standard” of achievement, it requires teachers to demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning.

This certification, created by teachers, for teachers, represents a consensus among educators about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas from pre-k through 12th grade.

To achieve the certification, Duell had to complete an extensive portfolio that she started in 2015. It is organized around four key components. Teacher candidates must:

• Take a computer-based, written test in their content area;
• Show examples of how they’ve tailored instruction to drive individual academic gains;
• Submit videos of their classroom teaching with reflections on what did go well and what didn’t; and
• Provide examples of ways they’ve used data and school and community resources to improve outcomes for their students.

“There is so much that I gained throughout the process that goes so much further than the achievement itself. I would love for more teachers at B-P to go for it. We have a lot of great teachers who exemplify the standards that NBTCS promotes. I would love to help others go through the same process.”

Duell, a teacher for 11 years, achieved her certificate in Literacy for Early and Middle Childhood. She joins Megan Floyd and Anita Stabrowski as National Board-Certified teachers at B-P.

On a recent Friday afternoon at the Amsterdam Target, Ben Huckans disagreed with the color choice of a hoodie that his classmates picked out. Dark gray would match the pants better, he decided.

Nearby, other classmates wondered if a book about animals was age-appropriate for a four-year-old, or whether they would have enough money for a particular Lego set.

These National Junior Honor Society students weren’t shopping for themselves, rather they were picking out gifts for children in need.

This service project is rooted in an untold tradition upheld by Broadalbin-Perth faculty and staff members who purchase gifts for families in need. The district’s school counselors and social workers say staff members generously purchased gifts for at least 100 children this year. Some of the money is generated by fundraisers, but most of it comes from staff members’ own pockets.

“I have to commend the district’s staff, who are just overwhelmingly generous,” intermediate school social worker Andrea Hamill said.

Hamill said the caring nature exhibited by B-P’s staff is a combination of the district’s unique culture and the characteristics of people who work in education.

“When you work in a school, you don’t want to see kids go without,” she said. “We often think of our own children and know we wouldn’t want them to go without.”

Service projects, collections and fundraisers

The staff’s gifting initiative isn’t the only way Broadalbin-Perth gives back during the holidays. The effort is extended across the district in a variety of service projects, collections and fundraisers that benefit a wide variety of individuals, groups and organizations. For a snapshot of these initiatives, check out the “Holiday Giving Highlights” infographic and read more below.

B-P participates in Wreaths Across America

A number of high school students and staff participated in the Wreaths Across America program at Saratoga National Cemetery recently. The goal was to lay wreaths on each of the veterans’ gravestones.

“I am beyond words thankful for the support we received with the regard to this event,” Chereith Vincent said. She helped coordinate B-P’s participation in the event.

You can read more about it in this story published by the Leader-Herald.

Nutrition Club raffles wreath for grocery store gift cards

The High School Nutrition Club raffled off a giant 45” wreath. The club purchased the wreath from Goderie’s Tree Farm and decorated it before the raffle. The club used proceeds to purchase grocery store gift cards that were given to families that received gifts from B-P staff members.

Chamber Ensemble Club performs at Viaport Mall to benefit Make-A-Wish

Members of the Middle School Chamber Ensemble Club performed at Viaport Mall in Rotterdam earlier this month. Club adviser Laura Jacaruso says they raised $300 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Club members are Isabella LaTour, Julia Mycek, Aiden Snyder, Owen Compani, Trenton Richmond, Alex Brown, Logan Zara, Dayton D’Addio and Kate Szumowski. Isabella Fenton and Ashley Marotta were also there to represent the National Junior Honor Society.

Third graders donate to animal shelters and collect pajamas for national campaign

The students in Mrs. Tammy Meyer’s third grade class donated pajamas to the Scholastic Bedtime Story Pajama and Book Drive, and donations were made to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter this holiday season. The students have shown how to be caring and giving.

Read the grant application guidelines

Download the grant application

The Broadalbin-Perth Education Foundation is now accepting grant applications for creative projects that will benefit the B-P communities. All applications must be received by Jan. 22.

The B-P Education Foundation has two grant cycles each year and prioritizes funding for programs that will benefit B-P students.

The mission of the B-P Education Foundation is to “promote, sponsor and expand educational opportunities by building broad community support for public education.” For more information, visit the foundation’s website.

Register for this event

Kickstart your New Year’s resolution to eat healthier with Parent University’s first workshop of 2018, which is all about nutrition, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 in the Virtual AP Room at Broadalbin-Perth High School.

Join registered dietician Jessica Gottung to get an overview of nutrition for kids, including the federal MyPlate guidelines, role-modeling healthy eating, and getting kids involved in meal planning and preparation. Then, join your children for hands-on activities that include make-your-own snack and smoothie stations. To help with planning, please register for this event online.

Parent University is a community collaboration led by Broadalbin-Perth. Through Parent University, Broadalbin-Perth partners with community agencies and organizations to offer free courses, family events and activities that will equip families with new or additional skills, knowledge, resources and the confidence to become full partners in their children’s education. The goal of Parent University is to increase parent involvement in B-P schools and empower parents to raise children who are successful in school and in life. Research has shown that parents can increase a child’s academic success through their involvement with schools and communities. Parental involvement improves student morale, attitudes, and academic achievement across all subject areas.

The BPMS Students of the Month for January are, from left to right, Tyler Covey, 8th grade; Landon Russom, 6th grade; Matthew Reichel, 7th grade; and Emmah Edington, 6th grade. The word used to select these students was “leadership.”

All after-school activities are CANCELED for Thursday, Jan. 4.

The after-school child care program for students in pre-K through grade 6 will operate on its normal schedule.

Broadalbin-Perth schools will operate on a two-hour delay, Friday, Jan. 5, because of the extreme wind chill. There will be no transportation to BOCES, P-TECH, AgTECH, TEC-SMART or other out-of-district programs, and breakfast will not be served. The start times of all before-school programs, including the before-school child care program for children in pre-K through grade 5, are also delayed two hours.

Parents and guardians who can see their child’s bus stop from their home should keep their child inside until the bus arrives. The district has advised all bus drivers to stop, honk their horns, and wait for children to come outside during their morning bus runs. Parents and guardians can expect to see their child’s bus arrive approximately two hours after it normally does.

According to the National Weather Service, the expected wind chills can be very dangerous. Frostbite can occur within 10 minutes of exposure – and small children are even more vulnerable because of their size. Parents and guardians should make sure that their children’s skin is completely covered with dry coats, gloves or mittens, scarves, and hats.

Three BPHS students will have their artwork displayed at an upcoming exhibit at Saratoga Arts Center.

​Jacqueline Hilliard, 11th grade; Chris Collins, 9th grade; and Shannon Van Aken, 9th grade, were selected to take part in the annual High School All Stars Exhibit.

The public is invited to the opening reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan.  13, at the Arts Center Gallery at Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. The All Stars Exhibit will run from Jan. 13 to Feb. 10. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Art teachers throughout Saratoga, Fulton and Montgomery counties, representing Amsterdam, Ballston Spa, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Broadalbin-Perth, Johnstown, Mayfield, Northville, Saratoga Springs, Shenendehowa, South Glens Falls, Stillwater and Waterford-Halfmoon school districts, selected work in all media from their students to exhibit in The Arts Center Gallery.

This exhibition provides an opportunity for art students to exhibit in a professional gallery setting and gain recognition for their artistic and creative accomplishments.

All youth commission activities are canceled for Saturday, Jan. 6 because of the extreme cold.

Middle school student musicians recently had the opportunity to observe and perform with the Tempest Woodwind Quintet. Band teacher Laura Jacaruso plays French horn with the group. The other musicians are Elizabeth Day (flute), Diane Baltazar (oboe), Kathryn Brannon (clarinet), and Dave Knorr (bassoon).

Jacaruso said the group taught students a little about chamber music, played for them, and also performed a selection with student musicians. Quintet members joined the band and played one of the tunes from the middle school holiday concert.

“It was a great opportunity for my students to hear a professional quintet play,” Jacaruso said. “In order to make a great sound, we need to know what one sounds like. This was a chance for that to happen. It was also a great opportunity for them to see me, their band teacher, performing. It is important to me that they see me striving to always be a better musician, the same way I ask them to do.”

BPHS Key Club students have organized a fundraiser to support high school student Madison Oechler and her family.

Students are selling “Maddy Strong” T-shirts for $20 each and are also accepting monetary donations. Students are encouraged to show their support by wearing purple, Oechler’s favorite color, to the varsity boys basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. Participants will have the chance to earn a prize.

To purchase a T-shirt or make a donation, please contact Kristina Marshall at marshallk@bpcsd.org or Christina Lais at laisc@bpcsd.org. T-shirt orders are due by Jan. 11. All proceeds will benefit Oechler.

From the left are Charlotte Farrington, Alexandra Gennett and Madison Samek. They were all recognized for reaching milestones in their reading.

Second grader Charlotte Farrington and first graders Alexandra Gennett and Madison Samek were all recognized for reaching milestones in their reading during an assembly at The Learning Community on Monday. Gennett joined the 1,000 Book Club, Samek was recognized for reading 500 books and Farrington was recognized for reading 250 books.

“It takes a lot of practice and a lot of time,” TLC Principal Brad Strait said. “It pays to practice.”

The students took advantage of TLC’s lending library, which makes backpacks filled with books available to students to read outside of the regular school day. Gennett read all 1,000 books that are available. Strait encourages students and their parents to sign the books out at any time. They are available in TLC’s lobby.

The lending library supports the school’s Pick A Reading Partner initiative. Students are challenged each month to read at least six books with their reading partners.

The entire school receives incentives for hitting their reading goals every month, but individual students are honored when they go above and beyond and reach the aforementioned milestones. The number of books they read are tallied and accumulate across grade levels.

All varsity, JV, modified and youth commission practices and games are CANCELED for Jan. 13 because of the expected severe weather.

Broadalbin-Perth Middle School’s Holly Jolly Volleyball Tournament was celebrated for the 30th time on Friday, Jan. 12. The annual event was started by Superintendent Stephen Tomlinson when he was a gym teacher at the middle school.

The event is traditionally held on the last day of school before the holiday recess in December, but it was canceled when school closed for a snow day this year. Teacher David Wiltey said even though this year’s event was the “Martin Luther King Jr. edition,” it was still a great opportunity to get all of the students, faculty and staff together to celebrate.

“This event is a reminder to our students that we are their family away from home,” Wiltey said.

Everyone still wore their team holiday outfits and rocked out to Christmas carols.

Check out the video highlights below: