I won’t take the time to give any more attention to the New York State assessments. There has been enough conversation and debate about their value, lost instructional time to administer and score, their connection to the Common Core Learning Standards, how scores are tied to teacher and principal evaluation, parents and students making decisions to opt out, etc., etc., etc. While it is certainly a great topic to debate, all of the attention given to it over the last month put a great deal of stress and anxiety on our students; unintentional perhaps, but real nonetheless. We are extremely proud of how our students handled themselves during the assessments at the end of April. They approached the assessments with focus, determination and great effort. Our message was clear: they are an opportunity to show how much you have grown and learned over the course of the school year. All we asked was for them to do their best! It is the same message I gave to my oldest child who is in 3rd grade at Stonehedge – do your best and forget the rest! (P90X reference that makes a lot of sense) With the assessments in the rearview mirror we move on and get back to business as usual.
Our spring sports teams are now in full swing. It’s very special to see the hustle and bustle on any given afternoon of our student athletes grabbing their lacrosse sticks, gloves, lacing up their cleats and sneakers, and heading out to their respective practices. We are all WILDCATS and it is inspiring to see the excitement and enthusiasm in the classroom carry over to athletics and fine arts. The majority of our students are involved with either athletics or fine arts, and many of them are able to manage being involved in both. Being involved and connected is a big part of being a well-rounded individual and an important piece of being successful.
 |
| It's Game Day! |
 |
| Softball: ready to hit the road |
 |
| Law Day Winners |
Speaking of being successful, three of our students won awards as part of Law Day. Each year the Onondaga County Bar Association participates in Law Day, which is a nation-wide event aimed at making the public more aware of what those in the legal profession do. This year's theme was: Realizing the Dream: Equality for All. Alyssa Fiumara won first place for her poster which was entered in the Creative Freelance Contest, and Nicole Barrington and Michelle Cassidy tied for second place. All three girls are in Mrs. Vertigan's Studio in Art class and were honored at a ceremony at the courthouse May 2. Congratulations!!
May and June are going to fly by with a wide variety of concerts, games, and other end of the year activities. I will post much more frequently as we head into the home strech. Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff. As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Enjoy this terrific weather!
Continued Success,
Steve Dunham
@Sdunhamwgms
