Schroon Lake Central Has A Lot To be Proud Of!
Updated 24 June 2010
An additional 53 computers and 2 document cameras were collected via staff affiliations with a local college. These additions, technology improvements in the building project, and the interactions of our computer staff and the BOCES service provide us with an ever-improving computer network—built through purchases and donations. 29 students from the Art, Family and Consumer Science, and Social Studies programs worked throughout the year to fund the annual New York City trip. In the “Big Apple” students visited the Museum of Modern Art and the Fashion Institute of Technology, toured Yankee Stadium and NBC Studios, and watched the Broadway Show “West Side Story.” 14% of our high school students were named Super Scholars for earning a grade of 85 or greater in each and every course they took last year. The Class of 2013 is off to a strong start on their fundraising efforts re-establishing the school store, holding a successful auction fundraiser at the Strand Theater with the help of Mr. Gokey and Mr. McNamara, and serving an Irish St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Teachers have created various levels of an on-line collaborative learning community. These wiki pages increase communication with parents and among students while providing a “cutting edge” platform for student work in an increasingly global electronic age. The SADD/For Rachel Club contributed positively to the school throughout the year. They knit scarves for soldiers, raked the school grounds, planted trees for Arbor Day, held a raffle for Toys for Tots, distributed Kindness Cards to raise money for the victims of the Haitian earthquake, presented character education skits in elementary classrooms and sent thank you notes to staff. Seven new members joined four senior members of the National Honor Society. The International Foods class marked more than a decade of sharing at the Intergenerational Luncheons with the Schroon Lake Senior Citizens Center. 95 French students visited Montreal this fall where they practiced the language they learned. The cultural trip visited the insectarium, botanical gardens, biodome, and Olympic stadium. Students rode the metro system, lunched at Jacques Cartier Square in Old Montreal, and road a jet boat on the Lachine Rapids in the St. Lawrence Seaway. Students took advantage of a wide variety of educational opportunities attending 8 vocational programs at the BOCES centers including the New Visions Medical Careers Program combining academic coursework with daily experiential opportunities in a number of medical settings. Students enrolled in college courses taught at Schroon Lake Central earned 250 college credits through our affiliations with SUNY Albany and North Country Community College. Schroon Lake students were named to All Star teams six times, including one citation for MVP. The boys basketball team won their second consecutive sportsmanship title. The music department sponsored a trip for 50 students and parents to a performance of the musical “Wicked” at Proctor’s Theater in Albany—bringing the live theater experience to students and parents alike. Middle School Student Council aided earthquake victims in Haiti with their “Hearts for Haiti” campaign, sending proceeds from the sale of hearts and shirts to relief efforts there. Schroon Lake was again recognized by U.S. News and World Report magazine as a Bronze Medal School. The designation, awarded based upon high school performance relative to the state, notes that our “high school” is among the top 1,750 of nearly 22,000 in the entire United States, placing us among only 8% of U.S. schools to earn the magazine’s honor. Students in grades 3, 4, 7, 8 participated in Second Step, a year long character education program to refine their communication and problem solving skills. Senior Government class members completed over 550 hours of community service, including raising over $500 for the Salvation Army. The building project is well underway, with approximately 40% of the work complete. Much of that work has been “invisible” work focusing on electrical, plumbing, and heating systems but steel work is complete on the classroom overbuild above the elementary wing and now underway on the gymnasium addition as well. While the process has sometimes disrupted our routines students, staff, and community are excited about the work so far—and the prospect of the final project. Students and staff worked together to provide twenty families with Thanksgiving dinner baskets. The kindergarten and senior classes augmented this activity with a joint Thanksgiving food drive that supported the local food pantry. Schroon Lake Central School and District were both identified “in good standing” by the Education Department—the highest ranking schools and districts can earn. The Class of 2008 quilt crafted to represent its members is one of the 15 (of 52 submitted) in the Adirondack Museum exhibit, “Common Threads: 150 Years of Adirondack Quilts and Comorters.” Our early intervention efforts are working for students. Over the past three years an average of 8.77% of SLCS students have received special education services. Across the state the average is 12.5% and 16.02% through our local BOCES region. 42 Schroon Lake Central musicians participated in All-County & NYSSMA events. Students continue to demonstrate their success on statewide tests: Grades 3 – 8 Testing: 90% of all students scored level 3 or level 4, identified as “proficient” by the state. (285 of 317 tests earned scores of 3 or 4) Regents Exams (Grades 9 – 12): 89.3% of all students scored 65-100, passing the various Regents exams. (176 of 197 tests earned 65 – 100) “Suessical, the Musical” included the entertaining participation of more than 50 students in stage, set, production, and support roles. The project immersed students in the visual arts, dance, and music. Essex County Sheriif’s Department and the New York State Police are scheduled to bring their child safety program to school in early June. They will provide child safe cards and age appropriate child safety presentations for our elementary age students. Community members donated a total of five Smart Boards to the school. Staff are busy incorporating this new technology into their daily lesson plans. Thank you to our donors!
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Design 2009