Sad News:
High School Math teacher Ben Gerardo's wife, Gail, passed
away this week. Funeral Services will be at
Demarco-Stone on Saturday, July 24, 2010. Calling
hours are 6-8 P.M. on Friday, July 23, 2010.
NYSED's
Preliminary Draft of Teaching Standards Available for
Comment: The State
Education Department formed a Teaching Standards Workgroup
which was responsible for developing a draft of Teaching
Standards for New York State. According to Joseph Frey of
State Ed, "The Teaching Standards Workgroup is composed
of stakeholder representatives from over 22 interested
parties with a common commitment of improving student
learning through the development and support of all NYS
teachers." You can now view the
preliminary draft online online and use their
web response form to make comments or suggestions
through August 16, 2010.
NYS
3-8 Test Results Announced on July 26 with Higher Cutoff
Scores. In a
effort to raise standards, the "cutoff scores" for the NYS
state tests administered in Spring, 2010 will now be higher.
As a result, many more students will now be eligible for AIS
services. However, for the 2010-11 year, districts
will be able to use the cutoff scores from 2008-09 as
thousands of teachers have been laid off due to budget cuts
in the state. In addition, the Regents agreed to seek
a federal waiver during this transition year so the greater
number of students scoring at Levels 1 and 2 do not impact
the ability of schools and districts to make Adequate Yearly
Progress.
(More)
STAPLES Teacher
Appreciation Day:
Staples is saying "thank you" to teachers during its annual
Teacher Appreciation Day on August 21 from 9:00 A.M - Noon.
Click on the link for a store near you!
-
Receive a FREE thank you gift
(for the
first 100 teachers, while supplies
last)
- See
the hottest new items for your
classroom
- Learn
about Copy & Print services that can
help make your school year easier
- Find
out about our Staples Rewards
Teachers Program, which now
includes teaching and art supplies
Congratulations to
our Newest Retirees:
7 STA members have joined the rank of "retiree". Thank
you for your many years of service to Schalmont and to our
STA family. Retirees will receive a questionnaire from
STA with the results posted on the Retiree Connection of the
STA Website. This year's retirees include: Anne
Austin - HS, Bev Haringa - HS, Diana Cichello - HS, Sandra
Merrill - HS, Carol Russell - HS, Nora Guzewich-Jefferson,
Kathy Mize- Middle School.
Tenure Awarded to
STA members:
Congratulations to the following STA members who were
recently awarded tenure: Krista Bonda, Sarah Dinan,
Stephanie Bush, Alicia Gorski, Joanne Manikas, Nora
Sabatini, Kathryn Sargent, Michele Weeks, Cheryl Zirpoli,
Danielle Zogby, and Jessica Zupan.
See pictures
Early Retirement
Option Signed into Law:
Governor Paterson signed into law a bill granting an early
retirement incentive for most public employees. It
provides employers with the option to authorize employees to
take advantage of a retirement incentive of either (A) one
month of service credit for each year of service up to 36
months, or (B) retire without penalty with at least 25 years
of service and reaching age 55.
The Schalmont Board of Education
approved Part A for targeted employees. Teachers and
other staff in targeted positions have been notified of
their eligibility.
Members who were targeted for Part
A and have questions should contact the
New York State Teachers'
Retirement System immediately to request an estimation
of their retirement benefits. More information is
available from the NYSUT
website.
Elections Results
for
Building Reps -
Elected Building Reps for 2010-11 are: HS - Chris Bailey,
Kevin Meachem, Fred Orlando and Carol Russell; MS - Bob
Anderson, Don Brandt,
Laurie Macken and Mike Libertucci; Jefferson - Sue Hennessy,
Lori DeMeo, Shannon Farrell and Amy Glick; Woestina - Cori Kinns;
Mariaville - Kim Knapik. Congratulations to all.
Earth Science
Students Reap Benefits of IDEA Grant -
On beautiful Monday, May 17, 2010, 55 Earth Science students
from Schalmont Middle and High Schools visited the site of
the original entrance to Howes Cavern – The Cave House
Museum. The trip was lead by local geologists from the
Hudson Mohawk Professional Geologist Association, who gave
students a lesson in both the history and science behind
this local wonder. Students worked in small groups at 5
stations to explore the site, which includes a working
quarry, a museum of mining and geology, a garden of boulders
from across New York State, several accessible exposed
bedrock outcrops and a rarely visited section of Howes
Cavern. Using equipment funded by an STI IDEA grant, the
students collected samples, made sketches, and truly learned
what it is like to work in the field like a geologist.
More
VOTE-COPE:
Now more than ever, NYSUT
is lobbying to legislators to urge them not to eliminate
funding for our most important asset, our children. It
is not too late to contribute to VOTE-COPE. IF you are
already a contributor, please
consider increasing your donation.
This is perhaps the most important donation you can make on
behalf of your colleagues in education. This past spring
there were thousands of jobs cut, with a number in our
own district. NYSUT, with your help, has launched a
campaign to educate people about the devastation that will
ensue with these cuts. If you have not increased your
donation in a few years, now is the time to consider doing
it...the job you save may be your own. If you have any
questions regarding VOTE-COPE, contact Joann Lasky at the
Middle School or Lori DeMeo at Jefferson.
(VOTE-COPE is a non-partisan organization and represents the
interests of all of us in education.)
"Hoops for Haiti"
Recognition in New York Teacher:
Schalmont TA was mentioned in an article in the February 18,
2010 issue of the New York Teacher, recognizing the efforts
of Jefferson teacher, Stephanie Bush, who organized the
Hoops for Haiti Faculty/Staff Basketball game. It is
located on the back cover in the center column. Check
it out!
STA
Website and STATIC Earn NYSUT Recognition Again:
NYSUT has announced that the Schalmont Teachers'
Association website and newsletter (STATIC) have each earned
the "Award of Merit" in the 2009 Journalism Contest.
This is the 2nd year in a row that STA has been recognized
for their efforts. Congratulations to Kelly Healy and
Carol Carelli, STATIC Editors and to Carol Carelli as
webmaster! Carol and President Mary Beth Flatley attended the NYSUT
Journalism Conference and awards ceremony on March 27, 2010,
accepting the recognition on STA's behalf.
"Hoops For Haiti"
Basketball Game -
30 members of the Schalmont Teachers' Association joined
forces with administrators and staff to play basketball in
an effort to raise money for the people of Haiti, whose
country was devastated by an earthquake in January.
It was a close game, with the Red team outscoring the Blue,
but it was a lot of fun for the packed gym. We raised
over $5,000 for the cause. Kudos go to Stephanie Bush,
a
Jefferson Elementary teacher, who organized the event.
Would you like to
make a donation to help the victims of the earthquake in
Haiti?
Click here to be directed to the
NYSUT site. All moneys will be donated to the
NYSUT Disaster Relief Fund. If you prefer, mail a
contribution (tax deductible) to: NYSUT Disaster Relief
Fund, NYSUT, Attention: Jeff Lockwood, 800 Troy -Schenectady
Road, Latham, New York 12110. Indicate
"Haiti Relief" on the memo line.
High
School Teachers Earn National Board Teacher Certification
Congratulations to
Tracy Pontin and Sarah Mattice, Schalmont High School
English teachers, for achieving National Board Teacher
Certification.
National Board Certification signifies that a teacher is
accomplished, having met challenging professional
standards as evidenced by performance-based
assessments. It is a year-long process designed to
examine the teaching techniques and classroom practices
of a teacher leading to improved student learning.
They
join more than 20 other Schalmont teachers who have
achieved this recognition. Check out their
pictures on the
NYSUT site.

STA Sponsors
District-Wide 5 or $5.00 Food Drive -
The STA sponsored a district-wide food drive which collected
more than 30 boxes and bags of food and over $350 for the
Schenectady City Mission. Many thanks to all who
supported the effort. A special thanks to Chris
Bailey, Mike Libertucci and Jeff VanHoesen for assisting in
the delivery of the food. More
photos

STA
Member Featured in Daily Gazette - Lorinda
Gandrow, Middle School Math teacher was recently featured in
the Schenectady Daily Gazette for her "Game of Life" lesson.
The lesson focused on students using their math skills in
"real-life" situations such as buying a house and earning a
salary in their "chosen" field (determined by drawing out of
a hat), budgeting for taxes and other expenses.
Lorinda is a National Board Certified Teacher and has been
teaching in the middle school for 9 years.
See article..

STA
Members Attend Leadership Conference-Eight
STA members attended the NYSUT Leadership Conference which
was held November 6-8 at the Sagamore in Bolton Landing.
Workshops were presented on a variety of topics including:
Basic Negotiations, Basic Grievance Processing, Technology
and Union Issues, Teachers Retirement, Communicable Diseases
in the Schools, Educational Issues and many more.
Members also heard from a representative from Congressman
Scott Murphy's (20th Congressional District) Office and Lee
Cutler, NYSUT Secretary/Treasurer. On Saturday
evening, members purchased tickets supporting " Making
Strides for Breast Cancer" and prizes donated by
individual locals were raffled off. Our STA donated a
nice gift basket and our own Joann Lasky was one of the
raffle winners! Congratulations, Joann!
(Alisha Couse, STA Treasurer and MaryBeth Flatley, STA
President, pictured at left with STA donation to the raffle) See more pictures.
Making Strides for
Breast Cancer Walk -
Schalmont teachers joined members of the high school
cheerleaders, football, girls basketball and volleyball
teams as they participated in the "Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer" Walk held on Sunday, October 18, 2009. Together we
raised over $2600 as we honored the STA members and
other Schalmont family who have been affected by this
disease. Special thanks to Lorinda Gandrow and Melissa West
for organizing the event.
More photos