Schuylerville is the latest Saratoga County School District to adopt a state mandated phone ban in schools. 

The policy was adopted on Aug. 18 and details both how students are supposed to store their devices and the potential consequences for violating the policy. 

Under the policy, students in elementary school are required to store their devices in their lockers if they bring them to school.  While the lockers don’t have locks built in, students can bring their own personal locks under the condition that they submit the key or combination to the school. 

In addition to phones, students are barred from bringing in smartwatches, tablets and all headphones and earbuds — both wired, and Bluetooth enabled devices. 

Students in middle and high school have a similar policy. Students are required to keep their phones off and in their lockers during the school day. Under the policy, students aren’t allowed to use their phones during rest period including lunch, study halls and in the hallways in between classes. 

Students who need to contact their parents can do so in the main offices of their respective schools. Parents can also contact the school and request to speak to their student. 

The policy also laid out the consequences of violation. 

• 1st Offense: Student or teacher brings phone to office where it is held until the end of the day.

• 2nd Offense: Student or teacher brings phone to office where it is held until a parent/guardian can pick it up.

• 3rd Offense: Student or teacher brings phone to office where it is held until a parent/guardian can pick it up, student is assigned a detention.

• 4th Offense: Student or teacher brings phone to office until parent/guardian can pick it up, further consequences are provided at the discretion of the administration.

Saratoga Springs, NY – On Sunday, August 24 at 10:30AM, join the Foundation’s Executive Director, Samantha Bosshart, for “Horsin’ Around North Broadway.” This engaging stroll explores the deep ties between Saratoga Springs’ famed North Broadway and the city’s rich horse racing heritage. Discover the connection between prominent racing families—like the Jeffords, Chenery, and Phipps—and the grand summer cottages of this historic neighborhood. As racing season enters the final stretch, it’s the perfect time to explore Saratoga Springs’ blend of health, history, and horses. Take the tour in the morning, then head to the Saratoga Race Course to see racing history be made. The tour meets at the northwest corner of North Broadway and Van Dam Street, in front of Witt Construction. 

Next Sunday, August 31, at 10:30AM, George DeMers leads the season’s final Summer Sunday Stroll, “Historic West Side.” Explore the diverse historic West Side neighborhood where Saratoga Springs’ Irish and Italian immigrants and Black community lived. The tour will highlight the settlement of this neighborhood, its rebirth as an arts district, and the rehabilitations that took place in the early 2000s. In addition to highlighting the historic architecture of this area, George will discuss the history of its residents, restaurants, stores, and clubs as well as the impacts of Urban Renewal and revitalization efforts.  The tour meets at the entrance of Gideon Putnam Burying Ground, located on South Franklin Street.

 The Foundation is grateful for the generous support of the 2025 Summer Series Sponsors: Druthers Brewing Company, and Stewart’s Shops. All Sunday morning tours last approximately 90 minutes and require walking and standing on varied terrain. Tours are limited to 30 participants. The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members. Foundation members with stroll passes need to contact the Foundation’s office to book their Sunday Summer Stroll before the date they choose.

With the start of classes just around the corner, Ballston Spa Central School District is the latest school district to enact a state-mandated man on cell phones and other personal electronic devices. 

Under the policy, students in middle and high school are expected to keep their mobile devices turned off and, in their lockers, while students in elementary school will be required to keep the devices in their backpacks. 

Students who need to contact their parents though out the day can use a phone in the main office of each building while parents can reach out to their specific child’s school if they need to contact them. 

The policy also outlines specific exceptions: 

• Where necessary for the management of students’ healthcare after approval by building administration;

• If authorized by a teacher, principal, district, or BOCES for a specific educational purpose;

• For translation purposes;

• On a case-by-case basis, upon review and determination by the building administration, for student caregiver who is routinely responsible for the care and wellbeing of a family member; or

• In the event of an emergency, with approval of the building administration;

• Where required by law;

• If a student’s IEP or 504 plan deems it necessary.

In addition, when students are on field trips, whether students have their phones out will be left to the discretion of the teacher in charge of the trip. 

WSWHE BOCES held its annual graduation ceremony on Thursday, August 7, 2025, to celebrate students who earned their High School Equivalency (HSE) diplomas.

The graduating class included both adult and youth learners who completed the requirements to pass the GED exam.

Nearly 100 people attended the event, including graduates, their families and friends, as well as WSWHE BOCES administrators, board members, instructors and staff.

District Superintendent Dr. Turina Parker addressed the graduates and commended their determination and resilience.

“Every step you take from here is a step toward that future,” said Dr. Parker. “Keep learning, keep growing, and don’t be afraid to take risks. The world needs your talents, your ideas, and your unique skills.” 

Graduates’ future plans include entering the workforce, enrolling in college and pursuing additional certifications in the career fields they aspire to join. Among this year’s class, one graduate will join the United States Navy, two will attend SUNY Adirondack, and one will begin studies at Siena College. Several other graduates are pursuing college opportunities and finalizing their next steps.

The WSWHE BOCES HSE Preparation Program provides students with a supportive and flexible path toward earning a high school equivalency diploma. Students learn at their own pace with individualized instruction depending on their needs.

The program empowers learners of all ages to pursue further education or career training, helping them build confidence and achieve their goals.

For more information about the High School Equivalency Preparation Program, visit https://www.wswheboces.org/apps/pages/HSE

Tang Museum Celebrating 25th Anniversary with Returning Acts

The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announces the final concert of the 2025 Upbeat on the Roof concert series with Hot Club of Saratoga on Thursday, August 21, at 6 pm.

Hot Club of Saratoga, Upstate New York’s premier gypsy swing ensemble, specializes in the timeless sounds of Django Reinhardt and the vibrant atmosphere of 1930’s Paris. Their music brings the magic of hot swing to life, and they are known for their captivating performances. Whether you’re a fan of gypsy jazz or simply looking to experience something unique and delightful, the Hot Club of Saratoga is sure to deliver an unforgettable musical experience.

This summer, the Upbeat series will be celebrating the Tang’s 25th anniversary with a slate of all returning acts. Hot Club of Saratoga also performed at the Upbeat on the Roof in 2014, 2016, and 2023.

Before each concert, Tang Museum educators will offer Crafts on the Grass: art-making kits for kids starting at 5:30 pm. A different kit with a craft project will be available each week. All projects are suitable for children aged 5 and up, with adult supervision. Materials will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Upbeat concert series began in summer 2001 on the roof deck of the Tang building. The series became so popular, however, that the concerts came off the roof and onto the lawn. The Upbeat on the Roof name remains. Visitors are invited to bring blankets, camping chairs, food, and drink to picnic on the lawn; plenty of parking is available in the lot adjacent to the museum.

The Tang galleries will be open before and after the concerts. In the case of inclement weather, the art-making activities and concerts will be held inside the museum.

Admission is free. The Tang is on the campus of Skidmore College. The main entrance is at 815 N. Broadway in Saratoga Springs. For more information, please call the Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080 or visit https://tang.skidmore.edu/visit.

BALLSTON SPA, NY – The Saratoga County Department of Aging & Youth Services has extended the deadline for applications for Youth TEAMS Programming funding to August 19, 2025. Municipalities, nonprofit, and community-based organizations with programs that provide team sports programs for youth may be eligible for funding.

Youth Team Sports (YTS) is grounded in the principles of positive youth development. It is intended to provide support to local team sports programs across New York State in communities where such programs may be scarce or under-resourced.  YTS has a sole focus on team sports.  For the purposes of YTS, a “team sport” is defined as an organized physical activity in which groups of two or more individuals compete with two or more opposing individuals. 

 Programs eligible for funding must meet the criteria below:

• Provide team sports activities for youth under age 18 in under-resourced communities.

• Operate in New York State.

• Demonstrate basic competency in the areas of governance, monitoring and evaluation, partnership, and financial stewardship.

• Have a child protection policy in place that includes adherence to local city, agency, school district, and state child protection guidelines.

• Have the ability to collect registration data, including participant demographic information, as required by OCFS in a manner that allows for accurate reporting of anonymized aggregate data.

 Organizations, expenditures, and activities not eligible for funding are the following:

• For-profit organizations or businesses.

• Private foundations, as defined in section 509(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

• Organizations that discriminate based on age, ethnicity/race, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or other disability, national origin, or any protected characteristic under local, state, and/or federal law.

• Research or project-planning activities.

• Elite or private sports camps, programs, or teams.

• Endowments, memorials, budget deficits, or fundraising activities.

• Religious organizations whose sports programs do not have a secular and community focus.

• Lobbying, political, or fraternal activities.

• Capital projects.

Funding is made available through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. 

Required forms and additional information about funding eligibility requirements and grant eligibility criteria are available on saratogacountyny.gov/youth. For more information, please call (518) 884-4100.

The Saratoga Children’s Literacy League (SCLL), founded in August 2023, proudly announces that it has gifted more than 20,370 books to children across Saratoga County.

Dedicated to fostering a love of reading, SCLL collects gently used children’s books, hosts community book-mending workshops to restore them to like-new condition, and distributes the books to local children, free of charge.

Building on this momentum, SCLL is excited to share that a Book Bus Project is in the works, bringing books directly into neighborhoods across the county. The organization hopes to debut the bus during its 2nd Annual Sunday Supper for Literacy fundraising event, scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2025.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.saratogaschildrens
literacyleague.org

Saratoga Springs —  This Women’s Equality Day, August 26, the Saratoga Springs History Museum and Saratoga Springs Visitor Center invite the public to step aboard The SHEratoga Tour, a 45-minute trolley experience that brings Saratoga’s trailblazing women to life. Far beyond the city’s famed Revolutionary War legacy, Saratoga played a pivotal role in the “Bloodless Revolution” that ultimately granted American women the right to vote. 

The SHEratoga Tour shines a spotlight on the courageous women and influential allies who transformed the fight for democracy. Riders will discover: 

• National Icons like Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt, who strategically gathered in Saratoga to rally the suffrage cause. 

• Local Sheroes such as Kathryn Starbuck and Ellen Hardin Walworth, whose tireless efforts helped shape New York’s—and the nation’s—path to equality. 

• The Power of Legacy, with the fascinating story of Miriam Leslie, who boldly used her inheritance to finance the final push for women’s voting rights. 

“This tour is more than a ride, it’s a celebration of the women whose voices and vision helped reshape our democracy,” said Nancy Brown, Tour Guide. “On Women’s Equality Day, we honor the legacy of these Sheroes and invite our community to connect with the history that still inspires progress today.” 

Following the trolley experience, guests are invited to visit the Saratoga History Museum in Congress Park, featuring a special exhibit on Miriam Leslie and a rich collection of artifacts highlighting Saratoga’s role in the fight for women’s equality. 

Event Details: Date: Monday, August 26, 2025 Tour Duration: 45 minutes Starting Point: The Saratoga Springs Visitor Center Includes Museum Admission 

Seats are limited. Celebrate Women’s Equality Day by experiencing the stories of the women who changed the nation, right here in Saratoga. 

For tickets and more information, visit https://www.saratogahistory.org/events/the-sheratoga-trolley-tour

Saratoga Springs High School has been named a 2024-2025 School of Excellence by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

The designation is awarded to schools that apply and have at least 75% of their varsity teams earn the Scholar-Athlete Team Award during their respective sports seasons. NYSPHSAA’s Scholar-Athlete Team Award has a proud tradition of celebrating schools that exemplify a commitment to success in the classroom while balancing the demands of athletic participation. 

“Congratulations to our Schools of Distinction and Excellence,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “These prestigious honors represent the culmination of a school year marked by outstanding achievement in the classroom. These accolades would not be possible without the dedication, hard work, and commitment of the student-athletes, coaches, and administrators whose efforts these awards proudly recognize.”