ALBANY — Two Buttons Deep, a company that creates social media content chronicling life in the Capital Region, announced this week that it had raised more than $10,000 for local teachers. The company said that the funds will pay for the “wish lists” of teachers who would otherwise have to pay out-of-pocket for classroom supplies not covered in school budgets.
Some of the biggest donors who took part in the “Big Tip Energy: Back to School Edition” fundraiser included Saratoga Eagle, Stella’s Creamery & Cakes, The Shaker and Vine, and Concord Pools & Spas.
Two Buttons Deep said that more than 100 local teachers submitted nominations hoping to have their classroom wish lists paid for. The fundraiser concluded on August 19.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore College has announced the return of Encore, a lecture series delivered by the school’s faculty for local adult learners age 55+.
The 2024 program runs for seven weeks on Tuesdays from October 1 through November 12 in the Arthur Zankel Music Center on Skidmore’s campus.
Some of this year’s lectures include “Venice Unveiled: Tracing the History and Myth of the Serene City,” “Afghan Refugees after US Withdrawal,” and “Cold War II? US-China Rivalry in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology.”
Online registration begins Tuesday, September 3 at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.skidmore.edu/encore.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District’s transportation department is hoping to make its bus routes more efficient by reducing the number of stops along some routes.
According to a presentation delivered by Superintendent Gianleo Duca at an August 7 Board of Education meeting, the proposed changes for the 2024-2025 school year would reduce the number of stops on 15 to 20 routes. These reductions would result in easier routes for substitute drivers, less time spent on buses for students, and a decrease in the amount of overtime pay for mechanics who drive buses when necessary.
The reduced number of stops will result in some students having a longer walk from the bus stop to their home, but the distances will be “well within New York State regulations,” Duca said.
BALLSTON LAKE — Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School will be implementing a new cell phone policy this year.
When students return to school at the end of the summer, they’ll be required to place their phones in a “rack” or cubby near the door of each classroom. Students won’t be able to access their phones during class, but they can still use their phones during lunch and in the hallway between classes.
Additionally, students will no longer be allowed to take their phones with them when they go to the bathroom. Principal Tim Brunson said that students sometimes go to the bathroom just to use their phones. He called this a “huge issue” that distracts students and decreases attendance.
“I anticipate that there will be some blowback at the start, but I think the positives far outweigh the negatives,” Brunson said of the new policy at an August 5 board of education meeting. “It shows that we trust the students to use [phones] appropriately but also shows how serious we are about eliminating distractions in the classroom.”
In the event of a home or family emergency, parents are advised to call the school so that they can reach their kids during class. Brunson said that the high school’s office is always manned. In non-emergency situations, parents can use email to contact their kids.
For now, the school will allow students to wear Apple Watches during class. Brunson said that teachers will monitor students to see if these watches also become distractions.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Tracy Galuski, an Empire State University professor and educational studies department chair, has been awarded a $1 million grant from the State University of New York (SUNY) and New York State’s Office of Strategic Workforce Development.
Galuski’s proposal, “Equity in Action: Supporting Upward Mobility for Paraprofessionals in Early Childhood,” was selected for funding as part of the Education Workforce Investment Upskilling
Paraprofessionals Program. It will increase opportunities for paraprofessionals to obtain initial teacher certification in high-need areas through Empire State University’s new baccalaureate-level teacher education program in Early Childhood Education.
“SUNY Empire will offer the Early Childhood Education program in a virtual learning format to maximize access to underserved communities,” Galuski said in a statement. “We are excited for the opportunities this program, supported by the grant, will provide for paraprofessionals in New York.”
Photo of Rita Penny via the Saratoga Central Catholic School.
hoto of Kelly Cataldo via the Ballston Spa Central School District.
Ballston Spa School District’s Wood Road Elementary and the Saratoga Central Catholic School each hired new faculty members last week.
At Wood Road, Kelly Cataldo will be joining as their new building principal.
Cataldo is a 2001 Ballston Spa graduate. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Adolescent Education Social Studies from SUNY Oneonta and a Master’s Degree in Literacy from the College of St. Rose. She earned both her School Building Leader and School District Leader Certificates from SUNY Plattsburgh.
Cataldo brings twelve years of teaching experience at the middle school and high school levels from the Lansingburgh Central School District. She transitioned into administration in 2019 as the assistant principal of Turnpike Elementary School and has spent the last three years as the building principal there.
“Coming home to work in Ballston Spa has always been a dream of mine,” Cataldo said in a statement. “As a graduate and current parent in the district, I am honored to join this amazing school district and lead Wood Road Elementary.”
The Saratoga Central Catholic School added Rita Penny as its new theology teacher. She’ll be teaching Religion 6, Religion 7, Religion 8, and Theology 9.
Penny holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical and Early Christian Studies from Christendom College. She previously served as an Assistant Teacher at both Chelsea Academy and Padre Pio Academy in Front Royal, Virginia, where she taught middle school and high school students. Penny also has experience in Latin, having tutored the subject in recent years.
Raised in Saratoga Springs, she is an active member of St. Clement’s parish.
Construction underway at the St. Mary’s School in Ballston Spa. Photo via the school’s Facebook page
BALLSTON SPA — St. Mary’s, a pre-K through 5th grade Catholic school in Ballston Spa, is upgrading its playground and revamping some of its offices during the summer break.
According to the school, one new office will house the attendance team and allow staff to inspect visitors’ identification before they are allowed into the building. Another project includes upgrades to the school’s playground, which will have sod, rubber mulch, and a new six-foot tall privacy fence.
“Lots of teamwork is going into the exciting projects taking place at St. Mary’s,” the school said in a social media post. “We can’t wait to open our doors to our students for all to see these transformations with their own eyes.”
Image of Tom Durkin via the Saratoga Central Catholic School.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Central Catholic School announced last week that Tom Durkin, an award-winning Saratoga Race Course announcer, will be joining its faculty as the Public Speaking Basics teacher. The class is a new elective offered by the school’s business department.
Durkin was a track announcer at the Saratoga Race Course from 1990 to 2014. He also worked as a sports commentator for ESPN and NBC Sports from 1984 to 2010. Durkin’s career has earned him numerous accolades, including the Jockey Club Gold Medal and the Eclipse Award of Merit. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from St. Norbert College.
The Public Speaking Basics course aims to equip students with essential skills such as structuring and delivering speeches, overcoming stage fright, and engaging with audiences effectively. Through practical exercises and real-world applications, students will gain confidence and proficiency in public speaking, preparing them for future academic and professional success.
Photo of the “Mehan Trail” mural in the Schuylerville Elementary School building via the district’s website. The mural was painted by 5th graders in honor of a former teacher who succumbed to cancer in 2023.
CHUYLERVILLE — Schuylerville Elementary School students have painted a mural in their school’s hallway in memory of Dave Mehan, a teacher who passed away in 2023 after battling cancer.
The mural, named “Mehan Trail,” is filled with images of nature, reading, kindness, and peace; images that are reflective of Mehan’s legacy. During his tenure of almost 26 years, Mehan was known as a devoted educator who had a unique ability to connect with students and staff in a meaningful way.
Shortly after Mehan’s passing, Schuylerville faculty and staff members wrote reflections of their experiences with the beloved teacher. One faculty member wrote:
“When I was going through my own cancer battle in 2016, he helped to organize my fundraiser. When he himself became sick, I could not believe the strength and determination he had. He has fought so hard this past year, traveling to whatever doctor he needed to, never giving up hope that he would beat it. I saw him for the last time a week ago and although exhausted and in pain, he was still cracking jokes and being the sarcastic Dave we all know and love.”
LATHAM — The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced its 2023-2024 Schools of Distinction and Excellence on Friday. Ballston Spa Senior High School and Saratoga Central Catholic High School were named Schools of Distinction, while Saratoga Springs High School and Schuylerville High School were designated as Schools of Excellence.
Winning schools will receive their commemorative awards at their local athletic director workshop this fall.
To earn School of Distinction status, 100% of the school’s varsity teams must qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award during their respective sports seasons. School of Excellence status is awarded to schools with 75% of varsity teams that qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award.
According to NYSPHSAA, the purpose of the School of Distinction and School of Excellence Awards are to unite athletic departments in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide academic honor. This year, 114 schools earned the School of Distinction Award and 226 schools earned the School of Excellence Award.
