Photo courtesy of Saratoga Central Catholic School.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic School concluded its annual Socktober Drive this week, with the school’s Student Council collecting 876 socks to donate to local organizations.
Socks were donated to the Shelters of Saratoga, Saratoga Center for the Family, Code Blue of Saratoga, and Franklin Community Center. The Socktober Drive has collected 3,872 socks in total since beginning the annual event seven years ago, said Dean of Student Life Maria Izzo.
BALLSTON SPA — Robotics teams from the Capital Region and beyond competed at Ballston Spa High School in the 2022 Robot Rumble Off-Season Robotics Competition on Saturday.
FIRST Robotics teams from Ballston Spa, Shenendehowa, Shaker, and Colonie combined to organize the event. FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competitions task teams of 15 students or more with raising funds, designing a team brand, and building and programming robots to perform tasks against competitors.
The FIRST programs allow students to gain real-world experience with engineering, learning how to construct a robot and utilize complex hardware and software.
Offseason events such as the Robot Rumble provide opportunities for teams to prepare for the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition, which will be held March 30 to April 1 at MVP Arena in Albany. The competition season begins in January. Competitions for elementary and middle school students will also be held in December and in January 2023.
WILTON — Sylvan Learning, a tutoring company devoted to building academic confidence, igniting intellectual curiosity and inspiring a love for learning, is opening a new location in Wilton. The center will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 14 Mountain Ledge Drive. This new expansion will add to Sylvan’s Captial Region portfolio, who already have locations in Albany and Clifton Park. The goal is simple, if a child has fallen behind or is way ahead of the class, Sylvan has a program to challenge each student, build confidence, boost study skills and help deliver better grades. Now more than ever, with many children losing out on learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sylvan learning will be a useful tool to help identify and rectify any gaps in learning that local youth may have suffered.
The new location will be run by John and Audrey Waterfield, decade-long educators and members of the 518 community. After working for Sylvan Learning in Albany and Clifton Park, in both teaching and administrative roles, the couple saw a need for an individualized learning approach in Saratoga County.
Audrey worked at Sylvan as a teacher before becoming an administrative manager for Sylvan’s Clifton Park location. John began with the brand when he was hired to fill Audrey’s role as a teacher. As students of Saratoga County return to a regular academic year, Sylvan learning will be a useful tool to help students, parents succeed in a post-COVID world.
BALLSTON SPA —Robotics teams from throughout the Capital Region, other areas of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts will be convening at Ballston Spa High School on Saturday, Nov. 5 for the 2022 Robot Rumble Off-Season Robotics Competition. Those interested in learning more about the “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” or FIRST programs are invited to stop by to see the teams and robots in action. The Robot Rumble will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the Ballston Spa High School, located at 220 Ballston Avenue in Ballston Spa. The event is free and open to the public.
FIRST Robotics competitions combine the excitement of sport with the rigors of science, technology and engineering. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 15 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Through the program, students get to learn 21st century skills; build and compete with a robot of their own design; learn to use sophisticated software and hardware; and compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments. The FIRST programs provide students interested in the STEM fields with real-world engineering in a high school setting.
“Ballston Spa High School is excited to be able to host this great opportunity to interest students in the STEM fields again after not being able to hold the event for the last two years due to the pandemic,” said the school district in a statement. Four area FIRST Robotics teams from Ballston Spa, Shenendehowa, Shaker, and Colonie have collaborated to organize this year’s event. The GlobalFoundries / Town of Malta Foundation provided a grant that will allow the FIRST competition’s Rapid React from last season to be brought to Ballston Spa High School for the Robot Rumble event. Off-season competitions provide an opportunity for teams to have fun and to recruit new students, industry mentors and sponsors as they begin preparing for the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition in March 2023.
Similar competitions for elementary and middle school aged students will take place in December and January. The 2023 season for the FIRST Robotics Competition teams begins in January 2023 with a regional event being held at the Times Union Center on March 30th to April 1st. For more information on the robotics program please visit the team website at FRCTeam3044.team or follow the twitter feed @OxBe4. Please contact Ballston Spa K-12 STEM Coordinator Diane Irwin at the Ballston Spa High School (884-7150) for additional information on the district’s robotics initiatives or by email at dirwin@bscsd.org.
“It’s really just fun to read a good book,” said Stephany Davis, the founder of Connection to Creativity, an organization that has helped encourage more than 900,000 children to love reading since 2015.
As a librarian at the Bahamas Atlantis Resort for 12 years, Davis saw that reading was losing the fight for kids’ attention. Her son, Aliko, also struggled with reading. However, there was a solution, she learned.
“Find what a child loves, and the child will read,” she said.
Aliko passed in 2017, but Davis has continued to make reading fun for kids. She moved to America that same year and found that the problem with reading was a universal one.
“When I came to the States, I realized the struggle was the same.”
The Life-Changing Power of Reading
Connection to Creativity gets kids interested in reading by incorporating art and craft activities, music, and special guest appearances.
Previous sessions have included Books Bringing the Beats, where Dr. Suess books were transformed into musical renditions; Cuddle and Read, where kids constructed a teddy bear to take home with them; and Playful Picasso, a read and paint scavenger hunt.
“Every child learns differently; you have to find a way to get them engaged and involved. It’s fun for kids to see books come to life,” explained Davis.
At home with parents who are busy with so many other things, finding the time to read with their children can be tricky, Davis has found. She suggests including opportunities for kids to read while doing everyday activities – this can mean having them read a recipe and food labels while you cook, or clothing tags when you’re doing laundry.
“Reading is a tool in life to get you through life itself,” continued Davis, “It opens the mind and helps you learn how to deal with conflict. If I can get just one child to have a positive mindset toward reading, it can change their life.”
Making Reading Apple-solutely Wonderful
During the pandemic, 1,200 people logged on to experience Connection to Creativity’s four-day virtual event with the Saratoga Springs Public Library and Victoria Kann, award-winning illustrator and author of the popular picture book series featuring the whimsical character Pinkalicious.
Beginning this fall, Connection to Creativity is hosting interactive hands-on opportunities for children up to age 10 at Saratoga Apple. Apple Creations, happening until mid-November, features apple-themed readings, crafts and games. From October on, Apple-y Ever After, a 4-week paid course, will be incorporating games, apple recipes, a chance to meet with the farmer, and more.
Mark Your Calendar:
Apple Creations free 40-minute events are Saturdays at 10 a.m., 12, and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Apple-y Ever After, a paid 4-week session of 1 hr+ of weekly reading-centered activities is ongoing. All events will be held at Saratoga Apple, 1174 Rte 29, Schuylerville. Space for both is limited.
For more information, and to register go to www.connectiontocreativity.com/saratoga-apples, email books@connectiontocreativity.com, or call 917-719-6424.
BALLSTON SPA —On Thursday, October 20, members of the Skidmore College Orchestra visited the Ballston Spa Middle School to talk with students and give a unique presentation on music and space. The students were treated to music from Skidmore students while viewing graphics portrayed on the auditorium big-screen. The Skidmore College orchestra is a semi-professional orchestra made up of Skidmore students and top players from several regional professional orchestras, including the Albany Symphony, Berkshire Symphony, Schenectady Symphony, and Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra.
BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa Central School District, along with its higher education and business partners, currently operates the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School (ECHS), a program that prepares students for college and careers in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy and advanced technology including semi-conductor manufacturing.
The mission of the program is to develop and support pathways to higher education that lead to careers in STEM fields through rigorous academic programming and a collaborative approach to learning. Starting over a decade ago in 2011, the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries ECHS is a NYS P-TECH program that provides students a distinct opportunity to earn an associate’s degree while preparing them to seamlessly transition into key industry sectors within our economic region.
This week, juniors at ECHS begun their “water quality testing week,” a week devoted to good scientific practices and how to identify possible contaminants in water supplies. Using technology not readily available in most regular high school labs, the local ECHS students are continuing the advanced curriculum offered in hopes of driving students to a career path of STEM related career paths. Importantly, the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries ECHS boasts a 100% college acceptance rate, with 256 participating students in 21 different districts.
BALLSTON SPA —The Ballston Spa Middle School is set to host “Scotties’ Closet” on Saturday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., this event marks their 13th consecutive year. This school community event provides gently used clothing, books, coats and shoes to about 300 students, families and individuals annually. It is organized by middle school social workers, along with parent representatives and school and community volunteers. All items donated by the school community are provided free to students, families and members of the community. “This annual community event would not be possible without the tireless efforts of school and community volunteers who donate, sort and merchandise all the items in the cafeteria,” said BSCSD in a statement. Until October 24, the school district has set aside marked bins in school lobbies where people can donate items. Because winter months are fast approaching, snowpants, boots, coats and hats are in high demand. Please contact the middle school for additional information at 518-884-7200 or email cjones@bscsd.org to volunteer.
(L-R) NYASP Chapter F Representatives Calyn Kessler and Eliane Keyes presented the award to Chelsea Cangeleri along with Ballston Spa’s CSE Chairperson Meghan Zito at a recent October Board of Education meeting. Photo provided.
BALLSTON SPA — The New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP) is a statewide organization that represents the profession of School Psychology. Their mission is to serve children, their families and school community by promoting psychological well-being, excellence in education and sensitivity to diversity through best practices in school psychology.
Earlier this month, the Ballston Spa Central School District, which is located in NYASP’s Chapter F, which encompasses the counties of Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Saratoga, Warren and Washington had their school psychologist recognized. Chelsea Cangeleri of the Ballston Spa Middle School recently received the Chapter School Psychologist of the Year Award. Ms. Cangeleri has led initiatives related to mindfulness, trauma response, data and behavior and crisis intervention in the school since 2006. Ms. Cangeleri also contributes to the field of school psychology by supervising interns and school psychology practicing students. “These, and many more accomplishments, are all above and beyond her daily responsibilities as a valued school psychologist,” said the Ballston Spa district in a statement.
The Chapter School Psychologist of the Year Award is presented by local chapters to individuals who spend the majority of their time (75%) providing direct services to children and their families. Each local winner becomes the chapter nominee for the NYASP Frank Plumeau School Practitioner of the Year Award. Additional information is online at www.nyasp.org.
TECSMART’s Grand Opening at HVCC. Photos provided.
BALLSTON SPA —On Friday, October 21, sophomores at Ballston Spa High will be given a tour of Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART facilities in hopes to pique their interest in a career revolving manufacturing and alternative energies. Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART facility in Malta features more than a dozen state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories to train students to enter the STEM-related workforce. The TEC-SMART or Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies, has become a critical component of not only HVCC’s curricula but also the local economy in Malta with Global Foundries also being located there. The goal of TEC-SMART is to prepare students for a new economy that promotes job growth, environmental sustainability and technological innovation. Through TEC-SMART, Hudson Valley is producing a workforce to serve major employers including General Electric, SunPower Inc., Solar City and of course, Global Foundries.
This partnership between HVCC and Ballston Spa High School has been in existence for over a decade. The Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School in Malta was developed by the Ballston Spa Central School District in partnership with HVCC and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in 2011. It now has over 50 partners from business and industry, higher education, and non-profit and government agencies. The Clean Tech ECHS was awarded a NYS P-TECH grant which expanded opportunities for students in the program to take college coursework in one of several career pathways. Students in the program create solutions to real world problems during their experiences in the program while collaborating and connecting with business and industry partners. They also enroll in college coursework with college professors at Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART in Malta (at no cost to families). Some of the career pathways include clean energy, community health navigation/public health, cybersecurity, engineering sciences, entrepreneurship and surgical technician.
On Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. an information night for prospective students, currently in 8th grade, who are interested in joining the Clean Tech ECHS P-TECH Program will be offered at Ballston Spa High School. School district leaders, parents and 8th grade students interested in learning more about the program are invited to attend. The agenda for the evening includes presentations from current students and program staff. For more information and to register, please visit the website at www.bscsd.org/domain/839 or contact ECHS Program Coordinator Adrienne Snow at asnow@bscsd.org.
