BALLSTON SPA —The Ballston Spa Central School District and the local community will combine efforts once again to celebrate school and community pride during the district’s annual Community Spirit Week from Oct. 16 to 21.

During the weeklong celebration, Ballston Spa High School students will hold a Powder Puff football game on Monday at 6 p.m. and a Community Street Fair on Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. before the Homecoming Football game vs. Schenectady High School at 7 p.m., according to a release from the district. The Homecoming Dance for current High School students is scheduled for Saturday night.

Students will celebrate Spirit Week 2023 with various themes and activities each day organized by the BSHS Student Government. Students are invited to wear red, white, and blue for ‘America Monday,’ while other themes include ‘Tacky Tourist Tuesday,’ ‘Color Wars’ on Wednesday, and ‘Purple & Gold School Spirit Day’ on Thursday, the release states.

Students in the Middle School and Elementary schools will also be participating in various events throughout the week. The latest plans are available on the school websites.

Organizations from throughout the area and members of various school groups have been invited to participate in the Community Street Fair, which will include student-led activities, games, food and fun offered by the student clubs and organizations from throughout the district. Activities include a Robotics Demonstration, Chamber Orchestra Performance, Swing Dancing, Photo Selfie Station, and a variety of fun games, the release states.

The entire Ballston Spa school community is encouraged to attend the Street Fair and support the students. Please visit the district website at www.bscsd.org or contact the Ballston Spa High School for more information at 518-884-7150.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Middle School recently celebrated International Peace Day, creating chalk art in the front walkway of the school.

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on Sept. 21. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace, according to a release by the district.

MALTA — Career Jam hosted hundreds of eighth and ninth grade students from many schools on Wednesday at Career Jam Explore at TEC-SMART on Hudson Valley Community College’s North Campus in Malta. 

Career Jam Explore is designed to bridge the gap between students, local businesses, skilled trades, and educational partners. The event was supported by Saratoga County, which underwrote the cost for students in the county to attend free of charge, a press release states.

“It is exciting (to) bring so many students and businesses together as we strive to inspire and retain the next generation of workforce talent in our region,” said Ryan Van Amburgh, the founder and CEO of Career Jam, in the release. “Doing so is crucial for both economic development and ensuring household prosperity for students and their families.”

 Structured for eighth and ninth-grade students, Career Jam Explore offers an opportunity for young learners to discover a diverse range of local career pathways through interactive activities with professionals from various industries.

The event kicked off with a “Prep Rally” featuring a DJ, t-shirts, prizes, games, and trivia. Following the rally, students had the opportunity to explore over 50 exhibits showcasing businesses in the region, the release states.

Career Jam Explore includes a personalized survey from the Siena College Research Institute, identifying which career cluster aligns with each student’s interests, and analyzes their aptitude and learning style, the release states. Students also developed an elevator pitch and techniques to introduce themselves to businesses.

“Saratoga County is pleased to support Career Jam. This innovative event brings businesses and schools together in a fun and engaging way to help students explore the many career pathways that are available to them right here in the Capital Region,” said Saratoga County administrator Steve Bulger in the release. “Saratoga County’s robust economy is built on its strong workforce with education being a key building block to economic success. Career Jam is helping to build our future workforce by bringing these two important sectors together.”

Another Career Jam Explore event will be held Oct. 19 on Hudson Valley’s main campus in Troy. Students and businesses are invited to participate. 

For more information about Career Jam Explore, visit www.career-jam.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Fall Fun Day, an annual fundraiser by The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, returns Oct. 14 at Pitney Meadows Community Farm, celebrating the fall season with activities, food, live music, animals, and more.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, offering fall-themed activities such as hayrides with a horse-drawn carriage, sheep shearing, pumpkin painting, and more. Waldorf School assistant administrator Danielle Arenas said Fall Fun Day is “an all-around fun time for the whole family.”

“The fall festival really is one of the most long-standing events that Waldorf has done,” said Arenas. “Our staff will be there, we get a lot of volunteers as well from families. Different parents come, alumni. It’s events that they have gone to in the past, and they enjoy coming back.”

Other activities will include an apple press, drum circle, live music, food vendors, and more, Arenas said.

“We’re going to have a hay jump, a couple different craft tables led by our teachers here at Waldorf,” Arenas said. “We are also going to be having a hay ride. … We’re going to have Seth and the Moody Melix for music. We’ve got a couple different food options as well.”

Entry for adults is $5, and $3 for children, while those aged 2 and under are admitted for free, according to a press release, which also states some of the attractions offered at Fall Fun Day are ticketed.

Funds raised will support Waldorf’s tuition assistance program, the release states, while Arenas also said that funds benefit the school’s early childhood programs and lower grades.

“We did, just this past year, open up our early childhood program on Lake Avenue,” said Arenas. “So proceeds really are going to go to benefit building up the lower grades.”

More information on Fall Fun Day can be found at waldorfsaratoga.org/events. Arenas emphasized Fall Fun Day is “a community event,” providing fall activities for families in Saratoga and beyond.

“We want it to be a community event,” Arenas said. “We definitely want it to be, not just for Waldorf, but for everybody.”

SCHUYLERVILLE — Schuylerville Middle School wrapped up the first full week of school with its third annual Friday Festivities Positive Culture event.

Students in grades 6-8 gathered together to receive an introduction to all the middle school has to offer. As a way to encourage involvement outside the school day, students were introduced to the various clubs and organizations they can join.

Students selected five clubs they wanted to learn more about, and attended presentations with advisors throughout the building. They also learned about athletic offerings, mental health supports, and the National Junior Honor Society, according to a release on the district website.

The day ended with a student and staff relay event on the turf field, and popsicles. Students were also introduced to the ‘Gotcha’ ticket program, where teachers will catch kids doing great things, and their tickets will be entered into a prize drawing each month, the release states.

“We always emphasize positivity and kindness go a long way in the middle school,” said Assistant Principal Maddie Wright in the release. “Our Friday Festivities event was a great opportunity for students to build connections with each other and staff, and start the year off on a great note.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Sept. 20, WSWHE BOCES Environmental Conservation and Forestry Instructor Dennis Flynn, along with 18 of his students, joined professional arborists from around New York State for the ninth annual Saluting Branches Day of Service.

Students performed tree care and site beautification using the skills they’ve acquired in their Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. One of 51 sites in the national event, it was the only one in New York State, according to a press release.

Senior Isabelle Edmond of Mechanicville said she was glad to give back to the community and make the cemetery more attractive for visitors.

“We volunteered to take down some trees and prune some trees in order to better help the resting place of veterans and their families,” said Edmond in the release.

During the day, students partnered with industry experts, and were able to pick up tips and make connections.

Roman Gaddeau is a veteran of the Iraq War and an alumni of the program who came back to help Instructor Dennis Flynn, the release states. He said he enjoyed being a chaperone for this special day.

“I think this is important for students, the different generations, especially since the older generations are going away,” Gaddeau said in the release. “The younger generations need to learn about their contributions.”

Instructor Dennis Flynn says he feels proud to support the cemetery.

“Not only are the students getting hands-on experience but they are helping their community,” said Flynn in the release.

Flynn said that several students have family members who are buried at the cemetery and that was another motivation for them to volunteer. This is the seventh year his program has joined in the effort, the release states.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eight seniors at Saratoga Springs High School were named Commended Students in the 2023-2024 National Merit Scholarship Program, the district announced in a release.

Maggie Anthes, Katherine Henry, Alexander Martin, Theresa Prehn, Max Sefcik, Hudson Shaw, Seth Tremper, and Stephen Zimmerman all received the honor of being named a Commended Student.

Commended Students placed among the top five percent of 1.5 million students who entered the 2023-2024 Merit Program by taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship qualifying test, the release states. The students received a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City School District recognized several employees for 25 years of service to the district on Sept. 14.

Each employee received a certificate of recognition, and chose a book to be placed in one of the school libraries, according to a release from the district.

SSCSD employees celebrated for reaching 25 years are:

• Michelle Ahlheim (Saratoga Springs High School)

• Barbara Caban (Transportation Department)

• Dennis Eckert (Dorothy Nolan Elementary School)

• Denise Francis (Transportation Department)

• Raymond Rogers-Harrington (Maple Avenue Middle School)

• Terry Jones (Saratoga Springs High School)

• Wendy Krotow (Maple Avenue Middle School)

• Lori Lambalot (Geyser Road Elementary School)

• Maura McNamara (Multiple Elementary Schools)

• Mitch Snyder (Maple Avenue Middle School)