SARATOGA SPRINGS — Coral & Blue Paper Co., a local children’s stationery company, is on a mission to encourage gratitude, thoughtfulness and creativity by helping continue the tradition of writing Thank You notes. 

After forging a relationship with a school in Africa, the company has recently gained support from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Saratoga Springs to boost the school’s charitable efforts.

Burundi is one of the poorest nations in the world and has experienced civil war, political strife, genocide and ethnic cleansing within the last 15 years. Traditional schools are only available in the cities, with little access to education among the mostly rural population.

Named for the colors of classic elementary lines, Coral & Blue Paper Co. creator Ashely Campbell designed the stationery after searching the market unsuccessfully for a product that met the needs of elementary-aged children. 

Connecting with a school in Burundi, Africa, the company provided paper stationery supplies to its students in a country where blank paper is a novelty. With access to these supplies, they are practicing penmanship, reading, writing, art, and public speaking using the cards.

“The people of Burundi stole my heart from day one and it has been such an honor to learn about the country and its beautiful people through this connection,” Campbell said, in a prepared statement.

Over the last year, this partnership has evolved from providing the school with stationery in their native language to delivering a fully sponsored school program attended by more than 5,000 children supplying drinks, food, school supplies to the attendees at the cost of approximately $2,500. Last Christmas, Coral & Blue also provided supplies and small gifts to the children purchased in-country to help support local economies.

This holiday season, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Saratoga Springs supports Coral & Blue’s Burundi Mission by continuing to provide support to the school. The public can donate to the mission by clicking on the church’s giving portal, which may be accessed by going to: spalutheran.org. Donations are also accepted by mail or church drop-off, located at 149 Lake Ave. Please include a note that the donation is for the Mission to Serve. 

For more information about Coral & Blue, go online to: coralandblue.com

MAYFIELD — Transitions, a premier program designed to advance college and career success for young adults with autism spectrum disorders and other learning differences, announces its first-ever day camp at the program’s new Downtown Albany location. Camp is being held on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and allows individuals with autism between ages 15 and 27 to see if the program is a good fit. 

Students are guaranteed to have fun and grow while learning valuable skills and applying them in real-world situations. Transition camps are filled with activities that bring students closer together in a carefully structured, nurturing, and supportive environment designed to help them create lasting friendships with like-minded peers. 

As part of the day camp, students will experience a full range of activities focused on Transitions core curriculum, enrichment classes, and extracurricular activities. Skill building is woven into all activities, and peer mentors are fully trained and vetted to provide students with a safe and transformative experience. Lunch and dinner are included. 

“Our camps give a glimpse of our full year program,” said Penny Rivenburg, Senior Director, Transitions. “If you join us, you will experience Transitions, you will meet current students and mentors, and learn tools that will help you in your future. Best of all, you will have fun.” 

Transitions was founded in 2015, with its main campus in Mayfield, NY. The program opened its second location in Albany in September of this year. 

The Downtown Albany campus is in partnership with Mildred Elley and allows students to access local colleges and universities while benefiting from the supports offered under the Transitions model. The new campus hosts full year programs and can accommodate both residential and day students. 

The day camp costs $65 per student. To register, email admissions@transitionsusa.org or call 518-775-5384 or 518-661-6617. 

Saratoga Springs Central School District 

Dec. 1 – Concert Band at 6:30 p.m. (Loewenberg Auditorium)

Dec. 1 – Jazz Band at 7:15 p.m. (Teaching Auditorium)

Dec. 1 – Symphonic Band at 8 p.m. (Loewenberg Auditorium) 

Dec. 8 – Concert Orchestra at 7 p.m. (Loewenberg Auditorium) 

Dec. 8 – Symphonic Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. (Loewenberg Auditorium)

Dec. 8 – Chamber Orchestra at 8 p.m. (Loewenberg Auditorium)

Dec. 15 – Chorus at 7 p.m. (Loewenberg Auditorium)

Dec. 15 – Choraliers at 7:30 p.m. (Loewenberg Auditorium)

Dec. 20 – Orchestra 7 at 6 p.m. (Maple Ave, Trombley Auditorium) 

Dec. 20 – Orchestra 8 at 6:30 p.m. (Maple Ave, Trombley Auditorium) 

Dec. 20 – Band 7 at 7 p.m. (Maple Ave, Trombley Auditorium) 

Dec. 20 – Band 8 at 7:30 p.m. (Maple Ave, Trombley Auditorium) 

Ballston Spa Central School District 

Middle School and High School Concerts:

Dec. 9 – 7:30 p.m. Special Concert featuring the 7th Grade Band, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble 

Dec. 13 – 7:30 p.m. JV Concert with Concert Jazz, Concert Choir, and Concert Orchestra

Dec. 14 –7 p.m. 7th Grade Choir and Orchestra

Dec. 16 –7:30 p.m. Varsity Concert with High School Jazz, Festival Choir, and Symphonic Orchestra

Dec. 21 –7 p.m. 6th Grade Orchestra, Choir, and Band 

All Elementary School Concerts: 
All the BSCSD Elementary winter concerts have been rescheduled to March 2022 and relocated to the High School Auditorium.

March 1 at 7 p.m. – Milton Terrace Elementary School 

March 3 at 7 p.m. – Gordon Creek Elementary School 

March 8 at 7 p.m. – Wood Road Elementary School 

March 10 at 7 p.m. – Malta Avenue Elementary School 

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District 

Dec.6 – O’Rourke Winter Concert #1 (Orchestra 7/8, Band 8, & Chorus 8) at 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 – O’Rourke Winter Concert #2 (MS Jazz Band, Band 7, & Chorus 7) at 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 – HS Winter Concert #1 (Symphonic Band, Mixed Chorus, & Orchestra) at 7:30 p.m. 

Stillwater Central School District 

Dec. 2 – HS Winter Concert at 7 p.m. 

Dec. 7 – ES Winter Concert at 7 p.m. 

Dec. 9 – MS Winter Concert at 7 p.m. 

Corinth Central School District 

Dec. 7 – HS Winter Concert at 7 p.m. 

Dec. 9 – Elementary Winter Chorus Concert at 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 16 – Grades 5 & 6 Winter Concert at 7 p.m. 

South Glens Falls Central School District 

Dec. 7 – Moreau Winter Concert at 6:30 p.m. 

Dec. 9 – Ballard Winter Concert at 6:30 p.m. 

Dec. 13 – Grades Choir Concert at 7 p.m. 

Dec. 14 – Harrison Ave. Winter Concert at 6:30 p.m. 

Dec. 15 – Grades Band Concert at 7 p.m. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — SUNY Empire State College Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea has announced the SUNY Empire State College Center for Autism Inclusivity’s new name, Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports, during the college’s inaugural conference, Partners in Applied Behavior Analysis. Gonyea also announced an endowment from Susan and Jack Turben that funds the center’s director role in perpetuity.

The Center for Autism Advocacy’s new name more closely represents the center’s goal of supporting students with autism, providing the autism community with up-to-date research on autism spectrum disorders, and education faculty and staff on how to mee the needs of students with autism in online and in-person learning environments. 

SUNY Empire State College also announced that the Center for Autism Advocacy’s directorship is permanently endowed thanks to a gift from SUNY Empire alumna and child-development expert Susan ’72 and Jack Turben. In recognition, the role, currently filled by Dr. Noor Syed, is now the Susan H. Turben Director for Autism Advocacy. 

In August of last year, SUNY Empire and Anderson Center celebrated the launch of the Center for Autism Inclusivity to provide educational support and research to better serve individuals with autism in the classroom and the workplace. In partnership with Anderson Center, the center promotes workforce development for professionals serving individuals with autism, creates autism-inclusive learning environments, and helps meet the growing demand for professionals working with children and adults with autism spectrum disorders. SUNY Empire’s Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, which launches in spring 2022, prepares students to address the educational, emotional, and social needs of individuals with autism. 

“Over the past 50 years, we’ve built upon the diversity of our students – developing, implementing, and assessing approaches to learning that recognize and adapt to their distinct needs,” said SUNY Empire State College Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea, Ph.D. “The Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports is a shining example of our mission, and its new name encompasses the full continuum of services we provide.”

“As we collaborated more extensively with our autistic colleagues, we realized that the Center for Autism Inclusivity’s name did not fully represent the scope of our goals,” added SUNY Empire State College’s Susan H. Turben Director for Autism Advocacy Noor Syed, Ph.D. “Our new name, Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports, better reflects our mission of working with, listening to, and learning from the autistic community to engage in initiatives that best support autistic and neurodivergent values.” 

For more information about the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports and it its programs, visit www.esc.edu/autism. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS/WESTBURY — The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) has announced a return to the Rochester Riverside Convention Center and the historic Eastman Theatre on Dec. 2 – 5 for the 2021 All-State Festival and Winter Conference, after the pandemic forced a cancellation in 2020. 

Maxwell Novik, a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, has been selected as a Bass I to the 2021 Mixed Chorus. He will participate in a concert held in the Eastman Theatre in Rochester during the annual NYSSMA Winter Conference. Maxwell will be accompanied by SSHS Choir Director Karen Houlahan. 

During his time there, Maxwell will participate in several rehearsals with students from across New York State. He will be completing Zoom sectionals and recording part checks to submit to the Mixed Chorus chairperson to demonstrate his preparation of the challenging repertoire. 

Maxwell is an extremely dedicated, active, and accomplished singer, signing as a member of the SSHS Choraliers, participating in the NYSSMA Solo Festival, taking private vocal lessons, and as a member of SCHWA Capella, a student-led after school signing ensemble. 

For more information about the New York State School Music Association, or to purchase All-State Concert ticket, go to www.NYSSMA.org. 

LATHAM — In a move designed to strengthen the future of Catholic education in the Capital Region, the Albany Diocesan School Board (ADSB), under the leadership of Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, has announced it will create a new school Latham that will allow for a continuum of Catholic education from pre-K to 12th grade in one location. The new Catholic Central School is set to open its doors in September 2022. 

St. Ambrose School in Latham (pre-K to 5th grade) and Catholic Central High School in Lansingburgh (6th to 12th grade) will come together at the 19-acre Latham campus that is currently home to St. Ambrose Parish and School. 

Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, students from Catholic Central High School (CCHS) will join students from St. Ambrose School to form a new school community on the Latham site. Catholic Central School will be created in phases over the next few years. It will offer students a full academic journey in a safe learning environment at one central location. The new school will afford families the option to enroll their children at any stage of their education accommodating the varying grade level configurations of any surrounding public or private school. 

Although architectural designs are still being finalized, initial plans call for 2022-2023 to be a transitional year. Students will share St. Ambrose School’s existing 20,500 sq. ft. building. Wings, multiple entrances, and pods of classrooms will enable administrators to keep the three distinct age groups – pre-k and kindergarten, grades 1-5, and grades 6-12 – separated and, when needed, allow for purposeful interaction and mentoring opportunities. 

Catholic Central School will be expanded by renovating and building upon St. Ambrose School’s existing structure, which includes 18 classrooms, a laboratory, and gymnasium. Architects will provide a timeline for the project in the coming weeks with renovations to begin shortly after. 

“We are going to be able to deliver a state-of-the-art education with even more extracurricular activities and offerings. The school will also actively expand upon higher educational partnerships,” said Superintendent of Schools Giovanni Virgiglio. “CCHS has exiting programs with several surrounding universities. We are only going to be able to enhance those offerings through our proximity to these institutions.” 

Located off Old Loudon Road off Exit 6 of I-87, Catholic Central School will offer students numerous advantages, including room for ongoing growth, ample parking, and an expansive campus in the heart of the Capital Region. 

“Easily accessible to the Northway, Route 7, and Route 9, there’s no place from which you can’t get to the sprawling campus,” added Virgiglio, noting that the new school will likely be a draw for families from many surrounding school districts, expanding the bus transportation radius. “It will also be more convenient for families to get to Catholic Central School, which is just minutes away from its current location in Troy.” 

“As CCHS approaches its 100th anniversary in 2023, we wanted to take action that will guide us into our second century,” said Nate Maloney, chairperson of the Catholic Central High School board of trustees. “We are excited by the endless options Catholic Central School will provide to our students and how it dovetails with our shared vision for the future of Catholic education.” 

In the coming weeks, the Futures Committee plans to host a series of informational meetings. 

“Our hope is that input from key stakeholders will help us to further refine our plans,” said Virgiglio. 

For more information, or to reserve a spot for the 2022-2023 school year, please call St. Ambrose School at 518-785-6453 or Catholic Central High School at 518-235-7100. A dedicated Catholic Central School website will be launched in the coming weeks featuring frequently asked questions, videos, and other important details. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — SUNY Empire State College students have reported the highest levels of satisfaction with their overall college experience in several key areas of the 2021 SUNY Student Satisfaction Survey. Fifty SUNY campuses participated in this year’s survey. SUNY Empire has regularly participated in the system-wide student opinions surveys since 1994. 

The 2021 survey marks the inaugural year for SUNY in-house survey administration. In previous iterations, the survey was called the Student Opinion Survey (SOS) and was administered by American College Testing Inc. (ACT) in collaboration with SUNY System Administration. 

The Student Satisfaction Survey, conducted on a triennial basis, is designed to evaluate programs, services, and facilities SUNY campuses provide to undergraduate students. College and system administrators use this information to identify areas of strength, as well as areas that require attention. 

The Student Satisfaction Survey study population is based on degree-seeking undergraduate “home institution” students 18 and older who were enrolled in at least one course during the Spring 2021 semester. The survey was administered to a random sample of SUNY Empire degree-seeking undergraduates. 

Specific areas of high student satisfaction include academic support and student services, campus climate, and lifelong growth and learning. SUNY Empire also took the top ranking when students were asked if they would choose their college again if they were starting over. The college ranked first among all participating SUNY campuses in terms of satisfaction with the campus response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

“We are thrilled to once again rank first in student satisfaction among comprehensive colleges in the Student Satisfaction Survey. These survey results are a testament to the accessible, quality, student-centered education that has been part of our mission for the past 50 years,” said SUNY Empire State College Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea. “These survey results also speak directly to the efforts of SUNY Empire’s faculty and staff who have worked so hard to maintain and improve the student experience while dealing with challenges and obstacles in their own professional and personal lives.” 

Among its four-year comprehensive college cohort, consisting of 13 campuses statewide, SUNY Empire ranked first in 39 areas spanning six categories, from academic-related services and information technology services to campus climate and ancillary services, such as billing and financial aid. 

For more information about SUNY Empire State College, visit their website at www.esc.edu. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs City School District held a Board of Education meeting on Nov. 9 to discuss upcoming events and hold presentation from the music department, athletics/physical education department, and on the Legacy Project. 

The next COVID-19 vaccination clinics (Pfizer) are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 4. All spots are filled for the Nov. 13 clinic, but there is still availability for the Dec. 4 clinic, with spaces reserved for students ages 5-11. Parents and guardians should check their email for a link to register. For more information visit the district’s website at www.saratogaschools.org. 

On Monday, Nov. 15 there will be a BOE Budget Development Workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the administration building. The workshop is open to the public but will not be streamed. 

As of Nov. 8, a link went live for all BOE policies to be available online. The link is: boardpolicyonline.com/?b=saratoga_springs_city. The site will be updated quarterly. 

Athletics 

Both the Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Girls Swimming/Diving teams have recently finished sectional competition and are headed to states. The Varsity Girls XC team finished in 8th place for their 30th Section 2 title, while two boys from the Varsity Boys XC team are headed to compete in states this weekend – Mason Talarico and Ryan Bush. Two swimmers will also be competing in the states meet – Maddy Wood and Rachel Love. Rachel Love, who is a 3-time sectional champion in the 200m and 500m freestyle, will be signing a letter of intent to swim at Texas A&M.

The SSCSD has the most sport offerings in the Suburban Council and has been able to maintain every sport team and level throughout the pandemic. With 500 contests in the fall season, they are hoping to increase back to 1,000 contests in a regular season this coming winter and spring. Registration for sports was affected by COVID, but as winter sign-ups are underway, the number is trending back. 

Monday, Nov. 15 marks the start of the winter sports season for JV, Freshman, and Varsity teams. Nov. 29 is the start date for Modified. 

Throughout the season, the athletics department will continue to follow recommendations from the Saratoga County Health Department. The district will continue to welcome spectators to winter season contests, and masks will continue to be required for all indoor sports. Unvaccinated “high risk” athletes will be tested during the winter season; “high risk” sports include basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, and cheerleading. As rosters are finalized, students will be asked to provide proof of vaccination to their school nurse to streamline to the testing process. 

To watch the full meeting and presentations visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pMEYrB8OBI. For more information about the Board of Education, see the district’s website: www.saratogaschools.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Independent School (SIS) is excited to share more information about their newest program for students in grades 5 through 8 – SIS CARES (Community and Real-world Experiences for Students). 

SIS CARES will provide students with more service-learning opportunities than ever before. Teaching students that taking care of others outside of the school community allows them to see that they have the ability to use “critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork” to make a difference on a larger scale. The goals of SIS CARES are for students to learn more about the Saratoga community, gain experience working with different organizations, learn about resources that are available to help people in different situations, and to create the skills needed to be an active citizen in their community.

In September, SIS invited representatives from five local service organizations to attend a Community Day. Representatives were from Franklin Community Center, Saratoga Bridges, The Children’s Museum at Saratoga, The Saratoga Senior Center, and SNACpack. Students spent time learning about each organization and chose where they would like to volunteer. 

On Oct. 28, students took their first of three trips to the organization for a Service Day. Projects ranged from organizing food donations, gardening and grounds work, putting together educational kits, interacting with consumers, and more. 

“We were thrilled to have such an energetic and creative group of students from Saratoga Independent School,” said Mary Beth McGarrahan, Development Director at Franklin Community Center. “They assisted our staff with the daily sorting and organizing of incoming donated goods, food, and products. During this task, they learned what items are most urgently needed and that “food pantry” doesn’t just provide food to our community members. I am so grateful to be a part of this program and to be able to offer the experience of volunteering at a community organization. It’s definitely one that these students will remember for years to come.” 

“My reaction to this service project was wow! Look at all this food! It was really surprising how much food was needed to feed these kids that aren’t as fortunate as others are,” said 7th grade student Chloe after her experience volunteering with SNACpack. “I hope that more people will get involved in a cause like this because I think it’s important for people to know and understand that not everyone can open their pantry and be able to grab a snack.”

After each volunteer session, students will have a chance to reflect on their experience in their digital journal, and at the end of the year the students will put together a final project to share their experiences with the rest of the school. The 8th graders will also be required to complete a capstone project to showcase their four years of volunteer experience.

SIS CARES is the newest addition to the wide range of inclusive curriculum for students in grades 5 through 8 at Saratoga Independent School. For more information, please visit www.siskids.org/student-life/community-service.cfm. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Dine out to support Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Cantina (408 Broadway) from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Schedule a work lunch, meet family and friends for dinner, or have drinks at the bar. Dine in or take out, reservations are recommended. Make sure to mention SSAS to your server and SSAS will receive 33% of your bill. 

About Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar 

Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar (SSAS) is 501(c) (3) organization that was established to help financially disadvantaged young men and women in the Saratoga Springs School District successfully complete high school and college. 

Each year, 10 high school sophomores are chosen to enter the program. SSAS provides them with needed school supplies, weekly structured study sessions, tutoring in subjects where they fall behind or express a need for assistance, PSAT and SAT training courses, study skills classes, exam fees for Advanced Placement courses and numerous college visits. 

SSAS also provides counselors to assist them will college preparation, in partnership with Skidmore College. They also help them find part-time or summer employment. 

For more information about Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar, visit their website at saratogasponsorascholar.org.