This month marks the one-year anniversary of the school shutdowns because of COVID-19. It’s an opportunity to reflect, and a time to ask – how have you been carrying your trauma? 

THE INVISIBLE BACKPACK
One of the lingering effects of COVID is the mental trauma it has caused. 

Through this collective experience, we’ve all been carrying around thoughts and feelings that can be difficult to handle – and may seem invisible, but are, indeed, still there.

At Geyser Road elementary school, they are learning empathy and to envision everyone as if they were carrying around an invisible backpack filled with the weight of this year’s trauma. 

Teachers have been witnessing the effects of this trauma in their classrooms and experiencing it themselves. Within a sea of changing schedules and technologies, they have been tasked with the responsibility of creating an environment where children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. 

“I’m so proud of them. It’s been hard, really hard work. It’s been difficult professionally and personally but they’ve let down walls, and shared personal experiences. This is typically not the conversation that you’d hear in school. They’ve been vulnerable and a lot of trust has been put out there,” said Geyser Road Principal Michele Whitley.

MAKING SPACE, GIVING GRACE
The school is part of a district-wide heart-centered approach to lighten the mental load of educators, their students, and families. 

It’s about finding balance.

“Educators are incredibly giving of themselves, so it’s about making space and giving ourselves grace,” said Whitley.

Consultants specializing in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) have guided the staff to new insights on the importance of compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance. 

There’s music at faculty meetings, a premium put on making people smile, practicing mindfulness, and finding time for stillness. 

The high school created a Virtual Calming Corner and an online Kindness Wall where uplifting messages are added so the staff can hear from each other about the wonderful things they do. 

“It all boils down to kindness. A note or an email, that’s what we need right now. Showing appreciation and that we’re thinking of each other. These are small moments of joy and there is so much happiness that they can bring you. Reciprocation between teachers and families, that is joy.”

UNDERSTANDING THE FLIGHT-FIGHT-FREEZE IMPULSE

Confidently embracing uncertainty begins with being able to recognize it. 

At Dorothy Nolan elementary school, they promote positive affirmations, mindfulness, and exercise to improve mental health. 

They are also studying the specific strategies laid out in trauma expert Jennifer Bashant’s book, Building a Trauma-Informed Compassionate Classroom. 

These techniques help educators identify the body’s natural reaction to threats (the flight-fight-freeze response) and understand how it shows up in children as daydreaming, defiance, or over-sillyness. 

Last year, #518Rainbow went viral, brightening our world with a reminder of hope. This year, on March 22– April 1, Dorothy Nolan is hosting a week of rainbow-themed activities. 

“These are uplifting activities that everyone can be involved in. They are some of the rituals that feel so good to the kids (and to the school as a whole). That good feeling trickles down into overall holistic well-being,” said school Social Worker Cindy Teplitzky.

To watch archived videos of the district’s online Parent University workshops for families, go to saratogaschools.org/parents. More information on mental health resources is available at www.mentalhealthednys.org.

PORTER’S CORNERS /CHICOPEE, MA — The College of Our Lady of the Elms has named Kyle Powell and Elaina Vilar, of Porter’s Corners, to the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester of the 2020-2021 academic year. To qualify, a full-time student must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher, without incompletes. Elms College, founded in 1928, is a co-educational Catholic college offering a liberal arts curriculum.

Schuylerville — Four Schuylerville High School students’ artwork was accepted into the 2021 Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists juried art show at SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center).

Work by Rachael Stortz, Graciella Zullo, Meghan Cowles, and Reagan Hutchinson was selected for the 2021 show, the theme of which is metamorphosis. 

In collaboration with WSWHE BOCES 2021 Talent Unlimited Contest, the 2021 Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists online gallery exhibition will launch this month featuring visual, literary, and performing arts from high school students residing in 11 New York State counties. For more information, go online to spac.org/festival-of-young-artists.

Valedictorian: Sabrina Hu
Sabrina Hu is the Class of 2021 Valedictorian of Ballston Spa High School.  She has excelled in a rigorous course load and will receive a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation and Honors with Mastery in Mathematics and Science.  By starting high school level courses in middle school, Sabrina has taken 8 AP classes, 2, 2 year IB classes, 4 CHS courses. Sabrina’s cumulative GPA is a remarkable 98.967. 

Sabrina is a College Board’s National Merit Scholarship Commended Student and is a AP Scholar with Honors. She has been a three season athlete participating in indoor and outdoor track and also cross country where she has received her first varsity letter as a freshman.  She is a varsity member and Co-President of the Science Olympiad team which the team has qualified for states the past 2 consecutive years. Sabrina has personally placed in the top 6 at Science Olympiad regionals in every event that she has participated in. Additionally, Sabrina has volunteered over 200 hours in the community, many of her recent volunteer efforts have been at the Saratoga EOC soup kitchen. 

Sabrina is a well-rounded individual who will be pursuing a degree in biology in college.  Ballston Spa knows Sabrina will be successful in her future, due to her work ethic, perseverance and personal drive.

Salutatorian: Chloe Reisinger
Chloe Reisinger is the Class of 2021 Salutatorian of Ballston Spa High School.  She has excelled in a rigorous course load and will receive a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors with Mastery in Mathematics and Science.  By starting high school level courses in middle school, Chloe was able to enroll in 8 AP classes, 4 IB classes, and 4 CHS/UHS classes.  Chloe’s cumulative GPA is a remarkable 98.852. 

Chloe has a love for learning and last summer studied biology at the Harvard Summer Program.  She is also a very talented writer and was published in the Young Writers of America “Scary Sagas” book and was chosen as the local winner for the Voice of Democracy Essay Scholarship from the VFW Post 385.  Additionally, she shines as a theatrical performer and has been able to share her talents in many musical theater shows, including staring as Sophie in Mamma Mia. Chloe is also a dedicated athlete and has been a member of our girls’ lacrosse team since her freshmen year. 

Chloe is a very bright and ambitious individual who plans to pursue a career in medicine and will be pursuing a degree in Biochemistry or Cellular and Molecular Biology.  Ballston Spa knows Chloe will be successful in her future endeavors due to her work ethic, personal drive, and caring personality.

When education and experience meet, effective leaders are born. 

Because her shoes were full of holes, Heather Kinkel stuffed them with paper when she was a kid.

“I grew up in a household where we didn’t ask for very much help but we one hundred percent needed the help,” she said. 

The people that went out of their way to help her family back then inspired Heather’s lifelong habit of looking for ways she too could help others. 

“I couldn’t provide everything someone needed but I could provide something someone needed.”

PAVING THE WAY
The community provided help when, as an adult, and a mother of four, Heather’s family lost everything in a house fire.

“I decided at that moment that there are a lot of really tremendous people in our community. It motivates you to start doing a small thing that becomes a great thing. I can’t be a superhero but I can do something,” she said. 

For four years, Heather led and encouraged kids to challenge themselves on the Saratoga Regional YMCA ropes course. Last fall, when the SRYMCA decided to restart a teen Leadership Club for the first time in eight years, Heather became the group’s leader. 

“People don’t always understand what the Y actually does – they don’t realize we help a lot of people who are in need and struggling,” said SRYMCA Youth Director Kristi Savage. 

LEARNING LEADERSHIP SKILLS
An effective leader is someone who inspires cooperation through communication, not domination. 

Conversation is encouraged in the Leadership Club. 

Heather asks the group questions that allow them to build relationships, set goals, and solve problems. These leadership skills are then put to use to help people in the community. 

Leadership Club projects have included hosting holiday crafts, successful food and coat drives. To reach those in need, they’ve worked with the Home of the Good Shepard and community agencies including LifeWorks Community Action and the Harvest Distribution Centers.

“You don’t know what other people are going through so you work harder to help them,” said Saratoga Springs High School freshman Rob Shontz.

GAINING A BROADER PERSPECTIVE
Many of the students in the group have discovered that volunteering comes with unexpected rewards. 

“Some people need more help than others and helping people feels good,” said Natalia Soong, a sophomore at Saratoga Springs High School.

They’ve built friendships and new interests outside of school and sports.

“It’s fun to talk to others, get out of the house and get a break from everything,” said Saratoga Springs freshman Hannes Lohse.

They’re also gaining the confidence that comes through a broader perspective of the world and the variety of challenges that the people within it are facing – now, and in the future. 

“Instead of therapy, this is what I did. I can get depressed. It helps when I do something for someone else and that’s not just for me,” said Sam Strohl, a freshman at Shenendehowa High School West. 

DRIVE-UP FOOD DRIVE
SRYMCA Leadership Club is holding a drive-up food drive on Sunday, March 14 at 2 p.m. in front of the Saratoga Springs branch, 290 West Ave. Saratoga Springs. For more information, follow the SRYMCA on Facebook.

Glens Falls — In October 2020, the South High Marathon Dance (SHMD) announced the date of their 44th annual event, previously scheduled for the first full weekend of March, would be pushed back two months, but no decision has yet been made as to what SHMD 2021 will look like.

In January 2021 SHMD gathered ideas from students, alumni, and members of the community through a two-week ThoughtExchange. 

SHMD has conducted a preliminary review to determine which are feasible and which require further assessment. All options will be approved by the South Glens Falls Central School District, the South High Marathon Dance Inc., and the County of Saratoga Public Health prior to commencement of the event.   

The South High Marathon Dance (SHMD) has an important mission of enhancing the quality of life for individuals, families and charitable organizations in the area who are experiencing monetary hardship or emotional distress due to life-changing serious, long-term medical or sudden catastrophic events. 

For additional information, find them on Facebook facebook.com/SHMDInc, on Twitter @shmdnow, or go to shmd.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) will be awarding two student scholarships in 2021: the SBA $1000 Scholarship award and the $500 “Bob Best” Memorial Scholarship award. 

These scholarships are open to any high school senior or college undergraduate in Saratoga County who is planning to pursue a construction education at a two or four-year accredited college or university or to students who would like to purchase tools and/or equipment for employment/career or to start a business in the construction industry. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must demonstrate current or past involvement in the construction field, including classes taken in high school or college, to be eligible for these awards. Each applicant must also submit a high school or college transcript or list of construction classes taken plus a short essay describing why they are interested in a construction industry career and what events led to this decision.

Applications for the Saratoga Builders Association Scholarship program must be postmarked on or before April 1, 2021. Only the first 25 completed applications will be accepted so please apply early. The winner and their school will be notified by June 1, 2021. To receive a scholarship application, please contact Barry Potoker, Executive Director at 518-366-0946 or bpotoker@saratogabuilders.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eve Crossett, a 2020 graduate of Saratoga High School, has been accepted to attend West Point in the fall.

Eve has spent this year at Marion Military Institute in Alabama, the nation’s oldest military junior college, prepping for her next “assignment” at West Point. Congratulations Eve!

Eve Crossett. Photo provided.

NEW YORK, STATEWIDE — Citing public safety concerns, the 2021 Maple Weekend (typically celebrated in March) has been cancelled. 

Because some local maple producers have facilities that can safely operate with drive-through, online ordering for take-out, and under the limited-capacity guidelines, the New York State Maple Producers Association (NYSMPA) encourages customers to use their map of maple producers and thier Producer Directory to find out what types of activities the sites near you can host (nysmaple.com/retail-dealers).

Educational resources for children in grades K-6 are available online at nysmaple.com/educational-resources.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — March is Mental Health Awareness month and the Saratoga Springs City School District wants to support families, parents, and guardians who continue to go above and beyond to support their children during an especially difficult year.

Join Beth Sabo Novik for the virtual workshop “Calm in the Chaos” on Thursday, March 4 at 6 p.m.  This workshop will teach you simple, quick, easy ways to get calm and be happy. You don’t have to meditate for an hour a day to change your life. Many of these techniques take one minute or less.  Simply changing what we do with our body and our mind can transform how we feel in deeply profound ways. 

For the Zoom link, go to www.saratogaschools.org.