BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa High School First Robotics Competition Team 3044 – OxBE4 – was recently recognized by the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Community for the outstanding work they are doing in building interest in STEM.   

Although the FIRST organization suspended the competition season prior to Team 3044 having the chance to compete in either of their regional events, the team was recognized during the recent FIRST Virtual Awards Showcase with three prestigious awards from the NY Tech Valley Regional Competition.   

The team was recognized with the Chairman’s Award.  This award is the highest honor given during the FIRST Robotics Competition season, recognizing the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   Aspects that helped the team achieve this award included developing STEM kits for students in Afghanistan,  working with the Semi Organization to develop a robotics program for 4th grade classes, hosting STEM Exploration Nights, as well as supporting Ballston  Spa FLL and FTC teams, and hosting regional competitions.

Junior team member Shelby Whitney was recognized as one of two Dean’s List Finalists for the New York Tech Valley Region.   The Dean’s List Award is awarded by the Kamen family to selected 10th or 11th grade students and recognizes the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding secondary school students. During this past year, Shelby has been a leading mentor with two FLL teams in the elementary schools.  Shelby also had lead role of creating the team’s Chairman’s video and also composing the video used by fourth grade students to build robots.

 Club advisor and team mentor Patricia Haskell was recognized with the Woodie Flower’s Award for the New York Tech Valley Region.   This award celebrates effective communication in the art and science of engineering and design and recognizes an individual who has done an outstanding job of motivation through communication while also challenging the students to be clear and succinct in their communications.  Patricia has been a contributor to the team for ten years.  She has become an integral mentor during the last three years in which she has offered many new ideas to help progress the team and students.

FIRST Robotics Competitions combine the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under limited resources and time, 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 competitors. 

More information can be found on the team’s website at frcteam3044.team/ or the FIRST Robotics website at firstinspires.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Despite the coronavirus pandemic, The Great Outdoors Project, a 15.6 million dollar proposal for renovations to all eight schools in the Saratoga Springs City School District (SSCSD), Gavin Park, East Side Recreation, and West Side Recreation parks has commenced. 

The East Side Rec construction began recently and is expected to last until November. 

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New features will include: baseball field including turf infield, renovated stadium seating and building, new field house, new maintenance storage building, new entrance and pathways, new fitness trail, new lighting at tennis and basketball courts, replacing basketball hoops, repaving and recoating basketball courts, new basketball fencing, repaving and recoating tennis courts, new signage and wayfinding, new pickleball courts, and new picnic areas and pavilion.

Director of Facilities and Operations of SSCSD John Thuener said that $6.5 million of the budget is going toward the East Side Rec project and that renovations should be complete by November 2020. In addition, West Side Rec capital improvements should be completed in June and totaled $800,000.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Ballston Spa is one of the 4% of public school districts across the nation receiving the prestigious award in 2020. The district also received the recognition in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

“This national recognition serves as a credit to our faculty for providing outstanding opportunities in music education to our students throughout the district,” said Ken Slentz, Superintendent of Schools. “It further demonstrates how important music education is to our students, our district and our school community,” he continued.

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Ballston Spa answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas. 

“The Music Department would like to thank the students, parents, families, school staff, administrators, Board of Education, and the Ballston Spa community for supporting the music program in our schools,” indicated Brian Retersdorf, BSCSD K-12 Music Coordinator. He continued, “We are so fortunate to work in a district that believes in the importance of music and provides us the budget, teachers, instruments and classes to do what we love.”

This award recognizes that Ballston Spa is leading the way with music learning opportunities as outlined in the federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The legislation, signed into law in December 2015, designates music and the arts as important elements of a well-rounded education for all children. The NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education Award and the state level implementation of the federal ESSA law bring attention to the importance of keeping music education part of curriculum offerings and available to all students. It also highlights music’s vital role in students’ overall success in school and the personal benefits of making music. 

The district recently celebrated Music in Our Schools month with several special events, including an annual Pops Concert for the school community and acknowledging students who have performed in state and regional honors groups at a Board of Education meeting. Congratulations to all the students, staff and families involved in the Ballston Spa music community. Additional information about the music program in the Ballston Spa schools is available on the department’s webpages via www.bscsd.org or call 518-884-7150.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Amid a global health emergency, the Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition at Skidmore College broke new ground in its 10-year anniversary. 

Established in 2010 by Ken Freirich ’90, CEO of Health Monitor Network, with the intent of fostering entrepreneurship and creativity across all majors and disciplines at Skidmore, the “Shark Tank” competition has grown into one of the preeminent business competitions among liberal arts colleges nationally.

 Adapting to the new normal, students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff were invited to watch this year’s competition online via the videoconferencing platform Zoom. The finalists — 11 students pitching nine business plans — played their pre-recorded final presentations and then answered live questions from the judges. 

2020 competition winners:
First Place: Coven, Maya Ling ‘20 and Emily Egan ‘20: A bakery that infuses products for medicinal benefits. Prize: $20,000 cash plus $5,000 in business services.
Second Place: Z’s, Izaak Cohen ‘20: A lifestyle accessories brand. Prize: $10,000 cash plus $5,000 in business services.
Third Place: Natural Glow, Novilhelha Moleni ‘22 and Ha Linh Nguyen ‘22: A hair and beauty brand. Prize: $5,000 cash plus $5,000 in business services .
Fourth Place: VoyceMe, Dylan Telano ‘23: An online marketplace connecting unpublished writers with readers. Prize: $2,500.

Haja Bah ‘21 received a social entrepreneurship award of $5,000 for her business Uman 4 Uman Salone, a nonprofit that produces sustainable sanitary pads for young women in Sierra Leone. Four other businesses — Ingles para todos (Cyntia Ismael ‘22), Turf Ads (Colin Mahoney ‘21), Trot (Abigail Kaplan ‘20) and Edutrer (Naira Abdula ‘20) — received $1,000 each.   

Freirich recently announced he will fund an endowment that will allow the competition to continue in perpetuity, pledging $500,000 toward the College’s goal of a $1 million fund.  The experience begins each September with a call for entries and a series of workshops to help students prepare for the semi-final presentations. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is accepting applications for the 2020 Rodion Cantacuzene Scholarship, an annual award recognizing young leaders and volunteers throughout Saratoga County. 

The scholarship, awarded in a one-time amount of $1,000, will be presented in June to a high school senior from Saratoga County who has demonstrated a record of academic excellence and exemplary service to the community along with a strong interest in pursuing future studies in history and/or the arts. The entry deadline is May 15.

Mr. Cantacuzene served on the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees for 30 years and contributed to the Museum in various capacities. Mr. Cantacuzene, a stalwart supporter of thoroughbred racing, the arts and public service, passed away in 2016.

High school seniors interested in applying for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Rodion Cantacuzene Scholarship are asked to submit an essay of no more than 500 words detailing their community service and the rewarding aspects of the service. Applicants should also describe how the subjects of art and/or history have influenced their educational pursuits.

The application and essay should be submitted to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, c/o Lindsay Doyle, 191 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 12866. The materials may also be emailed to ldoyle@racingmuseum.net

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Old Saratoga Historical Association will award the Francis Ostrander Scholarship of $500 to a member of the senior class at Schuylerville Central High School who will be attending a two or four year college in the fall. 

A $350 scholarship will be awarded to the runner-up.  Applicants must complete a 600-word essay on one of two topics, which are: the role Philip Schuyler played in the development of Old Saratoga OR how living in an historic village or area has influenced my life.

Submit applications by May 1 to Patricia Peck, 178 Wagman’s Ridge, Saratoga Springs NY 12866.  A short statement with the name, address, and career plans of the applicant and the college that the applicant will attend should accompany the essay.  Announcement of the scholarship recipients will be made at commencement. 

Frances Ostrander was a charter and life member of the Old Saratoga Historical Association who worked diligently for nearly fifty years to raise funds and secure furnishings for the Philip Schuyler House and to assist in giving tours of this historic landmark.  The Association provides programs and activities that help people understand and appreciate the historical significance of the Schuylerville area.

For further information call 518-584-4129.

FUN & CHALLENGING ACTIVITES:

• Rubik’s Cube   
  Find that old Rubik’s Cube and have them try to solve it. 
  For inspiration, look up  Saratoga local Steven Brundage videosfirst.
  (Hint: There are formulas online for solving it, but don’ttell them that right away, give them a chance to work their brain  getting at least one side on their own.)

• Magic Tricks   
  Have them channel their inner David Blaine and learn magic tricks.
  Here are some fun videos for them to follow along:
  youtube.com/watch?v=XsXQONiRH8Q
 youtube.com/watch?v=LQdggOJKq7w

• A Deck of Cards 
  Build a card house. Use either a regular playing deck of cards (the most challenging
  option), index cards (better option) or order from Kardtects.com for cards made
  especially for this purpose. Building a house of cards promotes development of Stem skills.

• Recycled Junk
  If you have an old small appliance or computer that doesn’t work anymore, let your child disassemble it and learn how it worked.

GOVERNMENT & LITERATURE

Want to brush up on your knowledge of Government or Literature with your high school junior or senior? 
Hillsdale College offers free online class lectures on a variety of topics.  Take the classes with your child for a great opportunity to learn together. 
Visit: online.hillsdale.edu

THE NEW BOSS

Let your child be in charge for the day. 
Give parameters such as, school work must be done, teeth must still be brushed, the plan can’t be all day on the computer… But let them choose the activities, meals, movies, schedule… They can even make one meal themselves (elementary and younger need help with the stove/oven).

MONEY MANAGEMENT

Use this time to teach money management skills
Two helpful websites are: practicalmoneyskills.com and newyorkfed.org

Have a coin jar that is overflowing? Roll those coins.
This teaches basic math skills for all ages.  (Tip: Banks provide free coin wrappers)

VOCABULARY

Give them 5-10 new words a week that they have to look up, learn to spell, pronounce and write the definition. Quiz them at the end of the week.
*For elementary age children, have your child write the list of words in alphabetical order before they look them up and define them.

HANGING AROUND

Do you have a pull-up bar in your home or an outdoor structure that you can hang from? 
Have a hanging contest. See who can hang the longest each day for a week.  Add up the times at the end of the week and give a prize to the winner. Go on to week 2 adding pull-ups or chin-ups to the hang.  Begin with 1 a day, increasing every couple of days, and at the end of 2 or 3 weeks, see who can do the most. 

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa High School Robotics Team OxBe4 originally coordinated various STEM activities and supplied materials to encourage the spread of STEM education in rural Afghanistan.

After coordinating a donation drive to send LEGO Mindstorm kits to teens in Afghanistan in 2018, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 3044 is again spreading the word about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education to rural parts of the world. During their most recent campaign to spread STEM education, Team 3044 selected a few simple STEM projects, translated instructions into Pashto and Dari, and conducted a 10-month donation drive, collecting specific items for each STEM activity and general school and craft supplies. The kits have been assembled and the first set of 10 boxes is being shipped to Helmand Province in Afghanistan this week. Each box holds up to 20 pounds of sustainable science activities that can be used for building, problem solving
and experimentation. 

Team 3044’s Co-Captain Maddie West indicated “We believe that no matter who you are or where you come from, everyone should have a chance to create their own future and strive to be the best you can be.”

While competitions have been cancelled and all meetings suspended, the team is using social media to share the materials that they have compiled to encourage STEM education with their local community during this time of school closures.

Families are invited to visit the team’s website,  frcteam3044.team/, to learn more about the simple but fun STEM projects.

JOHSNTOWN — Students at Fulton Montgomery Community College are making their dorm rooms a second home during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Jane Kelley, vice president for student affairs, said during the college spring break, FMCC offered a place to stay for residential students that didn’t have a place to go. Kelley said 14 students stayed on campus during spring break, but that number has since decreased. 

“We made the opportunity available for the international students to stay if they were having trouble getting home,” Kelley said.  “We have, as of [Wednesday], we have three international students that are staying, and then one residential assistant who has been there throughout, and one student who doesn’t have a great situation at home so he’s staying there as well.”

A total of five students will stay on campus for the duration of COVID-19. FMCC closed March 13, the Friday prior to spring break, and would remain closed through March 31. Since then, the school has moved to a remote learning format. 

“What has changed since then is that we decided, along with a lot of other Suny colleges, is to go to a total remote learning model for the rest of the spring semester, so no students will be on campus for the rest of the semester,” Kelley said. 

Because the campus is shut down, not a lot of services can be offered to the students on campus, but the food service provider is still delivering food to the residential halls each day. 

“We have a fridge set up in one of the lounges so they’re making sure that the students are fed,” Kelley said. “We’re making it work.”

Kelley said the remaining students would be able to partake in remote learning from the residence halls.

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While those five students remain on campus, 282 high school students were flown from Israel to return to families during the virus outbreak. The high school students were studying at the Alexander Muss High School in Hod HaSharon Israel. 

On March 16, the Jewish National Fund USA released $500,000 from the organization’s endowment to charter an EL AL Boeing 787. 

“Its money that we want to put towards education and making sure all students can go and attend the high school we are running in Israel,” Stefan Oberman, director of communications said. “In circumstances we had to unlock this funding in order to bring the kids home.”

According to the press release, the students were escorted by bus to Israel’s Ben Gurion airport where chaperones accompanied students through passport control and to the plane. Students then flew to JFK and were greeted by parents, and member of the JNF. 

“Everyone was crying and parents were crying, but it was the right thing to do because given what has happened in Israel right now, it’s not on the top of the radar of anyone, but it’s basically on lockdown and if we weren’t able to get the kids out last weekend, I doubt we could get them out today,” Oberman said. 

Oberman said that once in JFK, students continued their travel to their hometowns in Albany, Boston and Saratoga Springs.

“It was a huge operation and never had we thought that one day we would charter a private dreamliner to charter those kids back home,” Oberman said.