Board of Education Spotlight: World Champions in Tap Dancing. The Board of Education honored and recognized Baldwinsville sisters Riley Mattoon (8th Grader at Durgee) and Alexa Mattoon (10th Grader at Baker) who are WORLD CHAMPIONS! Riley and Alexa competed for Team USA in the IDO World Tap Dance Championship in Czech Republic in November! After 3 rounds of competition, the sisters and their team not only made it to Finals, but landed on the top of the podium receiving the GOLD medal and are officially World Champions! Congratulations, Riley and Alexa.
Board of Education Spotlight: The Board of Education honored the team of talented C.W. Baker High School students who spent countless hours filming, producing and editing eight incredible videos to help inform the public about the historic multi-year $242,400,000 Capital Improvement Project. The project was approved by voters last month. The eight videos helped community members learn more about the details of the project and hear from administrators, staff members and board members about how the project will positively impact our community and build our future! The videos, which are still featured on our website, are informative, entertaining and professionally-done. Thank you to the following students for your hard work and dedication to this project:
Alyssa White
Owen Johnson
Cate Johnson
Victoria Ososkalo
Quinn Rost
Evan Beckwith
Kamryn Lopez-Smith
The amazing drone footage featured in these videos was captured by Owen Johnson and Declan Downes.
We are also honoring Leslie Cartier with the Certificate of Excellence for embracing this task and guiding her students to create videos that far exceeded our expectations. Leslie is the Baker’s library media specialist, film teacher and Baker News director. Thank you Leslie for your extraordinary leadership and guidance with this project.
Board of Education Staff Spotlight: The Board of Education recognized and honored three nurses who are being credited for their quick thinking and exceptional care for a Ray Middle School student.
Amanda Thompson, RN (who recently took a job at Upstate)
Debra Walker, RN (long-term substitute)
Marjorie (Margie) Duger, RN (District Float Registered Nurse)
In December, the Ray Middle School nursing team was caring for a sick student who was being treated for migraines. When the student came to the nurse’s office with new symptoms, the nurses contacted his parents immediately to recommend an evaluation at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The child’s family is grateful for the team's actions that day. The hospital evaluation led to the discovery of a cancerous brain tumor. The child underwent surgery to remove the tumor and is receiving treatment in Boston. “Despite the severity of what we have gone through … we believe we would be in a much worse position had the nursing team at Ray not acted in the way they did,’ the child’s parents said.
Board Spotlight: The winner and 9 finalists of the Holiday Greeting Card Contest were honored with the Certificate of Excellence.
Board of Education Spotlight: The Board of Education recognized and honored the 2024 Fall Athletic Season:
Girls Volleyball -- Section III Class AAA Champions
Boys Soccer Team – Section III Class AAA Championship
Swimmer Olivia McManus -- Section III Champion in the 100-yard Butterfly and competed at NYSPHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving Championships.
Girls Varsity Tennis players Sonia Nadzan and Lainey Nesbitt -- Sectional III Championship for Doubles and competed at NYSPHSAA Girls Tennis Championship.
Girls Varsity Tennis player Mira Nadzan -- Sectional III Championship for singles and competed at NYSPHSAA Girls Tennis Championship. Received Sportsmanship Award.
Girls Varsity Tennis player Ayla Kalfass -- Competed in the NYSPHSAA Girls Tennis Championships in singles.
Girls Cross Country runner Kamryn Barton -- Placed 21st in the NYSPHSAA Cross Country Championships.
Go Bees! Thank you, coaches!
Board of Education Spotlight: The Board of Education recognized and honored Annabelle McKenzie, a 10th grader at C.W. Baker High School, competed in the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) Eastern Sectionals Championships in November near Boston. In order to qualify, Annabelle had to be a top 25 athlete in her level and section. Annabelle, who is also a member of the JV Girls Soccer Team, has a grueling schedule of on and off ice training. She trains locally at the Three Rivers Rink and at the Skaneateles Community Center. Congratulations, Annabelle.
Board of Education Spotlight: The Board of Education recognized and honored Joey Zoccolillo is an 11th grader at Baker High School with a 3rd degree black belt. In October, Joey, 'The Iceman,' competed in the ISKA Amateur World KickBoxing Championships in Vienna, Austria representing Team USA.
Board of Education Staff Spotlight: The Board of Education recognized and honored Kristin Slemmer, the health teacher at Durgee, and Jeanna Gates, the health teacher at Baker.
Kristin and Jeanna were honored for their dedication to their students' mental health. They went above and beyond by agreeing to be trained and certified over the summer break and adjusting their curriculums to fit the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training.
Board of Education Spotlight: Corinne Parker and Nicholas Relyea were honored Monday night for being named commended students in the National Merit Scholarship program.
“Those being named commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
Board of Education Spotlight: Chloe Deshaies was honored Monday night for being named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship program. More than 16,000 of the high scorers, representing less than 1% of the nation’s high school graduating seniors, will qualify as Semifinalists. Only Semifinalists will have an opportunity to advance in the competition for Merit Scholarship awards.
Board of Education Staff Spotlight: Cheerleading Coach Cassidy Christensen was honored Monday night for her response during an emergency involving one of her cheerleaders during a cheer camp in Pennsylvania in late August.
Board of Education Staff Spotlight: Patricia Reynolds, a substitute teaching assistant, was honored Monday night for going above and beyond to connect with her students. She was nominated by Elden Elementary UPK Teacher Jennifer Pellett who was grateful for Patricia’s ability to make connections and build positive relationships with students who she is only with for one day.
Board of Education Spotlight: The Board of Education recognized and honored the Baldwinsville student musicians who were selected for the prestigious 2024 NYSSMA All-State Performing Ensemble, which will be held December 5-8, 2024 in Rochester.
Congratulations:
Ethan Haahr - Symphony Orchestra (Trumpet)
Lundy Langstaff - Treble Chorus
Colin Campbell - Mixed Chorus
Zachary Woods - Mixed Chorus
Rey Quiroz - Tuba
Alternates:
Vincent Bagan - Snare Drum
Ian Duffy - Snare Drum
Avery Medwid - Soprano 1
The Board of Education recognized and honored McNamara Elementary school nurse, Kyleigh Moore, also sprung into action with back-to-back medical emergencies during the first week of school as well. Prepared to ensure that the medical needs of all students are met, is something Kyleigh meets with ease. Thank you to Kyleigh and McNamara’s support team for keeping our students, staff and visitors safe.
The Board of Education recognized and honored the following BCSD staff for their outstanding hard work:
Elden Elementary School’s Medical Emergency Response Team for their response to multiple medical emergencies that occurred during the first week of school. The team includes the following staff members:
School Nurse Veronica Penoyer
Special Resource Patrol Officer Marty Knaul
Principal Joelle Fiorini
Kayla Delia
Kimberly Hunt
Daniel Hyland
Katie Mesagna
Nicole Swanson
Three members of the C.W. Baker High School Class of 2025 who participated in the American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State program at SUNY Brockport from June 30th to July 6th.
Juliette Pawelek, Keri Lambert and Nia Delardi
ALA Empire Girls State is an educational program of the American Legion Auxiliary, developed from the concept that youth should be offered a better perspective of the practical operation of government; that the individual is an integral part and commensurably responsible for the character and success of her government. It is an activity of high educational value, born of a need for youth training in Americanism and practical good citizenship.
Two members of the C.W. Baker High School Class of 2025 participated in the American Legion Boys’ State at Morrisville State College from June 28th through July 3rd.
Austin Rogers and Luke Primrose (not pictured)
Boys’ State is a week-long program that immerses soon-to-be high school seniors in citizenship and leadership training. Participants will learn the practical aspects of New York State government, and the role citizens play in the character and success of government. Under the guidance of the American Legion counselors and U.S. Marines, students will also participate in physical fitness.
Board of Education Staff Spotlight: The BOE recognized and honored Director of Pupil & Personnel Services Jenna Wolken. Jenna was honored for her work on arranging a free back-to-school haircut event for our students.
The Board of Education recognized the achievements and accomplishments of students, staff and community members during the Board of Education Spotlight during regular school board meetings. Below are the recipients fo the Certificate of Excellence for the 2024-2025 school year!