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 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.

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.

Watch Video of Staff Spotlight