Long Lake Central School Newsletter
Lawrence Patzwald - Interim Superintendent Fred Short - Acting Principal	Superintendent=s Office - 624-2147 December 2004 Acting Principal Office - 624-2221

Morning Program News and Notes

Morning Program at Long Lake is a great way to start your day and it is open to anyone who would like to be a part of it. We meet in the school cafeteria from 8:15 to 8:35ish everyday Monday through Friday.

Morning Program gives the elementary students responsibility through their special jobs whether it is holding the flags, running the music, greeting guests, leading the Pledge of Allegiance or setting up and taking down the benches. Students often do special presentations at Morning Program to share something they have been studying. Fridays are always our share days when any student who has anything they want to “show and tell” can bring things to Morning Program. Fridays are also our introduction days when students will introduce any family members or friends that have joined us.
Each month we have a different theme and our bulletin board, words of the week, person of the week and quote of the week are prepared around that theme. At the end of every month we choose 1 student as “Student of the Month”. They are chosen from k-3 and are chosen on the basis of qualifications. They have earned the right to be chosen if they have done their best work, been a good influence to others, been helpful to others, participated well in Morning Program or in other words have gone above and beyond what is expected of every student here at Long Lake. September’s “Student of the Month” was Henry Sandiford from 2^nd grade and October’s was Mynga Santos from Kindergarten. These students are to be congratulated on their accomplishment.

If you would like to become a member of Morning Program just stop by school any day you are free. We would love to have you join us.

Class of 2006

Christmas Craft Fair

The Class of 2006 is sponsoring the Christmas Craft Fair again this year. It will be held on Saturday, December 4^th in the school gym. We will be taking orders for Christmas Trees through the craft fair with pick up scheduled for the following week. Wreath orders will be able to be picked up at the craft fair. If you are interested in ordering a tree or a wreath and have not been seen by a junior class member, please call school at 624-2221 and leave a message for a junior or advisor to give you a call. The craft fair will run from 10am – 3pm. Hope to see you there.

CLASSES OF 2007 AND 2008

SHARON WAAGNER

The ninth and tenth grade would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to everyone who helped to make the Halloween Carnival and Halloween Ball a success.

We appreciated the help of our fellow high school students who worked hard to decorate the gym and to run the games for the preschool through 5^th grade students who attended the carnival. Thanks, too, to the members of the PTSA who not only ran a game but also donated prizes to our prize table. We extend special thanks as well to Teresa Taylor and the Long Lake Parks and Recreation Department who donated a huge carton full of prizes for our children’s costume contests.

Our deepest thanks to Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Burnett, Rynda McCray, Stacey Howe, Tony Clark, Pat Skerrett, and Mr. Waagner who gave so much of their time and effort on our behalf and for helping us run both events. Thank you to Mr. Pine and Mrs. Frost who allowed us to use their classrooms for the Haunted House. Our Halloween Ball was attended by 35 students and 9 adults. We also thank Mr. G., our G-Jay, who supplied some great music.

Special thanks as well to the local businesses for the prizes for our costume contest. They are as follows:

Hoss’s gift certificate – won by Colleen Nerney, 1^st place, Most Original

Adirondack Hotel – free pizza – won by Nancy Wallace, 1^st place, Scariest

Slice of Life – free pizza – won by Connor Estavillo, 1^st place, Funniest

Northern Borne – sweatshirt – won by Elizabeth Hamdan, 1^st place, Prettiest

Second place winners were presented with free video rentals from Mobil and a Halloween “critter”.

They were Most Original – Ben Austin, Scariest – Nicole Andrews, Funniest – Chelsey Wallace, and Prettiest – Sierra Olbert.

In other news, seven members of the classes met one cold October Saturday morning and managed to fill seven huge trash bags with litter and debris found along both sides of the road for the mile just before the town landfill. The group has adopted this mile under the Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway Program.

LIBRARY NEWS

Students and community members now have access to four extensive databases from home computers. Two of these are provided through the school library budget. They are Proquest with over 700 children and adult periodicals, many in full text, and SIRS. SIRS provides two separate databases – Discoverer, which is geared for grades 1 through 9 with many full-text periodicals, images, newspapers, international publications, and government documents as well as the World Almanac; and Researcher, thousands of similar documents updated daily on all facets of life, geared for high school and college level students.

Through the New York State Library, we also have access to the online virtual library called NOVEL and two more unique databases, Gale Group and EBSCO.

Gale Group includes seven files – Health Reference Center, Business and Company Resources, Informe’ (Spanish language), Infotrac (full-text periodicals), Infotrac Custom Newspapers (over 150 full-text newspapers including NYTimes), National Newspaper Index, and Twayne’s Author Series.

EBSCO has over 800 general reference publications, 76,000 primary source documents, photos, and maps as well as 50 popular magazines for elementary student research, an animal database and more.

If you are interested in having access to these databases, please contact Sharon Waagner for URL’s, account name and passwords. There is no charge for this access which is available 24 hours a day.

Board of Education Meeting in Review – November 9, 2004

Ø The Board of Education approved the minutes of the October 14^th meeting as presented.

Ø Ms. Brooke Armstrong requested funding for her attendance at the Presidential Classroom program in Washington, DC. The Board of Education expressed a willingness to provide financial assistance after she has explored other organizations.

Ø The Business reports were approved as presented.

Ø Mrs. Snide briefly discussed 2005-2006 Budget memos and the Budget Planning calendar.

Ø The Board of Education adopted the following goals for the 2004-2005 school year:

1. To conduct a formal search and hire a new Superintendent of Schools.

2. Continue the process of exploring options for the future of the Long Lake Central School District.

Ø Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent the Board of Education approved the following appointments:

1. Tony Clark – LEA Asbestos Designee

2. Mike Valovic – Boys Modified Basketball Coach

3. Lorrise Adams – Substitute all areas

4. Sandra Bateman – Cafeteria substitute

Ø The Board of Education approved an early dismissal for Monday, November 29, 2004, for the purpose of holding parent conferences in grades K-12 from 1:00-6:00 p.m.

Ø Mr. Patzwald distributed the survey results from the $75,000 “Wish List”. (Copies will be available in the Mrs. Walker’s office).

Ø A letter was read from Elizabeth Hamdan thanking the Board for their assistance in helping her to attend the National Young Leaders Conference.

Ø Two letters were read from Joan Collins and George Yellott thanking Jim Piraino and Karl Geiger for the outstanding jobs they did coaching soccer this fall.

Ø A letter was read from Al Hastings and April Amodei of In Motion Events expressing their regrets concerning the Board’s denial of their request to use school facilities this summer.

Ø Mr. Patzwald indicated that Roto Rooter will be returning to further investigate our drainage problem from the Girl’s Lockeroom.

Ø Upon Mr. Patzwald’s recommendation the Board of Education granted Mrs. Melanie Frost health benefits effective as soon as it is reasonably possible.

Ø The Board of Education authorized Mr. Patzwald to draw up a side agreement with the Long Lake Faculty Association waiving Article II Sick Leave Bank sections two parts A and B and granting membership to all members of the bargaining unit for the duration of this contract. Upon expiration of the current bargaining agreement the wording would return to the original language unless a jointly agreed upon revision is made.

Ø A resolution was passed appointing Lawrence C. Patzwald as Interim Superintendent of Schools from January 1, 2005 to June 30, 2005.

Ø The Board of Education accepted the resignation of Sharon Waagner as advisor to the Classes of 2007 and 2008.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE

“A Bit Of Beef and Pork” was a taste-testing held after school on Wednesday, November 10 for Faculty and Staff. This was hosted by Joshua Young as part of his Advanced Foods class. Josh prepared all of the foods served and everyone enjoyed his cuisine. We tasted his roast beef and gravy, pot roast, stuffed roast pork, New England Boiled Dinner, corned beef hash and swiss steak. Well done, Josh!

Eric Hample returned to present a lesson on the tying of meats prior to cooking to Advanced Foods and Chris Hample presented to the 8^th grade on the career of Culinary Arts. We learned a lot.

The 8^th grade has completed their children’s books which they authored and illustrated. They shared them with the pre-k and kindergarden classes, one on one, and noted the children’s reactions. This concluded our unit on child care. Now on to our sewing and embroidery unit.

Vegetarian Cooking and Introduction to Gourmet have been busy in the kitchen while Child Development has designed their own origami mobiles for infants.

Elementary grades are busy also. Grade 5 has been doing Food Science labs with whole grains while grade 4 is designing cedar pillows. Grade 3 has finished their seed designs while grades 1 & 2 has finished creating, watching and recording the changes that occur in their terrariums. Kindergarden has been learning how to set the table and recognize various fruits and vegetables. A busy year indeed!

Class of 2006

The Class of 2006 has finished it’s fruit drive and we would like to thank everyone who supported us. We are hoping to have the fruit ready for pick-up at the Christmas craft fair. We would like to remind everyone that we are at the mercy of the trucking industry as far as delivery here goes so please bear with us.

We are taking orders for Christmas trees, wreaths and kissing balls. Prices for these are:

trees-$32.00 (specify size..6-7’ or 7-8’)

undecorated wreaths..12”- $11.00, 16” - $15.00

decorated 12” will sell for $15.00.

The kissing balls are selling for $25.00.

The wreaths and kissing balls need to be ordered by November 30^th so that we can pick them up to have them available for the craft fair. The trees will still be able to be ordered at the craft fair as we will be picking them up after the craft fair and having them available for pick up the following week. We are doing this so that they will be freshly cut. If you aren’t contacted by a junior class member and would like to place an order you can call school at 624-2221 and the office will get your information to either Tina Burnett or Mary Hall class advisors. Thanks in advance for your support.

Don’t forget the Christmas craft fair on the 4^th of December…We are looking forward to having lots of items to choose from so don’t be late!

Guidance News

I am continuing to use homeroom time to distribute articles to students on various issues regarding careers, college and financial aid. At times, I will send home copies of some of these articles to make sure that parents receive the information.

We were fortunate this year that Tupper Lake held their College Fair during the day so that all students in 9-12 could attend. College Fairs are great opportunities to talk to admissions representatives and students should attend several times over their high school careers. There is usually another College Fair in the spring at Adirondack Community College, which we will offer for students.

I have met several times with the seniors about post-graduate plans. Right now, students are still finalizing which options they will pursue. Some students are looking at four year and two year schools. Some students are considering the military. One is considering a foreign exchange program and one is planning on employment. Whichever option they choose, I am trying to get them to decide for application purposes by the end of November so we can finalize applications before Christmas break. This gives us more time to focus on financial aid in the spring. Financial aid information was mailed home to senior and junior parents in September. When FAFSA applications arrive in December, I will mail them home to senior parents. Continued

Juniors took the PSAT exam in October and will have taken the ASVAB exam in November. I have discussed SAT and ACT exam registration with juniors and encouraged them to register for one or more of these tests as soon as possible. The SAT I exam is changing in March to include a new writing section. Information on changes to the test was mailed home to parents in grades 9-11.

Herkimer Community College offers several program days throughout the year, which would be valuable for students even if they are not interested in HCCC. These programs offer information on criminal justice, allied health and science, arts, human services and education, communications, business and computers and careers in sports education. Students in grades 10-12 were given information about these events and I will take students as a field trip if there is interest.

Students in grades 7-11 will continue to receive copies of Career World magazine throughout the school year. This magazine has great information about career exploration, transitioning to college, internships, apprenticeships, goal setting and time management skills.

Students can also access the Discover program online to investigate colleges, majors and careers or to take inventories to narrow down careers based on their interests, abilities or values. All students in grades 7-12 have been assigned a user code and will be given a reminder on how to access the system from any online computer.

If you have any questions about guidance or services, please call me at 624-5330. You can also reach me by email at twhite@mail.fehb.org.

School Census

If you have children between the ages of 0-18 residing in your household that do not already attend Long Lake Central School, please complete the following census survey and return it to the Guidance Office as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.

Child’s Name: Birth Date:

Address:

Parent’s Names:

Dominant Language:

Long Lake Central School

Section 504 Procedural Rights and Safeguards

Section 504 is a federal civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in programs receiving federal financial assistance. The Act protects individuals with a disability who:

1. have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activity (major life activities include self-care, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working);

2. have a record of such impairment, or

3. are regarded as having such an impairment.

Long Lake Central School District does not discriminate against persons with disabilities and provides access to qualified disabled individuals to all of its activities and programs.

The Act also obligates school districts to identify, evaluate, and to extend to every qualified student with a disability residing in the district, a free appropriate public education, including modifications, accommodations, specialized instruction or related aids as deemed necessary to meet their educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met.

The regulations for Section 504 as set out in 34 CFR Part 104 provide parents and/or students with the following rights:

1. You have a right to be informed by the school district of your rights under Section 504. The purpose of this notice is to advise you of your rights.

2. Your child has the right to participate in and benefit from public education programs without discrimination on the basis of disability.

3. Your child has the right to a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment and the right to equal opportunity to participate in school programs and extracurricular activities.

4. You have the right to receive notice a reasonable time before a district evaluates your child or changes your child’s placement or program.

5. You have the right to inspect and review your child’s records, to obtain copies of those records at a reasonable cost not prohibitive to parent access and the right to amend the records if inaccurate or misleading.

6. You have the right to have educational evaluation and placement decisions made based on information from a variety of sources and by people familiar with the needs of the student, the meaning of evaluation data and placement options.

7. You have the right to an impartial hearing to resolve disputes, the right to representation at that hearing and appeal rights as outlined in the district’s Section 504 Grievance Procedure.

If you believe your child may have a disability that requires modifications or accommodations to his or her educational program, please contact the Superintendent at 624-2221.

Long Lake Central School

Klue Scholarship Committee

PO Box 217

Long Lake, NY 12847

Dear Parents, Seniors, Post-Graduate Applicants:

The Klue Scholarship must be applied for annually. Applications are due in the Guidance Office by May 1^st each year. Copies of applications are available online or in the Guidance Office.

The base money amounts awarded every year to applicants varies depending on the amount available in the Klue account and the number of applicants. The committee will reward students for maintaining better grades and will consider the quality and completeness of the student’s application. The student’s essay on strengths and weaknesses and why they deserve the award will be considered in awarding scholarships.

Late applications will not be considered by the committee. Prior year graduates will receive the annual base amount only if transcripts are not received by May 1^st.

You will receive a letter from the business office once the scholarship committee has met and your award has been determined. In order to receive your scholarship, the registrar’s office from your college must send official matriculation certification to Long Lake Central School, attention the Business Manager. If you have questions regarding this scholarship, please call the Guidance Office at 624-5330.

Tisha White

Mrs. Malerba Knows What it is Like to Touch the Sky

Mrs. Malerba, the Long Lake Central School Outing Club Director, reached a personal goal this fall by becoming a member of the Northeast 111ers. What does that mean you ask? She qualified to become a member of this elite group by climbing every peak over 4000 feet in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. There are actually 115 peaks in the four states over 4000 feet and she has climbed every one of them!

She started this dream 10 years ago following a shoulder injury that took her out of her golf playing days. She needed a new activity while she was recovering and at the suggestion of a friend and fellow hiker she began hiking. She took it seriously and in less than a year had completed all 46 in the Adirondacks qualifying her to become an Adirondack 46er. With that accomplished she began looking elsewhere for adventure and neighboring Vermont and New Hampshire looked promising. Somewhere between 1994 and 2000 she decided to do all the peaks as the climbing had become a passion.

Not all of the peaks were fun to climb in fact some of them she has said she will never do again. This fall was one example when she finished her last two peaks in New York State…Slide and Hunter in the Catskills…definitely not favorites in her book. Then in September she went back to Maine to finish her last three peaks all of which were in Baxter State Park. Her personal desire was to finish on Mt. Kahtadin, Maine’s highest peak. This peak is especially challenging because of a mile long knife’s edge that has to be conquered so she figured that would be the way to end. As it turned out though weather played a factor and she ended up having to do Hamlin the first day so that left Kahtadin and North Brother for the finish. Kahtadin was everything they say it is….rugged, scary and a definite challenge. The trail she went up required her to go across what they refer to as the chimney and this is another area she will never do again. The chimney taught Mrs. Malerba about overcoming fear. She had to go across it to get to the knife’s edge and the trail beyond or risk having to go down in defeat. To traverse the chimney and knife’s edge required determination, courage, and just about every other emotion a hiker can face. Imagine being on top of the world where a simple stumble (or leaning a bit too far to compensate for the wind only to have it change suddenly) or a glance downward can mean a fall of over 1000 feet on either side. In some areas the knife’s edge is only a foot or so wide with vertical drops on either side. Imagine having the courage to keep going…she had it and she not only accomplished Mt. Kahtadin but had the strength to go on and climb North Brother the same day. Imagine the perseverance needed! Imagine having a dream so vivid that you can overcome fear, discouragement, physical and emotional exhaustion, bumps and bruises just to have the thrill of standing on top of the world over and over 115 times…Imagine! She did it and she now joins a group of less than 500 people to have become registered members of the Northeast 111ers… Congratulations Mrs. Malerba !

When Mrs. Malerba is not subbing at school or out with the Adirondack Trekkers ( our own outing club) she runs Adirondack Connections Guide Service. It is through this that she is now guiding others who want to become Adirondack 46ers as well as other hiking or canoeing enthusiasts. Who knows maybe one day she’ll be able to say she has helped someone else join the Northeast 111ers too. In the meantime she invites all students, faculty, staff and community to become members of the Adirondack Trekers and go on the Outing Club trips. Keep watching for further news of upcoming trips and adventures.

Dino Dig

The first and second grade science class has been studying dinosaurs this past month. Our study included classroom work, a dino dig, putting together our own dinosaur skeletons and finally doing a presentation for Morning Program members and our families. We had a lot of fun with this.

In class we learned the names of several different dinosaurs and what makes them different. We learned about the periods they lived. We learned about what they ate. We talked about what it means to be a Paleontologist.
After studying about them we got to go on a real dig. Mrs. Hall had buried 10 bones from each of our kits in “dig areas” out in back of school. We had to search the dirt just like real paleontologist to find the bones for our dinos. When we had found them we brought them all back in and then tried to identify our own dinosaur by looking at the bones we had. After we got them all identified we began the task of putting them together. We decided that being a paleontologist is fun but it is also hard work!

It took us about 3 class periods (with some outside of class help from Mrs. Hall) to get our skeletons together. The next step was to get the information we needed about our dinosaur to share during our presentation for Morning Program.

Our presentation included singing a song called Dinosaur Chorus, sharing our facts about our dinosaurs and then an audience participation piece where kindergartners were asked to match up our skeletons with the play dinosaurs that Mrs. Hall had. Then that afternoon we had to take our test and we all did great! Our dig pictures and tests can be seen on the wall between the first and second grade classrooms.

Morning Program News and Notes

LIBRARY NEWS

By Alexandria Holton

Class of 2006

Guidance News

School Census

Section 504 Procedural Rights and Safeguards

Klue Scholarship Committee

Dino Dig