Nisk-Art Gallery seeks entries from Niskayuna High School alumni for 2009-10 art exhibition
The Nisk-Art Gallery invites submissions from art alumni who graduated from Niskayuna High School between 1996–2007 and are either currently working in the field as a professional artist or enrolled in a college-level art degree program. The exhibition will run from November 16, 2009 to January 28, 2010. Download the prospectus and the entry form (PDF). Entries must be postmarked by Friday, September 19. For more information, e-mail Director of Art Education, Scott Walroth or call (518) 382-2511, ext. 21738

Congratulations to the Class of 2009!
Graduates recognized during an evening of memories, music, inspiration and tradition
What do corn and Niskayuna graduates have in common?
Class of 2009 President Lauren Betzwieser answered that intriguing question in her graduation speech during Niskayuna High School’s commencement on Thursday, June 25 at Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady where a standing-room-only crowd had gathered to recognize and congratulate the nearly 350 graduates.
Explaining that Niskayuna literally means “extensive corn flats,” Betzwieser drew several parallels during her speech between her fellow classmates and the “boring yellow vegetable that is used in everything” from food products, to fuel for cars to a popular source of entertainment—the corn field maze.
“Each of us started as a small kernel eventually growing into a sturdy tall stalk planted firmly in the ground,” she reminisced, noting how Niskayuna athletes were not plowed under by their sectional rivals; how students fueled others with their hard work raising funds for charities near and far, such as the Donna M. Crandall Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Darfur refugees in Africa; and celebrating the good times—nearly popping in the heat of the gym during dances.  Read more

Middle school student's artwork featured on anti-tobacco t-shirt
“Be Strong. Help Break the Habit.”
This simple, yet powerful message and the illustration that accompanies it, were created by Iroquois Middle School eighth-grader Gen Grivas. The design was selected by her classmates to adorn anti-tobacco t-shirts provided to them courtesy of the Tobacco Free Schools program.
Twenty-five eighth-grade students submitted artwork for a contest, developed by Niskayuna health teacher Jennifer Deeb, as part of a unit on substance abuse prevention. “The contest offered students an opportunity to use their creativity to promote positive messages encouraging their peers to remain drug-free,” Deeb said.
Grivas chose to raise awareness of the harmful effects of cigarettes through her artwork, which depicts two strong arms reaching from a pair of lungs to snap a cigarette in half. Read more

Niskayuna middle school student’s desire to build a better earth results in a “smart” way for school to save energy
Van Antwerp Middle School has become a little “smarter” when it comes it energy conservation thanks to the persuasive prose of one student.
Last spring, eighth-grader Laura Mueller submitted an essay to the annual General Electric (GE) Volunteers Essay Contest in which Grade 7 students are asked to describe how they would use $500 to make a positive difference in their community. Mueller’s concern about energy consumption and its environmental impact became the basis for her winning essay.
“Most people don’t realize the drastic modifications you can create for your community with five hundred dollars,” Mueller noted in her essay. “There are various alterations you could make to any society but one I feel very strongly about is wasted energy.” (Read the essay)
Mueller wrote that she would use the prize money to purchase 12 Smart Strips to help her school conserve energy. Smart Strips are devices that automatically turn off electrical appliances, such as computers, when not in use. The devices also work to shut down computers that have gone into "sleep mode." Several appliances may be connected to one Smart Strip, which resembles a regular power strip and also serves as a surge protector. Read more

Board of Education honors school district retirees for years of dedication and service to Niskayuna students
During a ceremony on June 15, the Board of Education recognized 22 retiring faculty and staff members for their combined 430+ years of dedication to students and commitment to Niskayuna schools. During the ceremony, school principals and administrators shared their thoughts and fondest memories of these dedicated professionals. Best wishes to this year's retirees, (pictured l-r): Rhoda Sterling, Heather Grimm, Barbara Puccia, Lorraine Waterhouse, Kristine Maxwell, Cheryl Curfari, David Motta, Randee Hartz, Lynn Esposito, Janet MacLagger and Maureen Abbenante; as well as Mary Aylward, Barbara Coco, Sandra Fillion, James Haber, Peter Hemming, Victoria Holley, Gloria Jean, Richard King, Rosalie Lauber, Glen McCormack and Cindy Salisbury.

Important information about summer sports physicals
Physicals for Fall sports will be held August 12-13 at 8:30 am in the High School Nurse’s office. These are the final dates to receive a sports physical from the school physician. If a student has received a physical from his or her own physician, a copy of that physical must be received in the Nurse’s office no later than August 13. Completed gray cards and Interim Health Forms are also due on that date. For the safety of the student, the school nurse must review all paperwork and sign the gray card. ALL gray cards must be signed by the school nurse. The gray cards will be given to the coaches prior to tryouts.
Failure to turn in completed forms prior to August 13 may result in a student being delayed or not being able to try out for a sport.

Fifteen high school seniors receive Niskayuna Teachers' Association scholarships

2009 NTA scholarship winners include ( l-r): Andrew Blechinger, Lauren Betzwieser, Nikita Kiriy, Molly O’Donnell, Corey Guilmette, Anna DiRienzo, Kerry Archer, Kelsey Ryan, Peter Furey, Nirmala Jayarman and Kevin Kurtzner. (Missing from photo: Sara Berry, Adam Cooke, Erin Montrello and David Stopera)

The Niskayuna Teachers' Association awarded $8,000 to 15 Niskayuna High Schools seniors this year. The NTA scholarships are awarded annually to seniors who plan to attend college and have demonstrated good citizenship and significant promise of academic achievement.
Congratulations to the following 2009 NTA Scholarship recipients: Lauren Betzwieser and Kevin Kurtzner  (Susan Burke Memorial Scholarship); Peter Furey and Kelsey Ryan (Jean Bundy Memorial Scholarship); Anna DiRienzo and Erin Montrello (Ron Beauchemin Memorial Scholarship); Andrew Blechinger and Nirmala Jayarman (Laura M. Sicko Memorial Scholarship); Kerry Archer and Nikita Kiriy (Roy Williams / Bob McKee Scholarship); Corey Guilmette and Molly O’Donnell (Dr. Emily Langworthy Peck Memorial Scholarship ); Sarah Barry and David Stopera (Phyllis Black Memorial Scholarship); and Adam Cooke (Dr. Rexford Souder Scholarship).

Middle school students get a taste of planning school lunch meals
Students at Van Antwerp Middle School recently enjoyed a tasty new lunch item courtesy of several students in Maureen Trefethen's grade 8 health class. The eighth-graders joined forces with Niskayuna schools Food Service Director Debbie Mahan to plan some new menu ideas in April. Tyler Colvin, Dan Carrigan, Alex Lee, Jesse Zeltins and Mike Heim (pictured) developed the winning menu, which featured Chicken Parmesan, garlic bread, carrots with Ranch dip, watermelon, apple juice and assorted low-fat milk. The new lunch debuted on Van Antwerp’s menu in June. Teams of students from Trefethen's class brainstormed ideas for one day's lunch menu incorporating required components. The school’s students and staff then voted for their favorite menu idea. Mahan said the new lunch menu was so well received by the students and staff that it will put on the district menu next year.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies open new classroom additions at three Niskayuna elementary schools
Niskayuna Central School District administrators, students, faculty, staff and parents unveiled new classroom additions at Rosendale, Birchwood and Hillside elementary schools during three separate ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Friday, June 5. The trio of ceremonies kicked off at Rosendale, continued at Birchwood, and concluded with a final ceremony at Hillside Elementary.
Five new classrooms were constructed at each school as part of the school district’s $94.5 million construction and renovations project. Work began last summer on the classroom additions at the three Niskayuna elementary buildings. Construction completed in April, and students and staff began occupying the classrooms in early and mid-May. Renovations on existing classrooms in the three buildings will continue throughout the summer. Read more, view photos

Two Niskayuna High School teachers receive annual Murray Excellence in Education Awards
Speechless. That word describes the reaction of the two Niskayuna High School teachers who were named the 2009 winners of the Murray Excellence in Education Award. In a surprise visit, members of Student Congress, school administrators, colleagues, representatives of the Niskayuna Community Foundation (NCF) and photographers streamed into two classrooms on the second floor of the high school to present the awards to social studies teacher Mary Eads and mathematics teacher Jason DeRocco.
The Murray Excellence in Education Award, administered by the NCF, recognizes two outstanding educators each year for their commitment to quality teaching, their professional leadership and contributions they make that help foster the healthy development of their students. Read more

My Nutrikids online prepayment service is now available
Parents may begin using the MyNutrikids online prepayment service to deposit money into your child’s school meals account. MyNutrikids provides parents a convenient and secure option to prepay online for your child’s school meals at any time from your personal computer. More information

2009-10 basic calendar available
The Niskayuna Board of Education has adopted the basic calendar for the 2009-10 school year. This calendar contains school vacations and holidays. View next year's calendar. A complete calendar, listing individual school events and conference days, will be mailed to all parents in August.

This page was last updated July 2, 2009