Nov. 21 newsletter
November 8th, 2023
"Socktober" Sets A Record! 🧦
Warm Feet, Warm Hearts
The Gananda Middle School Student Congress officially brought a record-setting “Socktober” to a close on Nov. 14 by donating more than 1,200 pairs of donated socks to the Open Door Mission of Rochester.
Open Door representatives Chris Scribani and Robert Williams made the trip to Gananda to pick up the socks in addition to nearly 100 bag lunches prepared by members of Student Congress. The 1,243 pairs of socks nearly doubled the previous record of 747 pairs.
Afterward, Student Congress enjoyed a pizza lunch provided by Mac’s Pizza Shack of Macedon before helping Mr. Scribani and Mr. Williams load the socks and lunches into boxes for transport to Rochester.
Enjoy the Break 🌅
Bus Garage Proposal 🚌
Vote Is December 14
The Gananda Central School District is looking to build a new transportation facility and the proposal goes to the ballot on Thursday, Dec. 14.
Click here to be directed to the district web page to learn details about the project, how you can vote and answer questions about the project that anticipates zero raises in district taxes for residents. You can also see an artist's rendering of what the new facility may look like on the high school campus and get the dates for public forums (both virtual and in-person) where questions can be asked.
New information will be added as the voting day draws closer, so stay tuned!
Book Fair Is Coming! 📚
Scholastic Book Fair: Dec. 4-11
It's time to start making plans for the Scholastic Book Fair coming to Richard Mann Elementary School. Be on the lookout for information coming home with your elementary student and mark these dates: Wednesday, Dec. 6 is Family Night (5-7 pm) and Saturday, Dec. 9 is Family Day (9-noon).
Click on the image to the right to visit the Book Fair website, where you can set up an eWallet account and sign up for reminders.
Women In Manufacturing 👷♀️
Gananda Seniors Attend Summit in Rochester
Gananda seniors Hailey Santiago and Tiffany Trumbach attended the Women in Manufacturing Summit in Rochester on Wednesday where they learned about opportunities for careers in manufacturing, the second-largest industry in the region.
The event, put on by the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program, addressed manufacturing apprenticeships as higher education and encouraged attendees to explore career opportunities in the industry. #WIM #FLYAP
Colonial Times Lessons (and Fun!) 👀
Cat's Cradle, Pickup Sticks Were Just Part of the Day
Fourth-graders at Richard Mann Elementary School had some fun last week during their Colonia Times and Revolutionary Period Unit. A visitor from the Little Red School House came to class to talk about what school was like during the era.
Then, Gananda students participated in tin punching and sewing while also learning some games like cat's cradle, Nine Men's Morris, marbles and pickup sticks. What a fun time for kids to not only learn about Colonial times, but experience it as well.
Support Systems in Place 👂🤗
Self-Control Lessons
The Middle School bulletin board has been updated to show the different ways students are practicing self-control!
Three Tiers
MTSS offers three tiers of support for Gananda students, ranging from Tier I to Tier III depending on the needs for every student in the district.
Tutoring Help 📝
Sign Up Today
National Honor Society students are now offering tutoring help for any high school students looking for help in science and/or writing. We will be offering tutoring both during advisement and after school on certain days.
All tutoring will be held in room 131. Students can use this Google form to sign up. It is not necessary to sign up, but it will help to ensure we have the right students and enough students available to help.
Girls Basketball Update 🏀
Senior Kaylee Marvin Signs NIL
A new basketball chapter is about to get started for Gananda senior Kaylee Marvin. But first things first, right?
“I want to take more leadership and lead my team into sectionals,” she said.
Marvin had plenty of company to celebrate the pursuit of that goal along with her commitment to play college basketball for Division II Wheeling University in Wheeling, West Virginia. Marvin signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the Cardinals on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at a signing ceremony in the high school atrium.
Dollars for Scholars Events 👨🎓👩🎓
Holiday Spirit
Gananda Dollar for Scholars is hosting a caroling event at the Elementary School bus loop on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m.
In addition, the scholarship application process opens on Jan. 1 and closes on March 19. Information on the scholarship process will be discussed at the Dollars for Scholars Information Night on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at the high school library.
Artificial Intelligence 👁️
Detectors Help Teachers ID Source of Work
There's been a lot of conversation around concerns with students passing off AI as their own work. Some teachers have started using AI text detectors to help combat this problem. Here is a good resource that provides an overview on the strengths and limitations of AI text detectors.
We are working with the district leadership team on discussing possible protocols around the use of AI. AI is, and will continue, to revolutionize many aspects of life. We need to be thoughtful in considering how this technology will change the nature of learning and how we can appropriately harness it.
Hockey Season 🏒🥅
Free Event For Youth on Saturday
Children have plenty of energy, so why not put that energy on the ice?
The Webster Cyclones are hosting a free Try Hockey day on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Webster Ice Arena, 865 Publishers Parkway, Webster, 14580.
Children ages 4-9 are invited to participate and you do not need to be a Webster resident to take part in this event. Equipment will be available courtesy of New York State Amateur Hockey, but it is recommended that interested skaters bring a helmet and elbow/knee pads (they do not need to be hockey specific).
Planning Ahead 📅
Upcoming Events
Nov. 22-24: Thanksgiving Recess
Nov. 29: Board of Education Meeting
Dec. 7: Grades 4-6 Winter Concert
Dec. 13: Board of Education Meeting
Dec. 14: Capital Project Vote
Dec. 14: Grades 7-12 Instrumental Concert
Dec. 19: Grades 7-12 Vocal Concert
Dec. 22: No school (superintendent conference day)
Dec. 25-Jan. 2: Holiday Recess
Jan. 3: School resumes
Jan. 10: Board of Education Meeting
Jan. 15: No school (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Jan. 17: Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Information Meeting
Jan. 19: Middle School Roller Skating Party at MS gym
Jan. 19: Elementary School Activity Night
Jan. 22: UPK Registration for 2024-25 begins
Jan. 23-26: Regents Exams
Jan. 26: End of Marking Period 2
Jan. 26: Half Day of school