West Genesee School District

Dear West Genesee Families,

Happy New Year! How quickly 2024 seems to have passed by and now we begin 2025!

There are many traditions of celebration that come with a new year: the New Year’s Eve ball drop in NYC, gatherings with family and friends, and reflection of a year past and the hope for the next. Growing up, my family very often celebrated with my aunt, uncle, and their family. They would travel to our house to join with us and local friends. Multiple families, many kids, much laughter! I remember siblings, cousins, and friends playing in the basement, the noisy celebration line through first-floor rooms, and a barbeque at midnight! Although the rituals have changed since childhood, the sentiment remains in my own family across the holidays.

As far as I can remember, there was always reference to making a New Year’s resolution. More recently, there seems to be cynicism and low success in such aspirations, for a number of reasons. I have had my own intentions fade in past years. It could be that a change of the calendar is not the single motivation necessary.

Instead, perhaps we should consider every day as a chance to seek change, improve our skills, and try new adventures. Goal setting and paving a way for growth can happen anytime. Being better tomorrow than today is laudable. Reaching new heights and accepting unique challenges for ourselves is energy provoking and inspirational!

Please accept my sincere wishes to you and your family as we begin 2025. May it be filled with good health, traditions, laughter, relationships, and endless possibilities for success and unlimited happiness!

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools

Forty-one musicians from Camillus Middle School/ West Genesee High School will perform in the Junior High All-County Festival on January 24-25, 2025 at Nottingham High School. The junior high group includes grades 7-9.

West Genesee students that will perform in the Mixed Choir are:

• Soprano- Adelyn Borsz, Parker Thomas
• Alto- Emily Corrente, Ella Greene, Charlotte Retkwa
• Tenor- Brayden Bielby, Ryan Champlin, Tate Fabbri, Kenneth Kirby, Liam Romanyk, Jackson Woody
• Bass- Jamison Smith, David Sterling

West Genesee students that will perform in the Treble Choir are:

• Soprano- Layla Meany, Josephine Perfito, Brianna Popp, Madison Potaczala
• Alto- Luca Belfield, Claire Heaphy

Band members from West Genesee who will perform are:

• Baritone Sax- Jacob Yaus
• Clarinet- Anna Borsz, Robin Deyo
• French Horn- Caroline Sperduti
• Tenor Sax- Alexander Carkey
• Trombone- Andrew Dotzler, Ivy Eddy, Kyle Hagadorn
• Trumpet- Evelyn Dimmel, Samuil Kokhanets, Jason Sampson
• Tuba- Andrew Friers

The West Genesee students performing in the orchestra will be:

• Violin- Nikola Jakimoski , Veronika Kishova, Alaina Schuessler, Victor Vasilev
• Viola- Madison Coonrad, Sarah Sullivan
• Cello- Roan Emery
• String Bass-Josephine Carkey
• Trumpet-Olivia Barry, Parley Millar

Some of our newly formed Tri-M members are pictured above volunteering at OCMEA Junior High All-County auditions. Thanks Tri-M for all your help!!

West Genesee High School and Camillus Middle School have started Tri-M Chapters this school year. These are the first music honor society chapters here at West Genesee!

Tri-M Music Honor Society is an American high school and middle school music honor society. A program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), it is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements and to provide leadership and service opportunities to young musicians. There are approximately 6,200 participating chapters in several countries, each of which is run by the students but supervised by an advisor or sponsor, usually a school teacher.

The WGHS Chapter is being advised by Erin McConnell and the CMS chapter is being advised by Don Schuessler. There has been great interest so far and they are off to a great start. We can't wait to see how these groups progress!

In 4th Grade Robots Club, students recently had an exciting opportunity to drive their robots and compete in thrilling Bot Battles!

On December 10, 2024 Camillus Middle School 7th grade science students were able to work with scientists from Cornell, Cornell Cooperative Extension, SUNY ESF and the Hobart William Smith Fingerlakes PRISM. Their presentations shared different strategies used to control invasive species like the Sea Lamprey, Hydrilla, Phragmites, and the Spotted Lantern Fly.

Thank you to the scientists for visiting, and sharing their research with our students. Thank you to Wegmans for donating lunch for this Invasive Species event at CMS.

The visual arts teachers at CMS have created a newsletter to keep updated on the projects they are working on throughout the year! What a great idea! Click here to see the second issue.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year opened on December 4, 2024 and will go until March 28, 2025.

Watch for registration information on the Central Registration webpage. If you have any questions, email the Central Registrar at centralregistrar@westgenesee.org, or call Central Registration at (315) 487-4683.

When registering, parents/guardians should be prepared to upload the following:

• Two proofs of residency (i.e. mortgage or property statement or signed lease agreement, utility bill )

• proof of age

A physical examination and proof of immunizations are also required for entry into kindergarten and a dental certificate is requested for entry into kindergarten. These examinations should be done up to one year prior to the first day of school. Children who enter kindergarten this fall must be five years of age on or before December 1, 2025.

To access the most updated health requirements click here.

Tickets are NOW AVAILABLE for the WGHS production of Disney's The Little Mermaid at wgfinearts.ludus.com or the WG Fine Arts Office!!

Come join us "Under the Sea" February 6-8, 2025!!

The Annual Culture Celebration will be held at West Genesee High School on Saturday, March 1, 2024 from 12:00-3:00 p.m in the upper gymnasium. The annual West Genesee Culture Celebration is an exciting opportunity to showcase the rich diversity of the West Genesee Central School District and the broader Camillus community.

This special event highlights the many cultures that make up our community through performances and table displays by students, families, and community groups.

Last year’s event featured an array of contributions, including: Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Tearney's Martial Arts, Folk and Irish Dancers, Social Justice Coalition, and displays on South Korean, Palestinian, and Bulgarian heritage.

We want your culture to be part of this year’s celebration! Whether through a performance or a table display sharing your traditions, history, and heritage, we encourage as many families and groups as possible to participate.

For more information or to sign up, contact: Meghan Leonardis, West Genesee High School Admin Intern, mleonardis@westgenesee.org, 315-487-4673

Let’s make this celebration a true reflection of our multicultural community and foster a culture of inclusion in our schools. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Come Join Us!!! West Genesee CSD is hosting an in-person Job Fair on January 9, 2025 from 3:00-6:30 p.m. in the West Genesee High School Library. We are looking to fill the following open positions:

• Custodial Workers
• Bus Drivers and Attendants
• Bus Mechanics
• Food Service Workers
• Teacher Aides
• Non-Instructional Substitutes
• Instructional Substitutes

Announcements about school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissal will be posted on the News Headlines section of the District website home page. They will also be broadcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the list of stations which you can access by clicking here.

Also, ParentSquare communications software allows us to send emails, texts, and make phone calls. (Phone calls will be used for emergency situations only.)

Parent/Guardians and staff will NOT need to sign-up to receive information from schools that you are registered for in Schooltool. (You will have the option to opt-out if you choose not to receive emails, texts, and/or phone calls. To receive texts, you also have to opt-in per the instructions in the Tips article below. )

West Genesee CSD is hiring full-time custodians on all shifts and substitute custodians for the 2nd shift.

Inquiries can be made to Buildings and Grounds at (315) 487-4630.

We are looking for a Crossing Guard. This is a part-time position located at West Genesee Intermediate School.

Inquiries can be made to WGCSD Human Resources at 315-487-4555.

• December 30-31, 2024 No School-Holiday Recess
• January 1-3, 2025 No School-Holiday Recess
• January 6, 2025 Students/Teachers Return to School
• January 8, 2025 Board of Education Meeting at West Genesee High School Library-6:00 p.m.