Bird's Eye View

Hello Larries Community,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year's final edition of our community digital newsletter, the “Bird’s Eye View''. Throughout each edition this year we have continued to:

1. Give you small snapshots of the great things that are happening here at SLC.

2. Asked for a little help with somethings to make our school/community the most productive we can be.

Our hope is that we can to connect our great community with the students, staff, and programs that are here to help maximize our students’ futures.

I want to personally thank everyone that came out to vote on our 2024-25 school budget. With our government representatives passing legislation this past spring to further examine (re-write) the current School Foundation Aid formula, concern about how that will affect North Country schools is growing among superintendents in the region. Despite what may happen with this newly created funding formula, we will continue to do everything possible to provide the best overall educational experience for our SLC students. We are going to continue to focus heavily on maintaining the current academic programs we have bolstered, while also finding ways to be that “central-hub” that is so needed with non-academic support as well. By ensuring this, we will continue to build, not only a solid educational community, but one in which “all students can attain their maximum potential in the future”!

A few reminders of some important educational dates:

• June 6 - MS Awards Ceremony

• June 12 & 13 - MS/HS (Grades 7-12) in class Final Exam days

• June 13 - Last day of regular classes for grades 7-12 (Regents are scheduled thereafter.)

• June 19 - Juneteenth, NO school on this day.

• June 24 - Pre-K Graduation

• June 25 - 4th Grade Awards Ceremony

• June 28 - High School Graduation on the turf field. As of today, audience numbers will not be limited unless we need to move the ceremony inside.

A few shout outs and reminders:

• Congratulations to all those that have been recognized, in this June issue, for the outstanding work you are doing both here and at BOCES.

• During the month of May, SLC worked with local social media specialists and created another three short videos to help show “what special things go on inside SLC”. We hope you enjoy the videos as each one showcases some of our great programs in the elementary, middle, and high school as well as our students and staff that make the programs a success. (Look for these videos to be shared this summer and fall.)

• Congratulations to all of our 3-12 Band and Chorus members and teachers on some great performances here during the month of May.

• Congratulations to all our Spring Sport Scholar Athlete Award winners!

• A special shout out to our girls varsity softball team for earning another Scholar Athlete Team Award, as well as, another Class C Section X Championship this year…well done!

• An extra “shout out” to this past month's Channel 7 News Academic All-Star, Kaleigh Recore! Great job, Kaleigh!

• Finally, we would like to congratulate our SLC Senior Class Valedictorian (Kaleigh Recore) and our Senior Class Salutatorian (Morgan Francis). Both students are great representatives of SLC!

Please consider sharing this edition with any neighbors, relatives, friends, or alumni you may know that would like to keep updated on what goes on here at SLC.

Thank you for your continued support of our great district!

Christopher Rose

Superintendent

Brasher Falls Central School District announces its participation in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Meals will be provided to all children 18 years and under without charge. Please click here to view the July Menu. Please click here to review the SFSP Letter to the Community.

It is hard to believe that the end of this school year is quickly approaching. With that being said, I wanted remind you about Regents Exams. I know that Regents Exams have been inconsistently administered due to the COVID pandemic. Last June, Regents Exams were brought back and required for all students in a Regents-Level course. This will be the same for this year.

I also wanted to provide you with the schedule and also some information on transportation for Regents Week.

Here is some important information:

• June 12th and 13th Finals will be administered in your classes. Chromebooks will be due this week in class. Your teachers will communicate the Chromebook (this includes the charger and cover as well) schedule next week. You must be present on finals day to take your finals. No makeup exams will be provided.

• Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 will be the Algebra I Regents. Students enrolled in that course will attend school, report to homeroom and then to the gym or alternate location for the exam.

• June 14th-June 25th all other NYS Regents Exams are administered. SLC will administer the exams at 8:15 and 12:15 for morning and afternoon exams. You cannot be late for exams and must be seated and ready for directions at these times. If you are late (depending on time), you may either be refused admittance to the exam, or have your time reduced to take the exam accordingly.

• If you are coming to school for any reason during Regents days, all students must enter through the main office to sign in to your destination. You can only be in the building for school-related reasons (i.e. Senior Seminars for ELA, Review, etc.). You are to only be with the teacher you have signed in to be with, and must remain there through your time in the building.

• The bus runs do look different. If you have questions, contact Mr. Redmond in the bus garage at tredmond@bfcsd.org and he can help you figure out your timing. Please contact him as soon as you know you have a need for transportation and he will add you to a list.

• All lockers must be cleaned out and locks returned no later than Thursday, June 13th. This applies to both lockers in the hall as well as gym and team room lockers. No materials will be stored for the summer and anything remaining will be thrown in the garbage during summer cleaning.

• Summer School will be held from July 8th-August 20th. Though summer school is "virtual," SLC is recommending that all of our students who are repeating a course (i.e. you failed during the year) to attend in-person with support. We will have transportation, meals, and help from a certified teaching staff for you to navigate how to best learn in this environment. We will be sending the brochure out to families soon.

I encourage you to reach out to either myself, the school counselors and your teachers if you have any questions about how this pertains to your unique situation.

Finally, Congratulations to the Class of 2024! We welcome the community to our Graduation Ceremony on Friday, June 28th, 2024 at 6:00 PM on the turf athletic field. Our rain location will be in our high school gymnasium and seating may be limited. Keep an eye out for more information related to the weather!

Kristen Zender

High School Principal

With great pride, we announce Kaleigh Recore as the Valedictorian for the Class of 2024. Kaleigh, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred and Kelly Recore, has excelled academically and demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to her studies and extracurricular activities.

Throughout her high school journey, Kaleigh has been the epitome of a well-rounded student. Her commitment to academic excellence is reflected in her numerous achievements, including receiving the NYSPHAA Scholar-Athlete Award, the Owen's Family Evergreen STEM Scholarship, and multiple academic achievement awards. These accolades are a testament to her unwavering dedication to her studies.

Beyond academics, Kaleigh has been actively involved in various leadership roles and extracurricular activities. She has served as the President of the National Honor Society, Vice President of Student Council, Treasurer of Tri-M, Treasurer of Band and Chorus, and a member of the Drama Club, Swing Choir, Jazz Band, and Varsity Softball Team. Her leadership and involvement in these organizations have enriched our school community and inspired her peers.

In addition to her impressive academic and extracurricular accomplishments, Kaleigh has been the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Honors Scholarship and Trustee's Scholarship at St. John Fisher University, the Presidential Scholarship at Le Moyne College, Xerox Award for Innovation at the University of Rochester, Pre-Pharmacy Merit Scholarship at the University of New England, Pine Tree & Trustee's Scholarship at Husson University, Presidential Scholarship at St. Bonaventure University, Merit Scholarship at SUNY Buffalo, Achievement Award at Clarkson University, Rensselaer Medal Award at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Momentum Scholarship at St. Lawrence University, Merit Scholarship at D'Youville, and Academic Distinction Scholarship at ACPHS.

Looking towards the future, Kaleigh's aspirations are clear. She plans to attend SUNY Binghamton, where she has been guaranteed admission into the Doctor of Pharmacy program upon completing an accelerated 3-year Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Her ultimate goal is to become a pharmacist and return to live and work in the North Country, positively impacting her community.

Kaleigh's journey to success has not been without challenges. Still, her advice to future students is a testament to her resilience and determination: "Don't let anyone or anything get in the way of your success." As she embarks on the next chapter of her academic and professional journey, we have no doubt that Kaleigh will continue to inspire others and achieve great things.

Congratulations, Kaleigh, on this well-deserved honor! Your dedication, passion, and perseverance serve as an inspiration to us all. We wish you continued success in all your future endeavors.

With great pride, we announce Miss Morgan Francis as our class of 2024 Salutatorian. Morgan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott and Jennifer Francis. Throughout her time at SLC, Morgan has proven to be an ambitious, high achieving, and diligent student. Morgan has taken advantage of the rigorous coursework we have to offer at SLC and has truly excelled in these challenging courses. Her impressive grades and performance in demanding courses showcase her strong work ethic and dedication to academic excellence.

Along with her impressive academic record, Morgan has also been highly involved in extracurricular activities throughout her time at SLC. In her roles as the Vice President of the National Honor Society and the President of the Student Council, Morgan has proven her leadership skills and devotion to her education. Through these roles, Morgan has taken the lead on various fundraisers and organizations to benefit her class. Morgan has also been part of the Greenhouse Club, Yearbook Club, Drama Club, Softball, and has served as the Class of 2024 Secretary.

Morgan’s hard work and dedication is evident, as she has received multiple academic awards throughout high school and from various colleges. She received the Presidential Scholarship, which is awarded to a student who maintains a high GPA and strong academic record, from Nazareth University, Alfred University, and St. Bonaventure University. She has also been accepted to the Honors program at St. John Fisher University and received the Trustees Scholarship. At St. Lawrence University, Morgan was named Momentum Scholar with Community Service Distinction. Morgan also received two junior scholarships; the Science and Math award at RIT, and the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony award at University of Rochester. Morgan has remained on the Honor Roll all four years of high school.

Morgan’s advice for future students is “Be involved in as many activities as possible to allow yourself to be more productive, energized, creative, and positive even when your goals seem unattainable”. In her future, Morgan plans to attend St. John Fisher University to major in Nursing. Morgan’s career aspiration is to enter the medical field as a nurse practitioner. Specifically, Morgan hopes to get involved in pediatric care and partake in doctors without borders.

Congratulations, Morgan, on this well-deserved honor! Your commitment, dedication, and love for learning will take you far in life. We wish you continued success in all your future endeavors.

Two students from St. Lawrence Central High School were awarded the Seaway Tech Program Student of the Month award for the month of May. Congratulations to Brayden Brockway (Automotive Technology) and Kailee LaBier (Cosmetology) on receiving this award!

After reading the life advice in Make Your Bed by Admiral William McRaven, students in Ms. Winters’ English 12 classes have left their own advice for the underclassmen at SLC. The following is the advice they think is the most important:

“Before judging someone, take a walk in their shoes.” - Alyssa Barney
“If you give up, you will never achieve your dreams.” - Eli Bass
“Don't worry about doing what everyone else is doing because they may not want the same outcome as you.” - Baylee Cheney
“Never make a promise you can't keep.” - Rebekah Dibble
“Don’t take the things people say to heart.” - Michael Donie
“Believe in yourself. You can accomplish anything.” - Charles Dow
“It’s not wrong to want to be happy.” - Eliza Foster
“Practice makes improvement, not perfection.” - Tanner Gordon-Snyder
“Don’t let other people judge your worth.” - Gabrielle Goodspeed
“You have to take risks to succeed in life.” - Dusty Green
“Life isn’t no crystal stair.” - Madison Green
“Don't wait until the last minute to do everything.” - Evan LaBrake
“Don't let anyone put you down.” - Shari LaCombe
“Learn to forgive, but do not forget.” - Darrick LaMay
“Never give up.” - Wyatt Lantry
“Show up and do your best; do not pass up opportunities because you never know where they can take you.” - Cody LaShomb-Tessier
“Don't wait for the last minute to get things done.” - Logan LeMay
“Enjoy your younger years; they're the only ones you're going to get.” - Thomas McCarthy
“If you fall down, get back up.” - Marquez Mendoza
“Choose not to give up.” - Jacob Merrill
“Don’t let other people's opinions get to you because 10 years from now no one's gonna remember those little things.” - Jocelyn Moreau
“Don’t give up.” - Jeremiah Nostrom
“Get out of your comfort zone.” - Damen Olson
“Don't let anyone bring you down from what you love.” - Ayden Page
“Don't let yesterday take up too much of today.” - Nicholas Page
“Make a lot of friends.” - Joseph Perry
“Treat others the way you want to be treated.” - Faith Plante
“Never give up and keep moving forward.” - Connor Provost
“Don’t tell yourself you’ll do it later, because you probably won’t.” - Atreau Rawson
“If complaining helps you get your work done, then complain all you want. You need to get your work done one way or another, so find a way.” - Gabriella Razis
“If you can't join them, beat them.” - Madiysn Shorette
“When you develop your vocabulary, make sure it doesn't involve the word can't.” - August Simcox
“Be respectful to everyone.” - Kayden Snyder
“Don’t give up.” - Matthew Thatcher
“Be the sun.” - Tyson Thompson
“Doing stupid things will not get you anywhere.” - Kevin VanElls
“Life is not always fair - move on.” - Roger Wolfe
“Don't let your mistakes make you not succeed.” - Jason Woodard

Juniors and Seniors in Mr. Morrison and Mr. Normile's social studies classes recently attended a presentation from the St. Lawrence County Board of Elections. Students learned about registering, how ballots are set up, voting machine security, and why their vote matters. Pictured is Jayden Wagner, demonstrating how to feed a completed ballot into a voting machine, and how much fun voting is!

The Mock Trial team traveled to Poland, NY, to compete in a scrimmage against the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison County champion team. SLC, which has the only currently active mock trial team in the North Country, represented the People of the State of Nirvana in their prosecution of Lindsey Gordon for third degree arson.

SLC students put on an exhibition trial at the Potsdam Town Court last spring in front of Potsdam judge and attorney advisor David Haggard, but this was their first competitive trial against another team. Poland Central’s program goes back thirty years and this year’s team has seven straight victories under their belt. SLC had a strong showing, losing by only two points out of a possible 65.

In mock trial, students use a provided fact pattern to hone their public speaking and argument skills while demonstrating their knowledge of trial procedure and the rules of evidence. Attorney Aubrey Plumadore made the opening statement, while Emma Stevens delivered closing arguments; Austin Mason also served as an attorney. Witnesses were Olivia Richards, Saylem Bunnell, and Lillian Murray. Five students from SLC’s Public Speaking elective also attended as spectators.

In addition to the trial, students visited Utica’s O’Scugnizzo’s Pizza, the second oldest continually-operating pizzeria in the country, sampling their famous upside-down pizza in addition to two other local Italian-American specialties, chicken riggies and Utica greens. Students then had dessert across the street at the 100-year old Florentine Pastry Shop. After the trial, the head of the region’s bar association presented the team with two Utica-style tomato pies for the trip home.

Ruby Passon and Sophia Hartson were recently recognized for their hard work and participation in competitions at the IMPETUS annual dinner.

Members of the class of 2024 had the opportunity to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity this year. Over the course of several trips, the students helped build a house in Malone for a veteran and his children. Thank you to the students who volunteered and thank you to the SLC Education Enrichment Grant for funding the students’ safety gear and their transportation to and from the work site.

The spring Trap Shooting team had a successful season. Members of the team included: Michael Adams, John Boyce, Wylee Dishaw, Carson Exware, Colby Griffith, Noah Holmes, Thomas Liberty, Liam Marcil, Logan Marcil, Chase Sirles, and Jace Sweet.

Congratulations to Michael Adams for the first ever 25 straight for the SLC Trap Shooting Team!

Congratulations to the Varsity Softball team on winning another Class C Championship! They beat Tupper Lake by a score of 15-5 on May 29th. The team went on to play Berne Knox Westerlo in the NYSPHSAA Regional Finals losing in a hard fought battle.

Also, congratulations to Varsity Softball on being our lone NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete Team for the spring. Great job team!

Fall sport physicals will be given Wednesday, June 5th. Please get this done if you are signed up for a Fall sport. We have so many kids each year not ready to practice on day one just because they don’t have their physical done.

Fall sports start dates are as follows:

• Varsity football Monday, August 19th
• All other Varsity sports Monday, August 26th
• All Modified sports Tuesday, September 3rd.

Need to thank Jerry St. Hilaire ’87 and John Snyder ’23 for their help umpiring softball and baseball games this spring. As has been mentioned for years now, we need officials and this spring the impact was so great we needed volunteers in order to play games. Without officials, there will be no games to go watch. If interested, let Mr. Reome know at jreome@bfcsd.org.

You can find all schedules at sections710.org, or on our district website and app.

Dear Middle School Parents,

We look forward to celebrating the many successes of our students at our awards ceremony next week. If your child is receiving an award, you will receive an invitation.

We have many end of the year activities coming up in each grade level. Please keep in mind that our end of the year events have expectations for positive behaviors and completion of work. Please continue to monitor how your child is doing on Schooltool by checking their Assessments tabs. We also encourage you to reach out to individual teachers and counselors with any concerns you may have.

June School-Wide Important Dates:

• MS Award Ceremony June 6
• Finals for Grades 7-8 June 12 and 13
• Last day of classes for Grades 7-8 June 13
• Finals for Grade 6 June 17 and 18
• Early Dismissal June 24 and 25
• Last day of classes for Grades 5-6 June 25
• HS Graduation June 28

Summer School:

Guardians of students recommended or required for summer school attendance will be receiving notifications later in June. Summer school for middle school will take place from 8:30-11:30 July 8-26th.

Enjoy the warm weather,

Mrs. LaBarge

Middle School Principal

Hello Middle School Families,

We can’t believe that we have made it to the end of the year. Mrs. Roldan and Mr. Niles have been working on inputting course sections and updating our Master Schedule for next year. If you have any questions or would like to chat about your child’s schedule for next year, please feel free to reach out to us by email or phone. We will be working for a few days this summer to help finalize scheduling and next year's curriculum.

As summer vacation is approaching, we wanted to send off some tips that can help you and your child this summer. Below are some great suggestions!

1. Spend time outside! Don’t spend all summer watching TV and staying inside. Take this time to get outside. Go for a hike, take a walk, go to the park, go to the beach, camp, or have a backyard bonfire.
2. Learn a new hobby. Whether it is planting a plant, fishing, cooking, painting, or something you have never thought of doing, learning a new skill is a great way to spend your free time
3. Eat a well-balanced diet. This is a great time to support your local farmers market. Try some new fresh vegetables and fruits!
4. Read. This can be a great way to explore and improve creativity.
5. Stay hydrated. It is important to drink lots of water.
6. Unplug from electronic devices and social media.
7. Keep and maintain a routine.
8. Create a sleeping schedule. Getting at least 8-12 hours of sleep at night is important.
9. Find healthy ways to cope with everyday stress. Using coping skills, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices can help refocus and calm down.
10. Stay positive! Challenging negative thoughts and making them more positive will help you feel good and better about yourself. We hope you all have a fun and safe summer! Please take this time to unwind and relax.

Other great resources to check out:

• 24 Low-Cost Summer Activities for Kids
• Healthy Coping Strategies for Kids and Teens
• The Ultimate Middle School Summer Reading List
  

Have a safe and fun summer! See you in September. 🙂

Mr. Niles nniles@bfcsd.org and Mrs. Roldan rroldan@bfcsd.org

Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):

We want to take this opportunity to remind you of important health requirements for the upcoming

school year. Please review the information below and contact us if you have any questions.

Health Examinations (Physicals):

• New York State law requires a health examination* for all new entrants and students in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11;
• Every year for students participating in athletics (sports);
• For working papers as needed; or
• When required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE).

*A dental exam form is also requested at the same time a grade-level health examination is required.

Immunizations (Shots/Vaccines):

• New York State law requires all students entering or attending (including remotely) any New York State school (public, nonpublic, and charter schools) must receive all doses of immunizations required for their grade level in order to attend school. The immunization requirements for each grade level are outlined on NYSDOH Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance Chart. Students who do not have the required immunizations may not attend school.
• A request for medical exemption to immunization must be completed on this form: Medical Exemption Statement for Children 0-18 Years of Age (ny.gov).

Prescribed & Over-The-Counter Medications:

If your child needs to take medications during the school day the school must have the following:

• A written healthcare provider order, (Attestation is also required for independent students)
• Written parent/guardian consent, and
• The medication must be brought to the school by an adult. The medications must be in the original labeled prescription or over-the-counter bottles/packaging. Any special supplies or equipment for the nurse to administer the medication must also be provided to the school.

If you have any questions please reach out to your school nurse at the contact information below.

Sincerely,

Carol Hallahan RN (Middle and High School)

Phone: (315) 389-5131 ext. 29104

Email: challahan@bfcsd.org

Fax: (315) 389-5245

Amber Tuper RN (Elementary School)

Phone: (315) 389-5131 ext. 29312

Email: atuper@bfcsd.org

Fax: (315 389-4651

Thank you to Dr. Jim at Clarkson University for entertaining the Extended Day students with a chemistry magic show. They had a blast!

Hello SLC Families,

Ten months ago June seemed so far away, yet here we are bringing another school year to a close.

Our little Larries are gearing up for some fun on Larries Day (June 14)! I'm not sure who's more excited, the kids or the teachers!

Next year, we will be making a change to our fourth grade structure. For the last two years we have had students switching classes, in hopes to help support their transition to middle school. This has not proven to be as beneficial as we anticipated, and it actually imposed a few unexpected difficulties. For these reasons, we will be going back to having our fourth grade classes remain with their one teacher throughout the day, as all other elementary classes do. In addition to this change, I have been working with the fourth grade team and Mrs. LaBarge, the middle school principal, to identify other ways we can support the transition to middle school. These conversations will continue in hopes to implement some ideas as the 2024-2025 school year gets started.

UPK and Kindergarten registration is well underway. We are very pleased with the number of families who have registered their child sooner than later, as requested. Thank you!

Dates to Know:

• Grade 4 Swim Races will take place on Tuesday, June 4, starting at 9:30.
• Larries Day will be held on Friday, June 14. The rain date is Monday, June 17.
  
• There will be NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.
  
• On the last two days of school (Monday, June 24 and Wednesday, June 25) we will have 12:30 dismissals in the elementary. Please plan accordingly.

I wish you a safe and enjoyable summer, and look forward to our return in the Fall!

Respectfully,

Mrs. Colterman

Happy June!

June's character trait is Leadership. Leadership is a way to achieve what you know is important. If you want to succeed as a leader, you need to inspire others to join you. As a person’s ability to lead develops, so does that person’s confidence and self-control. Leaders are described as inspirational, persuasive, encouraging, and motivational.

What better way for your student to demonstrate their leadership skills than our Livin’ Like a Larrie program! Students who are caught Livin’ Like a Larrie (following classroom and school rules, being a good friend and role model, having integrity- doing the right thing when no one is watching) have the opportunity to receive a ticket. These tickets are a way of saying “good job”! Tickets are then placed in a jar and some of these tickets will earn shoutouts and special treats. But remember, the goal is to be proud of ourselves!

As the school year comes to a close, we want to ensure that our students have a summer filled with joy, adventure, and most importantly, good health! Here are some tips to help your family have a healthy and active summer:

1. Stay Active:

• Encourage outdoor play: Whether it's a game of tag, a bike ride, or a nature hike, make sure your child gets plenty of fresh air and exercise.
• Summer sports: Consider enrolling your child in a summer sports program or organizing friendly neighborhood sports activities.

2. Healthy Eating:

• Explore farmers' markets: Take advantage of the summer season by exploring local farmers' markets. Let your child pick out fresh fruits and vegetables to create delicious and nutritious meals.
• Hydration: Remind your child to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, especially on warm days.

3. Screen Time Balance:

• Set limits: While technology can be entertaining, it's essential to strike a balance. Encourage outdoor activities and limit screen time to ensure a well-rounded summer experience.

4. Reading Adventures:

• Create a summer reading list: Visit the local library and help your child create a list of books to read over the summer. Reading not only entertains but also stimulates the mind.

5. Creative Exploration:

• Arts and crafts: Foster creativity through arts and crafts projects. This can be a fun and engaging way for your child to express themselves.
• Gardening: Consider starting a small garden together. It's not only educational but also provides a sense of accomplishment.

6. Sun Safety:

• Sunscreen: When spending time outdoors, make sure to apply sunscreen to protect your child's skin from harmful UV rays.
• Hats and sunglasses: Use hats and sunglasses to provide additional protection against the sun.

7. Family Time:

• Plan family activities: Schedule regular family outings or activities. This could be a picnic in the park, a movie night, or a simple board game at home.

Thank you and have a great summer!

Mrs. McFarland and Mrs. White

The Larries Spotlight Award was created to recognize Elementary Staff who demonstrate a specific trait each month. This award is voted upon by peers who want to give a shout out to one of their colleagues for doing an outstanding job!

Emily LaFave was the Larries Spotlight Award winner for the month of April. April’s trait was cheering for others' successes and Mrs. LaFave received the award from her peers based on her mindset of empathy and generosity. She is always smiling and creating a warm and welcoming environment for her students and colleagues. Mrs. LaFave is always cheering on her students and celebrating successes, big or small, of the people around her. She is able to relate to, and support many people in the building in a variety of ways.

Thank you, Mrs. LaFave, for always being there to celebrate someone's success!

The 4th Grade Extended Day students recently went to the Massena Dairy Queen to enjoy a frozen treat, and then they played games at the Frozen Frenzy Arcade.

The Pre-K students went to Italian Affair to explore the pizza making process. Students were able to start from the beginning with working the dough, putting their own toppings on their pizza, to finally being able to enjoy their yummy creations. A big shout out to the owner and staff of Italian Affair!! They not only accommodated a large number of Pre-K students and families, but were able to create an atmosphere of fun, learning, and enjoyment for all. This trip will be remembered for years to come!!

Pre-K went on a field trip to the North Country Children’s Museum to explore the different play areas and learn about glow in the dark. Students were able to learn about bioluminescence and how it works. All of the children were familiar with glow sticks, but through the class they were able to learn about fireflies and glowing mushrooms. Students were able to create their own glow in the dark masterpieces. Outside of the classroom, the students loved playing with the different play areas with the favorite being the water table!!

This is Pre-K’s second year going to visit the local library, and they are never a disappointment! The staff were so friendly and welcoming to a large number of children and families at one time. Students were able to listen to a special story, learn about how to check out a book, and do a fun activity. Having the opportunity to explore the fun activities adds an extra layer of excitement and enrichment to the visit. It's experiences like these that can inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning.

The Pre-K students recently went to the Nicandri Nature Center to deepen their knowledge on animal tracks. The staff at the Nicandri Nature Center did a great job with making the trip an enjoyable experience for the children and families. Students were able to examine the track strides of different animals and then act it out! This was the best part for most of the students. A big thank you to the staff at the Nicandri Nature Center!

This is Pre-K’s second year going to visit the high school greenhouse. Students were able to explore all the different types of plants housed there. Service learners were able to explain their projects to the students and show off their work with pride. Students were able to plant seeds to watch them grow, gain vocabulary terms about the different parts of a flower, and pet the different turtles. A big thank you to Ms. Ronnie and her service learners for doing a wonderful job in educating these young learners.

The end of the 2023-24 school year is winding down and as the Director of Technology it is my responsibility to remind the St. Lawrence Central School community that all school district provided Chromebooks, cases, and chargers must be returned to the district at the end of the school year. These items must be returned for the purpose of inventory, security updates, and examination for damage.

At the beginning of the school year, each student was assigned a Chromebook, charger, and a case. As outlined in the 1:1 Computing Handbook, any of the items mentioned above that are not returned at the conclusion of the school year will be billed to the student. The current replacement cost for these items are $364 for a Chromebook, $48.95 for a charger, and $16.00 for the case.

Each school building will have different collection days which can be viewed below:

• Elementary School: All Chromebooks stayed in the classroom this year, but by chance if your child needed to bring their device home, it must be returned by June 21st.
• Middle School: Students in grades 5 and 6 will have their Chromebooks, chargers, and cases collected during homeroom period on Friday, June 20th. Students in grades 7 and 8 will have their Chromebooks, chargers, and cases collected during 8th period on Thursday, June 13th.
• High School: Students in grades 9-12 will have their Chromebook, charger, and case collected during 8th period on Thursday, June 13th.

If for any reason a student is not in school on any of these collection days, all items mentioned above must be returned to the appropriate school building by 3:00 pm on Thursday, June 27th.

Summer School: High school students that will be attending summer school can pick up their Chromebooks on July 3rd, if they are attending from their homes. Those students that are attending summer school in the school building, will have their Chromebooks returned to them on the first day of summer school. Elementary and middle school students will receive their Chromebooks on the first day of summer school. At the end of the summer school sessions, ALL students will need to return their devices to the school.

As always, if you have any questions, you can contact me via email at kwelsh@bfcdsd.org, or call the technology department at (315) 389-5131 ext. 29250.

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Email: crose@bfcsd.org
Website: www.bfcsd.org
Location: 1039 State Highway 11C, Brasher Falls, NY 13613
Phone: 315-389-5131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrasherFallsCSD