A Note from Dr. Whipple

Hope everyone has been enjoying this outstanding summer weather! Only a few more days of exams left for some of our students, followed by our graduation ceremony on Saturday, and then everyone will be officially off on summer break. As we close out the school year, I'd like to thank all our students for their dedication and for the support that families have provided in reinforcing the learning and expectations we have worked on throughout the year. It is a partnership that helps foster success and I am grateful to be part of this great community of kids, staff and families.

We'll scale back from the weekly newsletters over July and August, but keep you in the loop on important updates over the summer. Can't wait to celebrate our graduating class of Seniors on Saturday and look forward to seeing them start the next chapter in their lives. Hope everyone takes the time to do the things that fill their buckets these next couple of months. Happy summer!

Please make sure to check out info regarding the following below:

• Final Exam Schedule & Info
  
• Please be sure to read about transportation & food service
• Student Laptop Return
• Gananda Transportation Request for Next Year due 6/26
• Senior Events!
• Graduation Rehearsal & Darien Lake Trip - 6/26
  
• SENIORS - PLEASE NOTE REHEARSAL IS MANDATORY!
• Bring your cap & gown!
• Graduation Ceremony - 6/29
• Fall Sports Registration

Please be aware that Regents and final exams count 20% of a student's overall course grade.

Please also note that there are no exams on the following days:

• Monday, 6/17 - Eid al-Adha Observed
• Wednesday, 6/19 - Juneteenth (buildings closed)

Transportation:

Buses arrive around 7:30 a.m. each morning and depart at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:25 p.m., and 3:05 p.m. during exam days. Transportation to school for a noon exam will be between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. Students must sign up for an 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. pick up in the Main Office. You do not need to sign up for the regular morning bus run.

If your student has extended time and will need transportation beyond these allotted bus times, please fill out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/6oARpuhhzZqTgdNT7

Students will need to sign up in the Main Office to receive lunch during exams or can email Mrs. Graves-Markham at hgravesmarkham@gananda.org The cafeteria will serve lunches only to those who have exams all day and have made reservations.

During Regents testing the school building will be considered a secure exam site per guidance from NYS. Only students scheduled to take an exam or attend a review course will be permitted to enter the building. Backpacks, cell phones, and all other electronic equipment cannot be beyond the front foyer of the building. A staff member will have students label and store their property in the foyer.

Beverages in plastic containers must not have labels in exam rooms.

Students should arrive ten minutes before their exam time and have all of their supplies with them – they will not be permitted to go to their lockers. Students are encouraged to use the restroom before taking their exam. Only students with an emergency can leave the exam room to use the restroom. A proctor must escort students to and from the bathroom in case of an emergency.

Once students finish their exam and meet the two-hour requirement, they must leave the building. Students who have an exam later in the day and wish to remain in the building must report to the cafeteria and remain there until the start of that exam.

Students will be returning their laptops along with their chargers and stylus pens to the Library on the day of their last exam.

Students signed up for taking an AP or computer science course will be keeping their laptops over the summer to be able to complete the summer assignment for those courses.

f you have not done so, please use the link below to submit a form for every student. Thank you for all families that have already submitted a Gananda Transportation Request form. We appreciate your help.

Gananda Transportation Request Form

As this school year comes to a close, we are beginning to plan the bus routes for next year using a new system. To ensure a smooth and accurate transition, we ask that every family complete a 2024-25 Gananda Transportation Request Form for every student in the household. Every student needs to have a Gananda Transportation Request Form filled out and submitted to the Transportation Department. This includes students who need busing to their primary address Monday through Friday, those who do not need busing, or those who need busing to an alternative address within the district. You can find the link to the form below.

Please submit the form by June 26th.

Bus route notifications will be sent out via Parent Square in August.

The first batch of graduation tickets were distributed at the Senior Decision Day luncheon. The rest of the tickets will be distributed at our Graduation Rehearsal on June 26th, 10:00 AM. Graduation Rehearsal is mandatory to attend and seniors should bring their cap and gown for their group photo.

Please also be advised that students that participate in "Senior skip days" or Senior pranks that are destructive or disruptive may result in not being able to attend these events. We want to keep the focus on having fun as a class and being safe!

Please see the attached flyer regarding registration for Fall sports. Registration begins July 19!

As we wrap up the 2023-2024 school year and prepare for an exciting 2024-2025, we are seeking enthusiastic parent/guardian representatives to join our High School Proud Team. Your participation will involve attending one meeting each quarter, where you will provide valuable feedback and suggestions for our campaigns and agenda.

We believe that your insights and perspectives are crucial to enhancing our initiatives and creating a positive environment for our students. Please email Mrs. Zebulske at rzebulske@gananda.org if you are interested in participating!

Gananda Rotary is in jeopardy of losing their main leadership team for the Haunted Hayride. They are looking at other adults who might step up to keep the event going. It is very important for two reasons that they continue:

1 - It is their major fundraiser for scholarship, awards, and Rotary projects throughout the community
2 - It is their MAIN contact with the high school students, for their community service hours and for their scholarship awards.

They are working on some solutions, and hopefully some new leaders to replace their regulars.. … they would also ask if you know of anyone at the school who might be interested in joining the team for the Haunted Hayride. It is a commitment of time of about four hours during the week up until the event and about 6 hours on each of the weekends of the actually Hayride (Fridays and Saturdays in October).

For more information contact Patti Holdraker at pholdraker@gmail.com

Seniors! As we progress into the academic year, don't forget to please complete a Panther Paw Submission Form when you have been accepted into a college/trade school/military branch/apprenticeship program. We will hang a Panther Paw on the #GanandaGoals wall as you enter the building to celebrate your accomplishment! PANTHER PAW Submission Form

Once you've made your decision, then fill out this new little form on the Counseling website so we know about what you've committed to. We want to celebrate you!!!

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month! Since it was first recognized on a federal level in 1999, Pride Month has served as a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ pioneers who fought for equality through art, culture, civic action, community service, and more. Check out the following resources below to learn more about the history behind Pride Month.

• Library Congress
• Smithsonian
  

All 10th graders will have the opportunity to take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The test takes approximately 3 hours and will be held during normal school hours, from 7:30-11:30 AM.

The PSAT is an assessment administered to 11th grade students that helps prepare them for the SAT, college, and future careers. Students who take the PSAT, score higher on the SAT on average, than those who do not take the test. The PSAT includes reading, mathematics, writing and language components that focus on college and career readiness.

Students should bring their Chromebooks as the PSAT/NMSQT is now digital. The test is easier to take, shorter, allows more time per question, and comes with a built-in calculator.

The cost of the test is $18.00 per student. Checks should be made out to Gananda Central School- no cash can be accepted. All checks are due to the HS Counseling Office by August 1st- No Exceptions. If you’d like your student to participate, please follow this link to register:

PSAT Registration 2024

Fee waivers are available to students enrolled in, or eligible to participate in, the National School Lunch Program. Please email Mrs. Kelleher (Students A-K) and Calisha Bertram (Students L-Z) if you think you qualify.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Kelleher at kkelleher@gananda.org.

Check out our Seniors' reflections and photos from Senior Sunset here. Thank you Mrs. Chevier and Mrs. Zebulske for organizing!

Also check out the list of our student-athlete award winner from this past year at the Athletic Awards Night here.

Congrats to Jocelyn, Manny, Leah and Michael for earning June's Student of the Month Awards!

Here is a link to our prom photos for 2024: Prom Photos 2024

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Seniors will send their official FLCC transcripts to the institution they attend in the Fall. Please wait until after July 4th to order transcripts. This ensures spring grades are verified. Official transcript requests are placed online. There is a $5 per address fee that is payable online via credit or debit card. This system will send a notification when the transcript is processed and received, and includes online tracking. Refer students to this link for instructions.

Most Gemini students will not know their MyFLCC login or password, so they can select Option 2 and set up an account directly through the Parchment Exchange website. Students should check the box “Send when grades are posted” to ensure all spring grades are reflected on the transcript.

Students will also need to send a transcrupt from College Board for AP courses. Please visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/sending-scores to request an official transcript be sent to the college you are attending prior to Freshman Orientation.

Any seniors interested in applying for the Excelsior Scholarship, please use the link below to start your application.

https://www.hesc.ny.gov/find-aid/nys-grants-scholarships/excelsior-scholarship-program/#programs-deadline-application

Check out this list for more upcoming scholarships due from now through May!

AutismUp is looking for volunteers for their iCan Bike camp, July 15-19, at Nazareth. Volunteers work one-on-one with children with disabilities to aid in learning how to rid a bike in a safe, controlled environment. Volunteers must be 15 or older. See their website here. To register, fill out these two forms: Form 1 and Form 2.

Gananda Rotary is interested in continuing to participate in our student of the month program by honoring a student who has demonstrated service in school or the community. If you would like to nominate a student, you may do so by completing this form.

Absences need to be reported to the school health office by the parent/guardian of the student. This may be done so online by completing this form.

Substitute Teachers - We are always looking for people to help cover teachers when they are out. This can be a great opportunity for someone trying to break into the field of education. If you or someone you know might be interested please apply here.

Dollars for Scholars is looking for volunteers to help support this great scholarship program available to our students. If you are interested in helping them out, please contact them at gdfscholars@gananda.org.

6/26

• Graduation Rehearsal

• Darien Lake Trip for Seniors

6/29

• 10, Graduation

Respectfully,

Dr. Christopher J. Whipple

Principal

(315) 986-3521 ext. 3154

cwhipple@gananda.org

Ms. Mairi Greibus

Assistant Principal

(315) 986-3521 ext. 3154

mgreibus@gananda.org