West Genesee School District

Dear West Genesee Families,

On behalf of the entire District, we extend our sincere gratitude to our dedicated transportation department and buildings and grounds crews for their exceptional work during the recent heavy snowfall and challenging road conditions.

Their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff is truly commendable. Despite the early mornings, long hours, and difficult conditions, they consistently went above and beyond to clear our roads, parking lots, and walkways, allowing for a safe and productive learning environment for all.

We recognize and appreciate their hard work and dedication, which often goes unseen. Their efforts are essential in keeping our schools running smoothly, especially during inclement weather.

As Nelson Mandela once said, "It always seems impossible until it's done." Thank you to our incredible teams for getting it done, day after day!

A Friendly Reminder: Please continue to monitor local media sources for any announcements regarding potential school delays or cancellations, as well as any changes to after-school and evening activities.

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools

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. )

Three West Genesee High School musicians have been selected to perform in the NAFME All-Eastern Honors Ensembles.

The following students were selected: Samantha Bullock - Treble Choir; John Diem - Mixed Choir; and Sophia Knowlton - Treble Choir.

They will perform in the 2025 Eastern Division Honor Ensembles program that will take place April 24-27, 2025 in Hartford, CT.

Thirty-five West Genesee High School and Camillus Middle School students received a total of 57 awards in the 2025 Scholastic Art Awards competition. Artwork is evaluated on originality, technical skill, and personal vision.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards were launched in 1923 to encourage and recognize student achievement in the creative arts. The Scholastic Awards attract over 350,000 entries in 28 categories of writing and the visual arts.

The West Genesee artists are students, in grades 8-12, of John Capria, Michael LaFay, Gigina Long, Kyle Mort, Lindsay Spaziani, and Rachael Sturgess.

All pieces that earned awards will be hung in the exhibition at Onondaga Community College (OCC) from January 14-February 28, 2025. (All images are available on our social media channels and website.)

• Anna Bojarski-8th Grade-Drawing & Illustration-Caught Red-Handed
• Emma Van Riper-8th Grade-Printmaking-Flowers
• Viktoriia Prystupa-9th Grade-Drawing & Illustration-Веселого Різдва!
• Luke Lockwood-10th Grade-Digital Art-Steelhead
• Victoria Petrovets-10th Grade-Photography-The Other Side
• Lillian Lesperance-11th Grade-Sculpture-Marie Antoinette
• Daniel Schiffer-11th Grade-Design-Game Day
• Gwenyth DeMass (3)-12th Grade-Digital Art-Alligator; Swingin' With My Boo; Growth Spurt
• Zaida Talev (2)-12th Grade-Photography-Focus; High Flying

• Sadie Peek-8th Grade-Printmaking-The Silly Beetle
• Alivia Cole-9th Grade-Ceramics & Glass-Hidden Flaws
• Charlene Delaney-9th Grade-Printmaking-MMM (Marilyn Monroe Masterpiece)
• Emily Page-10th Grade-Ceramics & Glass-Nature's Serenity
• Braylon Kelley-10th Grade-Photography-I Wonder...
• Taylor MacCaull (2)-11th Grade-Photography-Clean Cut; Mixed Media-At least a C+
• Paxton Ollis-11th Grade-Ceramics & Glass-Mushbrew
• Daniel Schiffer-11th Grade-Digital Art-Shoes
• Amelia Vezey-11th Grade-Photography-Refraction
• Malcolm Best-12th Grade-Comic Art-Requiem Part1
• Ella Boyer-12th Grade-Portfolio (Art)-Just A Girl
• Brooke Buza (2)-12th Grade-Ceramics & Glass-Chain Jar; Honeycomb Teapot
• Vinny Danylyshyn-12th Grade-Photography-Elemental Reflection
• Gwenyth DeMass (4)-12th Grade-Digital Art-Quack; We Make a Cherry-Good Pair; Family; Reticent Pt. 3

• Emma Catalano-8th Grade-Printmaking-Zentangle
• Amelia Knoeller-8th Grade-Design-Playing Card
• Leanne Mere-9th Grade-Mixed Media-Intrusive Thoughts They Paralyze
• Onyx Salvatore-9th Grade-Ceramics & Glass-The Last Of US
• Tyler Hoy-10th Grade-Photography-EggFastic
• Isabella Apps-11th Grade-Photography-Bubbles
• Skyler Clabaugh-11th Grade-Printmaking-The View of Music
• Lena Kent-11th Grade-Photography-40-6
• Taylor MacCaull (3)-11th Grade-Mixed Media-It Always Ends Up Drivel; Painting-Swan; The Big Fish Eat the Little Ones
• Keira McHugh (2)-11th Grade-Digital Art-Blooming Love; Comic Art-Broken Doll
• Amelia Vezey-11th Grade-Photography-Task
• Malcolm Best-12th Grade-Drawing & Illustration-Dragonwretch Burial Palace
• Niko Bianco-12th Grade-Photography-Bacchus
• Ella Boyer (2)-12th Grade-Sculpture-Like the Other Girls Diorama; Mixed Media-Prom!
• Zooey Bush-12th Grade-Mixed Media-Play with Your Crayons
• Rileigh Cook-12th Grade-Ceramics & Glass-Chad
• Vinny Danylyshyn-12th Grade-Photography-Citrusy Snack
• Gwenyth DeMass (2)-12th Grade-Ceramics & Glass-Mountains; Digital Art-Evolution
• Kote McGlaughlin-12th Grade-Digital Art-At The Apex
• Ryan Nguyen-12th Grade-Photography-I am Speed
• Zaida Talev-12th Grade-Photography-Red Swan

On January 8, 2025 West Genesee High School Hockey Coach Frank Colabufo was notified he had been selected as a National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 school year!

The NFHS , in collaboration with its member state associations and the NFHS Coaches Association Advisory Committee, recognizes coaches at the state, sectional and national level and is proud to include him among its 24 national winners!

His coaching career at West Genesee began in the 1994-1995 season. Since then he has helped the Boys Hockey program become a well-known premier program that includes many Section III title and three State Championships!! Congratulations! #WeCelebrateLearning #WildcatPride

• Birth to Age 5 Census - in the upcoming West Genesee Communicator, the triannual printed newsletter for our District, the back page will have a form and a QR code to an electronic form that collects information on children in your home who are not yet of school age (anywhere from birth to age 5). If you have a child not enrolled in our schools yet, please take the time to complete that form, either electronically or in hard copy form, so that we have updated information on your family and can provide timely outreach on programs and events at West Genesee that might be of interest to you. The QR code is provided here (and the form’s link is also below this article) for those who would like to complete that sooner.

• UPK Registration & Lottery - registration for our 2025-2026 UPK program will begin on March 10, 2025. At that time, families with children eligible for UPK participation next year may register on SchoolTool and select/rank the program sites they are interested in having their child(ren) attend. Sites will be posted on our website after our Request for Proposals (RFPs) are received from community partner organizations. If you have any questions about the lottery process, please visit our website.

• Winter Universal Screening - during this week and next, students in grades K-11 will be screened in both ELA and Math performance. Information was sent in a prior e-newsletter on the screening process, which can be found here. After the winter screening is complete, we will send out notification letters to parents of any student who will receive new services from an instructional support provider (those continuing to receive support will not receive additional notification). We will also distribute family reports after the screening process, so be on the lookout for those to arrive for your child.

• Summer Programming - as always, we have lots of summer programming being actively discussed and planned. Information on these programs will be shared via ParentSquare and on our website in early spring. We also have an amazing partnership with Camillus Parks and Recreation, which affords many additional opportunities for summer programming, and those will be shared as well in the coming weeks.

There is lots to look forward to, whether we are still talking about the current school year or 2025-2026. The success of students is a focus in every season, so while winter may cause delays and even closures, we are still very much moving forward. Stay warm and enjoy the snow and activities that accompany the beautiful CNY winter weather!

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, 2025 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 Monday, February 3, 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

• Typist I (Office Workers)

• Teaching Assistants

• Non-Instructional Substitutes
• Instructional Substitutes

Please be prepared to complete an application and be ready for on-the-spot interviewing. Questions, please call (315) 487-4555.

At the January 8, 2025 Board of Education Meeting the Board approved tax exemptions for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities and Limited Income, Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers, and Veterans.

The exemptions can be found by clicking on the link 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.

• January 20, 2025 No School-Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• January 22, 2025 Board of Education Audit Committee Meeting-West Genesee High School Classroom-5:15 p.m.
• January 22, 2025 Board of Education -West Genesee High School Library-6:00 p.m.
• January 29, 2025 No School-Lunar New Year
• February 3, 2025 Job Fair-West Genesee High School Library-3:00-6:30 p.m.