WCT In The News

Email: wct@wcteachers.org
Website: www.wcteachers.org
Location: 280 New Hackensack Road, Wappingers Falls, NY, USA
Phone: 845-227-5065

What's this about?

It’s been over a decade since Tier 6 became part of the New York state pension system. Since then, over 100,000 NYSUT members earn a significantly reduced pension as compared to earlier tiers. Consider this:

• Tier 6 members pay 3 to 6 percent of their salaries into the pension system their entire career — and their contributions grow with pay raises.
• Tier 4 member contributions are capped at 3 percent and end after 10 years.
• Tier 6 members must work to age 63, up to 40 years of service, or face heavy penalties.
• Tier 4 members can retire at 55 with 30 years of service.

The WCT along with the other 8 labor unions in Wappingers have endorsed the following candidates for the Board of Education.

• Michael McFarland (incumbent)
• John Morgan (incumbent)
• Virgil Capollari

The budget vote is May 21, 2024 from 7:30-9:00 at the following polling places.

• Fishkill Elementary
• Fishkill Plains Elementary
• Gayhead Elementary
• Vassar Rd. Elementary
• Myers Corners Elementary
• Wappingers Junior HS

Please be on the lookout for further information in the near future.

Grand Total with 95 student participating and 5-Teachers/Staff members

$11,529

Sent to THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

We also had 25 students complete Finn's Mission which was to learn how to do hands only CPR and watch a video on how to spot a person suffering from a stroke.

Tony Award winning Broadway performer, Ali Stroker, visited Fishkill Plains Elementary School. She read one of her three books, "Ali and The Sea Stars" to UPK, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students. She also spent time speaking with the 5th and 6th grade chorus and drama students. What an amazing and inspirational day!

This year, Gayhead Grizzlies raised $35,027.08 for Kids Heart Challenge. Our principal, Mr. James Daley, agreed to a rainbow mohawk if we reached our goal for this American Heart Association (AHA) jumping rope fundraiser. Mr. Jason Segarra, a Physical Education teacher, also agreed to dye his hair rainbow colors if Gayhead raised more than $33,000. The classes with the most participants watched the event. Their teachers, Mrs. Urciuoli, Mrs. Zolotas, and Mrs. Gatherer helped dye the hair. Mrs. Speidell, Mrs. Munoz, and Mrs. Tarantino, whose classes raised the most money for the AHA, and their students, also participated in the hair dying. All 69 students who raised $150 or more were invited to watch, and the headshaving was streamed live throughout the school.

The top fundraisers in each grade level participated in the rainbow mohawk shaving ceremony. Top fundraiser 2nd grader, Kimberly C., Aidan S. (Kindergarten),

Taylor C. (1st grade), Makenna T.(3rd grade), Matthew W. (4th grade), Charlotte T (5th grade), Natalie U. and Ari W. (6th grade).

This is Gayhead’s 33rd year participating in the AHA jump rope fundraiser, raising over $780,000 in total. This year is our 3rd highest amount raised. Thank you to Mr. Daley and Mr. Segarra for being the inspiration for this tremendous live-saving fundraising event.

These 6 students exhibit exemplary behavior, positive character traits and leadership qualities. These students are very respectful, responsible and kind to others. They also demonstrate physical fitness through participation in PE activities.

Faculty, staff and students came out in support of our local organization which supplies meals to families of Mom's with cancer.

Wappingers Music Teachers and Students representing at the 2024 Dutchess Elementary All-County Festival. These choral students represent the best young singers in all of Dutchess County! Congratulations to them and their teachers!

The Student Council at Sheafe Road Elementary School organized a food drive to collect money for the Zion Food Pantry. With the help of the school community, they collected 459 items.

MCES congratulates 4th Grade teacher, Lauren Rosa, her husband Matthew, and daughter, Lilah on the birth of a new baby boy, Matthew John. He was born December 11, 2023 at 1:19am.

His big sister, Lilah is over the moon excited and has been the most loving! We wish them many blessings as they settle into life as a family of 4!!

MCES speech therapists Marisa Lebitsch and Barbara Vorel celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style proudly proclaiming how lucky they are to be working in the field with incredible kids and amazing colleagues. We always like to encourage conversation and our matching shirts go a long way to do just that!!

Congratulations to Nicole Hammond, traveling Physical Therapist at Oak Grove Elementary, on the birth of her baby boy, Jack Robert Hammond. Jack was born on 03/19/24. He weighed 7 lbs - 2 ounces and measured 20 inches tall.

Advisors, Laurie Coluntano and Tara Prockter, can’t wait to run our 5K with these amazing girls in June

Kids Hope USA is BACK! Kids Hope USA is a mentoring partnership between Gayhead and Hopewell Reformed Church. This program was a mainstay of our school for many years and after 2020, it stopped due to visitor restrictions. We are so excited that under a new director and pastor, the program is back! We currently have 11 children, ages K-6 being mentored by trained members of the church, providing conversation, games and fun! The simple idea behind Kids Hope USA is one mentor, one child, one school, one church. We are so excited to see it grow!

On May 15 and 16th, the 6th grade Drama Club at Myers Corners Elementary School will be performing the musical Seussical. At the helm is first grade teacher and club advisor Ann Sceri who is celebrating her 20th production at Myers. Year after year she has produced and directed our 6th graders with tremendous success. Mrs. Sceri’s very first show at Myers was The Music Man. Other favorites of hers over the years were Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Annie, and Alice in Wonderland.

This year, the stage crew will once again be directed by music teacher, Melissa Barrett.

The faculty at Myers congratulates Mrs Sceri on reaching this amazing milestone. We wish Mrs. Sceri, Mrs. Barrett, the cast and the crew all the best as they prepare for what is sure to be another wonderful show!

The Van Wyck JHS Civics Club, advised by Emily Guthoff, collected items for the veterans who live and receive services from the VA at Castle Point in Wappingers Falls, NY. These great students have also enriched the VWJHS community by maintaining the VW lobby display case.

The Art and Multicultural Clubs of Van Wyck JHS, advised by Crista Burke and Aileen Basuljevic, will be taking our 2nd annual field trip to the

Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College to view the Asian Art exhibits during Asian American Heritage Month. Students will have the opportunity to not only view the exhibits, but to also engage in a related art activity. The great thing about this trip is it will fuse art, culture and food (lunch at Tamarind will follow)!

On Friday, March 15th, the World Languages Department (Teacher in Charge -Cathy Porco) and the Multicultural Club (Adviser Aileen Basuljevic) along with many teachers, faculty and staff brought back an amazing International Food Festival. There was entertainment from the Mid Hudson Chinese Language Center, Germania of Poughkeepsie, The Denogla Academy of Irish Dance and a performance of Indian Dance by one of VW's own students'. In addition, there was food donated by some local establishments and MANY families from the WCSD community. Games with prizes dontated by local restaurants. There were over 400 people in attendance. We hope to keep this event happening for many years to come!

Students and staff at FIshkill Elementary School celebrated Youth Art and Music Month this March in some creative ways.

Beginning with a spirit week, the school dressed up in neon colors, crazy patterns and some even looked like their favorite artists! Students had the opportunity to participate in art trivia and other special games in the art room with Mrs. Fletcher.

Second grade students performed their pirate musical for parents and young students under the direction of Mrs. Wengert. Special guest appearances included Dr. McNally, Mrs. Bresnahan, Ms. Field and our favorite retiree, Ms. Flannigan!

We are so proud to showcase our love of art and music in the Wappingers School District and encourage our students to pursue their creative passions.

Friday, February 23rd was the 7th annual Talent Show hosted by the Spanish Honor Society.

Top 3 winners

#1-Elena Okon

#2-Ava Dvorak

#3-Julia Campball

Thanks to all the judges, teachers, Spanish Honor Society members/officers, Proscenium, Local businesses.

Saturday, February 24th was the annual Winter Carnival hosted by the Student Government.

Please welcome Daisy Elizabeth Nardone, 5lbs 5oz, born on 2/22/24.

CONGRATULATIONS PATTY!!

On Saturday, February 24th John Jay FFA members competed at the District 2 Leadership Development Event.

Two teams of Agricultural Issues advanced to the SubState Competition on March 13th.

In celebration of New York agriculture,

schools throughout the state observed

NYS Agriculture Literacy Week. To pro-

mote further education of agriculture in

the schools, 10 students from the John Jay

High School FFA chapter (Future Farmers

of America) visited Sheafe Road

Elementary School on March 13.

The FFA members read “I Love

Strawberries.” by Shannon Anderson to

four kindergarten classes. As the

book was read the kindergarteners

couldn’t help but agree that they also

loved strawberries.

After the reading, each student, with the

help of FFA members, planted their own

marigold seeds in a cup of soil. The

kindergartners were excited to scoop their

soil and plant their marigold seeds, asking

how long it would take for their flowers to

flourish. The cups were lined up on the

windowsill and many students shared

they were excited to bring their plants

home and to take care of them. As the

FFA members left the classrooms the

kindergarteners all waved goodbye,

excited for what they had learned and

with a new sense of responsibility for

their seeds.

The John Jay FFA members also

enjoyed the experience of getting to read

and spend time with the kindergarteners.

The chapter president, Sophia said “It was

an experience I will never forget. When

can we do it again?!”

Also in attendance were Dr. Dwight

Bonk, Superintendent of Schools, Dr.

Michelle Cardwell, Assistant

Superintendent for Curriculum and

Instruction, along with John Lumia, the

president of the Wappingers Central

School District Board of Education.

WCSD Science Fair was held at John Jay HS on March 2nd, 2024.

This year Sparrow’s Nest will be doing a “destination run” in November as one of their biggest fundraisers. Beth Rizzi from John Jay is participating for the second year to both fundraiser AND run with the team! Help me to meet my goal!

https://sparrowsnestcharity.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/sparrowsnestcharity/campaign.jsp?campaign=1736&fundraiser=8053&

John Jay Unified basketball is starting their season that runs from April 16th-May 16th.

Homes games are on

4/30

5/2

5/7

4:30 pm in the JJ gym come support !!!