Gananda Blue Panther Gazette
April 9, 2024
Elementary School News π
New Library Books!
These are exciting times at the Elementary School Library with the arrival of several new books!
Students are encouraged to stop in and see what the new offerings are all about!
Join the Scouts!
The Cub Scouts are hosting an event on Saturday, April 20, at Marion Town Park that is open to any child interested in joining.
Boys and girls in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to the event, which runs from 9 am to noon. Cub Scout packs from Marion, Sodus, Palmyra-Macedon and Newark will be there for plenty of activities that include Lego Pinewood Derby racing, hoverball archery, bottles rockets and more!
Contact William Gales at william.gales@scouting.org with any questions.
Would You Rather?
Before Spring Recess, students at Richard Mann Elementary School were presented with another "Would You Rather ..." question on the main board, this one related to Monday's solar eclipse.
"Constant Sunlight" defeated "Constant Darkness" by a count of 183-146 so we're counting on plenty of smiles through the remainder of the school year to keep our school shining brightly!
RMES Family Night Out π¨
Resister Now for April 25 Event
The RMES Family Night Out is all set for Thursday, April 25, and we'd love to see everyone there! We just need you to register, which you can do by clicking on this link or scanning the accompanying QR code.
Join us and the RMES family for a night of fun activities that include an escape room, arts and crafts, Zumba and more! The fun starts at 6:30 pm and wraps up at 8.
Backpack Program π
The Gananda Central School District wants to remind you that we have the Gananda Backpack Program for the 2023-2024 school year, available to ALL Gananda CSD families!
The program has been a great success for the last several years and we continue to expand our service. We are continuously making modifications to the program to better meet the needs of our students and families. If you choose to sign up, the Gananda Backpack Program will provide a bag of non-perishable food to your child every week to eat over the weekend. Students who are enrolled will have their bags sent home with them on either Thursday or Friday. High school and middle school students will need to pick their bags up from the office. Elementary students will have their bags sent home in their backpacks.
To enroll your child in the program, please email Sue Thoen at sthoen@gananda.org and include the following information in the email: Students names, grade level, address, phone number, best email and any allergies. This email will serve as implied consent to begin deliveries. Once an email is received deliveries will start the following Friday.
If you have any questions, please contact Gananda Backpack Program Director Sue Thoen at 315-986-3521, ext. 1824.
High School News π
Tutoring Available
National Honor Society students are offering tutoring help for any high school students looking for help in science and/or writing. We will be offering tutoring both during advisement and after school on certain days.
All tutoring will be held in room 131. Students can use this Google form to sign up. It is not necessary to sign up, but it will help to ensure we have the right students and enough students available to help.
Financial Aid Workshops
Prospective students and families are invited to join SUNY for a series of online workshops.
General financial aid sessions will provide information about the cost of attendance, the types of financial aid available and the financial aid application process. Timely-walk throughs will focus on steps you can take now to prepare for FAFSA completion.
During all sessions, you will be able to send us your questions via live chat. Stay tuned for additional dates through the spring months.
April 12: Financial Aid Friday for Parents (Spanish)
April 16: Financial Aid Session (Spanish)
May 3: Financial Aid Friday for Parents
May 7: Financial Aid Session
June 18: Financial Aid Session
June 21: Financial Aid Friday for Parents
Class of 2025 Fundraiser
Your dinner plans for Wednesday, April 17, are all set.
Head to Panera Bread on Fairport Nine Mile Road from 4-8 pm to get grub you and your family. Enter "FUND4U" when you check out and 25% of the proceeds from this block of time will go toward the Class of 2025.
You and the family are fed, no one has dishes to do and your support means the world to the Class of 2025. Thank you and we'll always be #GanandaProud!
Scholar-Athletes π
Happy Start π
Flag Football Wins Inaugural Game
Huge congratulations to the Gananda Flag Football team, which won the first game in program history, a 44-14 decision over Williamson on March 26.
The team's schedule for the rest of the season includes four home games (in bold):
Thursday, April 11: at East Rochester, 7 pm
Saturday, April 13: at LeRoy, 10 am
Wednesday, April 24: vs. Rochester Prep, 4:30 pm
Friday, April 26: vs. Bishop Kearney, 4:30 pm
Saturday, April 27: vs. Rochester Academy Charter, 1:30 pm
Tuesday, April 30: vs. Newark, 4:40 pm
Thursday, May 2: at Young Women's College Prep Charter, 6 pm
Saturday, May 4: at Canisteo-Greenwood, 1 pm
Youth Football Camp π
Learn the Basics
The Gananda-East Rochester FREE youth football camp kicked off today (April 9) and continues each day this week with sessions from 4:30 to 6 pm.
The camp is open to boys and girls in grades 3 to 8 and the April 11 session precedes the girls flag football game between Gananda and East Rochester. It's Youth Night at the game and kickoff is 7 pm.
Campers will learn football skills and receive a free t-shirt for the camp. The only equipment required is sneakers/cleats and athletic clothing.
COVID-19 Update βοΈ
Guidelines Changing
From District Nurse Kim Roach:
The CDC has changed the guidelines for COVID and NYSED has adopted those guidelines as well. I am hearing that more formal guidance will be coming over the summer from NYS for the 2024-25 school year.
In the meantime; COVID is a reportable illness. So please still report any positive tests to me so that I may report it to WCPH.
Newest guidelines are as follows: Stay home for 24 hours; you may return to school if your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication. Masking is recommended for 5 days; you should try to distance yourself from others, wash hands frequently and cough into the crook of your arm.
Middle School News π«
Join the Scouts!
The Cub Scouts are hosting an event on Saturday, April 20, at Marion Town Park that is open to any child interested in joining.
Boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 17 are invited to the event, which runs from 9 am to noon. Cub Scout packs from Marion, Sodus, Palmyra-Macedon and Newark will be there for plenty of activities.
Contact William Gales at william.gales@scouting.org with any questions.
Lost Boy of Sudan Visits
Do you like cheeseburgers? Do you drive a car? Do you have any pets?
These were among the dozens of questions the inquisitive minds of Gananda Middle School students asked of Sebastian Maroundit, a native of Sudan.
The questions followed a March 21 visit to Gananda Middle School from Mr. Maroundit, who at the age of 9 was one of the Lost Boys of Sudan to walk thousands of miles to escape the violence of civil war in pursuit of safety in neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia.
Read all about his visit and see more photos at this link.
A Handy Reminder
With the transition to warmer weather, springtime often brings an increase in outdoor activities and social interactions, potentially increasing exposure to germs.
By emphasizing thorough handwashing technique, students can employ a simple yet effective practice to help minimize the spread of infections caused by germs. Here are the five proper steps for handwashing:
- WET hands with water.
- LATHER hands with soap.
- SCRUB the front and back of hands and between fingers for 20 seconds.
- RINSE hands with water.
- DRY hands completely.
SEL Survey βπ»
April 19: Part 2 of Social, Emotional Learning
The Panorama Survey is a two-part exercise that our students take to gauge our overall well-being. Some of the items we explore include:
Do our students feel a strong sense of belonging?
Do our students feel they can manage strong emotions?
Do our students feel they can persevere to solve challenges?
Gananda students took Part 1 of the survey in October. Part 2 is April 19 and the data we receive from the survey helps to inform our decision-making.
- Using Panorama SEL survey makes the well-being of students the fundamental value in all decision-making and actions.
- The Panorama student SEL survey (in Fall and in Spring) is the bare minimum of hearing from our students to inform our decision-making. While we need to make sure we have multiple ways of hearing from and partnering with our students, the SEL survey is one of the unique opportunities we can potentially hear from all of our students.
Students will take the Panorama survey in class and the survey is available in multiple languages.
Absence ReminderποΈ
Reporting Options
When reporting an absence, early dismissal, or late arrival, here are your options:
Use the "Report Student Absence" form which can be found on the Gananda website's Health/Attendance Office page
Send a direct message via ParentSquare with the student's name and reason for the absence, or with the pick up/drop off time
Call 315-986-3521, ext 1530 ES; ext 2519 MS; ext 3160 HS and report the student name, date, grade and reason for absence.
For pick ups at the Middle/High School - when arriving, please call 315-986-3521 and follow the prompts for either the main office or the health office to let us know who you are here to pick up.
Nosebleed Actions π
What To Do if You Spring A Leak
Nosebleeds are common due to the location of the nose on the face, and the large amount of blood vessels in the nose.
How to stop a nosebleed:
Lean forward slightly with the head tilted forward. Leaning back or tilting the head back allows the blood to run back into the sinuses and throat, and can cause gagging or inhaling of blood.Spit out any blood that may collect in your mouth. It may cause nausea and/or vomiting if swallowed. Gently, blow any blood clots out of your nose. The nosebleed may worsen slightly when you do this but this is expected.
Pinch all the soft parts of the nose together between the thumb and index finger.
Press firmly toward the face, compressing the pinched parts of the nose against the bones of the face. Breathe through your mouth as you do this.
Hold the nose for at least five minutes. Repeat as necessary until the nose has stopped bleeding.
Sit quietly, keeping the head higher than the level of the heart. Do not lay flat or put your head between your legs.
Apply ice (wrapped in a towel) to nose
Consult a doctor for a nosebleed if bleeding cannot be stopped, there is a large amount of blood lost, or you feel weak or faint. Also if you frequently get nosebleeds.
As always, contact your physician for further medical guidance or questions.
Mark Your Calendar ποΈ
Planning Ahead
April 10: Board of Education Meeting
April 11: UPK Parent/Guardian Meeting
April 14-16: Senior Trip to NYC/Baltimore
April 19: Elementary School Activity Night
April 19: Middle School Activity Night
April 25: Elementary School Family Night
April 26: Half Day of School
April 26: Report Cards Published
May 3: Spring Fling at Middle School
May 6: Information Night for Incoming Sixth-Graders
May 7: Information Night for Incoming Seventh and Eighth-Graders
May 8: Board of Education Meeting
May 10: Senior and Junior Prom
May 14: Elementary School Spring Concert (Grades 4-5)