Gananda Blue Panther Gazette

The Class of 2024 officially will be graduates of Ruben A. Cirillo High School on Saturday, June 29.

The graduates will be joined by family and friends who have tickets for the 10 a.m. ceremony at the high school, where diplomas will be conferred and the celebrations begin. Congratulations to all our graduates this year and we wish you all the best as you head out into the world to make us all #GanandaProud!

If you won't be in attendance but want to watch, the ceremony will be streamed live on the district Facebook page.

For more news from the high school (and the middle and elementary schools), see below.

The 2024 Dollars for Scholars Awards Ceremony took place on Monday, June 3, at Ruben A. Cirillo High School and handed out $35,925 in scholarship money.

Since 1991, the Gananda chapter of Dollars for Scholars has raised scholarship funds for qualified Gananda students, which are presented annually. Most scholarships require a minimum number of community service hours in addition to academic standards as Dollars for Scholars believes it is important for students to not only earn money for higher education but to also learn the value of enriching a community through volunteer efforts.

Read the full story here.

Congratulations to the Ruben A. Cirillo students who were recognized on May 22 at the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science and Computer Science Department's Annual Ceremony.

The PLTW Biomedical Science program students were recognized for completing the program’s first three courses by receiving a white laboratory coat. Similarly, students in the Computer Science program received a jacket to recognize their achievements. Graduating seniors also received special graduation cords.

The PLTW Biomedical Science program and Computer Science courses engage students in real-world challenges. They work with the same tools used by professionals in hospitals, labs and in computer science-related fields. They engage in compelling, hands-on activities and work together to find solutions to problems.

The following students were recognized at the May 22 ceremony:

Students Receiving Jackets

Max Ng, Parker Hanson, Logan Potter, Seth Campbell

Students Receiving White Coats

Cohen Kelly, Sydney Richards, Natalie Schwandt

Students Receiving PLTW Graduation Cords

Benjamin Bettinger, Alexandra Cornell, Madison Dohse, Colleen Ginsberg, Parker Hanson, Eva Jenny, JJ LaDuke, Natalia Martyniuk, Maria Melnik, Andrew Pitolaj, Meah Prutzman, Katherine Rothwell, Noah Van Scoy, Gavin Woodward, Addelynne York

Gananda Athletics held its annual Award Night on June 11 to recognize the athletic accomplishments of the 2023-24 school year.

Honored with the Gananda Sports Boosters Sportsmanship Award were Aidan Giancursio for the boys and Maria Melnik for the girls.

See all the award winners here.

By all means, enjoy summer vacation! But there are several items that require attention for the 2024-25 school year and this notice from the district health office will help families prepare.

Immunizations

New York State health law requires that students attending school be properly immunized. All students must show acceptable proof of having immunizations for polio, diphtheria, measles, rubella, mumps, and Hepatitis B.

• Kindergarten & 6th grade students need to show proof of immunization against Varicella (chickenpox). Documented proof of Varicella disease and/or proof of vaccine from their physician are acceptable.

• 6th grade students also need a current booster vaccination of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in the form of a Tdap Immunization. Proof of immunization or proof of a scheduled vaccination date are due by 9/19/24.

• 7th grade students need at least a single dose of the meningococcal vaccine, 12th grade students need 2 doses due by 9/19/24.

Physicals

New York State law and the Gananda Central School District policy mandate that a physical exam be done on all pre-k; kindergartners, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th graders, and new entrants to the district. All completed physical forms should be returned to the appropriate health office.

For students wishing to participate in interscholastic sports, a current physical within the last 12 months is required. This physical form must be on file in the health office or online at www.familyid.com. All athletes MUST register through Family ID at www.familyid.com

Any student desiring a work permit must have a current physical on file in the health office. Paperwork can be picked up in the health office (during summer hours - main office or guidance office)

Medication

Per New York State Education Department and Administration of Medications in School Guidelines, any preparation/medication (over-the-counter and prescription) to be given during the school day, needs to have a physician’s order along with written permission from the parent/guardian. No medications will be distributed without the required written permission.

Students diagnosed with asthma or having an illness with a potential for anaphylaxis may carry an Inhaler or Epi-Pen only if their physician writes an order to do so. (Self - Administration and Carry)

All medication needs to be brought to school by the parent/guardian in the original pharmacy bottle labeled with the student’s name, medication, correct dose and expiration date. Please have your pharmacist send in a second labeled bottle (empty) for use on field trips.

Dental Certificates

Requests that students enrolled in pre-kindergarten, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11th grade in a public school in this state to present a dental health certificate; such dental health certificate must contain a report of a comprehensive dental examination performed on such child. (Requested not required)

Immunization requirements, medication and physical forms can be found at www.gananda.org

Kim Roach, RN Middle School Nurse 986-3521 ext: 2519 986-1716 fax

Laura Hall, RN High School Nurse 986-3521 ext: 3160 986-0614 fax

Deanna Hendricks, LPN Elementary School 986-3521 ext: 1530 986-0615 fax

Lindsey Poh, RN, BSN Elementary School Nurse 986-3521 ext: 1531 986-0615 fax

Gananda Families: If your Gananda student requires a status change for the 2024-25 school year, please click on this link to fill out the Change of Status Form.

Please submit it to the appropriate school building (Elementary, Middle, High school) to let us know if the student will not be returning for the 2024-25 school year.

Big congratulations and a HUGE #GanandaProud thank you to our district retirees this year!

From the left: George Payne (bus driver), Bob Murphy (cleaner), Noreen Payne (bus monitor) and Sue DeGraff (teacher). Board of Education President Greg Giles, right, and the BOE officially recognized their service to Gananda Central School District and wished them the best in their new chapter of life!

Schools are no longer required to obtain a Doctor’s order to allow a student to carry and use sunscreen in school if:

• The sunscreen is used for the purpose of avoiding overexposure to the sun and not for medical treatment of an injury or illness
  
• The sunscreen is approved by the FDA for over-the-counter use
  
• The student's parent or guardian provides written permission for the student to carry and use sunscreen.
  

A student who is unable to physically apply sunscreen may be assisted by unlicensed personnel when directed to do so by the student, if permitted by a parent or guardian and authorized by the school. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing the sunscreen they would like their child to use at school.

Click on this link to find the permission form to fill out and return.

Last Monday, a publishing party at Richard Mann Elementary celebrated the books that were created by Gananda fourth-graders!

These fourth-grade students participated in the writing process and became published authors through a company called Studentreasures. We were able to celebrate our authors on Monday by having classes come see our books!