Monday, April 16—At approximately 10:40 a.m. today, a water leak triggered the fire alarm system at the High School/Middle School complex. Students and staff evacuated the building while the Glens Falls Fire Department investigated, and all returned to the building once it was confirmed to be safe. We thank the GFFD for its speedy and thorough response, as always.
Students in the Glens Falls High School chapter of National Honor Society
have completed several service projects this spring, resulting in a big boost
to children in our local community and beyond. In February, student scholars
donated $200-worth of children's books to the annual Project Cameron's Story "bookraiser."
[
MORE ]
A GF Odyssey of the Mind team is headed to the state
competition after winning their division in regionals last
weekend! The team of Ellie Paigo, Lucy Paigo, Aubrie
Spencer, Nick Marsh, Nicholas Candido,
Rebecca McPhee, and Fiona Poole will take
their creative “Mockumentary” of Peter Pan to the state finals
in Binghamton on April 7th.
[
MORE ]
The High School's International Action Club sponsored its second International
Activity Night at Jackson Heights Elementary School on March 9th. With the help
of 25 high school volunteers, the elementary students explored games and
crafts from several countries including Ghana, Peru, Great Britain, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, and China. [
MORE ]
On February 28, five Glens Falls High School seniors took part in the
American Legion Speaker Series "Liberation From Nazis." Alyssa Fairchild sang
the "Star Spangled Banner" to open the program and "God Bless America" to
close it. Jacob Harmon introduced the program and Emily Derrick, Tess
Harrington, and Walton Stanton presented the World War II stories of local
immigrants. [
MORE ]
Two very talented saxophonists— Peyton Catarelli and Sean Pettis—
traveled to Liverpool, NY earlier this month to perform in the New York State
Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) annual Winter Symposium.
[
MORE ]
In a student-led tribute to the victims of school shootings in Parkland,
Florida and across the country, hundreds of Glens Falls high-schoolers walked
out of their classrooms and assembled together in remembrance on Wednesday,
March 14th. Just after 10 a.m., students streamed out of a side door at Glens
Falls High School, and peacefully marched around the front of the building,
supported by school staff members and multiple officers from the Glens Falls
Police Department who were on hand to ensure student safety.
[
MORE ]
Educational leader Kristy Moore is set to become Glens Falls Middle
School’s next principal as of July 1, 2018. The Board of Education appointed
Mrs. Moore to the position at its meeting Monday night. She currently serves
as Principal of Geyser Road Elementary School in Saratoga Springs, with
previous experience as an assistant principal at both Dorothy Nolan Elementary
and Queensbury Middle School.
[
MORE ]
Congratulations to Glens Falls High School senior Rachel Duell who has
been named a Post Star’s 2018 Teen Excellence Award winner! "Rachel is so
deserving of this recognition," said Mrs. Silvernell. "She generously gives
her time and energy to others in need."
[
MORE ]
On Tuesday, March 13th, Grades 6-8 orchestras from Glens Falls, Hudson
Falls, and South Glens Falls school districts will be performing a community
concert together in the Glens Falls High School Auditorium. Reestablishing a
tradition that ended in the late 90’s, the five individual ensembles will each
perform one piece before combining together for the two final pieces. With a
total of 192 middle school orchestra students, this concert will help to
demonstrate the support and vitality of the orchestra programs in our “Falls“
districts! The concert begins at 7:00pm. All are welcome! Logo design by GFHS
junior Jessie Taylor.
GFHS junior Joseph Girard III has been named the 2017-18 Gatorade New York
Boys Basketball Player of the Year! A two-time First Team All-State honoree, he was also the Albany Times
Union Player of the Year, the Foothills Council League MVP and a MaxPreps
Second Team Sophomore All-American.
[
MORE ]
Next weekend, the High School Drama Club presents “You Can’t Beat The
House,” a comedy about robbers who accidentally break into a house that is for
sale and then pose as real estate agents after they find themselves stuck in
the house with potential buyers.
[
MORE ]
GF Nation is proud to send $2,000 to South High Marathon Dance as a result
of fundraising efforts from the entire school community, spearheaded by
Student Council, International Club, GFTA, and the Grandstanders!!
[
MORE ]
The Glens Falls 5th Grade Girls basketball team took their season-end
"party" to the Code Blue Shelter this weekend! After playing two games in a
tournament on Saturday, March 3, the team decided to celebrate by making a
full dinner for guests at Glens Falls' downtown emergency homeless shelter.
[
MORE ]
Teamwork by a great group of kids from Jackson Heights, Big Cross, and
Kensington Road elementaries made for a super season in 4th Grade Boys
Basketball! [
MORE ]
The tragedy in Parkland, Florida has prompted a national and local debate
on school safety. While these discussions take place, our educators and staff
will continue to prepare as thoroughly as possible to respond to any emergency
situation. Our efforts persist as we work together to ‘provide a safe,
positive and stimulating environment’ for our students, through the use of
emergency drills, staff trainings, and continued review of protocols for
building security. [
MORE ]
The GFHS Art Club recently designed and painted a mural for the Prospect
Center in Queensbury! The mural, which is stunning in both size and
complexity, depicts an arctic scene, complete with polar bears, penguins,
icebergs and the Northern Lights.
[
MORE ]
Congratulations to state qualifiers Sam Bordeau and Katie Culliton, and all
of Glens Falls’ skiers who participated in the Section II Nordic skiing
championships at Gore Mountain! Top finishers included Katie Culliton
(23:14.5), Sarah Burton (24:26.5), Sam Bordeau (29:28.3), Paul Trackey
(30:50.4), and Ethan Schrammel (31:55.0).
[
MORE ]
“Expenditure growth and revenue stagnation” set the landscape for initial
2018-2019 budget development, Assistant Superintendent for Business Bobby
Yusko told the Board of Education on Feb 12th, as he outlined a preliminary
budget scenario that would create a $2 million gap between revenues and
expenditures in 2018-2019. Early scenarios do not include any reductions in
program or services, do not account for application of fund balance, and
utilize refined state aid estimates based on the Governor's Executive Budget
proposal. [
MORE ]
BOCES hosts a number of summer enrichment experiences for students in
grades 2-12, including a farm-to-table culinary camp, theater and dance camps,
robotics, international culture exploration, and more! Parents must pay
program registration fees and provide their own transportation to and from
camp locations. Read the details
and register [ HERE ].
Thanks to the Global Foundries Ambassadors who visited on Feb 6th,
seventh-graders at the Middle School got to try on these “bunny suits” that
microchip manufacturers wear in the clean rooms at Fab 8 in Malta!
[
MORE ]
The New York State Education Department has released data for 2017 that
shows Glens Falls’ graduation rate improving to 87 percent—up from 79
percent in 2016. “We are very proud of the gains our students have made over
the last few years, especially the increase in our graduation rate,” said
Superintendent Paul Jenkins. “We have steadily increased over time, but last
year was our largest jump in our graduation rate.
[
MORE ]
The Parent Teacher Student Associations at each school are proud to present
the 2018 winners of the Founders' Day Awards! These awards celebrate committed
parent volunteers and/or staff members from each school. Each honoree has been
selected to recognize his or her service and dedication to go above and beyond
for the students of Glens Falls City Schools. Read about 2018's honorees
[
HERE ]
During the January 30th varsity game at Amsterdam, Glens Falls junior
Joseph Girard III broke New York State’s all-time boys basketball scoring
record of 2,946 points, a mark previously held by NBA star Lance Stephenson.
When the game ended, Joseph's career scoring total was 2,952 points—and
it will grow! Congratulations, Joe! Read more and see video clips of the game
in the Daily Gazette article
[
HERE ].
The Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program is a free, half-day, full-year
program for four-year olds. Entry into the UPK class is determined by lottery
each spring. Lottery forms are due by April 12, 2018. Read more about the
UPK lottery application
[ HERE ].
Kindergarten students must be five years old by December 1, 2018 in order to
start school in September. Registration for new kindergarten students is held
at Kindergarten Round-Up events at each elementary school in March:
• Jackson Heights: March 21, 2018 - call Stacy Frandsen at 518-792-1071 to make
your appointment
• Big Cross: March 22, 2018 - call Patty Farrell at 518-792-2619 to make your
appointment
• Kensington Rd: March 23, 2018 - call Kathy Thomson at 518-793-5151 to make
your appointment
Read more about kindergarten registration
[ HERE ].
Glens Falls City School District residents approved a plan to purchase
property adjacent to the schools’ bus garage today by a margin of 314 "yes"
votes to 127 “no” votes – a 71.2 percent approval rate. The proposition allows
the Board of Education to buy the land and structures at 35 Glenwood Avenue,
which is the parcel immediately north of the bus garage facility at 31
Glenwood. The district will acquire the land at its appraised value of
$240,000, plus reasonable and customary closing costs and expenses.
[
MORE ]
All ten of Glens Falls’ Varsity sports teams in the Fall 2017 season have
achieved Scholar Athlete status! Scholar-Athlete Team recognition is an honor
given by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA)
to recognize teams that excel academically
[
MORE ]
Students Willing to Assist with Technology (SWAT) team members Brady
Steinberg, Miguel Marrero, Brandon Gray, and Keegan McCane took questions from
school superintendents around the Capital Region at NERIC's regional tech
awareness day. [
MORE ]
In Rochester this weekend, GFHS junior
Lauren Hauser is singing with the best musicians from around
New York State! The performance comes on the heels of yet
another accolade for Lauren and six of her fellow student-musicians at Glens
Falls High. [
MORE ]
Watch for two of Glens Falls’ most talented musicians in this year’s Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade! Sophomore Sean Pettis will play saxophone in a repeat
performance with the Great American Marching Band, while junior Meghan
Siergiey is making her parade debut as a dancer.
[
MORE ]
The Glens Falls High School Chapter of National Honor society welcomed Justina Aiken, John Andre, Matelyn Benway, Luke
Borgos, McKenna Clark, Taylor Colvin, Olivia Dybas, Joseph Girard, Liam
Gormley, Lauren Hauser, Hannah Hawkins, Griffin Jones, Scott Jones, Drew
Knapp, Coleman Leland, Stephanie Meehan, Claudia Miner, Catherine Montgomery,
Marlee Pelton-Fuentes, Shyeann Rawson, Madison Redmond, Meghan Siergiey,
Brienna Vassar, Callie Woodell, and Jacqueline Young.
[
MORE ]
Glens Falls City School District celebrates national American Education
Week by highlighting our “school superheroes” whose various careers touch the
lives of our students and pave the way for success. Education Support
Professionals—our teacher aides, teaching assistants, secretaries, custodians,
and many other team members—play a crucial role in every school building,
every day. Friday's honoree is Diane Ogden, Attendance Clerk at Big Crossl!
[ MORE ]
Congrats to our STATE CHAMPION runner, Chris Hughes!! The Glens Falls
senior ran away from the field to capture the Class C boys title at the State
Cross Country Championships on Nov. 11th. We're so proud of Chris,
bringing home our first individual state title in Cross Country running!! Read
more and see a video of him crossing the finish line
[
HERE ]
Way to go, GF Swimming! Kailyn Anselment finished third in the 200 free and
500 free, and Emma Mauro was third in the 100 breaststroke at the Sectional
Championship meet on Nov. 4th. Glens Falls was third in the medley relay and
fourth in the 200 free relay, both times with a team of Madison Maier, Emma
Mauro, Kailyn Anselment and Ella Wolfstich. Emma was sixth in the 50
free. Ella was fourth in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free. Rowan Davidson
was eighth in the 500 free. Congrats on these great swims!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Cross-Country runners Chris Hughes and Katie Culliton!
Chris is Section 2 Class C CHAMPION after running the Saratoga Spa State Park
course on Friday, Nov. 3. Katie placed third in the girls' race, and both are
qualified for the State Cross Country Championships on Nov. 11. Way to go!
Seventeen of Glens Falls’ student-musicians had the honor of performing in the SWCMEA
All-County Band Festival. High School students selected include Cailin
Harrington, Emily Lunt, Eben McGee-Bierman, Nick Teta, Jacob Harmon, Tess
Harrington, Scotty Jones, Sean Pettis, Meghan Siergiey, and Trevor Britton. [ MORE ]
The "Power of Pink" was on display Thursday, October
19th
at all Glens
Falls City Schools. Students and staff members wore pink and donated coins to
the "Pennies for Pink" effort to honor
breast cancer survivors, fighters, and families ... and support research,
awareness, and hope.
[
PHOTO GALLERY ]
Officers and K-9 teams from multiple law enforcement agencies were on site
at the High School/Middle School campus on Wednesday, Oct. 18th, as the
buildings conducted a lockdown drill—in which students and staff practice the
emergency response procedures for an internal threat.
[ MORE ]
Would your kids like to create an original performance that includes a
ride-on vehicle that takes part in a “triathlon?” How about telling a story
(with no words!) about a once-famous, but now forgotten, emoji? These
endeavors (and more) are challenges in this year's Odyssey of the Mind
competition. Teams are forming now - email Asst. Supt. for Curriculum &
Instruction, Trent Clay for more details [
HERE ].
The detailed school year calendar is no longer mailed to every postal
address in the City. A copy is included in each family packet for current
students, and any Glens Falls City School District resident may request a
calendar by calling the district office at 792-1481. You can download it
[ HERE ] as a PDF. A
one-page printable version of the calendar that includes school breaks,
holidays, and Regents exam days can be downloaded
[ HERE ].
Congratulations to the entire school community on GFHS earning ANOTHER
Silver medal from U.S. News in its Best High Schools 2017 rankings! Glens
Falls High School placed 180th within New York (#2289 in the National
Rankings) and earned another silver medal, following our 2016 silver award.
Schools are ranked based on their performance on state-required tests and how
well they prepare students for college. Read more on our U.S. News overview page [
HERE ].
The district's mission statement includes "modeling the behavior of
life-long learning" ... so sign up today for an adult continuing education
course at SUNY Adirondack! Registration is now open for classes throughout the
fall semester. For a description of offerings, click
[
HERE ].
Family, friends, and faculty celebrated the 150 graduates of the Class of
2017 on Saturday afternoon—and a 92 percent graduation rate for this
Glens Falls Class! "Seek out your support group and ask for help when you need
it," said Superintendent Paul Jenkins. "Whether that group is your family or
your friends, reach out to them and I guarantee they will be there and they
will all be willing to lend a hand. We are all very proud of each of you and
all of your accomplishments over the years." A photo gallery of some
graduation moments is available
[
HERE ]. The ceremony was live-streamed in its entirety, and the uncut
video is available to view
[
HERE ]. Congratulations, graduates!!
Attention Alumni and Friends of Glens Falls Schools: There’s a new way to
help and support our students. Take a minute and visit
www.gfnationfund.org and see what we
are all about. YOU can make a difference simply by signing in and becoming
part of our outreach network. Having a reunion or gathering? We would love to
know about it. And, please get the word out. WE NEED YOU!
Under education law, parents and guardians of students may request the
final quality rating and composite effectiveness score for each teacher and
the principal of the school to which their child is assigned for the current
school year. Read the process to request APPR ratings and scores
[ HERE ]