What's Right with Spackenkill November 30, 2018

 

Please see flyer(s) that might be of interest:

Locust Grove Scavenger Hunt

Leo Club's Adopt a Family

Northern Dutchess Symphony Holiday Concert

Coat Drive by Youth Group

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What's Right with Spackenkill!

November 30, 2018

 

blue ribbon logo

Blue ribbon

Dear Spackenkill Community,

We hosted a delegation from China today that toured our school district. We learned more about each other’s educational system. China is very interested in adapting some of the Western methods in teaching. We shared a great appreciation of the father of American Educational philosophy, John Dewey.

Parents of teens in our district need to make time to talk to their child about the health hazards of the growing trend of vaping. Kudos to Principal Doherty and his efforts to discourage teenage vaping use.
 
Hope to see some of you tonight at the PTA’s books sale at Barnes & Noble that starts at 4:30.

My best,

Mark Villanti

Mark Villanti, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

 

It's Concert Season

The High School Winter Concert took place on November 28th. The performances by the Concert Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Spackappella, Concert Band, String Ensemble, and Jazz Band were tremendous. Thank you to directors Holden Maiorana, Victor Catanzaro, and Megha Swamy. Some photos of the evening are below. The program is attached.

Please attend our other district concerts to enjoy the hard work of our students and their teachers.

hs concert
winter concert schedule
tree lighting info
 

Floating Their Boats

Second graders in Mrs. Zanca’s and Mrs. Wilcox’s classes tested out their boat-building skills in a STEM experiment last week. In honor of Thanksgiving, they worked in teams building “Mayflower” boats using only aluminum foil, one Styrofoam plate, a straw, and a piece of masking tape. The objective was to build fast-moving boats that could be tested by blowing them across a water-filled gutter with an electric fan. There were 10 teams and each team had two tries. Several of the boats that didn’t make it to the finish line the first time did on their second try, after the students had adjusted their boats to make them float more easily and move more quickly. The students learned a lot about engineering principles in the process, while having fun!
STEM experiment
 

Middle Schoolers Learn About Vaping Dangers

On November 12th, Community Educator Cristine Groenewegen  from the Council on Addition Prevention & Education of Dutchess County (CAPE) visited 7th Grade Health classes and lunch periods to discuss the dangers associated with Juuls and vaping. Nicotine in electronic cigarettes and electronic vapor products has been shown to pose risks to developing adolescent brains. According to CAPE's 2017 Youth Development Survey, vaping increases with age, with just over 10 percent of 8th graders having tried it, compared with just under 40 percent of 12th graders

CRASE presentation

SRO Presents to Faculty & Staff

District administrators, teachers, TAs, and support staff participated in CRASE  (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events) Training on November 28th at the high school. School Resource Officer Corey Kilfoyle covered a number of topics, including lockdowns and drills. Attendees agreed that the safety training was top notch.

 

Chinese Delegation Tours District Schools

visitors from ChinaThe District welcomed visitors from China today. Organized by Professor John J. Liu, President of the American Culture Center, Inc. USA and Associate Vice President for International Education, Geneva College, the group included Chinese education leaders interested in touring a high-achieving school district. Accompanied by Superintendent Mark Villanti, the group toured the High School, Middle School, and Hagan and met the principals of each school.

 

 Kindergartners Explore Fabulous 50s

Mrs. West’s and Mrs. Ravas’ kindergarten classes enjoyed a 50s Sock Hop on Monday. The students dressed like people from the era, learned dances, and practiced hula hooping. There were even ice cream sodas just like at the corner soda shop. They enjoyed learning about life decades ago.
50s sock hop

 

15 Croft Road, Poughkeepsie,  NY

(845) 463-7800

Mission: Inspired by a tradition of excellence and a spirit of continuous improvement, the Spackenkill School District will provide all of our students with the academic and social skills necessary to pursue their goals and become responsible citizens in an interdependent global community.

Vision: All Spackenkill graduates will be lifelong learners who are inspired to pursue their dreams and contribute to the global society.

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