by Alex Brooks
It was announced at the regular meeting of the Hoosick Falls School Board on September 16 that the Hoosick Falls High School Senior Choir will be performing at Carnegie Hall on December 2 as part of a 200 voice chorus with a 94 piece orchestra. Twenty-five Hoosick Falls students will be joined by only one other high school; most of the 200 voices are adult choirs. The show is part of a series put on by the Tim Janis Ensemble called “The American Christmas Carol Tour.”
Chorus Director Ambigay Yudkoff said she received a call from Mr. Janis’ agent asking her chorus to join him in the New York City performance. The Hoosick Falls Jr/Sr. Chorus worked with Mr. Janis last October on his “Celebrate America” television show, which was recorded at the WMHT studios and aired in March.
Both Superintendent Ken Facin and Board President David Sutton were elated at this news. Said Sutton, “Panthers are going places they’ve never been before.”
Yudkoff said the school is arranging a bus trip for local folks who are interested in attending the show, and she will be able to purchase reduced price tickets for those on the bus trip, but she needs to make these arrangements soon. Anyone who would like to go must contact the high school office by the end of September.
Discount tickets are available for purchase from Ms. Yudkoff until September 30. Coach transportation is being offered for $26 round trip for the day. Spend a day enjoying the winter wonderland of NYC and end the day supporting the students of HFCS at this fabulous concert. For more information or to book your ticket and bus, contact Joyce Brewer at 686-4942 or tjbrewer@wildblue.net.
New Board Member
At this regular meeting the Board once again had a full complement of members as the Board had interviewed and then appointed Beth Stacy to the open seat on the Board at a special meeting on September 9. The seat was vacated by the resignation of Ryerson Mausert.
Stacy was the only person to submit a letter of interest in response to public solicitation from the School Board. Stacy is a Nurse Practitioner who has worked in Hoosick Falls for 14 years or so. School Superintendent Ken Facin spoke highly of her enthusiasm and motivation.
PTA Funds New Pre-K Reading Program
The Hoosick Falls PTA announced that it is making a donation of $4,000 to fund a pre-kindergarten reading program called the “1,000 books club.” The idea is to have all kids enter kindergarten having 1,000 books read to them. Elementary School Principal Patrick Dailey said they will have bags of ten books available for parents to borrow and exchange for a new one after they get through all ten.
The PTA is buying all of the books needed for the program.
New Special Ed Teacher
Superintendent Ken Facin said 12 students with disabilities have enrolled in the school since September 1. Three of them were in outside placements in their previous school districts. He said the District’s preference is to educate special needs students as much as possible “here in our own building” where they can be part of the local school community. He said the three students are all about the same age, so the District has been able to group them into a class and hire a new special education teacher to teach them. The Board approved creating a new position so this teacher could be hired. It is a one year appointment, which may be continued or not as needed next year.
Semi-Pro Football In HF
The Board agreed to host a semi-pro football game on October 2. The Southern Vermont Storm, a team that School Board Member Don Skott is involved with, will play one of their playoff games at the high school field on the first Saturday in October. The event will be sponsored by the Booster Club.
School Trip Out West
Science teacher Debbie Mabey described a trip she is planning for next summer. The trip will be open to all students grades 9-12. It will involve a visit to the Great Salt Lake, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Yosemite National Park and whitewater rafting on the Snake River. The trip will be July 6-11 and will cost just under $2,000 per student. Mabey said they have some fund raising events planned already, and she is willing to do more if parents are interested. Board President David Sutton said that if there are students who would like to go but can’t afford to, the school and the community will make great efforts to find a way to make it affordable.
Golf Bags Donated
The Board accepted a donation from one of the contractors for the recent Capital Project, Shaker Flats Landscaping, of golf bags for the golf team. It was eight bags with an estimated value of $1,000.
The next regular meeting of the School Board will be October 21 at 7 pm in the High School Library.