Applications are available in the BCS Guidance office. The Alumni Association is looking for a graduating senior or a returning college student who is in need of assistance to continue his or her education. The application must be filled out, returned by the student, signed by parents and mailed to the Berlin Alumni Association, P.O. Box 149, Berlin, NY, 12022.
Berlin School Dist.
Berlin Seniors Introduce Trout To The Classroom
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, Berlin Central School District
Berlin High School Seniors Cullen O’Brien and James Mayer pull out a clipboard and scribble “42” in a column under dozens of similar numbers. They’re recording the temperature of the water in a large fish tank located in one of the science lab classrooms at their school.
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Paint The Town Purple
On Friday, May 2, the Berlin FCCLA will join the Berlin Bears Relay for Life Team as they Paint the Town Purple! The festivities will be held at the Berlin Town Complex and are open to the public. There will be pulled pork and chili, a bake sale and purple ice cream floats, donated by Stewart’s. There will be a coffee can auction which will offer gift certificates and other nice prizes for children and adults. Food, music and raffles will occur from 6 to 9 pm. Drawing for the auction will begin at 8:30 pm. Donations are welcome.
Area residents are asked to show their support for the Relay for Life Team and for all those who have or are battling cancer. Fly a purple flag, hang some purple balloons or tie a purple bow on your mailbox! Purple bows are available from Tammy Osterhout, Dianne Mosher or at Berlin High School.
New members are always welcome on the Berlin Bears Relay Team. Sign up sheets for walkers will be available May 2. Luminaria bags will also be available at the Paint the Town Purple celebration. For $5 people may add names of cancer survivors or memorials to those who have lost their cancer battle. The bags can be decorated with photos, stickers, etc. Bring photos (or pictures on a flash drive) if you would like to add a photo to a luminaria bag.
Students are invited to “rock the night away.” From 9 pm Friday until 6 am Saturday, youth will rock in rocking chairs. They will be raising money for the American Cancer Society. Students are asked to pick up a permission form and then get sponsors for their hours of rocking. Students may qualify for special prizes depending on the amount of money they raise. The hours rocking can be used for community service. Interested students should pick up forms from Mrs. Mosher at Berlin HS or email nymoo@yahoo.com and forms can be emailed to you.
If anyone has questions or needs more information, email nymoo@yahoo.com – put RELAY in the subject line or call 658-2453.
Berlin Students Inducted Into National Art Honor Society
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, BCSD
On Friday, March 28, 19 students from Berlin High School were inducted into the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) during the Inductee Breakfast at the Middle School/High School Library.
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TRACs Meeting
The TRACs (Together Reducing drugs and Alcohol in our CommunitieS) regular monthly meeting will be held on April 22 at 6:30 pm at Stephentown Memorial Library. Come join us as we collaborate in order to make a difference in the lives of the youth in the Berlin and New Lebanon School Districts in our effort to reduce youth use of alcohol and drugs.
Our mission statement, “to encourage a drug-free lifestyle for youth, support families and provide community-based pro-social alternatives,” requires the support of many community members, organizations and businesses. We look forward to your participation.
Berlin High School Class Of 2014 Valedictorian And Salutatorian
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, Berlin Central School District
The Berlin High School announces Alessa D’Alessio as its Valedictorian and Cullen O’Brien as its Salutatorian for the Class of 2014.
Valedictorian Alessa D’Alessio
D’Alessio is the daughter of Yolanda and Michael D’Alessio of Cherry Plain. She has a cumulative GPA of 96.79 percent. Her coursework this year includes Advanced Placement English and Psychology, along with Hudson Valley Community “College in the High School” Calculus. She will graduate with a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation.
D’Alessio has been the recipient of several awards including the University of Rochester Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award and the U.S. Air Force Math and Science Award, both in 2013.
Although she has attended Berlin High School for less than two years, D’Alessio has made a tremendous impact on her class and the school community during that short time. She is a member of the varsity soccer and varsity cheerleading teams. She has served as a class officer and is an active participant in the Drama Club. D’Alessio is also a member of the National Honor Society.
As an active participant in her community, D’Alessio has volunteered her time at the Town libraries, the transfer station where she sorted recyclables and at Sunderland Elementary School in Vermont where she helped clean up the grounds.
D’Alessio is currently undecided on where she will go for college but plans on majoring in International Relations and the French language.
Salutatorian Cullen O’Brien
O’Brien is the son of Doris and Daniel O’Brien of Grafton. He has a cumulative GPA of 94.8 percent. His coursework this year includes Advanced Placement English and Chemistry, along with Hudson Valley Community “College in the High School” Calculus. O’Brien, along with one other student, also created their own Environmental Science Independent Study program. He will graduate with a Regents Diploma with Honors and Advanced Designation.
O’Brien was the recipient of several awards in 2013 including the University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award, the Clarkson University Leadership Award and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal.
A well-rounded student, O’Brien is a member of the varsity soccer and basketball teams and is a four year member of the high school band. He is also part of the jazz band and marching band and has participated in drama club. He is a competitor in the Science Bowl, Envirothon and Masterminds teams. O’Brien is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Also active in his community, O’Brien has volunteered at church cleanups and in fundraising walks and activities in Grafton Lakes State Park where he is also employed as a life guard during the summer months.
Although currently undecided on where he will attend college, O’Brien plans to study Chemistry or Biology with the intent of pursuing a career in medicine, either as an emergency medical physician or physician’s assistant.
Berlin Central School District Pre-K Registration
The proposed 2014-2015 school budget includes funding for a district-wide pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) program for resident children who reach the age of four on or before December 1, 2014. Transportation for the program will be provided for all eligible Pre-K students by the school district.
The program is provided by Questar III, the Berlin Central School District and partners in collaboration with Capital District Beginnings. The site location is the Berlin Elementary School and students follow the Berlin School calendar for attendance and the building arrival and dismissal times – approximately 8:40 am and 3:10 pm.
This comprehensive and enriched program utilizes the NYS Pre-K Foundation for the Common Core program and the Creative Curriculum to focus on child centered activities, development of strong foundational skills in early literacy and numeracy, social interaction and kindergarten readiness skills.
Families of eligible children are asked to register their child by calling Questar III directly for a registration packet at 396-3520. Directions on how to complete the process will be provided in the packet, and the completed packet must be returned to Questar III by May 23 for consideration in the program. Families must provide a copy of documentation to show proof of residency, a birth or baptismal certificate and, if applicable, custody/guardian papers prior to final enrollment in the program. Once the packet is received by Questar III, a letter of receipt will follow with more information regarding registration, Pre-K screening, parent/guardian orientation, etc.
If your child meets the eligibility requirements stated above and you would like a packet mailed to you, please contact Questar III at 396-3520. If you have any questions regarding residency, contact the Berlin Elementary School at 658-2127, ext. 200.
Beryl Moul Scholarship
The Beryl H. Moul Memorial Grange Scholarship was established in 1958 by West Sand Lake Grange #949 in memory of prominent Grange Member Beryl H. Moul. Applicants must be Rensselaer County residents (for at least 4 years) and must be accepted in an accredited 2 or 4 year college program in New York State and pursuing a career in agriculture, home economics, nursing, natural resource management, environmental engineering or pharmacology.
The application includes an official high school transcript, and the deadline is May 1. The application and instructions can be found at any Rensselaer County High School Guidance Office or at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County website at www.ccerensselaer.org under teen opportunities. For questions please contact the CCE office of Rensselaer County at 272-4210.
Berlin FCCLA Students Attend Leadership Conference
FCCLA students across the New York State were mesmerized by speaker Jacy Good as she told of the tragic loss of her parents and her miraculous recovery from a car accident caused by a teen using a cell phone. Another speaker, brought to the group by the National Safety Council, was Marianne Angelillo from Skaneateles, NY, author of ”Sharing My Stones,” who talked of turning her grief into a campaign for awareness for teens and parents trying to prevent underage drinking.
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Berlin Elementary Hosts Common Core Parent Nights
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist
On Thursday, March 20, dozens of parents gathered at the Berlin Elementary School to learn how they could help their child be successful with the new Common Core Learning Standards in English Language Arts (ELA).
The ELA Common Core Parent Night presented by the Berlin Elementary School Parent Engagement Committee was the second part of a two-part series for parents of students in Grades K-5. The first session, held in January, focused on Math.
At both sessions, Principal Tricia Carlton presented information on the shifts in instruction and expectations of students. Teachers then gave parents the opportunity to see samples of the new instruction, try a practice test, use the technology and ask questions specific to their child’s grade level.
Although aspects of the Common Core have recently been debated by some, First Grade Teacher and Parent Engagement Committee Co-Chair Lauren Nichols said Berlin parents didn’t come to argue. They came to learn how to help their child succeed.
“Parents are the first and most important teacher in their child’s life,” said Nichols. “They are the expert on their child and we need their input and help with challenges and increased rigor.”
The new Common Core Standards means students learn fewer mathematical concepts, but their understanding of each concept is deeper. They are expected to understand a more sophisticated vocabulary and read an equal amount of non-fiction and fiction. They must also be able to explain their answers by citing evidence from text.
“We want parents to see that we’re not necessarily doing things differently, just more comprehensively,” said Nichols. “The Common Core is the kind of education we’d like for our children.”
Students in Grades 3-8 will take the New York State ELA Assessment Test April 1 – 3. They will take the Math assessments April 30-May 2. And while these assessments are necessary, Nichols said they are but one type of several tools, including performance tasks and rubrics, used to measure a child’s knowledge.
“At Berlin we try to balance what we do by making good choices and not inundating our students with test practice,” said Nichols. “These and other types of assessments help us improve our teaching.”
The Berlin Elementary School Parent Engagement Committee is comprised of faculty, staff, parents and an administrator. Its goal is to increase opportunities for parents to be a part of the school community and to provide parents with ways to help their children succeed academically.