The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Berlin School Dist.

BCS Budget Stalled

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by Thaddeus Flint
With only a few days remaining for the Berlin Central School District to approve a 2013-2014 budget, the Board of Education failed to agree on the latest draft budget at Tuesday’s meeting and will now reconvene Thursday for last minute discussions.
Perhaps one of the reasons for a lack of consensus was a lack of Board members; Frank Zwack, Alan Webster Jr., and Bev Stewart were absent from the meeting. [Read more…] about BCS Budget Stalled

The Ethel Simmons Memorial Award – An Invitation To Grafton High School Seniors

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High school seniors attending public or private school or are home schooled, who are residents of Grafton and will be graduating this year are invited to apply for The Ethel Simmons Memorial Award.
The Ethel Simmons Memorial Award is presented annually by the Grafton Community Library and the Grafton Historical Society in memory of Ethel N. Simmons, a native of Grafton and, for many years, a Grafton teacher, Librarian and Town Historian. The award is $300.
A  copy of the application form is available at the Library, at the  guidance offices of Berlin and Brittonkill Central School or by email at GHS12082@aol.com. The deadline for receiving applications is May 15.

Berlin Central School FCCLA Chapter News

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Berlin FCCLA Part Of Teen Safe Driving Initiative
Berlin FCCLA will have many activities over the next few weeks celebrating May as National Teen Safe Driving Month. The chapter has teamed up with the NY State Teen Safe Driving Coalition, the National Safety Council, NYS DMV, Stewart’s and the ALLSTATE Insurance company to provide activities and resources to our teens and their parents.
The FCCLA is forming a Battle of the Belts team. We will be participating in the annual Battle of the Belts on April 28 during the annual Sean’s Run at Chatham High School. Come out and support our team or participant in Meghan’s Mile or the 5k Sean’s Run. Participants will qualify to win iTunes gift cards.
Who are smarter, parents or teen age drivers? Come find out on May 13 as the FCCLA sponsors Are You Smarter than Your Teen Age Driver? It is a game based on the show Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader. The admission is free. We are looking for teen age drivers and parents to participate in this activity. All participants will receive $10 Stewart’s gas cards. Come and be a participant or a spectator.
Kidney Foundation To Benefit For All Night Rockers
What takes place at the school overnight? The annual FCCLA Rock-A-Thon is coming up. The FCCLA has rescheduled this event for May 3. So dust off your rocking chair, get a sponsor sheet and prepare for an all night adventure as we rock to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation. There will be refreshments all night, games to keep us awake, movies and the list just goes on. See Mrs. Mosher for the sponsor sheet or pick one up in the cafeteria.
Voting Day Chicken Dinner
The FCCLA will once again hold its annual Budget Voting Day Chicken Dinner on May 21. Dinners can be picked up at the Elementary from 3 to 6 pm. Middle and high school faculty can pick up prior to that at the High School. The menu includes chicken, roll, coleslaw, baked potato, dessert and beverage. Call Dianne Mosher at 658-2515, ext. 241 or email to dmosher@berlincentral.org. The price is $8 for adult dinners, $5 for children’s dinners. The money will be used to send our FCCLA members to Summer Leadership in Owego, NY, from July 30 through August 2.

BCS Pre-Kindergarten Program

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The proposed 2013-2014 BCS 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, 2013. 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 Berlin Elementary School and students follow the Berlin School calendar for attendance and the building arrival and dismissal times, approximately 8:40 am to 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. 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 Berlin Elementary School at 658-2127 ext. 200.

Deadline For Elmer A Grogan Scholarship Is May 1

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Applications by a graduating senior from the Brunswick Central School District or the Berlin Central School District who is continuing on with his or her education are being accepted for the scholarship award of $250 for the best essay on “What Freedom Means To Me.”  The essay should not be less than 250 words or more than 500 words.  The scholarship is being given by the Carner, Etman, Smith V.F.W. Post 6340 in memory of a former member, Elmer A.Grogan.
The deadline for applications is May 1. Applications are available at the guidance counselor offices of both high schools and should be mailed to Carner, Etman, Smith V.F.W. Post 6340, P.O. Box 361, Grafton, NY,  12082, Attn:   Commander Richard Terpening.

Family Feud Charity Event

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The Taconic Valley Chapter of the National Honor Society has decided to raise money for charity as it’s chapter service project for the 2012-2013 school year.
On Friday, April 12, at the Berlin MS/HS auditorium, “families” consisting of employees of the Berlin School District, will come together to raise money for their favorite charities by playing our version of the “Family Feud.” This event will begin at 6:30 pm and admission is $2 for adults and $1 for students.
Please help us by coming out for what promises to be a fun and exciting evening.
Refreshments will be sold, and all proceeds will be divided between the winning “families’” charities.