The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Berlin School Dist.

The Berlin Mountaineers Kick Off the 2022–23 School Year

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Submitted by BCSD Communications
The Mountaineer spirit was bright in spite of the rainy first morning of school on Tuesday last week.

At BMHS the students started their morning with a Character Education assembly. During the assembly Principal Brownell welcomed the Mountaineers back and talked about arrival and dismissal procedures, hallway and code of conduct expectations, and what academic recognitions will take place throughout the year. 

The district’s new Safety Resource Officer, Deputy Austin McGuire from the Rensselaer County Sheriff Department, also spoke during the assembly. Deputy McGuire introduced himself to the student body and also greeted the students at both buildings as they arrived first thing in the morning. [Read more…] about The Berlin Mountaineers Kick Off the 2022–23 School Year

Bus Safety at Orientation

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Submitted by Berlin Central School Communications
On August 25, Pre-K and Kindergarten students who will be attending Berlin Elementary School this fall were invited to the Berlin Central School District (BCSD) Transportation Facility for a Bus Orientation. The youngest Mountaineers learned how to get on and off the school bus safely, buckle their seatbelts, safely cross, and walk around the school bus. The students also took a ride around the bus facility to help prepare for the new school year's bus routine.

Students and parents were able to ask questions of Transportation Supervisor Jeaneatte Alderman and Bus Dispatcher Layla Davis, who put the event together.

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Berlin CSD Capital Project Vote 

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Submitted by BCS Communications
On Friday, September 2, Berlin Central School District (BCSD) residents will vote on a Capital Project with two propositions. Proposition 1 will replace the Middle/High School’s aging fuel oil tanks for two below-grade 6,565-gallon propane storage tanks, along with furnishings, machinery, equipment, apparatus, implements, and fixtures, as well as site work. It is estimated not to exceed $781,250.

Proposition 2 will similarly replace the Elementary School’s aging fuel oil tank with two below-grade 4,000 gallon propane storage tanks and associated site work. This proposition also includes a long-awaited Outdoor Learning Center, which has been in discussion for many years. This Learning Center will also be a space for the community to use in the future in addition to students and teachers using it for educational purposes throughout the year. Proposition 2 is estimated not to exceed $946,875.

Taxpayer Impact
This capital project will have no tax impact to the taxpayers, through use of the district’s Capital Reserve Fund and State Aid associated with the project.

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New Assistant Principal

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Submitted by BCS Communications
The Berlin Central School District is pleased to welcome Mrs. Jodi Cataldo as Berlin Elementary School’s Assistant Principal.

Mrs. Cataldo has spent the past eight years teaching first grade at Turnpike Elementary School in Troy, as well as teaching kindergarten, fourth grade and Middle School Response to Intervention (RTI).

She completed her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at the College of Saint Rose and earned a master’s degree in Reading from the University of Albany.

Mrs. Cataldo enjoys spending time with her husband, Sean, and four children, exploring different hiking trails, paddle boarding and visiting national parks. Additionally she enjoys reading, playing golf, volunteering in the community and cheering on her kids on the soccer field. [Read more…] about New Assistant Principal

Mountaineers Moving Up and Moving On

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Submitted by BCS Communications

On Wednesday, June 22, the Berlin Elementary School (BES) Kindergarten Mountaineers celebrated their Moving Up Ceremony. Kindergarten families were invited to the front lawn of BES to celebrate the achievements of the young students. The class of 2034 were given shirts to grow into, donated by the BES PTO. 

Just two days later on Friday, June 24, the Mountaineer 5th graders celebrated their own Moving Up Ceremony, and will be heading to Berlin Middle School when the 2022-2023 year begins. [Read more…] about Mountaineers Moving Up and Moving On

Board of Education Highlights

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by Chris Tergliafera
All internal and external cameras have been installed at the Middle/High School, with the cameras for the Elementary School expected to be installed over the summer. Access control door installation is also expected be completed over the summer.

Superintendent Joseph Dhara has been in discussions with Rensselaer County about a School Resource Officer (SRO), and will update the Board as more information becomes available.

Berlin CSD will be participating in the Stop Arm Program. This is a free program through Rensselaer County that will install cameras inside and outside of buses. If someone passes the bus when the stop sign is out it will take a picture of the vehicle and send it to the Sheriff’s office.

The District is getting a Raptor system for visitor check-in. With the system, visitors to the building will need to provide identification that will be scanned to produce a name tag. The system should be available shortly.

Berlin Central School – Propane Conversion Project

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by Chris Tergliafera
At the Wednesday, May 18 regular meeting of the Berlin Central School District Board of Education (BOE), what was intended to be a presentation to establish a budget, funding source and schedule for the propane conversion project at the middle/high school, turned into a conversation about fast tracking the project to complete it as soon as possible. 

Among the concerns with the current system are the ever rising heating oil prices, which currently stand at roughly

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Be a Part of Our Graduation Special Edition

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Our 2022 Special will not only contain photos and information about the various graduation ceremonies but the lists of graduates and future plans, comments from school officials and students and much more.

As in the past, we will offer area businesses a chance to be part of this special edition with congratulatory ads. 

This year, we are also offering the parents, grandparents or other loved ones the opportunity to submit a photo of their graduate along with a short personal message.

If you would like to be part of our most popular edition of the year, please email Doug at ads@eastwickpress.com by June 20.

Our costs are as follows:
For a business ad 3.25” x 2” $50.
A double size ad 3.25” x 4” $95

For a graduate’s portrait and text $50.
Limited to 50 words.
Please send a high resolution image. [Read more…] about Be a Part of Our Graduation Special Edition

Mrs. Kent Honored as Principal of the Year

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Submitted by BCS Communications

Congratulations to Berlin Elementary School Principal Mrs. Tracy Kent, who was awarded the 2022 Principal of the Year honor by the Greater Capital Region Principal Center and the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA).

The Principal of the Year award recognizes a principal for exemplary leadership qualities (highlighted by the unique challenges of the pandemic) who has made a difference in the lives of their students.

Tracy Kent has been in the field of education for 29 years. For 18 of those years Tracy was a classroom teacher. She transitioned into administration 11 years ago and has spent the last eight years as the principal of Berlin Elementary School.

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Pops Concert

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Submitted by BCS Communications

Recently the Berlin High School Music Department held its Pops Concert. The event features the Senior High band, Chamber Choir and Senior High chorus, as well as a student hosted event of featured soloists. Those students are able to choose their own songs and either perform them as a solo or as a duet.

The eleven featured student performances were electric and the audience was filled with laughter and fun thanks to masters of Ceremony Bri Reger, Jacob Maxon, Riley Smith and Angelo Capozzi.

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