The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Hoosick School Dist.

HFCS Introduces “Mindful Education”: Be Quiet, Breathe, Relax, Focus…And Learn

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by Deb Alter

It isn’t easy being a student these days. While trying to stay focused on their coursework, kids are constantly responding to texts, e-mails, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Pressure from high stakes tests, sports teams, extracurricular activities, and for some, work, add more  stress. Young people face emotional and social issues every day, like peer pressure, temptations, bullying, and sometimes home issues. Students’ lives are cluttered and there are many distractions.  [Read more…] about HFCS Introduces “Mindful Education”: Be Quiet, Breathe, Relax, Focus…And Learn

Laurin Re-Elected HFCS Board President; Helft is VP

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by Alex Brooks

At the Hoosick Falls School Board’s Organizational Meeting on July 9, Rick Ferrannini nominated Greg Laurin for another year as President of the School Board, and Laurin was unanimously elected. Because current vice president Rick Ferrannini had made it known that he did not wish to be the Vice-President of the Board this year, Laurin nominated John Helft as VP, and he was unanimously elected. Both were sworn in, as was Clerk Pam Cottrell and Superintendent Ken Facin. [Read more…] about Laurin Re-Elected HFCS Board President; Helft is VP

4-H Teen Council Scholarships

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Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County is pleased to announce the 2015 4-H Teen Council Scholarship Recipients.  The 4-H Teen Council Scholarship is a very special award.   There is an extensive application which includes the candidates’ 4-H experiences and accomplishments on local, county, state, and national levels and how these experiences relate to their personal development.  Additionally, a narrative is required in which applicants explain educational goals and how 4-H has prepared them to achieve these goals.  We would like to congratulate the following recipients.  [Read more…] about 4-H Teen Council Scholarships

Congratulations to the Hoosick Falls Class of 2015

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*Jacob Michael Bakaitis, ms**Shane Andrew Barss, Rachael Barto, *Devin Nicole Bettis, *Eric Thomas Bloomer, **Nicholas William Bohmer, ‡**William Edward Bradley, ‡**Abigail Grace Brown, *Alicia Lynn Roman Burdick, Jonathan L. Burdick, Kali Bushey, **Noah Chani, ms**William Francis Charbonneau, ‡***Kolumbia Margaret Cook, **Lauren Mary Cottrell, ‡◊***Ashly Rose Cumbo, *Colby Ryan Davendonis, *Damon Richard Dubois, ms‡◊***Taylor Paige Flohr, *Elijah Fowler, mm**Justin M. Gaines, *Emily Rose Grant, ms-mm‡◊**Maxwell Thomas Haar, *Savannah Donna Haber, **Mark Anthony Hackett, *Taylor Elizabeth Hayes, *Kealan Tylar Hitt, **Andrew Paul Hoag, ‡**Alyssa Reneé Houghton, *Logan Costner Hoyt, *Emily Marie Kalenian, ‡◊**Shaelynn Elizabeth Kelly, Alexander Karl Krause, **Terry Alyssa L’ Heureux, *Dylan Joseph Malo, ms-mm‡◊**Casie Alexis Mann, **Kenneth John Marbot II, ‡◊**Emily Elizabeth Martin, Monita Matte, *Jacob Nathaniel Matte-Yorke, *Maeve Siobhan McAuliffe, ms-mm‡◊***Lindsey M. McMahon, **Chad J.Miner, *Mandi Brooke Mulready, Angell Murray, **Rebecca Anne Nielsen, ‡**Jacob James Nolan, *Christian Dean Nolet, *Olivia O’Connel, Katherine Elizabeth O’Dell, *Tyler James O’Hare, ms-mm‡◊**Elizabeth Ashley Philpott, ‡**Rachel Rae Pine, **Austin Wayne Pitt, **Zaynah Octavia Poore, ms-mm‡◊**Christopher J. Redick, *Shayne Richard, ‡**Madeline Margaret Ryan, *Ciaely Sânchez-Collazo, *Christopher D. Scheilding, *Nickolas Bryan Schrom, ‡**Sarah Joy Schultz, *Ashley Marie Sherman, *Makayla Lynn Sonnet, *Caytlyn Mary Springer, *Ashley Ann Stephens, *Chelsea Marie Stevens, *Aryana Caitlin Taylor, *Nicole Lyn Washburn, *Cole William Webster, *Charles Edward Whitman Jr., ms-mm‡◊**Joshua Ryan Wood, *Garrett Brooks Wright, *Sidney F. Young *Regents Diploma **Advanced Regents Diploma ***Avd. Regents with Honors ‡National Honor Society Member ◊Top Ten Scholar MS Mastery in Science MM Mastery in Math
*Jacob Michael Bakaitis, ms**Shane Andrew Barss, Rachael Barto, *Devin Nicole Bettis, *Eric Thomas Bloomer, **Nicholas William Bohmer, ‡**William Edward Bradley, ‡**Abigail Grace Brown, *Alicia Lynn Roman Burdick, Jonathan L. Burdick, Kali Bushey, **Noah Chani, ms**William Francis Charbonneau, ‡***Kolumbia Margaret Cook, **Lauren Mary Cottrell, ‡◊***Ashly Rose Cumbo, *Colby Ryan Davendonis, *Damon Richard Dubois, ms‡◊***Taylor Paige Flohr, *Elijah Fowler, mm**Justin M. Gaines, *Emily Rose Grant, ms-mm‡◊**Maxwell Thomas Haar, *Savannah Donna Haber, **Mark Anthony Hackett, *Taylor Elizabeth Hayes, *Kealan Tylar Hitt, **Andrew Paul Hoag, ‡**Alyssa Reneé Houghton, *Logan Costner Hoyt, *Emily Marie Kalenian, ‡◊**Shaelynn Elizabeth Kelly, Alexander Karl Krause, **Terry Alyssa L’ Heureux, *Dylan Joseph Malo, ms-mm‡◊**Casie Alexis Mann, **Kenneth John Marbot II, ‡◊**Emily Elizabeth Martin, Monita Matte, *Jacob Nathaniel Matte-Yorke, *Maeve Siobhan McAuliffe, ms-mm‡◊***Lindsey M. McMahon, **Chad J.Miner, *Mandi Brooke Mulready, Angell Murray, **Rebecca Anne Nielsen, ‡**Jacob James Nolan, *Christian Dean Nolet, *Olivia O’Connel, Katherine Elizabeth O’Dell, *Tyler James O’Hare, ms-mm‡◊**Elizabeth Ashley Philpott, ‡**Rachel Rae Pine, **Austin Wayne Pitt, **Zaynah Octavia Poore, ms-mm‡◊**Christopher J. Redick, *Shayne Richard, ‡**Madeline Margaret Ryan, *Ciaely Sânchez-Collazo, *Christopher D. Scheilding, *Nickolas Bryan Schrom, ‡**Sarah Joy Schultz, *Ashley Marie Sherman, *Makayla Lynn Sonnet, *Caytlyn Mary Springer, *Ashley Ann Stephens, *Chelsea Marie Stevens, *Aryana Caitlin Taylor, *Nicole Lyn Washburn, *Cole William Webster, *Charles Edward Whitman Jr., ms-mm‡◊**Joshua Ryan Wood, *Garrett Brooks Wright, *Sidney F. Young
*Regents Diploma **Advanced Regents Diploma ***Avd. Regents with Honors ‡National Honor Society Member ◊Top Ten Scholar
MS Mastery in Science MM Mastery in Math

Hoosick Falls Valedictory

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Four score and seven years ago … Oh wait, sorry, wrong speech, wrote that one for a friend a while back. Here we go, sorry about that.

Good evening distinguished guests, family, friends, and of course my mother. My name is Max Haar and this long word *motion to sash* that I can barely spell or better yet pronounce gives me the privilege of speaking to you on behalf of the Class of 2015. Despite the fact that I think the school has made a monumental mistake letting me speak, they insisted that I do so.

With that being said, I have decided to take the advice of everyone who has offered it, and will try to keep this somewhat brief.

What can be said about the class of 2015 that sits behind me? A lot actually, most of which I’ve learned is “not appropriate for graduation.” So instead let’s look at what we as a class have learned over these past 4 years of high school. We have learned that algebra and trig require you to clap and sing, and Ms. Coli taught us that Comedy Central can help you on your AP exam. We have learned that Mr. Clairmont can grow a full mountain man beard overnight and is foolish enough to let one of us shave it. Always, always check the ESRT. Oh, and the non-profit department store Ms. Crannell was running out of her room was at times a better option than Bed, Bath and Beyond. We have learned that Mr. Malikowski can recite pi to 1,000 places to compliment the number of ties he owns, that Mr. Michalak was more concerned with Game of Thrones than anyone returning The Old Man and The Sea and that Mr. Facin WILL cancel school on your birthday if you threaten him with impeachment. Trust me it works, 4 years running

However, this class is not defined by the 4 years. We have grown up in an era unlike any other. We have come a long way since our humble beginnings with AIM, the ENV3, and Backyard Baseball. We are the technology generation accused of being too consumed in social media and texting to achieve. Yet behind me sit section champions, regional champions and state champions, many of whom sport the title of scholar athlete as well. Alongside them are students involved in drama productions, earth clubs, community service clubs, and made up clubs to enhance our college applications. And seated next to all of these accomplished students is Noah Chani.

It has been a crazy ride for sure, and I’d like to take some time to thank everyone who has made this journey possible for me and my fellow classmates. To our parents, thank you for always being there for us. From tearing up watching us get on the bus on that first day of kindergarten to being embarrassed as a parent when you saw us on Facebook hanging off the side of a wagon riding through the village on the last day of senior year. To the faculty, for teaching us words, equations, how to properly insult the Common Core and … yeah that’s basically it.

Now that I’m about to graduate I feel as if we can all be on a first name basis so, Dave, Sarah, Bill, Lynda, Cathy, and any other teacher please accept my friend requests, thanks again. To the custodial staff for cleaning up after us, I recently learned that the gap between the tables is not actually a trash can, my apologies. To the administration including Ken, whom you may now block on both Facebook and just recently Twitter, I say thank you. To Mr. Chase, thank you for stepping up this year and filling in as principal. Please continue to promote me and my classmates on Linkedln. Also sorry I punched you on the last day of school, but rules are rules. To anyone else in the school I am forgetting, thank you for doing whatever it is you do. To the class of 2015, glad we could make it here today, thank you for making these past 4 years a very unique experience.

Valedictorian Maxwell Haar
Valedictorian Maxwell Haar

To my mother and father thank you dearly for consistently asking me about my homework every night, including this speech all the way up until this evening. No mom, it’s not done I’m just ad Iibbing right now. But seriously, thank you. To my sister Zoey, what can I say? Throughout my high school experience nearly every teacher asked me what it’s like to live in your shadow, to have such a successful older sister, to not be the golden child. To answer their questions, I wouldn’t know. But thank you Zoey for being a good sport all the years while I harassed you, asked for your help, and gloated to you about my accomplishments, I’m so glad we have grown past that. Above all, thank you for motivating me to be where I am today, finally better than you. To my friends- if any of you consider me that- thank you for making this ride an incredible one.

Before I go I want to leave you with some words of wisdom to guide you through life after high school. I actually couldn’t decide between two so I’m going to go with both, and you can just pick which one you like more. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. also known by his stage name of Lil Wayne once said, “Life’s a beach I’m just playing in the sand,” and while he may have followed that up with a handful of obscenities, the message remains the same. Enjoy life, and explore. The world is your oyster, or in this case beach, so go dip your toes in the water at college or wherever you choose to spend the next few years, and remember to see what life has to offer.

Finally, I depart with this quote from Greek philosopher Aristotle, which will hopefully help you get through college, “In the pursuit of knowledge, if you ever don’t know something, just do what I did and google it.” Thank you.

Hoosick Falls Salutatory

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Good evening friends, family, faculty and fellow graduates. Today, the student body stands before you on the edge of their past and future. We began high school four years ago as children, and are leaving here today to truly begin our lives as young adults in this society. Some of us will go to college, travel the world or start our own businesses. It’s no longer some distant reality. Today, we begin our own pathways into the real world. [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Salutatory

Hoosick Falls Class of 2015 Where Are They Going?

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Jacob Bakaitis – US Marines

Shane Barss – SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Devin Bettis – PACE University

Eric Bloomer – Hudson Valley Community College

Nicholas Bohmer – Hudson Valley Community College

William Bradley – SUNY Oneonta

Abigail Brown – University of Vermont

Alicia Burdick – Hudson Valley Community College

Noah Chani – Goucher College

William Charbonneau – Rochester Institute of Technology

Kolumbia Cook – Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Lauren Cottrell – St. Lawrence University

Ashly Cumbo – SUNY Oswego

Colby Davendonis – Hartwick College

Damon Dubois – Hartwick College

Taylor Flohr – Sacred Heart University

Justin Gaines – Siena College

Emily Grant – Hudson Valley Community College

Maxwell Haar – University of Richmond

Savannah Haber – Hudson Valley Community College

Mark Hackett – Hartwick College

Taylor Hayes – Hudson Valley Community College

Kealan Hitt – Franklin Pierce University

Andrew Hoag – SUNY Potsdam

Alyssa Houghton – SUNY Oneonta

Logan Hoyt – US Marines

Emily Kalenian – Employment

Shaelynn Kelly  – Marist College

Alexander Krause – Hudson Valley Community College

Dylan Malo – Vermont Technical College

Casie Mann – Hartwick College

Kenneth Marbot – Hudson Valley Community College

Emily Martin – University of Vermont

Jacob Matte-Yorke – Employment

Maeve McAuliffe – Hudson Valley Community College

Lindsey McMahon – Cornell University

Chad Miner – SUNY Cortland

Mandi Mulready – Hudson Valley Community College

Rebecca Nielsen  SUNY Potsdam

Jacob Nolan – SUNY Cortland

Christian Nolet – Hudson Valley Community College

Olivia O’Connell – Hudson Valley Community College

Katherine O’Dell – Hudson Valley Community College

Tyler O’Hare – US Marines

Elizabeth Philpott – University of New Hampshire

Rachel Pine – Hartwick College

Austin Pitt – Hartwick College

Zaynah Poore – Southern Vermont College

Christopher Redick – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Shayne Richard – Hartwick College

Madeline Ryan – Ithaca College

Ciaely Sânchez-Collazo – Hudson Valley Community College

Chris Scheilding – Hudson Valley Community College

Nicholas Schrom – Hudson Valley Community College

Sarah Schultz – University at Albany

Ashley Sherman – Employment

Makayla Sonnet – Russell Sage College

Caytlyn Springer – Southern Vermont College

Ashley Stephens – Employment

Chelsea Stevens – Hudson Valley Community College

Aryana Taylor – SUNY Adirondack

Nicole Washburn – Employment

Cole Webster – Hudson Valley Community College

Charles Whitman – US Marines

Joshua Wood – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Garrett Wright – St. John Fisher College

Sidney Young – Employment

Hoosick Falls Scholarships and Awards

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American Red Cross Scholarship – For outstanding service to the American Red Cross blood drive. – Kolumbia Cook

Tony Altobell Memorial Scholarship – Given to a student who exhibits the highest degree of academic achievement in both breadth and depth of scientific study and research. Its recipient will reflect in his/her performance the most significant attainment of the knowledge and skills, which Mr. Altobell instilled in his students during his lengthy tenure at Hoosick Falls. This recipient must be one who intends to pursue at the college level a major in at least one of the sciences – Shane Barss [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Scholarships and Awards