December 14/15, 2018
NEWSLETTER
VSHS eNews Update - December 14/15, 2018
Dear Families,
One of our academic building goals this year is to continue providing our students with engaging and authentic learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. On Monday evening, some students from Mrs. Angelica Sanzotta's Spanish IV class went to Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant in Penfield where they interacted with the staff and with each other by speaking only in Spanish the entire evening. During the event, Mrs. Sanzotta and the students engaged in speaking activities where they discussed future goals, their life experiences and how their school year is going. Mrs. Sanzotta said it was a wonderful way for her and the students to connect with and learn about each other on a personal level outside of the regular school setting!
Mr. Eric Dahlstrom's forensics classes took a field trip this past Tuesday to the forensics lab over at the NY state trooper barracks in Farmington. This barracks supports a huge area (10 counties) in all sorts of different forensics disciplines. Students had the opportunity to meet several investigators in different areas (crash reconstruction, fingerprinting, digital crimes, etc) and then toured the facility. They saw new scientific labs, evidence lockers, and equipment that the troopers use when investigating crimes. In addition, the students got to demo several of the techniques, including new types of fingerprinting, casting foot impressions, and drone operations. The investigators also made themselves available for questions and feedback from students as well. Thank you to the NYS Police Troop E for allowing us the opportunity to experience what real-life forensics work is all about!
With only one week to go until the two week holiday break, I wanted to point out that we are swiftly moving through the semester. Today marks the end of the 5th week of the second quarter. When we return from the holiday break, we will have only three weeks of school until the midterm exam week (Tuesday, January 22 - Friday, January 25, 2019). Midterm exams are an important way for both students and teachers to assess their progress. Next week I will include the midterm exam schedule with my eNews update.
Here is the news for this week....
Key Club Update
During this season of giving, I am happy to recognize and celebrate the efforts of the VSHS Key Club! Our membership has officially risen to 231 students for this academic year, and we are the largest Key Club chapter in NYS! Obviously, Key Club has been busy. Here are the events they have participated in this month alone...
Victor Parks & Rec.'s Christmas in the Village (December 1)
PTSA's Holliday Shoppe (December 7)
PTSA's Breakfast with Santa (December 8)
Homeless Outreach Info Session (December 13)
Kiwanis Holiday Gift Wrapping (December 14)
Kiwanis' Breakfast with Santa (December 15)
Kiwanis Coloring Book Fundraisers (December 8 and 9)
Homeless Outreach Care Package Collection (through December 21)
That makes 30 hours of community service spread out between 9 events this month alone, and 66 hours spread out between 16 events so far this year. Kudos to our Key Club students and advisor Mr. Eric Waples!
Mark Your Calendars!
School will be closed from December 22-January 6 for the holiday break. School will start again on Monday, January 7, 2019. School will also be closed on Monday, January 21st in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Mental Health Presentations
Next week, our School Counselors, School Social Worker, and School Psychologists will be meeting with every PE class to share Mental Health information with students. Key take aways include the following points for students (Please see attached Youth Mental Health Fact Sheet at the end of this eNews for more information)...
Importance of taking care of our Mental Health as well as our Physical Health
Differences between stress vs anxiety, and sadness vs depression
How to "A-C-T" if you are worried about someone:
Acknowledge ("I'm here for you."),
Show you Care ("I'm really worried about you."),
Tell ("Let's go talk to an adult who can help...and If you don't, I will.")
Who to contact for help for yourself or someone else in School (7:30am - 3:00pm)
Tell a teacher/adult you need to go to the Counseling Office
Speak to the Counseling Secretary-tell her it is important!
Meet with the Counselor, Social Worker, or School Psychologist
Out of School (3:00pm-7:30am)
Contact an adult immediately
Parent, relative, neighbor, or friend of family
Call 211 to talk
Call 911 for emergency response from a Mental Health professional who can come to you, or police, ambulance, or firefighters
Report Card Information
Report cards are mailed home at midyear (week of Feb. 4th) and end of the year (week of July 1st) only. Parents are encouraged to monitor student progress, attendance and grades on School Tool throughout the school year. If you need assistance with accessing School Tool information for your student, please contact Mrs. Joanne Thomas at thomasj@victorschools.org for login support.
District-Wide Holiday Food Drive
The VSHS Student Council (led by co-advisors Mrs. Heather Page and Ms. Kyli Knickerbocker) will once again be organizing the annual Holiday Food Drive to help families who are in need in the Victor-Farmington area. Last year we delivered food baskets to 86 families, and we are anticipating even more this year. Food collections (non-perishable items such as peanut butter, rice, canned tuna, canned chicken, beans, etc.) started this past Monday. We will also be accepting food donations at The Orchestra and Choir Concert this coming Monday, December 17th in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center prior to the concert. Please consider making a contribution, and thank you for your generosity!
Music, Art and Theater News...
Monday, December 17th at 7 PM is the Sr. High Orchestras and Choirs Holiday Concert which will be performed at the VCSD Performing Arts Center (located in Victor Junior High School). We have had a fantastic holiday concert series at Victor Central Schools this month, and this concert on Monday will be another terrific way to celebrate the season!
See you Monday night!
Art Update: The VCSD Art Department will be showcasing student art in the lobbies of the various auditoriums during all theater performances this year. In addition, student and teacher art will also be showcased in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center from December 3rd through December 21st to coincide with the grades 4-12 holiday concerts that will take place.
Theater News: Get ready.....the VSHS Spring Musical is going to be "Big Fish!" This is a fairly new Broadway musical, and Mr. Hawkinson is excited to bring it to Victor Senior High School! Auditions will be held this coming Tuesday, December 18th and the show dates are the weekend of March 7, 8 and 9, 2019. See the flyer at the end of this eNews for the information. Never too early to save the date!
Please come out and support the amazing musical, artistic and performing talents of our students!
Are You Interested In Substitute Teaching at VCSD? Read on....
The Victor Central School District is currently hiring per diem substitute teachers. If you have teacher certification or at the minimum, a bachelor degree, and are interested in working with students and staff at our outstanding school district, please use the link below for more information. If you need assistance, please contact Krissy Hutt at 924-3252 ext 1417 or huttk@victorschools.org. For more information, please click on the link at the end of this eNews.
Selective Service
Parents: If your son is approaching his 18th birthday, please be aware of the requirements to Register for the Selective Service. See the attached flyer at the end of this eNews for answers to any questions you may have about this process.
Student Volunteer Opportunity - Special Olympics
Students: Looking for an opportunity to help others and make a difference in their life? Looking for Community Service opportunities because they are an important part of the college admissions and scholarship application process? Take time to give back to our community and sign up to volunteer at the Special Olympics this year!
Special Olympics New York is reaching out to invite students from local schools to volunteer at the 2019 Special Olympic Winter Games. They are in need of 1,200 volunteers during the weekend of February 22nd-24th. Volunteers are needed tentatively from 8am-4pm, depending on the competition. Please see the "Volunteer Job Descriptions" for tasks per sport. When volunteers register, assignments are sent by the first week of February with specific times and details. Opening Ceremonies will be held on Friday, February 22nd at 8 PM at Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Show your school colors and make Victor proud! Join the on field cheering sections for the Parade of athletes, witness the lighting of the cauldron and entertainment to celebrate the opening of the games! The Athletic Competition will begin on Saturday, February 23rd at the following locations:
· Rochester Riverside Convention Center
· Cobbs Hill Park
· Genesee Valley Sports Complex
· Swain Resort
· Bristol Mountain Ski Resort
Sign up as a family or individual at: http://specialolympics-ny. org/winter-games/
To sign up as a team, contact Sara Massa at: smassa@nyso.org or 518-992-4806. See the link at the end of this eNews for more information.
Spanish Club Chipotle Fundraiser
The VSHS Spanish Club is hosting a fundraising event at the Victor Chipotle on Tuesday, December 18th from 5-9pm. If you bring in the flyer that is attached at the end of this eNews, 33% of the proceeds will go to the VSHS Spanish Club. As the flyer says..."School Spirit Tastes Great!"
DECA Updates from Mrs. Utz and Mr. Cutaia...
DECA regionals are next Thursday, December 20th. The bus will leave the North Wing at 7:30 AM. There will be a mandatory meeting on Wednesday, December 19th to discuss last minute details. PLEASE review the Regional DECA reminders (see link below) and/or contact Sue Utz or Mike Cutaia with questions. Students are expected to dress in business attire, bring $10 for lunch (or a bag lunch) and schoolwork should they have any downtime. Students who win a trophy/ribbon at regionals will earn the opportunity to compete at the State Career Conference in March, 2019. We will be looking for a verbal commitment on Friday, December 21st as to whether students will be attending the state conference. If they choose not to attend, another student will have the opportunity to fill in their spot. Any and all last minute preparations are encouraged! Thank you for your support of Victor High School DECA.
College & Career Info
Biomedical Engineering Presentation
Students: Are you interested in learning more about Biomedical Engineering? Come to the presentation on Tuesday, December 18th at 1:30pm in the College & Career Center. Clemson student and recent Victor graduate, Ben Banaszak, will provide you with great information about this exciting career field and his experience as an engineering student at Clemson.
Sign up in the College & Career Center or online through Naviance.
See you there!
US Army Information Session
Sign up in the College & Career Center or online through Naviance to attend the US Army Information Session in the College & Career Center on Tuesday, December 18th at 9:30am. You will learn about the enlisting process, qualifications, career tracks, educational and other benefits provided by the US Army.
FLCC Manufacturing Programs - Orientation information!
Attached to this e-mail are flyers for the orientations sessions that are required for the Advanced Manufacturing Machinist and Mechatronic Technology programs that will begin in the Spring 2019.
The Advanced Manufacturing Machinist program orientation will be held on January 10th, 2019 starting at 9am at ITT Goulds Pumps, 240 Fall Street, Seneca Falls NY. Anyone interested in the mandatory orientation session should register at www.flcc.edu/pdce and click on manufacturing – the orientation button is right at the top! (here is a direct link: https://www.campusce.net/flcc/ course/course.aspx?catId=41)
The Mechatronic Technology program orientation will be held on January 16th, 2019 starting at 9am at the FLCC Victor Campus, 200 Victor Heights Parkway, Victor NY. Anyone interested in the mandatory orientation session should register at www.flcc.edu/pdce and click on manufacturing – the orientation button is right at the top! (here is a direct link: https://www.campusce.net/flcc/ course/course.aspx?catId=41)
See the end of this eNews for the flyers and links!
Athletic News
We have a busy week of athletic events coming up! For a full list of athletic events, please go to https://www.victorschools.org/athletics and click on "calendar" or click on the link at the end of this eNews. Go Blue Devils!
SENIORS: Transcript Requests and Upcoming Application Deadlines
Admissions Counselors recommend submitting your applications by the end of December, if you can. But note, the Victor High School Holiday Recess is December 22—January 6. So, transcripts and letters of recommendation requests will not be sent during that break. Therefore, all requests for 12/31 or 1/1 deadlines need to be made during the week of December 10th. And as you have been previously notified, you must request your transcript and letters of recommendation four weeks prior to your deadlines.
Senior Bash Lawn Signs
If you would like to order a lawn sign to congratulate your senior on graduating, orders are now being accepted! See the Class of 2019 order form at the end of this eNews for more information on how to submit an order and payment. Thank you for your support!
Have a great weekend!
Brian Siesto
Principal
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |