Student art earns recognition - Webutuck Central School District
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CO M M U N I T Y • CO L L A B O R AT I O N • CO M M I T M E N T
Central School District
January 2021
Student art earns recognition
Six Webutuck students turned their The decision to participate in the contest
creativity loose and entered the Hudson this year stemmed from an increased
Valley Art Awards, part of the Scholastic awareness and the nature of the year.
Art & Writing Awards, this year. Three of “I thought, because of the situation
them won awards in the contest. we were in, that it would have a lot
Ashe Johnson, 7th; Thomas Beeman, 8th; of positive meaning for the kids who
Olivia Wickwire, 8th; Haley Winters, 10th; were still at home. It would give them
Autumn Beeman, 11th; and Christina something to look forward to and work
Lawrence, 12th, submitted entries. toward.”
Visual arts teacher Craig Wickwire helped This year, the contest received 2,000
guide the students as they prepared their entries from the 16 districts in the
entries for the Drawing/Illustration and region, though some of the entries
Digital Art categories. There are 17 art included multiple entries as individual
and 11 writing categories overall. submissions, said Kimberly Austin of
Sullivan County BOCES which oversees
“I want to congratulate them for their the region’s event.
diligence and their willingness to show
their work by submitting it,” Wickwire Thomas Beeman said his older sister, Thomas Beeman's "WaterColorCityLandscape"
earned a Silver Key Award in this year's Hudson
said. See ART Pg. 2 Valley Art Awards."
Morning announcements move to video
From time to time, we all 2 - Bus driver returns
experience that sluggishness
in the morning and our 3 - Closeness helps EBIS
students are no different. students, staff through
WES Principal Jennifer
Hengen wanted to do 4 - District stays remote
something to get everyone through Jan. 25
energized for the day ahead, - WES hosts virtual
so she began creating assemblies
morning announcement
videos which she shares via A screenshot from a recent SeeSaw video announcement from WES
SeeSaw Mondays, Tuesdays, Principal Jennifer Hengen.
Thursdays and Fridays. In each video, Hengen
additional information.
“I try to make it engaging and announces the day of the
Technology Director Lauren
fun,” Hengen said, adding week, what letter day it is, a
Marquis provided a way for
that it is also a resource for brief weather report, recites
Hengen to insert sounds
parents as she puts links into the pledge, does a joke of the
into the video to help draw
each video for parents to find See ANNOUNCEMENTS Pg. 3
students’ attention.
www.webutuckschools.org WCSD Newsletter 1
ART from Pg. 1
Autumn, gave him the idea to enter the junior year. “I spent a lot of time drawing it
contest as she entered it, too. and I am really proud of how it came out.”
Headin g overline
“WaterColorCityLandscape,” Thomas' piece, She drew “Stop” a few months later.
was recognized with a Silver Key award. “I was feeling low. Quarantine and online
"I created a watercolor painting of New school was very difficult to adjust to. I
York City. My inspiration was a video that decided to draw how I felt and “Stop” is
showed how to make buildings using what I was left with.”
watercolor," he said. Lawrence said she plans to pursue a career
Christina Lawrence's pieces, "Stop" and in art, possibly as an art teacher.
"Attention" received honorable mention as Autumn Beeman said her watercolor
did Ashe Johnson’s, “Beauty is Pain.” portrait of a girl with flowers blooming
Awards are given for Gold Key, Silver Key, out of her mask was prompted by how
Honorable Mention, American Visions important masks had become.
Nominee, and American Voices Nominee. “Being in a pandemic, it has become crucial
Typically, awards are presented to students to wear a mask in public in order to protect
at celebration ceremonies and exhibitions the health of yourself and others. It has
in each region. been difficult for everyone and some more
“This is phenomenal, it gave me chills than others, so it’s important to recognize
hearing that,” Wickwire said when told of Clockwise, from above Christina Lawrence's "Stop" your impact and the strength you have
the awards. “This wasn’t an assignment.
and "Attention" received Honorable Mention in being part of the solution,” she said.
the Hudson Valley Art Awards contest; entries from
They volunteered for this, so to see three Haley Winters and Autumn Beekman. “This is a huge confidence builder for these
students recognized for their work and students to move forward and have their
own submissions, Wickwire said.
dedication to it is outstanding.” ideas and feelings affirmed," Wickwire said,
Lawrence said “Attention” was a media adding, that the district will “Participate
The students selected which pieces of art
arts class project toward the end of her bigger and bolder next year.”
to submit and were responsible for their
Familiar face returns to transport district children
Editor's note: This is part of a said Ford who has lived in the When she is not transporting
series on WCSD's new hires for the district since 1993 and had three children, Ford enjoys spending
2020-21 school year. sons who attended school here. time with her dog, Spike, and
Christine Ford Transportation Director Jerry cat, Patches at her Wassaic
Bus driver Heiser said the decision to bring home and talking to her oldest
Ford back was easy. “She was a sons by phone or doing things
One of the district’s new faces good employee. She was always in person when they visit (her
for the 2020-21 school year on time, never missed time and youngest son lives with her).
isn’t new at all. Christine Ford she did a lot in the community." She enjoys cooking meals with
worked for the district as a Ford is glad to be back. her boyfriend and watching
bus driver for 15 years before “Webutuck is a small school movies.
leaving for two years to work for district where I feel welcomed If she never became a bus
another school district. being back,” she said. “I missed driver, Ford said she would have
“I started missing my home, really wanted to come back to seeing the beautiful views. I gone into something to help
community and friends. I Webutuck, to my old bus run appreciate, every day, being people, such as working for a
hated traveling to work and with my bus kids and families,” back.” hospice organization.
www.webutuckschools.org WCSD Newsletter 2
Family feel helps EBIS
Headin g overline
overcome challenges
Change brings challenges, and students’ birthdays.
the COVID-19 pandemic has “With remote instruction, I
certainly brought what seems make sure I send a card to
like endless change. But, as a them for their birthday,” she
family, we’ve seen it through to said, adding that she makes
a better 2021 and some of that weekly calls to her group of Teachers, including Christine Gillette, participated in virtual Spirit Week this year.
success surely comes from the students to see if they are by a fire not too long ago, the good with communications.
close-knit nature of the Eugene doing OK, if they have the faculty and staff immediately
Brooks Intermediate School “He sends a weekly email to
worked to help provide
supplies they need and, if not, keep us informed about what
community - staff and students she’ll send them. assistance. When I experienced
alike. is happening, any changes and
ELA teacher Jenna Garofalo a medical issue with my he keeps the communication
“This year is unlike anything said that remote instruction, wife, the group at EBIS came channels open so we don’t
we've ever imagined. Though “gave me the ability to almost through with such kindness feel like we’re on an island by
we are missing out on so much have kids in my home and and generosity,” Pascale ourselves,” Singleton said.
— in person interactions, in create a home away from said. “While I believe our
Departments also hold
person learning, hands-on home for them. I showed them small size contributes to this their own virtual chats and
activities, Holiday Breakfast, my guinea pig, I was working closeness, it is the kind-hearted
meetings.
field trips, socializing at from my boyfriend's house so I individuals who come to EBIS
school — we also have some introduced them to his dog. … each day that truly create this “Team and department chats
silver linings,” science teacher it’s more personal.” atmosphere.” keep each other positive
Christine Gillette said. He also pointed to the throughout the remote
Staff have made it a point Positivity Project and the experience. This has been a
"With remote
to let students know they instruction, I district’s efforts to bring a constant source of support
are here for them, whether make sure I health clinic to the school and laughter for us,” Gillette
students attend class in send a card to as examples of the care the said, pointing to her team’s
them for their
person or remotely. birthday." district has for its students and participation in Spirit Week as
– Raquel Singleton families. an example.
“Reaching out via Google Teaching Assistant
classroom private comments, Gillette and Singleton praised Of course, being close-knit
or Zoom private Chats, etc. Principal Matt Pascale said the administrators for their roles in has its drawbacks when you
they need to know this is staff works well together and, establishing this feeling. can’t be together. So, the thing
tough for everyone- not just that while students always Singleton looks forward to
“The best thing the most, as do the rest of the staff,
them,” she said. come first, “this group works administrators can do now is
Teaching assistant Raquel and operates like a family unit.” to be supportive of staff during is, “seeing the hallways filled
with students and their smiling
Singleton agrees that staying When a member of the family this challenging time and we faces and just being around
in touch is key. One of the is in need, everyone jumps in certainly have that,” Gillette them and celebrating a sense
in-person events that had to to help. said. of normalcy.”
be stopped was recognizing “We had a family displaced Singleton said Pascale is very
ANNOUNCEMENTS from Pg. 1 About 98 percent of the trait, contact information for of Allegiance, so, Hengen did
parents/students participate herself, the school nurse and just that.
day and discusses the monthly in SeeSaw and parents have more. Since the videos are “I’ve had good parent
character trait, which for indicated one of the things archived, parents can go back feedback,” she said.
January is perseverance. that would help them is to previous videos and find
having access to additional the links they need when they Once school resumes in-
“I used myself as an example
resources to support students need them. person using the hybrid
this month. I talked about
model, Hengen wants to have
how I can’t stand to see myself during remote learning. She asked students for some students come to the
on the screen, but I do the In the video, Hengen provides suggestions on the videos office and help with the video
announcement each day links to additional information and one student suggested so hers isn’t the only face they
anyway because it is the right to help teach the character getting a flag for the Pledge see on the screen.
thing to do,” she said.
www.webutuckschools.org WCSD Newsletter 3
Weekly assembly maintains connections Headin g overline
Every Wednesday, WES Principal Jennifer Hengen holds an all
school assembly via Zoom to connect with students, do a little
teaching and have some fun.
Hengen may start with a short introductory activity, such as
different ways people can say, “Hi,” virtually then moves on
to the character trait of the month, the Pledge of Allegiance
(recited by a student volunteer), birthdays and a reading lesson.
Leading up to the STEAM Fair, she’s also hoping to feature
students who share project ideas or STEAM projects to inspire
other students to create one of their own and enter.
The assembly is a social emotional learning component.
“Students feel somewhat disconnected with one week in school,
then the next one not. This is something we can keep in place A slide from Webutuck Elementary School's weekly All School Assembly.
whether we are remote or in-person,” Hengen said.
Staff has been flexible with their Wednesdays because they effect of Irene's mother being ill or Irene falling into a hole.
recognize the importance of it, she said. Hengen said participation has been good, with about 120
Hengen said she was reading the stories herself while sharing students and staff members making an appearance.
the pages on screen, but for Jan. 6 found a video on YouTube of The Wednesday assembly takes the place of the SeeSaw
someone reading the book, “Brave Irene,” so she shared that link. announcement, though a brief announcement is sent out that
Then, she presented a cause and effect slide, giving students the includes the link to the assembly.
cause and asking them for the effect. For example, what is the
Calendar
Jan. 25, Board of Education
Students stay remote until Jan. 25
produced by Dutchess BOCES Communications Division | Eileen Scholes, Director; Irwin M. Goldberg, Public Information Officer
meeting, 7 p.m. All Webutuck schools
were closed to
Feb. 1, Board of Education students and staff
meeting, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 as
maintenance workers
Feb. 22, Board of Education performed a deep
meeting, 7 p.m. clean in all buildings.
The decision to close
March 1, Board of Education school buildings
meeting, 7 p.m. and order students
to remain remote
March 15, Board of Education until at least Jan. 25
meeting, 7 p.m. stemmed from a large
and growing amount
March 29-April 2, Spring of positive COVID-19
Recess cases among WCSD
students and staff.
April 5, Board of Education
As of Jan. 15, the As part of the deep clean, classrooms and restrooms were sprayed.
meeting, 7 p.m.
district had 20 lab
reported positive cases based on residential addresses and 11 students/teachers/staff
April19-23, 26, NYS ELA exams
testing positive.
(subject to change)
We will continue to monitor cases in the district as well as the Dutchess County rate. If the
April 27, Board of Education situation changes, we will alert you through robocalls, text messages and via our website.
meeting/BOCES vote, 7 p.m Please stay safe and continue to observe proper safety precautions with regards to wearing
masks, washing hands and staying at safe social distances.
www.webutuckschools.org WCSD Newsletter 4You can also read
