Oneida City School District

January 2018

Oneida City School District Oneida High School

Otto Shortell Middle School

Durhamville

North Broad

Seneca Street

Willard Prior

Happy New Year Oneida! s e Spirit Day District-Wid April 6, 2018 ,& Januar y 5, 2018 Meeting Board of Ed pm North Broad 6 Januar y 9th at er Kind Day Martin Luth Januar y 15th n n Registratio te r a rg e d in Pre-K Prior 2nd @Willard & t 1s y ar ru eb F Recess Mid Winter - 23rd Februar y 19th Pre - K Registration For eligible children residing in the Oneida City School District who will be 4 years old on or before December 1, 2018. See page 19 for additional details. Where: Willard Prior Elementary When: February 1st 3:00pm - 7:00pm

Congratulations to the following Fall varsity athletic teams that have been named New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Scholar Athlete teams! Girls Tennis 94.62 Girls Soccer 94.33 Girls Cross Country 94.18 Boys Cross Country 90.50 Field Hockey 93.26 Boys Soccer 90.19 We are very proud of your accomplishments in the classrooms and on the fields/courts/courses!

Facility Study……….……………..…….…Page 4 NYS Assessments……………………..…Page 7 OHS Winter Wonder Week …………Page 9 Durhamville Gets Fit with BoE……Page 12 Willard Prior Full STEAM Ahead…Page 17

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February 2nd 9:00am - 5:00pm

December 2nd the Z club hosted a semi-formal dance at the Kallet Theater with an a t te n d a n c e o f o v e r 2 5 0 students! The dance consisted of a DJ, snacks and pictures. The Z club officers: President, Dana Ratnarajah, Vice President, Amber Jenkins, Treasurer, Gabby Cafalone , Secretary, Lorin Leggett, Photographer , Emily Gioeli, and Historian, Maddy Sheedy have decided to contribute the proceeds of the dance to the Golisano Children’s Hospital Closet. This closet consists of items for all ages and patients are welcome to the closet to pick an article of their choice.

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#OneidaStrong 1

Oneida City School District

January 2018

District Office Dear District Residents, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Our music department prepared students for several fabulous concerts!! Additionally, students in classrooms throughout the district have been working hard to gain knowledge about new topics and areas of interest. Our athletic teams have provided us with some excellent games and competitions to start our winter season! Ask a student about the exciting activities that are going on at Oneida! As the school year begins its second half, please take some time to help your children reflect on their academic performance. We encourage you to stay involved in your student’s learning. Working together, we can truly set our students on the road to success in their lives. Our appreciation goes out to all of our parents, families, volunteers, organizations and businesses for all that they do to contribute to the success of our students and our District. Mary-Margaret Zehr Superintendent of Schools

Oneida Castle Elementary Building Vote Thank you to the Oneida City School District community for your overwhelming support of the sale of the Oneida Castle School building. Last night the proposition to sell the Oneida Castle School building passed with 206 votes in support of the sale and 24 opposed to the sale. There are a few more steps that MEID construction will need to take to have the sale finalized. The initial bid/ purchase offer is contingent upon the zoning laws changing, ingress and egress approval, leasing of the tennis courts, and allowing the septic system to be fixed/replaced. All of the contingencies are to be decided by the Village of Oneida Castle. As a school district, we will provide you with information as we receive it.

Mission and Vision committee The committee reviewed all of our feedback on the draft mission statement. The committee decided to refine our draft mission statement to read: To educate, inspire and empower students The committee decided on the following proposed vision statement: Students reaching their fullest potential The committee will garner feedback from the respective buildings regarding our proposed mission & vision statements. The committee hopes to finalize a proposal for the Board of Education by February.

Would you like a print copy of the digital newsletter? We are more than happy to provide any community member with a printed copy of the digital newsletter if they are unable to access our electronic versions. Please contact Melanie Fountain at 315-363-2550 for a paper copy of the electronic newsletters. 2

Oneida City School District

January 2018

BoE Committee News The BOE Curriculum, Instruction, & Technology Committee received information regarding integrated credit opportunities available through BOCES. Currently, Oneida CSD does not currently allow students to take advantage of these opportunities. The committee expressed an interest in allowing students to pursue integrated credits. The committee will be investigating how to incorporate integrated credits through BOCES into our current program. The committee was also briefed on the rollout of the 1:1 PILOT program. The program is being initiated at the 10th grade and involves 228 chrome books with 10 teachers participating. The committee discussed various policy questions relating to the program. Additionally, the committee began discussion of assessment results and requested various comparison data to evaluate at the next meeting.

The BOE Finance and Facilities Committee began preparing for upcoming negotiations. The Committee also received updates on the Oneida Castle sale, Facility Study and the ongoing capital project. The committee also discussed the preparations for the upcoming budget. The district office staff will be reviewing all staff, building schedules, retirement increases, healthcare increases, program improvements, and areas that could be reduced. The district will also be exploring the possibility of bringing the UPK program in house for the 2019-20 school year. The committee also discussed the high enrollment in the kindergarten and first grade classes at DV and NB have high enrollment. Principals at these buildings requested additional teacher aide assistance. It was decided to bring a proposal to the next BOE meeting to add two PT (3 hour) positions – one at each building. Additionally, the committee proposed adjustment in substitute rates for all positions in the District to reflect the increase in the minimum wage, which will occur in December. The committee also decided to have the internal auditor look at technology inventory tracking in the district as a focus area for the upcoming internal audit.

The BOE Governance Committee discussed the District’s current mascot – Indians. The committee discussed the background on why this issue needed discussion. The committee decided to keep the current mascot and the district would work with stakeholders on developing an appropriate symbol later in the spring. The committee also began to review policies such as the Plain Language Summary Code of Conduct, School Wellness Policy, Meal Charge Policy proposed 1:1 computing policy, and the proposed internet safety policy. Additionally, the committee reviewed the implementation plan for the Community Use of Facilities Policy. The committee wants to discuss this at the BOE level and the district will provide the legal background at this discussion as to why the policy is needed and potential repercussions.

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

Facilities News Oneida City School District Facility Study The Oneida City School District will be working with Alan Pole and Jessica Cohen from Castallo and Silky LLC – Education Consultants to study the facilities at Oneida. The study will determine if there is a better way to educationally and fiscally to reconfigure the grades and facilities to provide a sound instructional program now and in the future. The December Facility Study Committee had the following take aways: •The neighborhood school concept has been embraced by Oneida for the location of its elementary schools. •The Building Condition Survey has identified approximately $20,000,000 of work to be completed in the district’s facilities. •The current elementary school class sizes are well below guidelines set by policy, general procedures, and the teacher contract. •The concept of grade center schools would reduce the number of elementary sections by approximately 8. The committee also began discussing options for the district. Here are the notes from the discussion:

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

Facilities Continued

The Advisory Committee consists of three teachers, two administrators, two support staff, three parents, and three community members. Meeting will be held in each building throughout the school year and some meetings will include a tour of the facility. After the tour, the meeting will start at 6:30 PM. The meetings are scheduled for: December 7 at North Broad Elementary January 25 at Willard Prior Elementary February 27 at Durhamville Elementary April 19 at Seneca Street Elementary May 24 at Oneida High School Library June 12 at Board of Education meeting to present the final report The work of the Advisory Committee such as agendas and minutes will be posted in every newsletter and on the school district website http://www.oneidacsd.org/district/special_projects/facility_study Furthermore, community members are welcome to attend the meetings as visitor. Each meeting will have a time where visitors can ask questions. Once the study is complete, it will be presented to the Board of Education with the recommendations. The consultants will provide the Board of Education with more than one recommendations with pros and cons for each recommendation.

Building project updates North Broad will be prepared for move in for the main office depending on the door arrivals. The finishes will be worked on at North Broad in the next two weeks. Construction Associates will work with Jamie Brennan to determine when things can be moved back into the main office at North Broad. The water heater in Durhamville will be changed in the summer. Construction of the main office continues at Durhamville and it is anticipated to be completed after the vacation. There will be some duct work at OSMS in the cafeteria. There will be some electrical work on the fire alarm next week at Seneca Street Elementary. Seneca Street office will be moving in early January. 5

Oneida City School District

January 2018

Safety and Staying Connected with OCSD Oneida City School District has a responsibility to focus on the safety and well-being of our students. Should our schools be impacted by a national or local emergency, the district has response plans in place that follow the lead of law enforcement. Depending on the nature of the issue at hand, students may be transported home or kept at school until it is safe to transport them home. In the event of an emergency, we ask that parents refrain from coming onto our campus or calling our schools since it is critical that we have full use of our telephone lines for emergency communications. In an emergency, parents can get information, instructions, and updates from the following communication sources: ✓ District Web site- www.oneidacsd.org ✓ We will also be using our School Messenger phone system to notify parents of closures, delays, and early dismissals. Please visit www.oneidacsd.org > Stay Connected > School Messenger for more information. Or you can call Lori Cimpi in Student Registration at 315-361-6072. ✓ Facebook: facebook.com/oneidacsd ✓ Twitter: twitter.com/OneidaCSD ✓ Oneida school closings will be announced on the following broadcast outlets: ✓ RADIO stations: WFRG-104.0, WLZW-98.7, WIBX-950 AM, and WODZ-96.1 ✓ TELEVISION stations- News 10 Now, WKTV (Channel 2), WSTM (Channel 3), ✓ WIXT (channel 9), WUTR (channel 20) and WFXV (Channel 33) There are a variety of ways that you can help the district with emergency preparedness and communication. ✓ Make sure the personal information provided to the school is accurate and up to date. If you have a change in work or emergency contact phone numbers, please let the school know as soon as possible. ✓ Make sure caregiver information is current. ✓ Do you remember where you recommended your child go if dismissed early? Does that person know your child is designated to come there? ✓ Make sure the person that you have designated as an emergency contact for school is aware of this designation. Make sure your child knows as well. ✓ Make sure your child has a key to your house in case of early dismissal. Have a back-up plan if they are locked out of the house (e.g., go to a neighbor’s house?). ✓ Discuss what you would like your child to do if they come home early due to emergency/weather related dismissal. Should they call you or someone else to confirm their arrival home? ✓ Be patient. If you are having difficulty getting through to the school during an emergency, remember - the district may be flooded with incoming calls. Stay tuned to the media. We live in a challenging period and face many complex issues. Please be assured that we will take all necessary steps to keep your children safe. A copy of the Oneida City School District’s Emergency Response Plan is available at the district office. 6

Oneida City School District

January 2018

Curriculum and Instruction New York State ELA and Math Assessments The New York State ELA and Math Assessments for students in grades three through eight will be administered on the following dates:

As part of the New York State Board of Regents Reform Agenda, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) embarked on a comprehensive initiative to ensure that schools prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and in their careers. To realize the goals of this agenda, changes have occurred in standards, curricula, and assessments. These changes impact teaching and student learning. The New York State P–12 Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy and mathematics call for instructional changes. In English Language Arts, these shifts are characterized by an intense focus on complex, grade-appropriate nonfiction and fiction texts that require rigorous text analysis, the application of academic language, and other key college- and career-readiness skills. In mathematics courses, the Learning Standards demand that instruction be focused on fewer, more central standards, thereby providing room to build core understandings and connections between mathematical concepts and skills. A major change to this year’s assessments is in the number of testing days for each subject area, which has been reduced from three days to two days for each assessment. The test results are in no way utilized to evaluate teachers and administrators. The assessments are an important tool to be used to enhance instruction for each student. Please contact your child’s principal or Tina Lane, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction if you have questions pertaining to the assessments.

Timeline for Transition Examination and New Framework-Based Examination Regents Examination in Global History and Geography At the June, 2016 Board of Regents meeting, it was determined that the 2017–18 school year will be a transition year, giving educators across the State additional time to implement the new Social Studies Framework, which was approved by the Board of Regents in 2014. The Framework shifts the focus from learning facts and dates in traditional Social Studies instruction to a model that helps students to become critical thinkers as they consider the world around them. During this transition time, the Regents Exam in Global History and Geography will maintain the current test format but will only measure content from approximately 1750 to present. This is a change, as the previous Global History and Geography Regents Examination was based on content learned in grades nine and ten (development of the first civilizations to present). The transition exam and the new exam will be based on content learned in grade ten only (1750 to present). All questions on the Framework-based Global History and Geography II Regents exam will be connected to a document, thus representing a change in format. 7

Oneida City School District

January 2018

Curriculum and Instruction Continued Timeline for Transition Examination and New Framework-Based Examination Regents Examination in Global History and Geography

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

Oneida High School Winter Wonder Week The Student Council Winter Wonder Week was a huge success the week of December 17 - 22. Participation in the holiday dress days was at an all time high. Days included; Merry Monday, Skarf/Holiday Tie Day, Winter White Out Day, Flannel Thursday, and Ugly Sweater Friday. Henry Froass and Elena Sandejas won the Holiday Sweater Contest. Mrs. Haggas took first place in the door decorating contest with her Christmas Story themed door, and the Art Department won second place with the Christmas Town themed door. Most importantly, The Oneida High School Can Drive raised 926 food items for the Oneida Karing Kitchen. Melissa King Spoke to the faculty about the needs of the community, and they responded in a big way. Math Teacher Jennifer Streeter won the Can Drive Class Competition with over 20 items per student. They will enjoy a breakfast provided by Student Council in the near future.

Teens For A Better World Teens for Better World members recently acted as Holiday Angels during the month of December. They went shopping for someone less fortunate and then wrapped up the gifts that they bought. Members dropped these presents off at a local ACR Health office, which will in turn give the gifts to a local client who receive services from this community organization.

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

Otto Shortell Middle School OSMS Immigration Day 2017 Students in 8th grade participated in the annual Immigration Day activities at OSMS on Tuesday, November 21st. The students dressed up as immigrants from various countries from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The library was set up to represent Ellis Island and staff acted as processors who put the students through a series of activities. They were required to answer questions based on their character and try to gain access into the United States. Our LOTE teachers spoke a different language to the students to mimic the language barrier that may have occurred. Once they visited several stations, the students were given a loyalty oath and allowed to enter the United States or deported. Our Social Studies Department puts together this engaging day for our 8th grade every year.

OSMS Goods & Services Auction The staff and students at Otto Shortell Middle School would like to thank all of the parents, community members, and businesses that helped make our second basket bonanza and auction on December 5th a huge success. We were very pleased with the increased attendance and hope this continues as an annual event. Our school’s wonderful PTO worked diligently to organize and orchestrate this ambitious event. Generous community members – parents, area businesses, teachers, and Oneida residents – donated baskets and gift cards that had an estimated value of approximately $9000. For a second year in a row, Willard Lewis donated his time and skill as an auctioneer to conduct the auction of almost 100 items, entertaining a crowd of almost 100 people with 85 participants bidding. Many people had fun viewing the baskets, enjoying the free refreshments, and watching the excitement of the auction while being entertained by the 7th and 8th grade band and chorus. On behalf of all of the staff and students at Otto Shortell Middle School, thank you to the entire community who made this night a success. It is truly a blessing to live and work in such a generous and thoughtful city.

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

Durhamville Elementary Durhamville “Gets Fit” with the Board of Education As you know, the Board of Education travels to different buildings for their monthly meetings. At Durhamville this year we chose to highlight our 10 minute a day “Be Fit program.” Students reflect on their experience. I felt very excited to present our “Be Fit program” to the Board of Education. I think it is a big opportunity to present in front of Mrs. Zehr and Ms. Lane and all the Board of Education members. Thankfully I was not alone. My partner was Myah Rainbow. I read about poly spots, and Myah demonstrated and showed what types of poly spots there were such as yoga, calisthenics, and core. Then we switched. Myah read about duck walkers and I demonstrated how to use them and what they look like. When I present I like to practice first so that I know what I’m doing and how I am going to say it. When I presented I wanted and needed to have a firm, clear and loud voice. My favorite part about presenting was asking if any of the board members would like to try the exercises. At first, I wasn’t sure if anyone would want to do the exercises, but 30 seconds later about 8 members got up and tried the exercises. As you can see, it is fun to present if you ever want to try it. By Peyton Molinari And a different perspective, It was nerve-wracking presenting in front of Mrs. Zehr, Ms. Lane, and the Board of Education. I had to explain where my Dad works and how he and Mrs. Visalli started “Be Fit.” I had to write and type my speech. We had to practice numerous times in front of our classmates. Our class gave us praise and feedback. We put this feedback into action. Speaking in front of the Board of Education was just like being in front of my classmates. Even though it was difficult, it was a great experience. By Daunte Bacheyie So, we learned to prepare, practice and reflect. Now, we know we can do anything and find positive components within all experiences!

Mailing Presents and Cards to Soldiers By Maria Vaccaro and Mellody Emmons Did you know we have a student at Durhamville whose Dad is serving in the army and won’t be home for Christmas to spend time with his family? So, Mrs. MacDonald, our second grade teacher, thought we could help by sending cards and candies to him so he knows we appreciate and are thinking of him and all the soldiers during the holidays. We thought this was an excellent idea. So, during a morning program, we shared our idea. We decided to do this because we want the soldiers to know we are thinking about them. We want to thank them for fighting to keep us free. The soldiers have shown an incredible amount of bravery fighting for our freedom. That is why we asked our Durhamville friends to help us send candies and cards to soldiers. Thanks to all who helped. We hope the soldiers are kept safe and enjoy the gifts we are sending. 11

Oneida City School District

January 2018

Chromebook Presentation By Nicole Armstrong, Cassidy Plantz, Olin Rafte and Aubrey Wilhelm In early December the sounds of squeaking filled our halls as Mr. deMaintenon wheeled a huge cart to Mrs. Herzog’s room. What was inside? We received a brand new cart of chromebooks for the whole school to share! We were all super excited! On Tuesday, December 5th Mrs. Draghi came to our classroom and taught us how to properly use a chromebook! One interesting fact about her is that she is a certified Google trainer. One thing she taught us was how to properly carry a chromebook! You carry a chromebook by putting both arms around it. She also taught us how to properly open a chromebook. You open it by putting one hand on the chromebook and you use the other hand to open the screen. You sign out by going to your profile and pressing the sign out button. By doing that you are no longer logged into your google account. If you want to shut down you have to be sure to click on the shut down symbol. There was also something none of us knew about which was called the app launcher. What the app launcher does is brings up all of your apps to the middle of the screen. You can click on apps that you use frequently, drag them down, and pin them to your shelf. Also, on the outside of the chromebook there is a little rubber thing called a status bar light. This light can change colors if you are having difficulty with something and need assistance from your teacher. We are excited to learn more about Chromebooks with Mrs. Draghi in the future!

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

North Broad Elementary Empathy Elves Are Unstoppable Empathy Elves are on the loose at North Broad Street and they are spreading empathy and kindness in every corner of our building! They are unstoppable!! The Empathy Elves devised a plan to collect food and paper products for Karing Kitchen for those in need during the holiday season. These elves were hard at work collecting, sorting, and monitoring the collection. They even graphed the items by grade level to involve their peers in a friendly collection competition. In just a few short days, a total of 575 items were ready to send to Karing Kitchen by our Empathy Elves! A huge thank you to all of our students, staff, and parents who contributed to this food drive. Congratulations to our third grade classes for collecting the most items to give back to our community!

Fourth Grade “Wonders” There are so many extraordinary books that take students on adventures beyond their imagination. Some books make the reader laugh, some offer historical insight, and others bring the reader to another universe. Rarely does a book comes along that has the ability to start a kindness revolution and impact students beyond measure. Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a remarkable story that has the ability to challenge readers to find the good in others through kindness, understanding, and compassion. The story focuses on Augie, a ten-year-old boy who has a unique appearance with an unbelievable gift of kindness. As Augie courageously overcomes physical, emotional, and social challenges, he proves that kindness is more important than any physical appearance. As North Broad fourth graders joined Augie on his journey as they read Wonder, they shared moments of laughter, frustration, tears, and joy. Alongside their teachers, our readers finished the text ready to make our world a kinder place. Students finished the book just in time to see Wonder on the big screen at the Oneida MoviePlex in early December with Seneca Street fourth graders. Our students were ecstatic to report that the movie was just as powerful as the book. We look forward to seeing how NB fourth graders use Augie’s message to make a difference in our world! “When given the chance between being right and being kind, choose KIND.” -R.J. Palacio

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

James Howe Visits North Broad By Deb Becker, NB Librarian How do you make a book come alive? Have the author in for a school visit! Author James Howe visited North Broad Elementary and taught students about the life of an author. Students had an immediate connection when they learned that Mr. Howe was born right here in Oneida! While he only lived here until the age of two, he was excited to be visiting the town his family once lived in. Students were very familiar with the author’s first book Bunnicula from our One District, One Book program held in the fall. Since then students have been exploring the authors other books in library class, in their classrooms, and independently. Author visits not only make literature come alive, they stimulate reading for many months and encourage students to know that they too, are writers. Students will be able to keep their autographed copies of Bunnicula and other autographed books for years to come as a memory of their elementary school experience. The author asked students about their collections and explained that not all collections have to be physical. He shared with students that he keeps his collection of ideas in a small pocket-sized notebook that he carries with him. He shared that ideas come from everywhere. He suggested living and working with your ideas over time to see them change, grow larger, become reality, or in the author’s case, become a published book! Students learned the evolution of idea to picture book through viewing drafts of his writing, rewriting, and seeing the stages of a picture book from proof to published book. With over 90 published books so far, James Howe is a story of success and we are happy he shared his story with us!

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

Seneca Street Elementary Seneca Street Supports the Salvation Army During the month of December, Seneca Street students and staff participated in the Red Kettle Campaign to support the work of the Salvation Army. Red Kettles could be seen in all classrooms and throughout the building during the week of December 4th - 8th. In just five days, the school collected $250 to give to the Salvation Army to support their local community programs. Our third graders took to this challenge and collected $75, which earned them a celebratory pizza party! Mr. Sam Reger and Ms. Casey Woodcock, from the Salvation Army, came to congratulate and thank our school at our December 18th Morning Program. Students and staff also presented Mr. Reger with 8 boxes of gently used books to share with shelters in our Central New York communities.

Fourth Graders Explore Haudenosaunee Culture On December 19, fourth grade students at Seneca Street were treated to various guests in their classrooms who extended their learning about Haudenosaunee culture. In the morning, Merry Go Round Playhouse presented "The Keeper's Voice." Fourth grade students were transported back to 1862, during the Civil War, at a time when the United States was experiencing a time of many social divisions. Prominent scholar, suffragist and abolitionist Matilda Gage is leading the charge for Civil Rights in Upstate New York. Our students used their knowledge of the Iroquois Confederacy traditions and beliefs to help Matilda argue for equality for all people. In the afternoon, Randy Phillips visited and reinforced many concepts we learned about Iroquois culture. He reinforced concepts regarding the roles of men and women, hunting, sports, and dress. We learned some words that are unique to his clan and about his role in preserving this culture in our area.

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Oneida City School District

January 2018

Willard Prior Elementary Willard Prior is Full STEAM Ahead! Mrs. Terrier and Mr. Clarke’s Third graders at Willard F. Prior Elementary have spent the last four months of school exploring STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) projects. These projects have been a terrific way to connect critical higher level thinking processes between school and home. Projects serve to promote inventive thinking skills that encourage and require students to plan, design and select materials for their creation. As they construct their creation, students are encouraged to test and improve their designs to the best of their ability. Project tasks are simple and require nothing more than items found around their home. Students can design and construct their project on their own or with assistance from family members. Guided questions are provided to families to help stimulate higher level thinking as they work together. So far this year, students have created: a shelter, a bridge and something that floats. Currently students are working at home to design and create a musical instrument. Mrs. Terrier’s 3rd grade class have taken extra steps by sharing their projects with classmates and parents on their classroom Instagram page. How cool is that?

Samantha shows off her Navy Ship

Ava created the Golden Gate Bridge

Meet the Author Day at Willard Prior On December 6th, we spent an exciting day with celebrated children’s author, James Howe. We loved hearing the behind the scenes scoop on Mr. Howe’s famous Bunnicula stories, and we were inspired by his message that writers observe and pay attention to the world around them…ideas are everywhere! It was also encouraging for our learners to hear that even for an author who has published more than ninety books, writing is not easy! The most memorable part of the visit was seeing the connection our students made with Mr. Howe, and how he took the time to listen to them and encourage them to be proud of exactly who they are! Thank you to our Willard Prior PTO who supported a full day visit from Mr. Howe. Willard Prior teachers are already big fans of Mr. Howe’s literature - and have been reading his books to countless classes for over 27 years! Needless to say, Mr. Howe’s visit was a great experience for everyone at Willard Prior! It is safe to say that he has more fans now than ever! 16

Oneida City School District

January 2018

Announcements Facebook We all have amazing stories to share; why not share them with everyone? In an effort to provide families, students, staff, and community members with one source of updated information, the Oneida City School District combined all school building Facebook accounts under one account. Individual building accounts stayed active until November 1, 2017. Building principals will continue to post as they have in the past under the @oneidacsd account. PTO Facebook pages will not be affected. Twitter will not be affected. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. We are One District • One Source, and Together, we are #OneidaStrong

Oneida CSD Foundation - Brick Garden In recognition that the children of our community are our most precious asset, the Oneida City School District Foundation is established as a not-for-profit organization formed to provide additional funding for student scholarships and teacher grants. The Foundation holds fundraising events, applies for grants, and solicits donations to enhance school programs beyond basic budget funding and provides additional monies for graduating seniors. Your Board of Trustees has created an Alumni Brick Garden on the site of Oneida High School. This important aspect of our fundraising effort will allow community members to have a visible memento or memorial included as this project continues to grow and evolve each year. With an engraved brick, you can pay tribute to a family member or friend, honor your graduating class or simply include your name among those who have supported their community. For more information please visit http://www.ocsdfoundation.org/garden.html

Food Backpack Program The Oneida City School District started a district-wide Food Backpack Program . This program is designed to meet the needs of hungry children at a time when other resources are not accessible, especially on weekends. The program provides bags filled with food that is child-friendly, shelf stable, and easily consumed. Bags are packed by school staff and discretely distributed to participating children on the last Friday of the month. Listed below are some suggestions for donation: Cereal, granola bars, oatmeal, fruit cups, peanut butter, jelly, canned vegetables (Peas, corn, green beans, etc.) pasta, jar sauce, macaroni and cheese are just a few ideas. Ideally, each bag consists of 2 breakfast items, three entrees, snacks, bread and shelf stable milk. With the generous support from local agencies, having food drives in school, and donations from building staff, we will be able to help many of our families to have enough food on the weekends. We have started this program slowly to make sure we have enough food to distribute to all the families in need. We are currently in the beginning stages! If you are interested in donating we will be collecting items at the District Office located at 565 Sayles Street Oneida, NY 13421. Thank you all so much for your support! #OneidaStrong 17

Oneida City School District

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Oneida City School District

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Please Donate Please consider donating your old smartphone to the Oneida City School District to support many technology initiatives. Why does The Oneida City School District want donated smartphones? Smartphones have become very powerful in recent years, and can now assist with many educational tasks. They are great for running educational apps!  The District would like to take used smartphones, wipe them clean with a factory reset, connect them to our wireless network, load educational apps, and make them available for teachers to use with their students.   What kinds of smartphones does the District want? We are glad to accept donations of any iOS or Android smartphone that is no more than four years old. Examples would include any iPhone, Motorola Droid, HTC EVO, Samsung Galaxy, LG Optimus, Sony Xperia, or any other of the many Android phones.   What should be donated with the smartphone? The wall charger used to charge the smartphone should be included along with the donated smartphone. No other accessories are required.   Will old data be removed from the donated smartphones? Yes, we will do a factory reset to wipe all previous data and settings from the smartphone so that it will be getting a fresh start. However, we encourage you to do the same for any smartphone you donate if you wish.   How will the donated smartphones get connectivity? The smartphones will no longer use cell phone connectivity, since they will no longer be part of any cell phone plan. We will connect the smartphones to our school’s wireless network for their connectivity needs. How will the donated smartphones be distributed? The smartphones will not be given directly to students. Teachers will then allow students to use them in class as needed for learning activities as it ties to the curriculum. Is the donation of a smartphone tax deductible? Yes, you may claim the donation of a smartphone to the school as a tax deduction. The School District does not set the value for the donation, but simply provides you with a letter indicating that the donation has been made and received. If you wish to receive a letter from the District for the tax deduction for your donation, you must include your name, address, and phone number along with the donated smartphone. The letter will be sent to you at a later time.   How should a smartphone be donated? Option 1: Give the smartphone to the District by: * Having your child give it to his/her teacher. * Dropping it off at the main office of your child’s school during business hours (hours vary depending on school). * Dropping it off at the District Administration Building weekdays between 7:30 and 4:30 p.m.   Option 2: Put the smartphone and wall charger (and any other accessories you are including) in a box or envelope. Mark “Oneida City School District Technology Department” on the outside. 20

Oneida City School District

January 2018

Staying Connected www.oneidacsd.org

facebook.com/oneidacsd

twitter.com/OneidaCSD

Oneida CSD - There’s an App for That! Oneida CSD now has an App that is both iOS and Android compatible. With this App you will be able to see the following information: District News, Newsletter, Events, PeachJar, Lunch Menu, Sports Schedules, DASA Form, Student Registration, Facebook, Twitter, Schooltool, Exchange, & WebHelpDesk. The app will also be able to run push notifications from our Emergency Broadcast System for lockdowns and snow days. Schooltool Student Portal and Parent Portal Schooltool Student Portal and Parent Portal provides access to the information stored in our Student Data Management System. A component of this system is a secure, web-based portal for accessing student’s grades, attendance and other important information. The District has long provided parents and legal guardians of students in grades 4-12 access to information in Schooltool through the Parent Portal as a way of encouraging participation in a child’s education and improving communication between students, parents/guardians, and District Staff. Now, students in grades 6-12 will have access to the same information with their own usernames and passwords. For more information please visit our website at www.oneidacsd.org and click on Staying Connected. PeachJar As part of our efforts to be more environmentally friendly, embrace innovative technology, and maintain fiscal responsibility, the Oneida City School District uses a digital flyer delivery through Peachjar, a free online service for schools. This “green” initiative will saves our schools tons of paper and reduces copy costs by thousands of dollars. School-approved digital flyers will be sent directly to parents and guardians who see them as visually engaging images right on their smartphone or computer screen. Additionally, all flyers will be posted to each school’s website. Peachjar also manages flyer distribution and works directly with outside organizations. To sign up for Peachjar visit www.peachjar.com and click on the ‘sign up’ button to register. Parents do not need to login to receive or view school eflyers. School memos can still be viewed on the district and school homepage by simply clicking on the Peachjar icon. The login is to manage e-mail delivery preferences. School Messenger Emergency Broadcast Systems The Oneida City School District uses the SchoolMessenger calling system to keep parents and staff members informed. SchoolMessenger is a trusted platform to communicate on a mass scale for any school emergencies, school-related cancellations, or non-emergency community engagement events. The system works by delivering a pre-recorded telephone message, text message, or e-mail to contacts specified by parents and staff members. Phone numbers for SchoolMessenger are collected during the enrollment process or by filling out the form found online at www.oneidacsd.org >Staying Connected > School Messenger. You can e-mail the form to Lori Cimpi at [email protected] or by faxing the form to 315-366-3485. Any time your phone number has changed, you are encouraged to contact the student registration office to update your child’s records. Lori Cimpi in student registration can be reached at 315-361-6072. 21

administration

Oneida City School District

Oneida High School 315-363-6901 Brian Gallagher, Principal Jennifer DePerno, Assistant Principal Stacey Tice, Assistant Principal/ Athletic Dir. Otto Shortell Middle School 315-363-1050 Todd Widrick, Principal Amada Larson, Assistant Principal Durhamville Elementary 315-363-8065 Margaret Visalli, Principal

January 2018

Willard Prior Elementary 315-363-2190 Moira Yardley, Principal District Office 315-363-2550 Mary-Margaret Zehr, Superintendent Tina Lane, Asst Sup. for Instruction James Rowley, Asst Sup. for Finance Genevieve Brauner, Admin for Technology and Special Programs

North Broad Elementary 315-363-3650 Eric Coriale, Principal

Student Registration 315-361-6072 Lori Cimpi

Seneca Street Elementary 315-363-3930 Molly Hagan, Principal

Transportation 315-363-5470 Mike Klenotiz

B O E

Mr. John Elberson, President Ms. Melinda Bowe, Vice President Mr. Robert Group Mr. Hank Leo Jr  Ms. Alicia Lippert Ms. Jennifer Parker Ms. Gail Whipple

www.oneidacsd.org facebook.com/oneidacsd twitter.com/OneidaCSD

#OneidaStrong

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