 March 2010 Administrative News From the Superintendent |
Dear Parents and Community Members:
Congratulations to Cody Cleveland who is a
Section X Wrestling Champion in the 171 pound weight class. He
was also named Most Valuable Wrestler for Division I. Cody
wrestles on Canton High School's Team in a merger with Hermon-DeKalb.
The Board of Education is working on the budget for the 2010-2011 school year. The budget figures released by Governor Patterson indicate a substantial budget cut that will impact all schools. The first draft of the budget will be discussed at the March 1, 2010 Board meeting. Additional meetings will be held in March and April to finalize the budget. Meetings have been held with all staff to discuss the budget for the next year. All non essential purchases have been scrutinized. Grants will continue to be pursued, and purchases for the remainder of this year kept to a minimum. Through past prudent fiscal management, it is the hope of the Board that the tax rate can remain low while continuing to offer the current programs to the students and the community. Sportsmanship is a big part of the athletic programs. Fans, players, and coaches are an important part of sportsmanship. As we head into the spring sports season, please remember that we owe our teams respect and that we should all behave professionally. A monthly newsletter will be mailed to all addresses in Hermon and DeKalb as well as other school families in the Canton and Richville areas. If any of you that receive the newsletter and live outside of the Hermon and DeKalb zip codes (where we mail each newsletter individually) would like to receive the newsletter by e-mail, please call the main office and let us know. A bulk mailing permit is used for Hermon and DeKalb so all school residents in those zip codes receive the newsletter under that permit. Should any others wish to be included on this mailing list, please contact the main office at the school. This newsletter will always include the lunch menu and the sports and activities calendars for the school. Should you have community activities that you wish to see included, please contact the school by the middle of the month before the newsletter is distributed. There will be no school on Friday, March 19 for a Staff Development Day. A half day will be held on Friday, May 7 for Staff Development. Students will be dismissed at noon. Tuesday, March 23 has been designated a half day for Parent Conferences. These will be held both in the afternoon and evening. The schedule at the end of the school year may change for elementary students depending on the number of emergency days used during the school year. A reminder to all parents: At any time you may ask to review your children's records. Please contact the school to set up an appointment if you would like to do this. All of us at HDCS look forward to working with you this coming year. We strive to provide a positive experience for all students. Please feel free to contact the school at any time. If you would like to speak with a particular staff member, please call 347-3442 and the main office will arrange for you to speak with that person. Sincerely, Ann M. Adams |
 March 2010 Administrative News From the
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Dear Parents and Community Members: Dear Parents and Community Members: Students will not have school on March 19 as it is a full staff development day for teachers. Students will be dismissed at 12:00 PM on March 23 for parent-teacher conferences. This is the time of year when it is important for parents to take the opportunity to visit the teacher as there may be academic, emotional or behavioral problems that need to be addressed before your child reaches the end of the school year. Mark your calendar for the Spring Book Fair during March 22 – March 25. This is a great time to buy books for your child to enhance and instill a love of reading. It is also a great fundraiser for our school. Research has shown that successful parent involvement helps to improve student behavior, attendance and achievement. Parent involvement can take many forms, from reading to and with your child, helping with homework, discussing school events and attending school functions. After many, many years of not having an organized parent group, Hermon-DeKalb Central School now has a PTA. Kristen Sanderson is the President and the person who spearheaded this endeavor. I would like to congratulate her as well as the parents, grandparents and community members who attended the meeting to get this organization under way. If anyone is interested in becoming a member, please contact Kristen. This organization has many ideas and needs volunteers to help with the events. Joining the PTA can be a great way to get involved in your child’s education and provides an opportunity for you to meet other parents and community members. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.Sincerely, Debbie Brice |
 March 2010 Administrative News From the Principal
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Dear Parents and Community Members:
One of the best things about being
principal is getting the chance to know all the students in
our school. While some of our meetings are due to discipline
matters, others are more of a social interaction. When
talking with my students, both elementary and secondary, I
will often ask them about their interests outside of school.
Their most popular hobbies seem to be playing video games,
online gaming, chatting and texting. Most students admit to
2-3 hours per night on either gaming or the computer.
However, some students are putting in 6-8 hours every night
and double that on weekends. This far exceeds the time we
hope they would spend on schoolwork. This extended play
becomes quickly apparent during first period when some
students are clearly exhausted.
Statistics show that video game sales have eclipsed Hollywood box office revenues and the sales of music CDs or downloads. The industry produces more than 1,500 new game titles each year. Video games have changed dramatically over the past decades. If you grew up in the 1980’s they were likely part of your childhood. Most of these games had innocent themes. Most parents are familiar with the debates over the pros and cons of video games. Supporters claim video games increase visual acuity and improve problem-solving skills. Those opposed to video games say that children have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality. They also argue that the overuse of video games contributes to childhood obesity and keeps children from important responsibilities such as homework or helping with chores around the house. Being aware of the nature and availability of today’s video games is important for parents in supporting the safety and well being of their children. Here are some tips that can limit your child’s exposure to inappropriate games: Online chatting with instant messenger and other social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace) are also extremely popular among students in grades 3-12. Yes I did say grade 3! This can be a good way for kids to socialize, but it can also lead to online bullying, threats, and in some cases, safety issues. When students enter chat rooms, or post vital information online they don’t know for sure who they are really chatting with or attracting. We have all heard through the media about predators who disguise themselves in chat rooms as just another teenager. It’s important to remind your children about the dangers of forming a relationship online with someone they don’t really know. Again, parents should be aware of what their children are doing on the computer as well as the posting of information for all to see. Parents can keep children safe and happy by vigilant supervision of both video games and online activity. Sincerely, Mark White |