WINTER 2010 Official School News of the Garrison Union Free School District

Dear Members of the Garrison Community,

Inside
District goals set. page 2 Betty Lou Clune retires. page 2 Share budget advice. page 3

As we begin the second semester of this school year, we are also looking ahead and planning for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. Our current eighth-grade students are completing their final year at the Garrison School and are now preparing to select the high school they will attend in the 2010-2011 school year and beyond. Committees of teachers and administrators are working to update the districts Professional Development Plan and Annual Professional Performance Review for the new school year. With the benefit of your input, the School Board has completed the annual update of its long-term Goals and Objectives and has set us on a path that will lay the foundation for the instructional programs for the 2010-2011 school year and beyond. To provide financial support for all of the above and more, we have been working to develop the School Budget for 2010-2011. These are extraordinary times that require us to start early to try to compensate for reductions in state aid, interest earnings and disappearing sources of grant moneys in order to find innovative ways to support valued instructional programs. The Board of Education will be holding a series of four Budget Advisory Workshops to enlist all Garrison community members, parents and teachers to provide input and advice before the 2010-2011 budget numbers are finalized. We encourage you to note the Budget Advisory Workshop dates listed in this newsletter and plan to attend one or all of these workshops to learn about the school budget and to let us hear what is important to you. Sincerely,

Gloria J. Colucci Superintendent of Schools

Art teacher Cynthia Forrests bright studio stays busy all year with students completing creative projects in a variety of media. The class used clippings from the wildlife garden to leave impressions of plant leaves on the sides of their clay pots. Meanwhile, seventh-graders have displayed outside the gym their animal prints made from linoleum reliefs. Firstgraders have supplemented their classroom lessons on penguins with a special crayon-and-watercolor drawing assignment. And fth-graders are busy completing the now sixyear tradition of constructing large wooden models of the sloop Clearwater using a kit designed by Ms. Forrest.

Currents

FAREWELL TO A VALUED COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND

Its hard to imagine the Garrison School without Betty Lou Clune, or her giant saltwater sh tank that has drawn so many curious children across her threshold. Hired by Dr. Carolyn Leary in 1988, Mrs. Clune went on to work over the next 22 years as Condential Secretary for seven more superintendentsDr. William French, Dr. Craig Onofry, Mrs. Marilyn Brannigan, Mr. Les Weintraub, Dr. Gary Loewenberg (interim), Dr. Ellen Bergman and, since January 2005, Mrs. Gloria Colucci. She has also served as school historian and as the Board of Educations District Clerk and Deputy District Clerk at times during her years at Garrison. I will miss the wonderful and caring staff and administration at the Garrison School as well as all the children who bring so much joy into my daily life, says Mrs. Clune. Many of the children stop by to see the sh in the saltwater tank in my ofce. This has given me an opportunity to get to know many of them. Having worked here for so many years, I feel a part of the Garrison community. I have developed many friendships in and out of the Garrison School community, and I will greatly miss everyone. Superintendent Colucci notes that Mrs. Clunes work has been characterized by her loyalty and dedication to the District and all who work at Garrison. The faculty and staff value her friendship and willingness to listen and advise when asked, she says. Whenever anyone had a question about what had occurred under the different Boards of Education or during prior administrations, Betty Lou always knew the answer or could nd a le that held the answers. Mrs. Clunes ofcial last day was January 28. Shes expected to stop by the school on occasion and to take some time to visit with family and friends in Florida. As we wish Mrs. Clune all the best in her retirement, Garrison also welcomes her replacement Elizabeth Murphy, who brings with her more than 10 years of experience in area schools. As for the sh tank? It will remain.

COLEEN CAVANAGH RECEIVES TENURE

The District is pleased to announce that Coleen Cavanagh has received tenure for her work as school Guidance Counselor. As Superintendent Gloria Colucci notes, Ms. Cavanagh received tenure in recognition of her professional commitment to the school and the children she serves. Ms. Cavanagh arrived at the Garrison School in 2006. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral studies from Manhattanville College and a Masters degree in school counseling from Mercy College. In May she will have completed all the requirements for permanent certication. In addition, she has nearly 10 years of experience as a preschool teacher. As the school Guidance Counselor, Ms. Cavanagh is responsible for a range of activities and programs geared to helping students succeed in and out of the classroom. She has launched a number of special community service projects and character education programs that have been both popular and successful with students. These include Mix It Up Week, No Name-Calling Week, Community Service Day and Middle School Orientation. Students in every grade level are currently taking part in Students for CAP, a county-wide food and toiletry drive to benet the Putnam County Action program. I really enjoy projects that include students, faculty and staff, she says. Its important to establish involvement at all levels. It provides a sense of community. As a small school, we have this luxury, one that is so vital to students academic, social and emotional development. sity and historical signicance to the fullest extent possible for the benet of students, families and the community at large. Ongoing comments are always welcome. You can view the full list of goals and post your thoughts on the Board Goals Blog at www.gufs.org/blogs/goals or send your comments by email to goals@gufs.org.

Betty Lou Clune

District Goals Set

After gathering feedback at four public workshops and through an online blog, the School Board has approved its new long-term District goals. The goals serve as a three-

year "rolling" set of guidelines for the superintendent and the principal as they prioritize their own objectives and those of the faculty and staff. A nal version of the goals is expected to be approved at the February 23 Board meeting. In summary, the Board seeks to leverage the schools small size and great natural beauty, environmental diver-

WINTER 2010

From the Board Presidents Blog: Celebrating a Decade

Its a new year and a new decade, and the last 10 years have been a period of progress and growth for the Garrison Union Free School District. The accomplishments that come to mind are: the appointment of both a superintendent and a principal; the hiring of two terrific superintendents (and a terrific interim)the most important job that a Board has; the opening of the new wing and gym in 2002; the landscaping of the school and ball field, helped immeasurably by the Garrison Childrens Education Fund; the innovative uses by our faculty of the improved learning spaces indoors and out; the impressive performances of our athletic teams and the institution of an annual sports banquet;

a strong and proactive PTA; good relations with our two receiving high schools; the clearing of the South Redoubt and the expanding use of the School Forest by students and faculty; great accomplishments in art and music; an ever-expanding drama program, representing a model of cooperation among parents, teachers and students; an innovative foreign language program, teaching Spanish to our younger grades; improvements in educational technology, including interactive whiteboards for all classrooms; a website and email; a community newsletter; a student newsblog and many other stimulating middle-school electives; eight graduations in the new gym; three teacher contract negotiations; 10 years of successfully passing budgets, with help from community participation in many forms; my personal favorite, the 100th Anniversary Celebration, which saw so many loyal alums return and was the result of many peoples efforts; and, over my 8 1/2 years on the Board, a very impressive group of School Board members. Anita Prentice, Jan. 1, www.gufs.org/blogs/aprentice.

New Community Budget Advisory Workshops Open to All

The Garrison Union Free School District Board of Education will hold a series of four spring Budget Advisory Workshops. Three will be held on the Wednesday evenings of February 24, March 10 and March 24. The fourth workshop will be included as part of the PTAs meeting scheduled for March 8 at 9:15 a.m. in the library. Community members, parents and faculty are welcome to attend one, some or all of the workshops. The establishment of the Budget Advisory Workshops is in response to a number of factors: the uncertain economic environment, the positive experience of the fall goal-setting workshops and feedback received from members of last years Budget Advisory Committee that the process needed revision in order to better highlight important issues. The purposes of the Budget Advisory Workshops are: to provide input and advice to the Board during the 2010-2011 budget formation process; to include as many community voices as possible as the 2010-2011 budget takes shape; and to present to workshop participants an ongoing picture of the evolving budget. In addition to these workshop dates, the Board will be discussing development of the budget at each meeting of the Board of Education during the months of February and March, culminating with the adoption of the budget at the April 7 Board meeting. The public is also invited to hear the Board's deliberations on the budget at these meetings.

STUDENTS SHARE EXPERIENCES

A seventh-grader has been helping second-grader with math as part of a new peer tutoring program launched by Middle School teacher Sevim Akhondzadeh (see photo). The elementary students love that they are interacting with the older students, notes Ms. Akhondzadeh, while at the same time they are building their condence in math.

Currents

Girls Soccer: Goals Met

The Lady Cougars ended their fall 2009 season with an impressive 6-2-1 record, finishing with three more wins than last year. Coach Bill Teti attributes the accomplishment to how well the girls worked together on and off the field. They helped each other out and were good sports about everything, he says. They were able to give and use feedback well. Congratulations!

Boys Soccer: Field Work

The Garrison boys modified soccer team walked off the field with one win, against Croton, this season. Despite a series of losses, Coach Peter Disch notes that the team had a great time. They didn't get down, he says. They had a lot of fun and tried really hard.

Currents
Garrison Union Free School District P.O. Box 193 1100 Route 9 D Garrison, NY 10524 Board of Education President Anita Prentice Vice President Eric Jacoby James Cannon Christine Foertsch Carol McCullough Raymond ORourke Diana Swinburne Superintendent Gloria Colucci 424-3663 424-4521 424-3064 424-6069 424-8272 424-3384 424-3670 424-3689 x 222

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? JOIN THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.

2/24, 7:00 p.m. 3/3, 7:30 p.m. 3/8, 9:15 a.m. 3/10, 7:00 p.m. 3/17, 7:30 p.m. 3/24, 7:00 p.m. 4/7, 7:30 p.m. Budget Advisory Workshop Regular Meeting/Budget Discussion PTA Budget Advisory Workshop Budget Advisory Workshop Special Meeting/Budget Discussion Budget Advisory Workshop Regular Meeting/Budget Adoption 4/27, 7:30 p.m. 5/5, 7:30 p.m. 5/18, 7:30 p.m. 5/19, 7:30 p.m. 6/2, 7:30 p.m. 6/16, 7:30 p.m. BOCES Budget Vote/Special Meeting Regular Meeting/Budget Hearing Annual Meeting/Budget Vote Special Meeting Regular Meeting Special Meeting

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Currents Editor: Charlotte Rowe Design: Jennifer Sandlund

LOCAL POSTAL PATRON GARRISON, NY 10524