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Summer Food
Service Program
The Greater Johnstown
School District will offer a summer food service program
from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on weekdays between July
13 through August 7, 2009, at the Warren Street
Elementary School. Lunch will be provided at no charge
for all children 18 years and under. Refer to the
summer food service
rogram flier and the
July/August lunch menu for further details.
Summer Recreation
Johnstown
students can keep busy with a multitude of physical
activities during the months of July and August,
courtesy of the district's Summer Recreation program.
Check out the
2009 Summer Recreation schedule for information on
program days, times, locations and age levels.
Summer Band Program
Beginning July 15, the band and
color guard will host a summer program for students in
grades 7-12 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m. at
JHS. This program will culminate with Band Camp, to be
held August 17-19 and 24-26. For more information on
participating with the Sir Bills Marching Band and Color
Guard, please refer to this
Band Program flier.
Revote Scheduled
for Two Propositions on July 16
Residents
of the Greater Johnstown School District will go back to
the polls between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday, July
16, 2009, to revote on
a proposition for a one-year lease extension for the
transportation facility on Crescendoe Road, together
with a
proposition for a four-year lease extension on
three 66-passenger buses and one wheelchair bus,
both of which failed during the May 19 annual budget
vote and board election.
To read more about the propositions and the revote,
click here.
Residents of the City and Town of
Johnstown will vote at the Johnstown High School
Auditorium Lobby; residents of the Towns of Ephratah &
Palatine will vote at the Ephratah Fire House. You may
vote if you: are
at least 18 years old , are
a U.S. citizen,
have been a resident of the Greater Johnstown School
District for the past 30 days, and
are a registered voter.
Voter registration will be held at
the school business office between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on
Thursday, July 2, 2009. This registration is only for
residents who are not currently registered with the
County Board of Elections.
Budget Vote & Board Election Results
Residents of the Greater Johnstown School District
approved the $27,456,100 budget for the 2009-10 school
year by a vote of 407 in favor and 203 opposed on May
19, 2009. Due to a mathematical error in the tallying of
the votes, this was initially reported as 507 in favor
and 203 opposed. To learn more about the budget, please
refer to the
Budget
Newsletter,
Proposed 2009-2010 Budget Statement and the
budget glossary page.
Residents also approved the capital construction reserve
proposition by a vote of 383 in favor and 189 opposed.
However, two other propositions on the ballot were
defeated. A one year renewal of the lease for
transportation facilities at Cresendoe Road failed by a
vote of 293 opposed to 286 in favor. A four year
extension of leases for three 66-passenger buses and one
wheelchair bus failed by a vote of 295 opposed to 275 in
favor.
Elected to serve three year terms on the Board of
Education were Ronald Beck (423), James Levin (342) and
Evamarie Mraz (331). Candidates Patrick Javarone and
Robert Kosowicz garnered 317 and 283 votes,
respectively.
Acting
Principal Appointed at Knox Junior High
At the May 7 meeting of the Board
of Education, Mr. Michael Satterlee was appointed as
Acting Junior High School Principal, effective May 8,
2009 through June 30, 2009. During this time, he will
also continue to serve in his role as Director of
Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Extra-Curricular Activities. Mr. Satterlee looks forward
to providing the students with a smooth and rewarding
conclusion to the school year and, with regard to
managing the responsibilities of two positions at one
time, says “the welfare of the Knox community will be my
number one priority, with the responsibilities of my
present position priority one A.” Superintendent
Katherine Sullivan asks the Knox community to welcome
Mr. Satterlee and has expressed her confidence in the
ability of everyone district-wide to be helpful and
supportive during the transition period. As always, Knox
parents, students and staff should feel free to contact
the Knox office with any concerns.
Information
about Swine Flu in New York State
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed several
cases of a strain of swine flu in New York City. To
date, no cases of swine flu have been identified
locally. While the CDC has declared a state of emergency
and the State of New York has entered a heightened
surveillance stage, this is only to better provide quick
access to resources should it become necessary. For more
information about swine flu and ways to limit exposure,
please visit the links below:
Change is in the Air,
Jansen Ave. to Close
As winter dissipates and spring
emerges, we all prepare for a new season in life.
Following months of study, the Board of Education voted
unanimously on March 26 to close the Jansen Avenue
Elementary School building at the end of the 2008-09
school year. And so we begin preparations for a new season
in the Johnstown school community.
Each year, our students say good-bye to one grade level
and move on to another. Our pre-kindergarteners say
good-bye to their classroom at Warren Street School and
move on to new classes and perhaps to new buildings; our
sixth graders say good-bye to their elementary building
and move on to Knox Junior High; our eighth graders say
good-bye to Knox and move on to Johnstown High School;
our seniors say good-bye to high school and move on to
college or to work. Almost every year, some member of
our staff says good-bye and moves on to retirement.
Change is an inevitable and ongoing part of life.
At the close of the 2008-09
school year, our Jansen students and staff will say
good-bye to their building and relocate to other schools
in the district. While it will bring a touch of sadness,
it also brings the opportunity for new adventure, with
new classroom space to set up, new hallways to traverse
and new friendships to be forged.
Over the next several weeks, the Board of Education and
school administrators will work to establish new
attendance boundaries in the district. While all of
Jansen’s population will find themselves in new
surroundings at the start of the 2009-10 school year,
some students from other buildings may be relocated as
well. For many children, change is exciting; it is a
chance to learn and grow. For some, change can bring a
touch of apprehension. Be sure to communicate with your
children and attempt to ease their minds. If you think
your child is having a problem accepting the idea of
change, please speak to his or her teacher.
We encourage all
students, parents, staff and community members to look
for positive ways to embrace this transition. If we come
together, share together and work together, we will
succeed together.
Restructuring: Educational Impact Statement Filed
The 15-member Citizens Advisory
Restructuring Committee, formed in accordance with
Education Law Section 402-a to investigate the impact of
closing a building in the Greater Johnstown School
District, filed its
Educational Impact Statement with the Board of
Education on March 6, 2009. The full report may be
viewed online by clicking the link provided above (note:
this is a large file which may take some time to
download). Photocopies are also available
at all school buildings in the district.
2009-10
School Year One Page Calendar
View
or download the one page
2009-10 School Calendar,
as adopted by the Board of Education on March 5, 2009
Universal
Pre-Kindergarten
The Greater Johnstown School District Universal Pre-kindergarten
program is accepting applications for the 2009-10 school year for
children who will be four years old on or before December 1, 2009 and
who reside in the district (when all sessions are full, we
maintain a waiting list for placement in the event of a
vacancy). The Universal Pre-kindergarten program
addresses instructional components, cognitive skills,
social and emotional development, and physical skills of
youngsters. The program does not require income
eligibility. For more information on the Johnstown
Universal Pre-kindergarten program or to receive an
application, contact Warren Street School’s main office
at 762-3715. You may also download a
2009-10 Pre-K
Application Packet.
Applications, together with
appropriate documents, must be returned to the GJSD Pre-kindergarten Office at Warren Street School.
2009 Fulton County Spelling Bee
The following Johnstown super spellers
participated in the
2009 Fulton
County Spelling Bee, presented by the Leader Herald, on
Monday, March 16 at the Gloversville Middle School
Auditorium:
Kevin Ammann - Knox seventh
grade; Elizabeth Anderson - Jansen fifth grade; Skylar
Anderson - Pleasant fourth grade; Hanna Breda - Pleasant
sixth grade; Casondra Davis - Warren sixth grade; Mia
Franko - Pleasant fifth grade; Allison Hanmer - Warren
fifth grade; Alex Hollister - Knox eighth grade; Danny
Jarabeck - Glebe fourth grade; Kelsey Johnson - Glebe
fifth grade; Jessica Manno - Jansen sixth grade; Cecelia
Mowrey - Jansen fourth grade; Christopher Renda - Glebe
sixth grade; and Mason VanDeusen - Warren fourth grade.
Sixth
Annual JHS Hall of Fame Ceremony Honors Three
Graduates
The sixth annual JHS Hall of Fame Ceremony took place on
Sunday, November 2, 2008 in the Johnstown High School
lecture hall. This year's event, which was open to
the public at no charge, began with a reception and
tours of the new auditorium, followed by a 5
p.m. ceremony recognizing the professional and civic
accomplishments of JHS graduates Dr. Robert J.
Valachovic (dec.), Class of 1942; Mr. Frank Shields,
Class of 1949; and Mr. Jon (J.D.) Aldrich, Class of
1967. To read more about the honorees and their
accomplishments,
click here.
If
you would like to nominate a Johnstown High School
graduate for consideration by the Hall of Fame Committee
for the 2009-2010 year, please download a
Hall of Fame Nominating
Form,
or contact the district clerk at 762-4611 to request
one.
JHS Grand Opening Celebration
October
28 marked a special day for the District, as the community
came out to get a glimpse of the completed renovations and
new additions at Johnstown High School. Standing in the
new showcase and display area at the front of the former
auditorium, Superintendent Katherine Sullivan wielded a
large pair of ceremonial scissors to slice through a gala
purple & gold bow before a gathering of onlookers, while
surrounded by current and former Board of Education
members, along with JHS Principal Michael Beatty, Facilities and
Operations Director E.J. Maye, Clerk of the Works Mike
Croneiser and representatives of both Bonacci Architects
and Bast-Hatfield Construction.
Click here to read more and see additional photos.
JHS Homecoming
Weekend - 5K Run/Walk Race Results
Many
thanks to all who volunteered their time to help with
the various JHS Purple & Gold Club Homecoming Weekend
festivities. We hope all who participated enjoyed the
events and will be back to join us again next year! As
part of the weekend celebration, our first 5K Run/Walk
Race (which we hope to make an annual tradition) took
place on Saturday, October 11. Please
click here to view final race results.
Jansen Avenue Elementary School Selected to Receive
National Honor
U.S. Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings
announced on September 9 that the Greater Johnstown School
District’s Jansen Avenue Elementary School has been named a 2008
No child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School. Only 320 schools
from 45 states are receiving the honor, which recognizes
public and private K-12 schools that either score in the
top 10 percent on state assessments, or make dramatic
gains in student performance on state assessments when at
least 40 percent of the students are from disadvantaged
backgrounds. Jansen Avenue has been selected as a school
in the top 10 percent of New York State with at least 40
percent of its students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Read More
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Marching Sir
Bills
Join Celebration of Johnstown's 250th Anniversary |
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The JHS "Sir Bills"
Marching Band helped to celebrate the City of
Johnstown's 250th Anniversary by performing in the
Anniversary Parade on September 13, 2008. The band
entertained hundreds of people along the parade
route with a medley of patriotic songs. |
Votes Tallied,
High School to Receive New Street Address
The addition of the new JHS auditorium and the elimination
of the thoroughfare between Wright Drive and Pearl Street
necessitates a change of street address for the high
school. At the suggestion of the Fulton County Sheriff’s
Department, the “circle” in front of the building is to be
given a name and used as the high school’s new street
address. The JHS Student Council chose a list of
approximately 10 names and, on Monday, September 22, all
high school students had an opportunity to vote for the
new name during homeroom. Following a tally of the votes,
the winner with 106 votes is.... "Sir Bills Circle." The
name was adopted by resolution of the Board of Education
on October 14 and, effective November 1, 2008, the
official address to be used for the high school will be 1
Sir Bills Circle, Johnstown, New York 12095.
Guidelines
for Spectators at Knox Field Athletic Events
Events at Knox Field are enjoyed by students, faculty
and members of our community. For reasons of safety, all
spectators are expected to adhere to the following
rules:
No
Bicycles on Knox property. You will be asked to leave.
No Skateboards. You will be asked to leave.
No Dogs. You will be asked to leave.
While watching athletic events all spectators must
remain to the right of the stairs to the lower level and
the field except to use the rest room in the field
house.
No one is to be on the playground at any time.
Please be respectful to the others that are watching the
game.
Horseplay on the hill will not be tolerated.
Thank
you for your understanding and cooperation.
Free/Reduced School Meal Application
Download a free/reduced school meal/milk
Application for the
08-09 school year, and/or a
Free and Reduced Price Meal Application
Fact Sheet.
Please fill out one form per family, listing all
children on one form, as well as what school they attend
and their grade level. Completed
applications should be returned to the attention of
School Food Service, 2 Wright Drive, Johnstown, NY
12095, or your child's school building. Please call
762-1875 if you have any questions.
2008-09
School Year One Page Calendar
View
or download the one page
2008-09 School Calendar
Get the Most Up-To-Date Johnstown Sports Schedules
For
the most up-to-date Johnstown sports schedules, visit
HighSchoolSports.net
and then simply select your sport, grade level and
gender. You can also view
Johnstown's current sports schedule.
Should you have any problems or need further information
in accessing the particular Johnstown sports schedule
you're looking for, please contact Patti St. Peter in
the Athletics Department at 762-7636.
New York
State Report Cards
Each spring, the New York State Department of Education
releases various statistics and information about NYS
school districts (e.g., enrollment figures;
annual results
on Regents examinations, Regents Competency Tests and ELA,
math and science state test results, etc.) from the
previous school year, to help to keep the public
informed about the performance of public schools. To
view current and past NYS school report cards for
Johnstown (or any other school district), please visit
www.nystart.gov/publicweb/
Local Government Financial Data Available Online
The New York State Comptroller's Office recently announced
that local government financial data is now available
through their
Open Book New York Web site.
The site contains revenue and spending data for
more than 3,100 counties, cities, towns, villages, schools
and fire districts from 1996 to 2006 and is intended to be
updated quarterly. The data is from local government
financial reports filed with the Division of Local
Government and School Accountability.
Taking
Precautions Against Antibiotic Resistant MSRA
Please take a
moment to read the attached
Letter from the Superintendent regarding precautions
everyone can take to reduce their possibility of contact
with Methicillin resistant Staphyloccoccus aureus (MRSA).
Safety First
We
should always remember to keep our children’s safety in
mind and to immediately report to the police department
any incident of a stranger approaching a child. Please
take a few moments to review these safety tips with your
children. (Read
more)
Practice Tests
Online at Local Libraries
The
Johnstown Public Library now has access to online databases
that help students practice for a variety of tests, such as
Firefighter and Real Estate exams, GED, SAT, ACT and GRE
exams, grammar and math skills, and much more. The database
is called Practice Tests from Learning Express Library,
which can be found by visiting Johnstown Public Library’s
public access catalog at
www.mvls.info. The practice tests can be found in
the “Databases” link under the “Education” section, off of
the homepage. The process is so simple — the sample tests
can be accessed by using your library card. If you only have
a short amount of time to take an online test, you can save
your work and revisit it later, what a great resource!
Greater Johnstown School District Helping Parents
Realize the Dangers of Blogging and Unsupervised Internet Use
In the past, children used to keep their deepest
thoughts and secrets in diaries under lock and key — times
have changed. Blogging has become extremely popular among
junior high and high school students — and even among
elementary children. Students may be posting pictures of
themselves and their friends, as well as their full names,
their cell phone numbers and even their addresses.
(Find out
more)
Annual
Notification of the availability of the district asbestos
management plan
The Greater Johnstown School District submitted in 1989, to
the New York State Education Department, the Greater Johnstown
School District’s Asbestos Management Plan. In accordance with
the EPA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1987 (40 CFR
Part 763), this memo is intended to fulfill annual
notification stating that the Asbestos Management plan for
this school building is available and kept on file at:
Director of Facilities & Operations Office. These records are
available for review during these times: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, please
contact the following persons: E.J. Maye, LEA Designee,
518-762-3212
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