Summer 2015 A community where learners excel!Newsletter

Board of Education: Tom Wiser-President; Spyros Dimatos-Vice President, Amy O’Brien, Ken Starr, Mary Collins Superintendent of Schools- Lloyd “Joe” Peck, Ed.D.

ValedictorianSeamus Houlihan

Seamus Houlihan was a member of the varsity cross country and tennis teams, Envirothon and Science Olympiad teams, president of student council, co-president of the CF chapter

of the National Honor Society, and a member of drama club, marching, concert and jazz bands and mural club. Houlihan also performs with the Norwich City Band and volunteers as an aide for the Chenango Ambulance Service and CF Dollars for Scholars.

Houlihan will attend Yale University in the fall to study medicine.

SalutatorianMelissa Boeker

Melissa Boeker was a member of the Science Olympiad and Envirothon teams, marching and concert bands and mural club, vice-president of the sign language club, secretary of the CF chapter of the National

Honor Society and manager of the cross-country team. Boeker volunteered as a tutor in math and science, at her church, and at Lourdes Hospital.

Boeker will attend Binghamton University in the fall to study nursing.

7. Jack Sherwood

6. Natalie Valla

4. Sydney Slottje

5. Carley Church

8. Blaine Russ

9. Marta Boot 10. Jonathan Thrall

3. Hailey Brace

CF Sends Five to Armed Forces

Pictured (l-r): Bronx Gibson (Army) Zachariah Jeavons (Marine Corps), Jonah Sterling (Air Force), Tyler Denny (Marine Corps) and Sara Clarke (Army).

Summer 20152 GraduationGraduate Future Plans Scholarships and Awards

Emily Abdallah Ithaca College CF Dollars for ScholarsDaniel Ames Binghamton University Binghamton Univ. Donors Scholarship, Charlotte Kenyon Memorial Award

Aubrey Bennett Work force Broome-Tioga BOCES School-to-Careers Outstanding Student AwardMelissa Boeker Binghamton University CF Administration Award Scholarship, CF Salutatorian Medal, Daughters

of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award, Dr. John R. Grasso, D.D.S. Memorial Scholarship, Joseph P. Mangan Post 1194 American

Legion Award, Junior League of Binghamton Mariana Schnieder Maloy Volunteerism and Leadership Scholarship, NYS Scholarship for Academic

Excellence, Professional Nurses Association of South Central NY, Inc. Scholarship, Robert Cushing Memorial Award, Stu Naismith Peacemaker

AwardMarta Boot Binghamton University CF Dollars for Scholars, Dr. Robert Smith Memorial Foundation

Scholarship, Frank G. Paul Medal of Excellence in Math and Science Award, Jesse Baker Scholarship, The Alliance with the Broome County

Medical Society Health Career AwardHailey Brace Cornell University Broome County Municipal Clerks Association/Margaret Lamoree

Scholarship, Broome-Tioga BOCES School-to-Careers Outstanding Student Award, Chenango County 4-H Leader’s Association Scholarship,

CF Dollars for Scholars, Dr. Robert Smith Memorial Foundation Scholarship, Ed Warner Memorial Scholarship, Hillcrest Rotary

Scholarship, Jesse Baker Scholarship, National Merit Commended Student, NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence

Ryan Bronson Ithaca College CF Community Association Scholarship, Ed Warner Memorial Scholarship, James & Thelma Barrett Memorial Scholarship, Joe Aston

Memorial ScholarshipMichael Bubniak Clarkson University CF Band Boosters Volunteer Service Award, Kattelville Athletic

Association AwardMark Burrows Work forceCarley Church Rochester Institute of

TechnologyCF Band Boosters Volunteer Service Award, CF Dollars for Scholars, CF PTA Scholarship, Daughters of the American Revolution Bronze

American History Award, Hillcrest Rotary Scholarship, NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence

Sara Clark Army Reserves Kelly’s Hope Memorial Scholarship, US Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award, US Marines Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence

Benjamin Conklin SUNY BroomeHannah Conrad SUNY Broome Dr. John R. Grasso, D.D.S. Memorial Rank Scholarship, Ed Warner

Memorial Scholarship, US Air Force Technology AwardChristopher Cron

Brooke Crowningsheild SUNY BroomeDanielle Darling SUNY Broome US Air Force Scholar/Athlete Award

Tyler Denny Marine CorpsAllison Dibble SUNY Broome CF Dollars for Scholars, Prinicpal’s AwardRiki Donahue SUNY Broome

Zachery Ducharme SUNY BroomeJames Dyer SUNY Broome

Brianna Felton SUNY Broome Broome-Tioga BOCES President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, CSEA Local Scholarship, The Peter Scholarship

Madison Fiore St. John Fisher College St. John Fischer Founders Scholarship

3Summer 2015 GraduationGraduate Future Plans Scholarships and Awards

Alexander Freije Finger Lakes Community College

I.B.E.W. Local 325 Joint Trust Fund Scholarship

Derek Galla SUNY Broome Greater Binghamton Scholastic Challenge ScholarshipDarrian Gardiner Work forceMichael George SUNY Broome CF Dollars for Scholars, Dr. Robert Smith Memorial Foundation

Scholarship, Ed Warner Memorial ScholarshipBronx Gibson Army McKenna Gill Dean College John DeBella Memorial Scholarship, CF Dollars for Scholars, CF PTA

Scholarship, Dance Connection Scholarship, Dean College Athletic Award, Dean College Performing Arts Scholarship, Democratic Women of Broome County Scholarship, Joseph P. Mangan Post 1194 American Legion Award,

Joseph P. Mangan Post 1194 American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Award, National School Choral Award, US Marines Distinguished Athlete Award

Gunnar Giordani SUNY Broome Maine Kiwanis/Southern Tier Technology Education Scholarship AwardCaleb Gould SUNY Oswego CF Dollars for Scholars, James & Thelma Barrett Memorial Scholarship,

Ken Spenard Memorial Scholarship, US Air Force Scholar/Athlete AwardJohn Hardy SUNY Broome

Kyle Harrington Work forceAndrew Hawkins Hudson Valley Community

CollegeMia Hayes SUNY Cortland Kattelville Athletic Association Award, Senator Thomas W. Libous Student

Community Service AwardKara Heath SUNY Broome

Devin Hopkins Alfred State Broome-Tioga BOCES Outstanding Student Award, Broome-Tioga BOCES President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, CF

Dollars for Scholars, Cross Connection Control Foundation of the Niagara Frontier, Inc. Annual Scholarship, Dr. Robert Smith Memorial Foundation Scholarship, Jesse Baker Scholarship, Matthew Ellis Memorial Scholarship

Seamus Houlihan Yale University CF Administration Award for Scholarship, CF Band Boosters Volunteer Service Award, CF Valedictorian Medal, CF Dollars for Scholars,

Daughters of the American Revolution Silver American History Award, Dr. Robert Smith Memorial Foundation Scholarship, Hill-n-Dale Garden Club Scholarship, John Philip Sousa National Band Award, National Merit

Scholarship, Student Council Leadership ScholarshipJacob Hunink Lipscomb University Lipsomb Univ. Presidential Scholarship, Study Abroad Lipsomb Univ.

Scholarship, US Air Force Technology AwardNicholas Hurd Rochester Institute of

TechnologyCF After Prom Party Scholarship, CF Band Boosters Volunteer Service

Award, CF Dollars for Scholars, John DeBella Memorial Scholarship, RIT Computing Scholarship Award

Tyler Hurlburt Trade schoolZachariah Jeavons Marine CorpsSamantha Johnson LeMoyne College LeMoyne Leadership Scholarship, State of New York Office of Attorney

General Triple “C” AwardCaleb Kellicutt Rochester Institute of

TechnologyCF Dollars for Scholars, Frank G. Paul Medal of Excellence in Math and

Science Award, RIT Presidential Scholarship, US Air Force Math and Science Award

Amber Kelly SUNY Broome

Summer 20154 GraduationGraduate Future Plans Scholarships and Awards

Damen Kingsley Work force State of New York Office of Attorney General Triple “C” Award, Broome-Tioga BOCES Outstanding Student Award, Broome-Tioga BOCES

President’s Award for Outstanding Academic ExcellenceJacob Klein SUNY Broome

Virginia Korec Buffalo State CF Dollars for Scholars, Jesse Baker ScholarshipGarrett Krisko University of New England CF Dollars for Scholars, Jim Roma, Sr. Memorial CYO Scholarship,

University of New England Merit ScholarshipDestani Kuzma Air Force Broome-Tioga BOCES Community Service Award

Coral Lake Clinton Community College/SUNY Plattsburgh

Owen Latour ArmyGerman Lavrinovich Binghamton University Jesse Baker Scholarship

Hunter Luybli Penn State UniversityVictoria Markham SUNY Broome

Katelyn Matson SUNY Broome Charlotte Kenyon Memorial AwardLu’Shanna McCray SUNY Broome Jack Sherman Toyota Scholarship

Jake Meade SUNY BroomeVanessa Mirch SUNY Broome Kattelville Athletic Association AwardKaitlyn Morris Cornell Univeristy

John Moses SUNY Morrisville Broome-Tioga BOCES President’s Award for Outstanding Academic ExcellenceSeron Mullings

Elma Muric SUNY Broome Broome-Tioga BOCES Long Term Care Administrators Award, Broome-Tioga BOCES Outstanding Student Award

Artur Nikolayev SUNY BroomeZachary Norton SUNY BroomeAudrey Orzelek SUNY Broome CF Dollars for Scholars, CF Good Sportsmanship Award, George H.

Laufenberg Scholarship, India Pinney Memorial ScholarshipJames Pattwell SUNY Broome CF Dollars for Scholars, CF Good Sportsmanship Award, Ed Warner

Memorial Scholarship, Jesse Baker ScholarshipTreynor Peterson University at Buffalo

Isaac Pixley Houghton College CF Dollars for Scholars, NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s Achievement Award, CF Band Boosters Volunteer Service Award

Miranda Raeder SUNY BroomeChad Raychel Clarkson University CF Dollars for Scholars, US Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete AwardJarred Riegel Work force Broome-Tioga BOCES President’s Award for Outstanding Academic

ExcellenceChristopher Roberts Binghamton University CF After Prom Party Scholarship, CF Dollars for Scholars, Clayton and

Martha Howard Scholarship/Northminister Presbyterian Church, EPAC Devin Spears Memorial Scholarship, Hillcrest Rotary Scholarship, Joseph

P. Mangan Post 1194 American Legion Award, National School Choral Award, US Marines Distinguished Athlete Award

Taylor Robinson SUNY BroomeDillon Rohman SUNY BroomeIsaiah Roman SUNY Broome

Carl Rouse Hudson Valley Community College

5Summer 2015 GraduationGraduate Future Plans Scholarships and Awards

Mason Rowe SUNY Broome Bob Place Memorial ScholarshipBlaine Russ Binghamton Univeristy Patrick Blair Memorial Award, Ryan A. Carr Memorial Scholarship, US Air

Force Math and Science AwardAntone Samson SUNY Delhi Broome-Tioga BOCES Community Service Award, Broome-Tioga BOCES

President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, Matthew Ellis Memorial Scholarship

Tamara Shear SUNY BroomeJack Sherwood Hobart & William Smith

CollegesCF Dollars for Scholars, Ed Warner Memorial Scholarship, Hobart &

William Smith Faculty Scholarship, Kattelville Athletic Association Award, US Marines Scholastic Excellence Award

Sydney Slottje Cornell University CF Dollars for Scholars, Hatala Orthodontics, P.C. Scholarship Award, NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence, Broome-Tioga BOCES

Community Service AwardAbigail Smith SUNY Broome

Danté Sosa Work forceDrake Stanton Work forceJonah Sterling Air Force

Robert Story, Jr. SUNY BroomeAlexander Stout-Moran SUNY Broome CF Dollars for Scholars

Matthew Swagler SUNY BroomeMelissa Sweet SUNY Broome Bob Place Memorial ScholarshipTaylor Thomas SUNY Broome CF Dollars for Scholars, Jesse Baker Scholarship, SUNY Broome

Presidential Honors ScholarshipJonathan Thrall Hobart & William Smith

CollegesCF Dollars for Scholars, Christopher Reardon Memorial Scholarship,

Hobart & William Smith Faculty ScholarshipLucas Tiberi SUNY Broome Student Council Leadership Scholarship

Ethan Timms SUNY Fredonia CF Dollars for ScholarsVictoria Transue Finger Lakes School of

MassageCF Community Association Scholarship, Kelly’s Hope Memorial

ScholarshipDouglas Vail Work forceNatalie Valla University of New Haven Cady Family Music Scholarship, CF Dollars for Scholars, Dorothy

Benjamin in Pursuit of Education Scholarship, Dr. Robert Smith Memorial Foundation Scholarship Margaret Knox Award, PEF Scholarship,

University of New Haven Honors Scholarship, University of New Haven Presidential Merit Scholarship, Binghamton Rotary Club Scholarship

Kendra Vest SUNY Delhi Broome-Tioga BOCES President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence

Kelcey Watson SUNY DelhiMaryanna Wells SUNY BroomeKirsten Whistle Wells College Cady Family Music Scholarship, Community Service Award, Henry Wells

ScholarshipBreana White SUNY Broome Charles Sabine Memorial Award

Kayla Williams BOCES Adult Education CF Spirit of Determination Award, Kelly’s Hope Memorial ScholarshipMackenzie Wilson BOCES Adult Education Broome-Tioga BOCES Adult Education Scholarship, Broome-Tioga

BOCES President’s Award for Outstanding Academic ExcellenceBrandon Woolston SUNY BroomeColleen Yatsonsky SUNY Broome CF Dollars for Scholars

Summer 20156 High School

Pictured (l-r): BOCES District Superintendent Allen Buyck, WBNG-TV News Director Candace Chapman, Mia Hayes, Emmanuel Priest, director of public affairs for state Sen. Thomas W. Libous.

Houlihan, Boeker Honored at Annual Scholastic Recognition EventChenango Forks Class of 2015 valedictorian Seamus Houlihan and salutatorian Melissa Boeker were recognized at the 24th-annual Broome-Tioga Scholastic Recognition Dinner, sponsored by the Broome-Tioga Association of Chief School Administrators, JP Morgan Chase, Bearsch, Compeau and Knudson Architects and Engineers PC and Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP.

The event, conducted at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Binghamton, honored the valedictorian and salutatorian from schools across the Broome-Tioga BOCES region with an award designed by William Mihalko, a former Harpursville School District teacher. The award has three clear tablets mounted in a black acrylic base. The lamp of learning is engraved on the center tablet, and the side tablets have a carousel to represent Broome County on one and a steam engine for Tioga County on the other.

This year’s guest speaker was Dr. Harvey Stenger, president of Binghamton University.

Pictured (l-r): Seamus Houlihan and Melissa Boeker. Photo courtesy of Ken Starr.

Hayes Recognized for Community ServiceMia Hayes was recently named a recipient of the Student Community Service Award, a scholarship program sponsored by state Senator Thomas W. Libous, Broome-Tioga BOCES, and WBNG-TV.

Hayes, along with award winners from school districts throughout Sen. Libous’ 52nd Senate District, received their awards at a reception on April 30. The award includes a $1,000 scholarship toward tuition costs at any college in New York state.

Hayes was selected for her volunteer work at the Winter and Summer Special Olympics, Roberson Museum, St. Francis of Assisi and helping in the classrooms in the elementary school.

Hayes will attend SUNY Cortland to study education in the fall.

Brace Receives Outstanding Student AwardSenior Hailey Brace is this year’s Chenango Forks recipient of the School-to-Careers Partnership Outstanding Student award. A student is chosen from each Broome-Tioga BOCES school district for their achievements in career-related programs and planning, community service and good citizenship.

Each student received a glass apple created by Vitrix Hot Glass, certificates from local elected officials and a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.

The School-to-Careers Partnership provides opportunities for students to explore potential careers through apprenticeships with local companies in order to better prepare themselves for employment.

7Summer 2015 High SchoolBusiness Students Create, Compete in Annual ExpoMore than 20 CF high school students participated in the 5th annual Greater Binghamton Scholastic Challenge sponsored by Modern Marketing Concepts.

The event encourages high school students to come up with new ideas or products, create a presentation and pitch the idea to a panel of local business leaders. Students started working on their projects last fall.

The CF group, comprised of Nicholas Markham, Cordell DePersiis, Matthew Martinchio, Jack Abbey and Caleb Gould, created a new funnel that would make transferring high volumes of mechanical fluids quicker and easier. They were approached by a few local business leaders who encouraged the team to continue pursuing the idea.

Pictured (l-r): Nicholas Markham, Cordell DePersiis, Matthew Martinichio, Jack Abbey and Caleb Gould. Photo courtesty of Kathleen Quaranta

CF, CV Seniors Swap Schools for Senior PrankChenango Forks and Chenango Valley seniors worked together to pull off this year’s senior prank. The senior classes switched schools for homeroom and first period.

The prank took quite a bit of planning to pull off. Not only did the senior classes from each district need to be involved, but administrators at both districts had to approve the switch. Buses were provided for students who needed them. Logistically speaking, students needed to know where to go in an unfamiliar campus, so each participating senior was told which room to go to upon arrival.

Teachers at Chenango Forks were quite surprised to see a classroom full of unfamiliar faces.

CF seniors created T-shirts for the School Swap day.

Houlihan Named Recipient of National Merit Scholarship

Class of 2015 valedictorian Seamus Houlihan recently was selected as a winner of a National Merit Scholarship.

To be considered for the scholarship, a student must take the PSAT/NMSQT no later than their third year of high school, plan on enrolling in a full-time college program the fall following graduation and be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident or is in the process of applying for residency.

Students are selected by their PSAT/NMSQT scores and roughly 15,000 students nation-wide are given finalist status. From the finalist group, approximately 7,600 Merit Scholarship winners are chosen based on an evaluation of the student’s test scores, activities, leadership roles, a high school official’s letter of recommendation and an essay submitted by the student.

The scholarship is a one-time award of $2,500.

Summer 20158 High SchoolEnvirothon Club Competes in Regional Event The high school Envirothon Club sent three teams to the annual Southern Tier Regional Envirothon Competition sponsored by the Broome County Soil and Water Conservation District in early spring.

The Kenophobic Kiwis team, consisting of Sydney Slottje, Melissa Boeker, Carley Church, Natalie Valla and Seamus Houlihan won 2nd place in the event.

The teams were tested in areas such as soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife and current issue.

Class Project Benefits Wounded Military VeteransMore than 40 students, faculty and community members joined together at the CF track for the Wounded Warrior Walkathon to kick off Memorial Day weekend.

The walkathon began as a combination of a participation in government project for Zack Jeavons and Gunner Giordani and an idea to do a walkathon event from Elliot McRoberts and Roy Dando. The two groups put their ideas together and started planning the event.

The students first had to seek approval through student council and the school to host the event on the high school track. They also spoke with the track team, posted flyers and started a social media campaign through Twitter to publicize the event.

Supporting the Wounded Warrior Project was a given for the three students. “I know a lot of folks who were wounded in combat in various ways and I wanted to support them,” said Jeavons, who will be enlisting in the Marine Corps after graduation. McRoberts plans to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. after graduation, and Giordani is attending Broome Community College next fall to student criminal justice.

The event raised $805 for the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity and veterans service organization that provides programs, services and events for post-September 11 military veterans. Pictured (l-r): Gunner Giordani and Zack Jeavons

Pictured (l-r): Sydney Slottje, Carley Church, Melissa Boeker, Seamus Houlihan and Natalie Valla

Annual Swamp Planting Educates New Generation of StudentsAdvanced placement biology students returned to Casey Swamp this spring to complete a planting project they started in the fall with the Baltimore Aquarium. Students planted marsh marigold, cardinal flower, blue iris and sweet flag in a wet frame pond in the fall and transplanted them to the swamp with the help of Baltimore Aquarium employees.

The aquatic plants help filter the water before it flows into the Susquehanna River and eventually to the Baltimore Watershed before heading to the Atlantic Ocean. The class gained an understanding of watersheds and the importance of preserving wetlands.

Elliot McRoberts

9Summer 2015 Middle SchoolScience Night Gives Preview for Middle School StudentsMiddle school students got a sneak peek at available science classes in the high school during the Middle School Science Night in mid-May. The event included a variety of activities, experiments and demonstrations involving biology, chemistry, earth science and physics as a way to encourage excitement for high school science classes.

The activities were run by the high school science students. The majority of students who attended the event were 7th-graders who received extra credit for participating in the event.

Pictured front (l-r): Hannah Benscoter and Gabrielle Panko. Back (l-r): Julie Sbarra, Abigail Pixley, Olivia Root and Ashley Clarner.

MASH Camp Provides Hands-On Health OpportunitiesSix Chenango Forks Middle School students represented our school at MASH (Medical Academy of Science & Health) Camp this summer. MASH Camp provides students an inside look at the job responsibilities of health professionals by participating in relevant activities.

While attending MASH Camp, students learn about a variety of health professions and the educational requirements, skills, typical job duties, and personal qualities of specific health professionals and paraprofessionals.

Students also participate in interactive, hands-on activities that highlight the skills, equipment, technology, and resources used by health professionals while increasing awareness and understanding of the hospital setting and structure.

Students who participate in MASH Camp enjoy two to four days of fun and interaction at a local hospital.

Congratulations to Hannah Benscoter, Ashley Clarner, Gabrielle Panko, Abigail Pixley, Olivia Root and Julie Sbarra.

MASH Camp is offered every summer at local hospitals for students in 7th- and 8th-grade.

Article and photo submitted by Jane Warren, middle school guidance counselor

Pictured (l-r): Emily Andrus, Colette O’Donnell and Jacque Thrall. Photo courtesy of Colette O’Donnell, high school chemistry teacher

Middle School Welcomes New Principal

The middle school will be under new direction in the 2015-16 school year.

Michael Pavlovich recently took over as the middle school building principal when former middle school principal Lori Pourby was promoted to Director of Curriculum.

Pavlovich has been a middle school/high school science teacher at Cherry Valley-Springfield and Susquehanna Valley school districts.

For the last four years, he was the assistant high school principal for Maine-Endwell Central School District.

Pavlovich holds a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary earth science from SUNY Oneonta and a Master of Arts in geology from SUNY Binghamton. He also received a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from SUNY Cortland.

You can reach Mr. Pavlovich at pavolvichm@cforks.org.

Summer 201510 ElementaryHulbert Receives Library Award

Chenango Forks Elementary 3-5 Principal Lorrie Hulbert recently received the Southern Tier School Library Association Administrator of the Year Award. Southern Tier School Administrators and School Librarians gathered at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Binghamton to listen to Rutgers Professor Dr. Marc Aron speak about school librarians as key teachers in the Common

Core world. Nominated by Patricia Sweeney, CFE teacher librarian, Hulbert was selected for the award for her support of the school library as a center of learning in the elementary school.

Kindergarteners Discover Contents of Compost Cornell Cooperative Extension led an expedition for the kindergarten classes to hunt for the creepy, crawling life-forms that help create compost.

The classes listened to a short story about what compost is made out of and how it is made. The CCE representative also quizzed the students on what could and could not be put in a compost bin. A few of the kindergarteners already knew what compost was and how to make it from home.

After the story, students were each given a small pile of finished compost to look through and find creatures that help break down compost materials and turn it into rich soil. The class found worms, false scorpions, mites, beetles, centipedes and a variety of other small insects almost too small to be seen by the naked eye.

Celebrating Cinco de MayoThe end of the school year is typically full of parties, picnics and other fun events as students say farewell to class and hello to summer. The 5th-grade classes found a way to make the parties fun and educational by learning about Mexican culture and celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Students created Mexican-themed artwork to hang in the cafeteria that included mandalas, paper lanterns, and posters depicting Mexican cultural, architectural, geographical and agricultural images. Hudson Ballard

Chemistry Show Humors, EducatesTeaching chemistry basics to elementary students is an important beginning to STEM education. To help make the lesson fun, students were treated to the interactive chemistry show "Burble, Fizz, KaBoom!"

"Burble, Fizz, KaBoom!" is performed by Rand Whipple, assemblies performer for Box of Light, that focuses on the basics of chemistry with humor and fun mixed in. Students learned about solids, liquids, gasses, solutions, reactions and phase changes while performing fun experiments such as “liquid lasagna,” creating plastic and deflating a balloon with liquid nitrogen.

Whipple also teaches students how molecules react to various environments by having them “act out” what happens to molecules when they are in solid, liquid, or gaseous states.

Pictured (l-r): Elena Brink, Aubrey Smith and Deminica Richards-

Pictured (l-r): Angie Talbot and Rand Whipple

11Summer 2015 ElementaryCountry Fair Provides Summer Send-off The annual CFE Country Fair was a perfect way to end the 2014-15 school year. Students in third through fifth grade enjoyed an afternoon of games, food, hay rides, and fun. This year, 35 local families ran booths for the event.

The highlights of the event included the Chenango Bridge Fire truck spraying water for students to play in, dunking Bernie McDermott and Caroline Waddell in the dunking booth, music by Johnny Only and the pie eating contest won by 5th-grader Bennett Howell.

The Section IV Champion girls lacrosse team paid a visit to sign autographs and pose for photos with students.

CFE would like to thank the Chenango Bridge Fire Company, the PTA (for popcorn and prize donations), Johnny Only, Kevin Hartman (for providing the hay wagon) and the Holzmasters (for lending their tables for the event).

Victoria Fry

Interim Elementary pre-k-2 principal Dave Constantine drives the tractor for a hay ride on the CFE grounds.

First Grade Meets the AztecsFirst-grade students this year spent a good portion of their social studies lessons learning about ancient civilizations. For the last interactive lesson, students went outside to learn about the Aztec culture.

Students planted seeds, played games such as Montezuma Says and learned about the geography, architecture and culture of the Aztec Empire.

Despite the chilly weather, the students enjoyed the time outside learning about the ancient civilization.

CFE Has Fun on the Farm The kindergarten class enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine on a visit to Dutch Hill Creamery to learn about farm animals and how milk products are made.

The students visited with cows, calves, baby goats and chickens. Brian Aukema, owner of Dutch Hill Creamery, lead the tour around the farm and showed the students various tractors and farm equipment, explained how cows are milked and what food they eat and how fertilizer is created and stored.

Students had an opportunity to taste fresh cheeses, yogurt and milk as well as pet a calf, baby goat and chicks.

Pictured: Joyce Pixley hands out seeds to her class while discussing Aztec crops.

Pictured: Brian Aukema gives kindergarten students a tour of his farm.

Summer 201512 Music and Arts

Middle School Students Featured in Local Art Show Nineteen middle school artists were featured in the annual da Vinci Student Art Show at the Broome County Library conducted during the month of May.

The show featured artwork from students in kindergarten through 12th grade from 17 local school districts. More than 56 local art teachers also displayed work.

Many of the students selected had multiple pieces on display. 8th Grader

Briana Walker

Elizabeth Hendrickson

Kaiyo Tio

Niklas Boeker

Shyanne Lawton

Thomas Borst

Vladimir Lavrinovich

7th Grader

Andrew Ilchishin

Avery Copeland

Emily Trevett

Lauren Ashman

Sophie Rusnak

Victor Arciolla

6th Grader

Alex Kalivoda

Avery Stark

Bella Hovancik

Hailey Glover

Kaylee Maietta

Sierra Allen

Pictured (l-r): Evan O’Brien, Emily Fisher, Mike Bubniak and Kyra Salinkas.

Fourth-grader Opens for Hoobastank

Fourth-grade drummer Eli Shepherd has already achieved at age 10 what many people twice his age only dream about, opening for a world-famous band.

In late June, Shepherd performed with his band XKids, a Green Day cover band, at the Pines Pavilion and Event Center in Endicott along with Year of the Locust, Divot, Ashley Lux and Hoobastank.

This is Shepherd’s second year playing with professional musicians. Despite the short amount of time, he has sat in for local bands such as The Water Monsters, Beard of Bees, The Kiil and Wreckless Marci.

“I never knew I could get (professional) musicians to play with me on a big soundstage,” said Shepherd.

Shepherd starting playing the drums at age 3 when his father noticed he was tapping his foot in time with the beat of music videos they watched together. From there, his father encouraged him to start playing drums. Shepherd took a four-year break and started practicing again after becoming inspired by a video of Neil Peart, the drummer from the band Rush.

High School Band Helps Fifth-grade Band Hit the Right NotesFifth-grade band students received a little help at the end of the school year from their high school counterparts.

Volunteer mentors from the high school band visited the elementary school to help the 5th-graders learn the piece “Still Rising” written by 5th-grade and high school band director Drew Allport, to play during 5th-grade graduation.

The mentors helped students with correct fingering, tempo and sight reading.

Artwork by Shyanne Lawton

13Summer 2015 DistrictGood Luck CF Retirees!Tami Crane has taught seven grade levels in the elementary school over the course of her 21-year tenure at Chenango Forks. Crane loved to sing and dance in class – students would give her a word and she would sing a few song lyrics with the word in it.

Crane also loved teaching across a broad spectrum of grade levels and appreciated each grade for its own unique characteristics. “My heart is with the little kids, but my head is with the older ones,” said Crane. Her favorite memory was when the students she taught her first year, a kindergarten class, brought her class photos of the class in kindergarten and again at their high school graduation.

Crane plans to spend her retirement traveling, particularly to the Southwest, England, and Newfoundland, with her goal being to visit every state in the lower 48 states. She also plans to spend time with her grandchildren and researching her family genealogy.

Tim Vermaat began his teaching career at Chenango Forks 30 years ago as a middle school science teacher. A class of ’76 alumnus, Vermaat coached soccer and track early on in his career and helped organize the annual middle school science fair.

In 2002, he was selected by the National Science Foundation to travel with a research group to a live volcano in Antarctica. Vermaat spent a month on the continent studying the climate and geology of the area.

During his retirement, Vermaat plans to keep busy doing interior and exterior painting as a side job and pulling a band together and to play southern and blues rock at local venues with the goal of playing original music. Vermaat is also an avid writer and plans to continue writing short stories and books.

Fredi Lajvardi Promotes STEM, Presents at CFE

Noted STEM educator Fredi Lajvardi helped kick off summer professional development at Chenango Forks by giving a presentation on the importance of STEM education in schools. Lajvardi is the Marine Science Magnet Program manager at Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix, Ariz., and the coach for the school’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics team.

Lajvardi’s fame came when his robotics team won a national robotics championship against prominent colleges, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The team was featured in multiple national publications and news programs and two films were made, the documentary “Underwater Dreams” and “Spare Parts,” a feature film by Lionsgate.

During his presentation, Lajvardi emphasized the impact FIRST Robotics had on his students. Many were children of undocumented immigrants whose parents had little more than an elementary school education. By providing a real-world application of STEM-related knowledge, the number of students graduating and pursuing STEM-related fields at Carl Hayden High School significantly increased.

CF Welcomes New Director of Special Education

Trish Kuhl was recently appointed as Chenango Forks’ Director of Special Education. Before coming to CF, Kuhl was a special education teacher for Maine-Endwell Central Schools for 18 years, where she taught across all services of the special education continuum and grade levels. In 1999, Kuhl started the first inclusion program at M-E and is passionate about collaboration between general and special education teachers.

Kuhl received her Bachelor of Arts in English education from The College of New Jersey and an advanced certificate in special education from Montclair State University. She received a Master of Science in special education from Binghamton University and a Certificate of Advanced Study in educational administration from SUNY Cortland. Kuhl holds certification in special education, English education and building and district leadership.

You can reach Mrs. Kuhl at kuhlp@cforks.org.

Summer 201514 Athletics

Maietta Competes in National All-American Classic

Lacrosse season stretched a little longer than usual for freshman girls lacrosse player Brooke Maietta.

Maietta was chosen to represent the New York region in the 2015 Brine National Lacrosse Classic at the River City Sportsplex in Virginia June 29 through July 2.

The Brine National Lacrosse Classic brings the top high school lacrosse players in the nation to one venue, where regional teams compete for national recognition in front of NCAA lacrosse coaches.

Pictured front: C. Lamond (All-Division (1st Team). Second row (l-r): S. Lamond, J. Topa, J. Gage, B. LaMere, I. Roman (Sportsmanship Award), A. Hawkins, S. Wiser, B. Harper, M. Swagler (All-Division 2nd Team), S. Bush, R. Bronson (All Division 1st Team), T. McDonald, K. Solomon, G. Reyes. Back (l-r): D. Pavlick, T. Wiser, J. Gaynor, S. Orton, N. Raymond, G. Vick, C. Borchardt, D. Frey, J. Pattwell (All-Division 2nd Team), C. Topa (All-Divison 2nd Team), T. Borchardt (All-Division 1st Team), A. Freije (All-Division 1st Team), C. Wiley, J. Aldrich, B. Wiley, J. Sherwood (All-Division 1st Team, Academic All-Star), J. Goosley, J. Creagh, S. Tronovitch.

Boys Lacrosse - Section IV Champions

Pictured Front (l-r): B. White, V. Mirch. Second row (l-r): A. Rusnak (All-Division), K. Williams, H. Conrad, K. Saroka, M. Sweet (Sportsmanship Award), L. Freije, A. Orzelek. Third row (l-r): R. Wiley, H. Brace (All-Division, Academic All-Star), R. Peterson, A. Dimatos, T. Pietrosanti, C. Clements, S. Engel, K. Smith, B. Maietta (Section IV All-Star), T. Gibbore, H. Layton (All-Division). Back (l-r): M. O’Hearn, B. DuBois, M. Maietta, M. Freije.

Girls Lacrosse - Section IV Champions

Boys Tennis

Pictured (l-r): Seamus Houlihan (Academic All-Star), Aidan Houlihan (All-Division), and Caleb Kellicutt (Sportsmanship Award).

Garret Krisko (All-Division)

Photo courtesy of Mark Maietta

SPRINGSPORTS

ALL-STARS

15Summer 2015 Athletics

Pictured (l-r): A. Stout-Moran (Academic All-Star), M. George (All-Division), S. Lally (All-Division), and E. Timms (Sportsmanship Award).

Girls Track and Field

Pictured (l-r): S. Knox (All-Division), V. Godden (All-Conference), and K. Watson (All-Division, Academic All-Star).

Pictured (l-r) C. Pinataro (All-Division), K. Flynn (All-Division), and M. Kumpon (All-Division).

Pictured (l-r): N. Mujcic (All-Division) and M. Bronson (Sportsmanship Award).

Boys Track and Field

Pictured (l-r): B. Paulhamus (All-Division), K. Withers (All-Division), T.J. Robinson (All-Division), J. Ingraham (All-Division), and L.J. Watson (All-Conference).Baseball

Pictured (l-r): M. Bubniak (All-Conference), and J. Hunink (Academic All-Star)

Pictured (l-r): C. Raychel (All-Conference), D. Everett (All-Division)

Pictured (l-r): R. Pinataro (All-Division), T. Wilson (Sportsmanship Award)

* All photos courtesy of the athletic department unless otherwise noted

Summer 201516 Home of the Blue Devils1 Gordon DriveBinghamton, NY 13901

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage PAID

Permit No. 237Binghamton, NY 13902

Superintendent of SchoolsLloyd “Joe” Peck, Ed.D.

Board of EducationTom Wiser - PresidentSpyros Dimatos - Vice PresidentAmy O’BrienKen Starr Mary Collins ECRWSS

Postal Patron

Important Dates:September2: Kindergarten Open House Drop-in 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.2: 6th-grade Open House 6 p.m.3: AM pre-k Open House 6 p.m.3: PM pre-k Open House 6:30 p.m.3: Freshman Orientation 7 p.m.7: No School - Labor Day8: No School - Superintendent Conference Day 9: First Day of School 9: Pre-k Orientation10: Pre-k Orientation10: CFE Volunteer Orientation 3 p.m.11: MS Positive Behavior Kick-off Dance 6 - 8 p.m.17: 7th- and 8th-grade Open House 6 p.m.21: CFE Book Fair 9/21 - 10/826: Homecoming Dance 28-29: HS Picture Days October5-6: CFE and MS Picture Days 7: HS Open House 7 p.m.9: No School - Teacher Conference Day 12: No School - Columbus Day 16: 5-week Reports20: Senior Portraits30: CFE Halloween Parties

2010 Alumnus Shows Language Skills Pay OffChenango Forks French students enjoyed a guest speaker this spring. Martin Beach, a 2010 CF alumnus, spoke about his dual major in international studies and French from SUNY Geneseo. His presentation also focused on his yearlong experience as an English language teaching assistant, which is a joint initiative of the French Ministry of Education and the cultural services of the French Embassy.

Beach worked in a French professional high school where students studied to secure employment in high end restaurant services. When he wasn’t teaching, Beach traveled throughout France and Europe visiting Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Spain and Ireland.

Article and photo submitted by Jerauld Myers, high school French teacher

Martin Beach presents a slide show of his travels in Europe.