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Elba Central School

Elba students celebrate reading through music

By Gretel Kauffman

The beat is thumping, the energy is high, and the sound is thunderous as hundreds of tiny feet stomp the floor and just as many tiny hands smack together enthusiastically. Two hundred children chant, "We will, we will, READ YOU!" in deafening unison.

Welcome to Reading Month at Elba Central School.

In past years, the students have celebrated books in more traditional ways. This year, elementary art teacher Stephanie Rudman decided to mix things up a bit by inviting children's entertainer Glenn Colton to perform for the students. Colton's hour-long show entertained both students and teachers alike with silly jokes, oldies music references, and a message that reading can be fun.

Rudman says that she had remembered Colton performing at Elba years ago, and decided to bring him back in order to add a more musical aspect to the month.

The Orchard Park-based entertainer performs in about 250 locations per year, mostly staying in the Western New York area. He has a variety of educational concerts available, featuring themes such as bullying, cyber safety, and staying drug-free. Along with writing songs, he has also authored two children's books, "Mr. Ducky Wucky -- The Wonderful Secret" and "Browser the Mouse and His Internet Adventure." 

For more information on Colton's shows and book signings, go to www.glenncolton.com

Elba Central School's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"

By Gretel Kauffman

The show will be held in the ECS Auditorium at 57 S. Main St.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students/seniors. They are available in the Elba District Office during school hours or at the door prior to the show. For more information call (585) 757-9967 

Event Date and Time

Elba Central School holds first Course Presentation Fair

By Billie Owens

Here's a news release from Elba Central School.

Elba high-school students debuted its Course Presentation Fair on Friday.

"The event was designed so that our parents and students can hear firsthand from teachers the courses that will offered be in 2011-2012," said Principal Jason Smith.

Following a rotating schedule, attendees circulated by grade level to nine different departments throughout the morning to learn about courses available. Among the new courses to be offered are:

  • America at War in the 20th Century
  • College Algebra
  • Introduction to Engineering
  • Music Composition 

In addition, the school will continue to offer and expand upon the variety of GCC and Advanced Placement Courses. The 2011-2012 course handbook is available on the school website.

"The number one factor that college admissions look at in accepting students is the rigor of courses students take while in high school," Smith said. "Many teachers shared this information at the course fair. Students will now be able to use what they learned at the course fair as they start to make decisions for classes next year.

Seniors took part in a workshop on college preparation hosted by Bryant & Stratton, and seventh-graders participated in Academic Gaming in the Media Center.

The Elementary School also hosted the annual Parent Luncheon later in the day. Those in grades K-6 had the opportunity share a special lunch with their family in their own cafeteria and at their special tables. Parents look forward to this event each year at Elba, and as usual, the luncheon was well attended.

The Elba Central School District is grateful to the parents who attended the Course Presentation Fair and Parent Luncheon.

Elba student presented with state flag

By Howard B. Owens

Elba student Sam Lamont, who was picked to represent Genesee County as a student attending Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State Speech (writing about it here), received another honor from the New York Legislature today. Assemblyman Steve Hawley presented him with a flag that has flown over the state capitol in Albany.

Elba students provided with information on cyberbullying

By Howard B. Owens

Deputy Tim Wescott and Youth Officer John Dehm were at Elba School this morning to talk with students about cyberbulling and Facebook and mobile phone safety. They explained how to avoid cyberbullying and the legal implications.

Photo and information submitted by Jason Smith.

Elba Class of 2012 to hold pulled pork dinner

By Gretel Kauffman

Come enjoy a delicious pulled pork dinner on Thursday, October 14 at Elba Central School. The school is located at 57 S. Main St. in Elba.

The dinner will be held in the school cafeteria from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The meal, which consists of a pulled pork sandwich, salt potatoes, cole slaw, and a cookie, can either be taken out or eaten in the cafeteria.

Tickets are $9 and can be purchased pre-sale through Kelly Carlie at 585-757-9967, ext. 1602, or at the door. The dinner is to benefit the junior class of 2012.

Elba fifth-graders say 'Don't Drive InTEXTicated'

By Billie Owens

The hazards of texting while driving is something students at Elba Central School have been learning about this month.

On June 3, Awareness Day at the school, fifth-graders presented information to high-school and middle-school students and staff about the dangers of multitasking on the road.

The fifth-graders' "crack down" is part of Elba's Cell Phone Road Safety project. It included handed out fliers with their slogan "Don't Drive InTEXTicated," along with statistics the youngsters researched about the dangers of texting and driving.

They also promoted radio WGRZ's "Pledge 2 Hang Up" as part of the Awareness Day presentations.

They are students of Amy Thompson and Patricia Staebell.

The day's biggest accomplishment was being able to raise enough money to pay for a
billboard with a public service announcement about the dangers of texting
and driving.

Local businesses have helped the project by generously donating money for the cost of the billboard. The billboard will be on Route 5, visible to westbound traffic, near the Bushville Bridge.

Students also held a contest to design a poster with an antitexting an driving theme and the winning poster is going to be on the billboard. The winner of the contest was  AnnMarie Georgia. The poster will be up for two months, beginning June 21.

The fifth-graders hope this project has a big impact on the community and decrease the number of people who text while driving.

Chicken BBQ to benefit Ryan Wolcott this Tuesday

By Gretel Kauffman

From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, the Elba school and community will be holding a chicken BBQ to benefit Elba High School student Ryan Wolcott.

Elba and Byron-Bergen faculties, students, and friends of Ryan and the Wolcott family will be serving food in the Elba Central School cafeteria. Eat in or take out. Tickets will be $9 at the door, and $8 pre-sale (available at the school). All proceeds will go to the Wolcott family.

There will also be a spaghetti dinner to benefit Ryan on June 6 at the Elba Rec Hall, which will feature several local bands.

Here is a brief bio of Ryan, written by his mother, Jody Wolcott.

Ryan is a 10th grader at Elba Central School; he was born with Wiscott-Aldrich Syndrome. It is a rare immune deficiency similar to "The Boy in the Bubble."

He was treated with a bone-marrow transplant when he was 2 years old and has ongoing complex care. The most debilitating complication is that he has chronic obstructive lung disease or C.O.P.D. He struggles to breathe and is dependent on oxygen from a tank or concentrator. He has other medical and physical challenges that affect his stamina and mobility and depends on a scooter to get around.

Ryan was the Elba-BB football team water boy when he was able and was the honorary Elba Basketball team water boy this year. He likes to listen to music, play the Wii, watch movies, and has learned to depend on his friends for support.

Children's author visits local schools

By Gretel Kauffman

On Wednesday, elementary students at Elba Central School got to visit with acclaimed children's author Mary Amato. She resides in Silver Springs, Maryland, and is the award-winning author of nine books for young people, as well as numerous plays, poems and articles for publications such as Muse, Cicada, The Washington Post, Parenting, and Mothering.

Elba school librarian Christine Ferris says she likes to have a different author come speak to the students every year. 

"I got interested in [Mary Amato's] books when I read The Word Eater," says Ferris. "She writes very funny books."

The visit was arranged through the BOCES "Visiting Authors" program. The program sends suggestions to schools of various authors, and makes all of the traveling and "touring" arrangements. Amato will be visiting several other area schools as well during her visit.

During the presentation at Elba, Amato spoke to the children about her career, her life, and, foremost, her experiences with writing when she was their age.

"I tell them that I was afraid of writing," says Amato. "I thought I had no ideas, no imagination. Imagination is like a muscle. The more I wrote, the better I got. It's like sports. You wouldn't expect an olympic athlete to get a triple lutz the first time. You have to keep working on it."

She says that the turning point in her writer's block was when she was 7, when her mother gave her a journal (which she is holding in the photo above).

"My mother gave me a notebook and told me to record a trip to California. I liked the fact that I could go back and relive the moments through records of it. That's when I got hooked on writing."

She suggests that aspiring young writers do the same.

"Get a little notebook and write in it. You don't have to write in it every day, just write down some of your feelings and ideas."

More information about Mary Amato and how to contact her can be found on her website, www.maryamato.com.  The website contains information about Mary, her books and how to contact her, as well as a new video blog documenting her writing process.

Third Elba Music Festival a success

By Gretel Kauffman

Those in attendance at the Elba Music Festival Friday night certainly heard a wide variety of music. The 13 acts that performed ranged from a church choir to a punk-rock band to a barbershop quintet.

Featured performers were the Elba Concert Band, the Elba Presbyterian Church Choir, Dakota Hirsch, the Elba Saxophone Quartet, James Earl, the Genesee Chorale, the Elba Jazz Ensemble, Dixie Hirsch, Scene 7, Andrew Lacey and Michaela Stewart, M.A.C., Dillon Hirsch, and the Batavia Blue Belles. 

Here are two photos from the event: the Genesee Chorale; and the Batavia Blue Belles.

 

Elba School to host Family Fun Night

By Gretel Kauffman

Those looking for a fun, tobacco-free family night can find just that in the Elba Central School gymnasium from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21. Families with children in Pre-K through sixth grade are welcome to play games like Dance Dance Revolution and basketball; refresh with smoothies, ice cream, and other healthy snacks; and enjoy a DJ and live entertainment.

"This will tie in with our tobacco-free policy," says school nurse Cathy Contant, "and we're hoping it will really reduce the (TV) screen time that families have."

Contant is one of the main organizers of the night, along with counselor Kelly Carlie and several teachers. It is also a senior project for students Sherday Schultz, Julie Marshall, Rebecca Morse and Meghan Andrews.

The four seniors agree that they hope the night will encourage fitness and family togetherness in a fun way. They are hoping that local families will, for at least one night, turn off the TV and spend more time together.

"We want to promote a healthy lifestyle," says Marshall.

The night will be co-sponsored in part by Reality Check and Genesee County Stop DWI.  There is no admission charge and is open to anyone with young children.

Elba triumphs over JT for Section V Class DD title

By Timothy Walton

Undefeated sectional champions isn't a bad label to have. That's what all the excitement was about Friday night in Letchworth as the Elba girls basketball team defeated Jasper-Troupsburg 47-37 in the Class DD final.

Freshman McKenzie Bezon, sophomore Meg Stucko and senior Cassie Engel were the offensive power in the game.

"This is everything that I could dream of," Engel said. "It was a great win and one that I will always remember."

The Lancers came out with the mentality to get it done and get the lead quickly as they took an early 13-2 jump with the support of 3-pointers by Engal and senior Missy Call.

In a desperate attempt to get back in the game, the Wildcats' were able to close the gap to 16-12, but it was all Elba from then on as the Wildcats (18-3) couldn't get a formula together to shut down the Lancers.

Heading into the final quarter of the game up 36-21, the Wildcats turned it up a notch in a last attempt to take the lead but managed only to close the gap to 42-34.

Bezon ended the game posting 14 points, while Stucko put up two 3-pointers to total six points. She had a big day under the basket as she pulled down 27 rebounds.

Brittany Hadley led Jasper-Troupsburg with nine points and Taylor Button and Meghan Wyant added eight points each.

"This was huge for the kids and we will take whatever we get from now on," says Head Coach Tom Nowak. "We'd like to win another one and get on to the regional game."

Nowak was named the Class DD Coach of the Year.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Reader Robin Walters was also at the game, and posted this report.

Elba Central School's My Fair Lady Rescheduled for Monday

By Michelle Case

Due to Friday's weather-related school closing, the Elba Central School Drama Club production of My Fair Lady has been rescheduled for  Monday, March 1, 2010 at 7 pm in the ECS auditorium. Presale tickets for Friday's performance (February 25, 2010) should be presented at the Monday show.

Elba planning to start school year early

By Howard B. Owens

Elba Central School board members last night listened to concerned citizens about a change in the school calendar this year, according to Superintendent Joan Cole,  but will still proceed with its plan to start the school year a week prior to Labor Day weekend.

"The purpose of starting the school year before Labor day is to give more instruction time, more time for learning," Cole said. "Elba is a good school and we need to become a great school, and how we move from a good school to a great school is to focus on our mission statement."

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