SAGE - Shenendehowa Advocates for Gifted Education Website
SAGE sponsors Saturday Scholars, a program of mini-courses designed to provide challenging enrichment opportunities for academically, creatively and artistically talented children.
 

Your support allows a substantial portion of the subscription price to stay at our school to fund many needed items and activities throughout the year. If we can count on your support this year, we are sure to have a successful campaign!

Posted 5/28/09
Gr. 8 End of the Year Letter

As we begin the final stretch of the 2008-2009 school year, our students are completing their academics and striving for success in their classes.  With the support of our teaching staff and our parents, the Gowana Middle School students are developing into responsible young adults.

There are many activities and events scheduled in June.  Please check the Gowana web page and parent portal for the latest details.

Eighth grade students have the following events scheduled:

• June 2^nd & 3^rd – NYS Social Studies Test (am)
• June 4^th – Daytime Awards Assembly
• June 4^th – Recognition Evening Program (7:00 at HSE Auditorium)  Students must report at 6:30 pm
• June 11^th – Class Field Trip – Boat trip on Lake George
• June 19^th – Math Regents (pm)
• June 17^th – Earth Science Regents (pm)
• June 23^rd – Arts in Ed Assembly (am)

The last full day of school is Monday, June 22^nd.  All middle school students will attend school for half-day sessions on Tuesday, June 23^rd (9:00-11:15am) and Wednesday, June 24^th (10:00-12:15pm)

Fourth quarter report cards will be mailed home on July 1^st.  All grade 8 students will be recognized at the Evening Awards Program and several students will receive awards.  Grades 6 & 7 students will also be recognized for their fine achievements at grade level assemblies.  Students who have not met academic requirements will be reviewed for summer school eligibility and the school counselor will contact you.

I would like to thank our outstanding PTA with the leadership of Brenda Stockman and Caryn LaFleche, co-presidents, and all of the chairpersons who have devoted countless hours to our students.  If you are moving on from Gowana to High School West, continue to stay involved and know that we always look forward to sharing the continued success of each and every Gowana alum.  And if you will be continuing on through the middle school years….Keep smiling, the great students at Gowana will be up to the challenges ahead.

Middle School Gr. 6-8- the arrival and dismissal time is different on the two days because June24 is also a half day for elementary schools and there are not enough buses to do the early run.

• Tuesday, June 23: arrive 8:40 a.m., dismissed 11:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24: arrive 9:40 a.m., dismissed 12:15 p.m.

Posted on 5/14/09
The Gowana Middle School has been participating in a new program titled, "One School One Book," in order to promote literacy across all three grade levels.  The book chosen for this program was titled Schooled, by Gordon Korman. A collaborative effort between the library, the Language Arts classes and FACS classes, took place in preparation for the author's visit in late April.  The book Schooled was read and the theme of diversity was discussed in Language Arts classes.

As part of the NYS FACS curriculum students did this activity as part of their “Community Connections.” Students were given a “square piece” of muslin upon which to artistically show their diversity.  The squares represented how each child is diverse and unique. Then, students in the seventh grade FACS classes used their new sewing skills to sew the squares together and form diversity quilts for Gowana. The three quilts are hung in the main office and library for all to enjoy.  We truly are a diverse group.

Posted 4/24/09
Gowana 3rd quarter Achievement List - Click here.

Gowana

• Lauren Doyle

• Chandler Mellon

• Logan Mount

• Nadia Suguitan

• Brianna Westad

• Shayna Ross

• Thomas Landon

March 11, 2009

Dear Parent/Guardian:

The safety of our students is a concern for all. Advances in technology, and the proliferation of younger students with cell phones present new challenges to educators and parents on a daily basis. Cell phone use during the instructional school day is prohibited.  Text messaging, cell phone calls and the taking of pictures disrupt the learning environment and bring a myriad of other adolescent issues to contend with.  Recently, it has come to our attention that a couple of middle school students have been involved in circulating inappropriate photographs/messages via cell phone .

Parents should know that “Sexting” is the new "buzz" word and it references the practice of sending nude photos or sexually explicit messages via cell phone to friends, boyfriends, girlfriends and, in some cases, strangers. We are asking all parents to talk to their child(ren) about this inappropriate behavior and check their cell phones and computer use. Working with our School Resource officer to investigate the reports, students were informed that criminal charges for distributing pornography could be brought forth and parents were contacted.   Recipients can also be charged with possession if they don’t delete the material immediately. State and federal laws make no age distinction on who can be charged with child pornography.   Sometimes teenagers don’t always know where to draw the line and something that they think is a “joke” or “all in good sport” may actually be harmful to themselves and/or others.  

There are other consequences as well. Students will be disciplined according to the district's code of conduct. Students should also understand that they may find their photos on the cell phones of dozens of their classmates or on a social networking site such as Facebook. In the future, these photos could come back to haunt them when apply to college or seek employment opportunities.

Some companies, such as WebSafety Inc., have developed software that parents can use to monitor certain activity on cell phones and computers. According this company, parents can block X-rated texting terms or be alerted when their child is using them. Photos are trickier, though, and often require a parent to manually check a child's phone.

At the middle school, we do our best to encourage an atmosphere of respect and consideration.  We will continue to offer educational programs on internet safety and the use of technology as it rapidly advances.  In addition, the School Resource Officer, administrator or school counselor will assist you in seeking resources available to address this topic with your teenager.   Parents must be the primary deterrents of this type of activity. It is critical that you monitor your children’s access and talk to them about proper use of electronic communication. 

Sincerely,

Jill Bush, Jon Burns, and Bruce Ballan

Principals of Gowana, Acadia and Koda Middle Schools

Posted 1/7/09
Students in the middle school critical inquiry classes will have their writing about leadership in the 21st century and non-violent social change displayed at Siena College. The exhibition is part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series on Race and Non-violent Social Change. The finalists listed below have all been invited to attend a reception at Siena College from 4-6 p.m. on January 16th to receive personalized certificates of participation and recognition. In addition, they are invited to attend a lecture series Wednesday, January 28 at 7 p.m. at Siena featuring Michael Eric Dyson, Ph.D. "African American Leadership in the 21st Century".

• Acadia: Kathryn Jerwann, Josh Huff, Oliver Robinson, Andi Ralph, Elli Trader, Eileen Nolan, Ife Adelugba, Jennifer Lucius

• Gowana: Catherine Phelps, Philip Poling, Lindsay Caplan, Sara Feinland, Sarah Lilholt, Olivia Pickett, Tommy Huerter, Jr., Peter Russo

• Koda: Alexandra Newsome, Dante Cilento, Amanda Farley, Jake Kunz, Natalia Robinson, Jason Ineman, Emily Patchell, Matthew Chang

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