AP Highlights

On Tuesday, May 21, residents of the Averill Park Central School District supported a $66.6 million budget for the 2024-25 school year by a vote of 697(yes) to 338 (no), as well as propositions for bus and equipment purchases.

The budget of $66,611,865 calls for an increase of 2.61% from the 2023-24 school year and a tax levy increase of 3.98%, which is under the tax cap.

The approval of the bus and equipment proposition, by a 672 (yes) to 360 (no) vote, allows the district to purchase three (3) 21-passenger school buses, six (6) 30-passenger buses, and one (1) maintenance truck as part of the district’s long-term bus replacement plan. The district is eligible to receive approximately 71 percent reimbursement from the state on the purchase of these buses.

“Thank you to the Averill Park CSD residents who voted on the 2024-25 school budget. Our staff and Board of Education worked hard on developing a budget that is fiscally responsible and maintains a strong academic program for our students despite limited State Aid,” Superintendent Dr. James Franchini said. “This budget will allow us to continue to fulfill our mission of meeting the needs of and providing opportunities for every student every day.”

Residents also elected Jessica Zweig and Lauren Jacobs to the Board of Education.

Candidate vote counts are below:

Jessica Zweig (742)

Lauren Jacobs (588)

Thomas Cooley (432)

Thank you to everyone who voted and thank you to those who worked long hours to ensure an accurate result.

On the latest episode of the Every Student Every Day Podcast, Superintendent Dr. James Franchini welcomes some members of the Averill Park Central School District faculty who are retiring this year. James McPartlin, Laurence Quinn, and Kathleen Slyer talk about their careers, give advice to teachers and students, discuss their plans for retirement, and more. All of the episodes are available here or wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Students around the Capital Region were honored with Sandra Morley Physical Education Leadership awards for their leadership excellence in physical education and in their school community.

Award recipients from the elementary schools include:

MHSL - Kaylee Tomlinson, Dylann Kipp, Abigail Reynolds, Ryan O'Connor, Lee Lobdell, and Ryder Teal

PES - Juliana Damiano, Giuliana Paterniani, Nora Kelly, Zen Blais, Gage Stockin, and Michael Carley

WSL- Ryleigh Sanchez, Reese Lamay, Finley Lamay, Alexa Feldman, Mason Cole, Jacob Cluett, Luca Testo, and James Hoffman

The 3rd annual Averill Park High School World Languages Department and International Club’s Import & Domestic Car Show will take place on Saturday June 1, 2024 at Averill Park High School (146 Gettle Road, Averill Park, NY 12018). Registration ($10 day of show) is from 9:00am until 11:00 and the show continues until 2:00. Our volunteer student judges (coached by Hemmings Motor News professionals) will be selecting the winning vehicles in 21 different trophy categories. Imported and domestic cars, motorcycles, and trucks are all welcome.

Registration proceeds will benefit senior scholarships for the World Languages Department.

Car wash and food proceeds will benefit the International Club. The rain date is June 2.

Recently, Stephen Hill, a renowned national speaker on substance use prevention and mental health, spoke to juniors and seniors at their Pre-Prom Assembly.

Congratulations to PES 5th-grade BOC members and Mr. Kiefer for a wonderful concert!

If you're interested in earning college credit over the summer, then take a look at the College in the High School summer courses offered through Columbia-Greene Community College.

For the application and flyer, click here.

On May 9, two APHS senior music students and a 7th-grade music student each won the Rensselaer County School Music Association Scholarship. They performed before a panel of judges and competed with students from across the county.

Senior Sam Hart won first place with his performance of the Strauss Horn Concerto I in Eb on French Horn, and senior Mikayla Malenfant was awarded second place for her performance of the Soprano aria, Deh Vieni non Tardar by Mozart.

AMS student Kate O'Connor came in second place with her performance of Telemann's Flute Sonata in Bb.

Assemblyman Scott Bendett has announced that he has earmarked $20,000 in bullet aid for the Averill Park Central School District. Bullet aid is discretionary spending allotted to legislators as part of the State budget.

“Assemblyman Bendett has always been a great supporter of education and an advocate for our District,” APCSD Superintendent Dr. James Franchini said. “All of us in the Averill Park Central School District appreciate Assemblyman Bendett’s tireless efforts behind the scenes to help us fulfill our mission of meeting the needs of and creating opportunities for every student every day.”

Information for the Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony was announced.

To learn more, click here.

Each year, APHS collects proposed speeches from any Senior who would like to be considered as one of the two student speakers at the Commencement Ceremony.

Students submit speeches with no identifying information, except for a phone number. Speeches are reviewed by a committee, who determines which two speeches will be featured.

We are pleased to inform you that this year's student Commencement Speakers will be:

• Ava Ferriero
• Eleanor Garrison
  
  

Additionally, please know that the APHS Class of 2024 Officers selected Mr. Daniel Fairchild, ELA teacher at APHS, to be a guest speaker at this year’s ceremony. Mr. Fairchild has gladly accepted this offer, and is excited to join us.

Recently, PES students went on a field trip to the Berkshire Museum!

Representatives from Dyken Pond came to WSL for a lesson on the water cycle and then their 3rd grade classes went to Dyken Pond on a field trip. Students learned more about the water cycle, the lifeline of trees, and animal life cycles. They also had the opportunity to find living organisms in a small pond.

3rd, 4th and 5th graders used LEGO Spike Kits to build amusement park rides in Media Lit. They then programmed the ride with block coding to run the ride. This is possible thanks to a grant provided by the AP Education Foundation!

The Averill Park Central School District is hiring for Summer 2024!

Special Education ESY (Extended School Year) Program

July 8th – August 16, 2024 at Algonquin Middle School

We are seeking:

• 2 Special Education Teachers–8:00am-2:00pm, Monday – Friday–$40/hour
• 6 Teacher Aides–8:15am-1:30pm, Monday – Friday–$15.54/hour
  
  

If you or someone you know may be interested in any of these positions, give us a call at 518-674-7060 or email us at apapplications@apcsd.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

APPLICATIONS

Teacher Substitute

Non-Instructional Employees and Substitute

Recently, APHS students enjoyed their 2024 prom on a riverboat on the Hudson River!

PES had its "Communities Impact Change" activity. Students learned about Ronald McDonald House and gathered to read and play games with students and other grade levels. One of the goals of RMH is to provide a space in which families can spend time together reading and playing games. This provides a space where families can be together in the present moment, despite experiencing a difficult time.

During the school budget and BOE vote, the APHS Horticulture program hosted its annual plant sale! All the plants were grown by students through their horticulture class and garden club! Proceeds went to the APHS food pantry and APHS Horticulture program!

On Tuesday, May 21, APHS recognized the great work of grades 9-11 students at the Underclass Awards Ceremony.

A recording of the live stream can be watched here.

if you missed the APHS Spring Concert, you can watch a recording here.

Averill Park Central School District is hiring multiple school bus drivers and attendants. These positions are rewarding and play a crucial role within our school district because you will assist students’ learning by getting them to and from school safely and on time.

Watch this video to learn more about being a School Bus Driver or attendant and hear directly from students from every school in the District.

For more information about these opportunities, please send an email to apapplications@apcsd.org or you can call 518-674-7070.

AP Bio and AP Physics Kickball played kickball! AP Bio took on AP Physics in the first AP Science Kickball Invitational.

Averill Park CSD and Questar III BOCES New Visions: Medical students were recently featured in an article from Questar III.

Read it here.

Poestenkill and West Sand Lake Elementary’s Girls on the Run teams ran their 5K at the Joseph L. Bruno stadium. Both teams ran their hearts out, way to go!

Mark Bubniak, the Director of Athletics at APCSD, and Rachel Brown, an AP athletic trainer, were both featured in a Spectrum News story about keeping student athletes cool and hydrated.

Read it here.

The 2024 Girls Summer Volleyball Camp will be a great opportunity for students to practice and learn countless volleyball skills.

This is only open to girls who attend APCSD from grades 6 - 9 and who have not yet played on the JV or Varsity squad.

Click here to learn more.

The District is hiring for a typist Assigned to Administrator (Provisional) for the

Averill Park High School Guidance Department!

To apply: Send an email of interest to: apapplications@apcsd.org

On Tuesday, May 28, the AP Athletic Department held its Commitment Day ceremony for student-athletes!

Local news channels also covered the event, here's an article from News10.

AMS Kiwanis Builders Club made artwork and positive slogans for the residents at the Ludders Country Home for Seniors in West Sand Lake!

PES K-Kids visited the Ronald McDonald House in Albany!

On Tuesday, May 21, Grade 6 Team 2 students attended a field trip to the Northeast Regional Food Bank Farm where they planted hundreds of vegetables.

Later in the day, the students went to Thacher Park for a picnic lunch and a hike around the park. During their hike, students were able to see firsthand the geology they have been studying in their science classes. Grade 6 Team 1 also got the same opportunity on the following day.

WSL K-Kids celebrated a year of service and leadership with a visit from an ice cream truck and time together on the playground. We can’t wait to see what you do next!

Click here to learn more.

Congratulations and good luck to our Unified basketball seniors.

On Thursday, May 23, the AMS Student Council officers, along with advisor Kathy Slyer and military veteran and teacher aide Roxanne O'Brien, held a flag-raising in honor of Memorial Day.

Congrats to Mary Heeran who was named the AP Transportation Department’s Safe School Bus Driver of The Year. She was also presented with a School Bus Driver Safety Award from AAA Hudson Valley and was gifted a one-year membership to AAA.

Recently, author Peter Brown, who wrote "The Wild Robot", virtually visited WSL students during their K-5 Assembly.

The District is hiring for a Typist Assigned to Administrator (Provisional) for the APHS Athletic Department. If you're interested, send a letter of interest and your resume to apapplications@apcsd.org

Have something you would like to see covered on the website/social media? Email our Communications Technician at reama@apcsd.org.

Website: averillpark.k12.ny.us
Location: 146 Gettle Road, Averill Park, NY, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AverillParkCentralSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @AverillParkCSD