Bulldog Bites

Help us celebrate our incredible staff by nominating them for the Bulldog Staff Spotlight.

Beginning in October, we will recognize outstanding faculty and staff members across our social media channels, district website, and weekly family newsletter.

The Bulldog Staff Spotlight is an opportunity to highlight the dedicated individuals who make a positive impact on our students, schools, and community each day. Whether it's a teacher who inspires a love of learning, a support staff member who goes above and beyond, or a colleague who consistently makes a difference, we want to hear their story.

Students, families, staff, and community members are encouraged to submit nominations throughout the year.

So nominate today by using our official SGF Staff Spotlight Nomination form.

• Tanglewood: Sept. 28

• OWWMS: Oct. 6

Earlier this week, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Board of Regents announced an important change to New York State’s high school graduation requirements that will begin with students graduating in 2028.

As part of the state’s NY Inspires initiative, New York is changing how students demonstrate their readiness to graduate and is moving to one high school diploma. Beginning in 2028, students will no longer be required to pass a prescribed set of Regents examinations as a separate requirement to earn a diploma.

Regents exams are not being eliminated. They will continue to be administered and will remain an important way for students to demonstrate achievement of New York State learning standards.

Please note that for the 2026-27 school year, current graduation and assessment requirements remain in effect. Students should continue to complete all required coursework and credits, and take Regents exams as scheduled. There is no immediate change to students’ schedules, courses, or academic expectations.

New York State is gradually moving toward a broader system for determining whether students are prepared for life after high school. In July 2025, the Board of Regents adopted the New York State Portrait of a Graduate, which establishes a vision for the knowledge, skills and qualities students should develop by the time they graduate. We have worked diligently here in SGF over the last year to ensure that our own Portrait of a Bulldog attributes align well with the NYS Portrait attributes, and we are pleased to be ahead of the curve on this aspect of changing requirements.

NYSED will continue developing the regulations and guidance needed to implement these changes. Until those changes take effect, students and families should continue to follow all existing course, credit and Regents exam requirements. In the near future we will be planning an evening virtual information session for interested families, and we will communicate any updates as they become available.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students.

The OWWMS Adventure Club completed our first hike from the Western Trailhead to Lake Bonita in Moreau State Park. We loved admiring the plate sized mushrooms and the orange efts along the trail!

On September 19th, members of the Helping Hands Club volunteered at The Great Escape, where they helped set up for the annual gala supporting Double H Ranch. Our students worked incredibly hard and showed what it truly means to give back, help others, and be of service to the community.

Students in grades 6–8 represented Oliver W. Winch Middle School with kindness, enthusiasm, and an amazing work ethic. It was wonderful to see our Bulldogs working together for such a meaningful cause—and having fun while doing it!

Applicants are being accepted to be considered a recipient of the 50th South High Marathon Dance.

So what do you need to know if you’d like to be considered?

• Individual applicants must reside in Saratoga, Washington or Warren counties and organizations must serve populations in at least one of those counties.
• Individual applicants must complete the application form for themselves (parents can complete for their minor children if applying for a child under 18). SHMD is no longer accepting “nominations” as we need the actual applicants to complete relevant information that cannot be provided otherwise.
• If selected, individual recipients would be eligible to submit claims against their final grant amount for the time period between January 1st 2026 and February 28th, 2028.
• Applications will be open through November 30th, 2026. No late applicants will be accepted and if submitted after November 30th, applications will automatically be rolled over for consideration of the 2028 dance.
• Should anyone have any questions you’d like answered prior to applying, please feel free to email the SHMD Director of Recipient Services at Kristin.osborn@shmd.org

Individuals apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScohjrFG4gCEgRB6RK_WntIRWZmPLOUYFuE9FxEISLu9WjvGQ/viewform?

Organizations apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9vukd5PqQzFvNTWYVYknBgHlFf8XV7KiPwpQmBg2VF6y7hQ/viewform

Harrison Ave. is proud to congratulate this year’s 23 Student Council representatives! These students are ready to share their ideas, make a difference, and do amazing things for our school community this year.

A special congratulations to our 2026–27 Student Council Officers:

• Teacher's Liaison: Matthew B.
• President: Cameron T.
• Vice President: Oliver K.
• Secretary: Oaklyn B.
• Treasurer: Ayda B.

Miss Rheaume's Pre-K class at Ballard Elementary, celebrates a great start to the school year with a pajama day party!

Students in Ms. VanDerwarker’s kindergarten class at Harrison Ave. enjoyed several hands-on apple investigations this week! They used their senses to explore different apples, made observations, and did an experiment on whether an apple sinks or floats. They recorded their findings through drawings and writing, and shared which apple they liked best after trying red, green and yellow apples!

Harrison Ave. Readers during Fun Fri-YAY!

Kindergarten at Moreau received the book Only One You from Mrs. Lynn Cumm and the Ed Foundation!

Ballard 2nd Graders building Literacy Strength during the DI portion of the Bookworms portion!

At Tanglewood Elementary School, Mr. Gibbs's 5th Grade Class and Mrs. Nicoll's Kindergarten Class had their first buddy meetup and played together outside. To quote one kindergarten buddy, "This is the best day EVER!"

Some Oliver W. Winch students got to take a walk around Moreau State Park during a field trip this week.