AP Highlights

Congratulations to Mr. Mark DuMont, a sixth grade English language arts teacher and team leader at Algonquin Middle School, who was recently recognized with the “Educators Inspiring a Generation” award from Jake Ashby and the New York State Senate.

The award honors educators who demonstrate a strong commitment to student success through innovative teaching practices and collaborative leadership. The District thanks Mr. DuMont for his many years of dedicated service to Algonquin students.

Congratulations to seven Averill Park piano students in Grades 5 through 10 — Rayonette Brock, Tupper Grimard, Brayden Macaluso, Alyvia McEvilly, Esmay Metcalf, Orrin Smith and Gilbert Wajda — who participated in the recent NYSSMA Piano Festival. Each student earned a rating of “Excellent” or “Outstanding.”

Participation in the festival requires students to prepare and perform a solo appropriate to their level, complete a sight-reading component and demonstrate proficiency in scales. Performances are evaluated by an impartial adjudicator, who provides both written feedback and a numeric score.

The high school orchestra recently welcomed local fiddler George Wilson, who worked with students on traditional Québécois fiddling techniques through songs common to the region. The semiannual event is a collaboration between the World Languages and Music departments.

Students will put their new skills to use on April 22, when the high school welcomes Homespun Occasions. The group will teach traditional Québécois folk dancing accompanied by fiddle music. This long-standing tradition at APHS continues to connect students with cultural experiences through music and dance.

Each year, Algonquin Middle School recognizes Grades 7 & 8 students with the "Presidential Award for Educational Excellence." This honor is bestowed upon students who achieve a 90% or higher average for the previous school year and achieve at the highest levels of the New York State Assessments in Math, ELA or the NYS Algebra Regents Exam.

View the Full List of "Presidential Award for Educational Excellence" Recipients

Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Kara Pederson, recently worked with Tracy Ferlito and Kelly Ryan’s students to introduce adaptive gaming through a partnership with the AbleGamers Charity.

The Nintendo Switch and games are school-owned, and the organization donated adaptive controllers designed for individuals who may not be able to use traditional game controllers, allowing students to play alongside their peers. Mr. Hladun also visited to observe the experience.

April is National Volunteer Month and the APHS school-wide goal is to reach a collective total of 1,000 community service hours.

• How to join: Check the We Make AP a GREAT Place To BE Advisory and Events Calendar
• How to sign up: Click the live links within the calendar to claim your volunteer spots.
• Click here to log your volunteer hours

On the latest episode of the Every Student Every Day Podcast, Superintendent Dr. James Franchini sits down with APHS girls indoor track and field Coach Zach Gobel and student-athletes Marley Hanlon, Mae Miller, Emelia Sala and Elizabeth Cronin to reflect on the team’s Section 2 championship season. The conversation highlights the team’s culture, resilience and the lessons learned along the way, offering insight into what it takes to compete at a high level and what this milestone means for the future of the program.

Find us wherever you listen to podcasts, just search for ⁠“Every Student Every Day Podcast.”

AP Connections used remaining funds from a collection in honor of longtime APHS hall monitor Sally Mangan to support the District’s Backpack Program. The group purchased 39 brownie mixes, sending one home in each elementary backpack to help brighten students’ days. Known for her love of baking, organizers shared that this was a fitting way to honor her legacy and continue giving back to others in the school community

Students in Mrs. Wunsch’s first grade class explored the science of light and shadow through a hands-on learning activity. By experimenting with different light sources and objects, students observed how shadows are created and how they change in size and direction.

Students in Ms. Marcello’s physical education class celebrated the season with an Easter egg hunt, combining fun and movement. The event encouraged teamwork, excitement and active participation while bringing a festive touch to class time.

Congratulations to Golden Knights of the Week, Bryce Rokjer and Mady Charron!

• Rokjer (baseball) had a batting average of .500 and an on-base percentage of .545 to help the Golden Knights go 2-2 last week.
• Charron (softball) had a batting average of .500, 6 RBI, 5 runs scored, 2 stolen bases and played a stellar center field to help the Golden Knights go 2-1 last week.

Congratulations to Emily Johnson who's been named competitive cheer 2nd team all-star!

The spring 2026 Regional College Fair at Hudson Valley Community College will be held Monday, April 20, from 6-8 p.m. Admission is free and registration is not required.

• Click here for an updated flyer with participating colleges
• Click here for a flyer with tips on how to prepare for a college fair visit

HVCC's Summer 2026 College in the High School registration is now open. Students and families can view the courses that will be offered by visiting the Summer CIHS Courses Page.

Kindergarten students at West Sand Lake Elementary held their annual “letters” parade last week, celebrating early literacy in a creative and engaging way. Students designed and wore handmade letter vests, each featuring images, words and symbols that corresponded with their assigned letter.

A parade of letters made its way throughout the school building and continued outside, where families and friends gathered to cheer on the students. The event provided an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning and build excitement around reading and language.

• View the District's Early Literacy Webpage

The World Languages Department, with help from other teachers, held its 17th annual Lip Sync contest, raising over $800 for World Languages Department senior scholarships. World Languages teachers from Algonquin Middle School judged the performances and more than 70 students from French and Spanish 4 and 5 classes performed to a packed house.

Since its 2007 start, the APHS CTE Auto Tech Program gives students the opportunity to gain career experience while providing valuable automotive services to the community. Through a two-year pathway, students build skills in areas such as engine diagnostics, brake systems, electrical maintenance and suspension systems, preparing them for careers in the automotive field.

Students work alongside experienced instructors using industry-standard tools and systems, developing both technical knowledge and career-ready skills. The program also partners with local businesses and organizations, helping students connect classroom learning to real-world applications, reinforcing the District’s commitment to preparing students for future success while serving the broader community.

Need a car repair? Contact:

-Mr. Dutcher dutcherj@apcsd.org

-Mr. Galcik galcikj@apcsd.org

View the APHS CTE Auto Program: What Can We Do For You? brochure

Congratulations to Golden Knights of the week, Abby Houser and Nicky Bendetti!

• Houser (girls lacrosse) scored eight goals and had five assists in a 26-11 season opening win over Hoosick Falls/Tamarac and scored four total goals in two other games.
• Bendetti (baseball) went 3-5 at the plate with a two runs scored and a RBI in a 6-0 season opening win at Oneonta.

APHS students can earn college credit through College in the High School partnerships at a fraction of the cost, or through AP courses by scoring a 3 or higher on exams. In some cases, students can earn both types of credit, saving time and money. For more information, contact the APHS Counseling Department at (518) 674-7025.

The Averill Park Central School District will elect two members to the Board of Education on May 19. Community members interested in serving on the board must submit nominating petitions by 5 p.m. on April 20. To obtain a nominating petition, contact the Board Clerk at 518-674-7066. Learn more about running for the school board on the District website.

The Averill Park School District has begun the process of registering students for the 2026-2027 kindergarten classes. If your child will be five years of age on or before Dec. 1, 2026, then please contact the Registrar at 518-674-7050, extension 7201 to make sure that the child is listed on our school census. This will guarantee that you will receive all upcoming kindergarten information by mail. Registration paperwork will be started online and completed by appointment with the Registrar at the District office at the Averill Park High School during the month of February. Registration hours are Monday-Friday from 8 AM to 3:30 PM.

New York State Public Health Law requires certain immunizations to enter kindergarten and attend school. Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child has all the needed immunizations. They are provided in the 2026-27 Kindergarten Registration Announcement.

Try something new or rekindle a former passion in 2026! View our Community Education Offerings for February & March.

View all offerings & register: https://www.familyid.com/organizations/averill-park-community-education.

Averill Park CSD has collaborated with the Regional Food Bank for over 10 years. The District provides the Back Pack Program at all three of elementary schools. The Back Pack Program is designed to meet the needs of food insecure children on weekends when school meals are not available. The Program provides bags filled with food that is child-friendly, non-perishable, and easily prepared and consumed. Bags are packed weekly by school staff and volunteers then discreetly distributed to participating children every Friday afternoon. To learn how you can help sponsor a child’s weekend meals for an entire year, please visit

averillpark.k12.ny.us/services/averill-park-csd-backpack-program.

Have something happening at your school that you would like to see covered on the website or social media? Email Communications at belld@apcsd.org.

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

Instagram: @averillparkcsd