Dr. Krueger's Spotlight - May

As we approach the final weeks of the 2025-2026 school year, I would like to thank you for your partnership in education. The saying "it takes a village" is often applied to the raising of children. The same can be said for public education.

We are grateful for the support of our parents and residents who voted and overwhelmingly passed our school budget, capital improvement project and bus purchase propositions. We appreciate our school community members who volunteer in our booster programs, Parent-Teacher organizations and in our schools. In June, East and West High Schools will host their scholarship nights where dozens of civic organizations, businesses and families will present the Class of 2026 with generous scholarships. These are just a few ways that our community demonstrates their support of the West Seneca Central Schools, and we are grateful for your support.

We see the positive impact of the dedication of our faculty, staff and administration coupled with a school community that invests in our schools. We were recently recognized for the increase in our academic outcomes of our elementary students in English Language Arts, and were once again recognized by the NAMM Foundation for being a "Best Community for Music Education" for the tenth consecutive year. Our business partners enrich the educational experience of our Academy Programs, and they provide diverse and authentic learning opportunities that are unique to West Seneca. Thank you for supporting our schools, and the comprehensive programs and experiences that we provide our students.

With West Seneca Pride,

Dr. Lisa Krueger

What happens when nearly 1,000 students, faculty, and staff unite with a single purpose? Extraordinary things happen - right here in West Seneca.

Every year, West Seneca East Senior High School hosts "Trojans Take Action" - an incredible day of service driven by a collective commitment to building a cohesive school environment. Grounded in character, school spirit, and social responsibility, this tradition helps our students develop a stronger sense of global and local awareness.

On May 20, 2026, that commitment came to life in a massive way. The entire student body and staff stepped out of the classroom to give back, rolling up their sleeves at local organizations, community parks, elementary and middle schools, and right on their own high school grounds. This monumental event does more than just show students the immense power of helping others - it provides a tangible way for our schools to express deep gratitude and commitment to the community that supports them.

An initiative of this scale thrives on strong partnerships. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors - Papa's Pizza, Hershey's Ice Cream, Frito Lay, Costanzo's Bakery, Sahlen's, and Fat Bob's - as well as the entire community for welcoming our students and allowing us to give back.

"Trojans Take Action" proves that when we work TOGETHER, our potential to make a difference is limitless. Be sure to keep an eye out for our signs around town to see the amazing work accomplished by our students!

Please enjoy some photos and the video below capturing the energy, hard work, and pride from their 2026 Day of Service!

👖Community Resource Closet

Date: June 9, 2026

Time: 9am-11am

Location: Ebenezer Building, 900 Mill Rd. - Door #1

Questions?: Contact Melissa Brind'Amour - mbrindamour@wscschools.org

🌟Recognition of AHSEPP Graduates, Tenure & Retirees Celebration

Date: June 9, 2026

Time: 5:30pm

Location: West Elementary School Boardroom

Livestreamed?: No

🏫Board of Education - Regular Board Meeting

Date: June 9, 2026

Time: 6:30pm

Location: West Elementary School Boardroom

Livestreamed?: Yes

🚨Half Day - Elementary Students ONLY

Date: June 12, 2026

Please see the "Student Early Dismissal Dates" for dismissal times.

🏫Board of Education - Work Session

Date: June 16, 2026

Time: 6pm

Location: West Elementary School Boardroom

Livestreamed?: No

👗Community Resource Closet

Date: June 17, 2026

Time: 2pm-5:30pm

Location: Ebenezer Building, 900 Mill Rd. - Door #1

Questions?: Contact Melissa Brind'Amour - mbrindamour@wscschools.org

🚨NO SCHOOL - ALL STUDENTS (Juneteenth)

Date: June 19, 2026

🎓West Senior High - Class of 2026 Graduation

Date: June 22, 2026

Time: 7pm

Location: UB Center for the Arts

Ticket Needed?: Yes

Livestreamed?: Yes

🎓East Senior High - Class of 2026 Graduation

Date: June 23, 2026

Time: 7pm

Location: UB Center for the Arts

Ticket Needed?: Yes

Livestreamed?: Yes

🚨Half Day - Elementary Students

Dates: June 22, 2026 - June 24, 2026

Please see the "Student Early Dismissal Dates" for dismissal times.

🗓️For full event calendar & more information click the district website button below:

Earlier this month, eleven incredible students from West Senior took part in the annual Youth Voices Conference at Buffalo State. Sponsored by the Western New York Network of English Teachers, this wonderful event gathers student voices in grades 5–12 from all over the Buffalo-Niagara region.

Our students started their day soaking in some serious inspiration from a keynote address by award-winning author Angie Thomas (the brilliant mind behind The Hate U Give and The Come Up, among others). Afterward, it was our students' turn to shine as they took the stage to share the deep research, creative writing, and hard work they’ve poured into their English classes this year.

We had an amazing lineup of presenters who delivered slideshows on an impressive variety of thoughtful topics:

• Victoria L. shared "Walt Disney: Architect of Modern Imagination"

• Sophia H. shared "Virginia Woolf: What Makes a Writer Influential"

• Claire S. shared "From Spinning Cotton to Spinning in Earth's Orbit: Valentina Tereshkova"

• Haven H. shared on "In It to Irwin-It"

• Marley B. shared "The Exploitation of Mexican Communities by The Coca-Cola Company"

• Kara S. shared "Rhetoric in MLK’s I’ve Been to the Mountaintop"

• Mareotis M. shared "Healing Through Forgiveness: A Journey in All My Rage"

• Summer B. shared"The Long-Term Effects of Foster Care Trauma"

We also had three talented students share their original, creative writing pieces:

• Enx H. shared "Let Me"

• Holly M. shared "9 Lives" & "Pick Your Poison"

• Izzy B. shared "You’re Not Dead"

It was an absolutely stellar display of research, writing, creativity, and public speaking. We are incredibly proud of these students for representing West Senior so beautifully and eloquently.

Please enjoy a few photos below from the conference.

As May draws to a close, we are reflecting deeply on the importance of Mental Health Awareness Month and the incredible ways our school community comes together to support our students’ well-being.

Hands-On Wellness at East Senior

We are thrilled to share some wonderful moments from the recent Mental Health Fair hosted at East Senior, following the Trojans Take Action (TTA) initiative. Partnering with Mental Health Advocates (MHA), the event gave our youth a safe, creative space to explore and experiment with social-emotional games, activities, and sensory crafts designed to foster a mentally healthy life.

From making soothing sensory water bottles and slime to crafting friendship bracelets, painting rocks with positive affirmations, and taking a quiet moment in the Calming Corner, our students embraced every opportunity to focus on self-care.

Unwind Your Mind Workshop

We were proud to partner with D&G Wellness to bring a vital student workshop directly into all gym classes at West Senior High.

Titled “Unwind Your Mind: Yoga, Self-Care, Coping & Stress Hacks,” these sessions featured members of the D&G Wellness team guiding students through standard yoga practices, mindfulness exercises, and practical coping strategies. Beyond the physical movement, students gained invaluable tools to recognize the signs of mental health challenges - learning how to gently support themselves or a friend in need.

A Heartfelt Thank You

An initiative like this takes a village, and we owe a massive debt of gratitude to our dedicated District-Wide Outreach School Social Worker - Melissa Brind'Amour, the physical education teachers at West Senior - with a special shout-out to Ashley Bonetto - for welcoming this opportunity into their classes. Thank you for your incredible flexibility, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to nurturing not just the physical, but the emotional and mental well-being of our students. You make a world of difference!

We would also like to thank the Substance Free Coalition, who not only joined us at West Senior but joined us at East Senior to sponsor fantastic recreational activities for the kids after their day of action!

Please enjoy just a few photos from the days at both East & West Senior below.

There is nothing quite like watching the past and the future of the West Seneca Central School District come together in one room.

Recently, students from the West Seneca West High School Project LIT club spent a truly heartwarming day visiting their elementary pen pals in Mrs. Steele’s, Ms. Comerford’s, and Ms. Weiss’s second and third-grade classrooms. The hallways and rooms were instantly filled with the best kinds of sounds—laughter, shared stories, and the quiet magic of reading together. High schoolers paired up with their young pals to read favorite books and create wonderful arts and crafts inspired by the stories they shared.

Beyond the beautiful connections made over pages and paint, our high school students left behind a lasting gift. Thanks to the hard work of Project LIT members and the helping hand of West Senior Principal Mr. Jay Brinker, the club proudly donated a beautiful, custom-built Little Free Library to ensure the love of reading continues to grow every single day.

For many of our older students, the trip was a deeply personal, full-circle journey. It gave them a chance to walk the very same hallways where their own educational journeys began, stepping back into old classrooms and sharing big hugs with the former teachers who first inspired their love of learning. It was a powerful reminder of the lasting bond shared by our staff and students.

Project LIT extends its deepest, most heartfelt gratitude to all of the dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators who worked behind the scenes to make this beautiful day possible. We are already counting down the days until next year's "Project LITtle" field trip!

Please enjoy some photos from the visit below.

We are an educational community that encourages kindness, inspires confidence, and instills the belief that together we can achieve anything.