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District Update

December 2024

District Update December 2024
District UpdateDecember 2024
Dr. Zilliox Message 12-20-24

A Message from Dr. Z.

Hello Fredonia School Community,

First, I hope you have a fantastic holiday with your family and friends. Please take some time to rest, relax, and have some fun.


Second, thanks to all who supported our Capital Project and even took an active role in getting information out to our school community. We appreciate everyone's time and energy during this effort. We will solidify plans to move forward with all the items in Proposition 1. We will also be regrouping and discussing potential alternatives for the areas of need that will not be addressed.


A colleague recently shared a quote from John Wooden that sums up our attempt at a larger project: Failure is not fatal, but failing to try to create change might be.


Last, we want to thank everyone for making the last few months of 2024 positive, productive, and successful. We look forward to continuing our great work together in the New Year.


Please be safe if you will be on the road or in the air over the next several days. Enjoy!


Respectfully,

Brad Zilliox

ACCOLADES ACCOLADES

Taking the cake: Culinary students compete in Gingerbread Wonderland Competition

Taking the cake: Culinary students compete in Gingerbread Wonderland Competition

Two seniors enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at the LoGuidice Educational Center recently participated in this year's Gingerbread Wonderland Competition at Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. Breanne Binkiwitz and Mikaylee Baliya, both from the Fredonia Central School District, submitted their gingerbread creations, which were made at LoGuidice and then (very carefully) transported to Niagara Falls.

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Unified Polar Plunge Raises Over $10,000 Unified Polar Plunge Raises Over $10,000

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The 18th annual Polar Plunge was held at Woodlawn Beach State Park, in Blasdell on Friday, December 6th and our Fredonia Unified Club crushed their original goal of $5,000 raising over $10,000 for Special Olympics!


Nearly 130 teams from 35 schools participated in the event this year, despite 24-degree weather and winds of 13 miles per hour on Friday morning. The lake temperature was just 42 degrees, but our students took the plunge!


To see the full list of student participants or to donate click here.

Head over to their Facebook page for events pictures and more!

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After the Plunge

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Heading to the Lake

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Freezin' for a Reason

Spectator Staff Honored With ESSPA Awards Spectator Staff Honored With ESSPA Awards

Fredonia's student newspaper, the Spectator, was awarded a total of 14 awards in 10 categories, including Silver for Best Newspaper, at the 85th annual ESSPA conference that was held on Oct. 15 at Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications.


ESSPA, which stands for Empire State School Press Association, recognizes excellent scholastic journalism from student journalists across New York State. Schools submit to categories regardless of school size, and in some cases, publication type (for example, photography, artwork, service to school, and representation in media categories).


GOLD


  • Best Written Work in a Newspaper - Ray Dai for his article "Troubled Waters"
  • Best Feature Story - Orion Thompson - "Students yawn for change"


SILVER


  • Service to school - for overall coverage of the Importance of grades (articles written by Abigail Joy, Ray Dai, Ava Hartung, Jackson Gollnitz, and Brady Crawford)
  • Representation in Media - Cassandra Cramer, Miriam LaBarr and Tyler Priolette for their articles on our Unified program
  • Best Photograph - Isaac Williams
  • Best Sports Coverage - Chelsea Orr for her Blast from the Past " A lifetime passion for teacher" about Nick Bertrando
  • Best Sports Story - Aubrey Huber - "Stats do not tell the story of basketball season"
  • Best Sports Story - Alana Holt - "Team wins league title" (baseball story)


BRONZE


  • Best Editorial - editorial board - "Time to wake up to students' needs"
  • Best Editorial - editorial board -"Is education really about grades, rankings?"
  • Best Artwork (portfolio) - Leah Hinds Morrison


HONORABLE MENTION


  • Best Photograph - Cooper Stenger
  • Best Sports Story - Michael Hahn - "Basketball team prepares for playoffs"

BUILDING UPDATES BUILDING UPDATES

WHEELOCK EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER WHEELOCK EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

Making Memories (and Crafts) with Special Guests Making Memories (and Crafts) with Special Guests

Wheelock was a buzz with activity as our littlest learners welcomed special guests to their rooms to make gingerbread houses, ornaments, seasonal crafts and, most importantly, memories.

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Holiday Field Trip Holiday Field Trip

Students in Mr. Wendell's elementary class recently traveled to the mall to experience real-life scenarios and hands-on practice with communicating things like ordering lunch and purchasing items from a store. Students purchased gifts for themselves and others.


This is one of several field trips students take during the year as part of the Community Language Enrichment Program. This includes hands-on real-world experiences on field trips, plus cooking lessons, vocabulary games, and other activities.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL

Decking The Halls Decking The Halls

Middle School staff and students have been busy decorating their hallways, doors, and even cookies, with festive themes.

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Fredonia Middle School lists honor roll

Fredonia Middle School lists honor roll

Fredonia Middle School has announced its honor and merit rolls for the first marking period. Eighth Grade Honor Roll - Colin Abbey, Mason Alguire, Lola Anderson, Benjamin Brautigam, Emelia Domenico, Casey Doolittle, Madelyn Ferguson, Kaiden Goff, Louis Gugino, Aaron Hartung, Ila Hawk, Jack Hazelton, McKella Hodkin, Sophia Hunt, Megan Ivory, Nathan Kelly, Nathan Krakowiak, Peyton [...]

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HIGH SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL

Crucible Crucible

The first issue of The Crucible, the high school's creative writing and art periodical, is available online!

Volume 57 Issue 1 2024-25

Volume 57 Issue 1 2024-25

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Unified Bocce Takes 2nd Place in Division 1 Bocce Unified Bocce Takes 2nd Place in Division 1 Bocce

FHS Unified Bocce won 2nd place in Division 1 at Sahlen’s Sports Park in Elma, NY earlier this semester. Sydnee Hoffman was also the recipient of the Unified Sportsmanship Award. Unified Club would like to thank the following:


  • Coach Sanders for coaching this year! You did an awesome job!!
  • Thank you to Ms. Lundin for your assistance in keeping us all on track!
  • A HUGE thank you to the students who participated this season!! The world is a better place because of YOU!
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2024 Unified Bocce Team

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Luke, Sydnee, Bennett and Kaylen

Students of the Month Students of the Month

November SOTM 2024-25

November SOTM 2024-25

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Sept/Oct SOTM 2024-25

Sept/Oct SOTM 2024-25

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MUSIC MUSIC

Winter Concert Links Winter Concert Links

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If you couldn't make it to this year's Winter Concerts, or you just want to enjoy them again, here are the livestream links:


  • Grade Two Chorus: https://youtube.com/live/HaxWc_pDyVY
  • Grade Three Chorus: https://youtube.com/live/hyNV5N9uJVQ
  • Grade Four Chorus, Select Chorus, and Recorders: https://youtube.com/live/FVv_yrh8aR0
  • Grades 5, 6, and 7-8 Bands, MS Jazz Bands: https://youtube.com/live/h9Z7iZaxpAs
  • 5, 6, and 7-8 Choruses: https://youtube.com/live/ue0XFmflwe0
  • 5, 6, and 7-8 Orchestras, Fiddle Club, Chamber Orchestra: https://youtube.com/live/C3GIWsYbIto
  • All HS Ensembles: https://youtube.com/live/McyoC9khNIo

ATHLETICS ATHLETICS

Fredonia/Forestville/Silver Creek girls pin Sweet Home wrestling 33-20

Fredonia/Forestville/Silver Creek girls pin Sweet Home wrestling 33-20

FREDONIA - Pins from McKella Hodkin, Bryleigh Wicks and Kimberly Bauer propelled the Fredonia/Forestville/Silver Creek girls wrestling team past Sweet Home 33-20 on Thursday evening. Hodkin defeated Kendra Carter in 0:48 at 145 pounds, Wicks pinned Tali Perry in 0:35 at 185 and Bauer picked up her win over Angel Gonzalez in 1:58 at 235.

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Bugaj, Waterman, Wronski lead Steelers to victory

Bugaj, Waterman, Wronski lead Steelers to victory

The Dunkirk/Fredonia Steelers varsity hockey team added its second tally in the win column on Saturday evening, outlasting visiting Orchard Park 7-5 in the WNYHSCHL White Division. The Steelers opened the scoring in the first period when Emmett Williams assisted Brayden Bugaj at the 15:14 mark to take the early 1-0 lead.

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Hillbillies take down Dunkirk wrestling 64-6

Hillbillies take down Dunkirk wrestling 64-6

FREDONIA - Powered behind five pins the Fredonia/Silver Creek/Forestville boys wrestling team defeated Dunkirk 64-6 in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 action on Tuesday. Recording pins for the Hillbillies (2-0) are Mayson Simmons at 116 pounds, Julian Ocasio at 131, Cameron Ingram at 152, Gillian Capitano at 215 and Curtis Vanmeer at 285.

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Fredonia boys take down Falconer in OT

Fredonia boys take down Falconer in OT

FREDONIA - Good teams win games even when they don't play their best. By that notion, Fredonia might be pretty good this season. The Hillbillies improved to 3-0 on the young season while picking up the team's first league win of the year against the Falconer Golden Falcons, 58-55 in overtime, in a Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic [...]

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Record swims from Krenzer

Record swims from Krenzer

AMHERST - Trenton Krenzer turned in quite a performance at a triangular swim meet at Sweet Home High School on Friday. Representing the Dunkirk/Forestville/Fredonia team, Krenzer broke the Dunkirk record (set in February 2024) as well as the Fredonia mark (set in 1979) in the 200-yard individual medley, posting a time of 2 minutes, 6.16 [...]

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C South's best

C South's best

Salamanca's perfect run through the Section VI Class C South league has garnered the Warriors plenty of postseason awards. Senior quarterback Maddox Isaac was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year, while seniors Zachary Trietley and Cory Holleran were named co-Defensive Players of the Year.

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Hillbillies pin Southwestern in CCAA D1

Hillbillies pin Southwestern in CCAA D1

FREDONIA - Fredonia/Silver Creek/Forestville used four pins and took advantage of three forfeits to beat Southwestern 52-15 in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 wrestling Tuesday at Fredonia High School Issiah Ruiz (131 pounds), Cannon LeGrano (145 pounds), Gillian Capitano (215 pounds), Rocco Muscarella (108 pounds) all had pins for the hosts.

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Fredonia boys bowling sweeps Dunkirk, girls edge Marauders 3-1

Fredonia boys bowling sweeps Dunkirk, girls edge Marauders 3-1

FREDONIA - Ryan Kelly's 198-212-558 and Daniel Cook's 175-220-550 led Fredonia to a 4-0 sweep of Dunkirk in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 boys bowling at Lucky Lanes on Wednesday. Luka Paoletta added a 189-518 for the Hillbillies (11-1), who had a team linescore of 776-887-834-2,497.

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Cooking buckets

Cooking buckets

OBSERVER Staff Reports FREDONIA - The Fredonia boys basketball team hosted Buffalo Culinary for its first home game, but it was the Hillbillies who were cooking as they rolled to a 94-30 nonleague victory on Monday evening. Colin Luce paced Fredonia with 20 points and six rebounds, Ashton Putney hit four triples to score 18 [...]

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Ruiz goes undefeated for 'Billies at St. Francis Duals

Ruiz goes undefeated for 'Billies at St. Francis Duals

HAMBURG - The Fredonia/Silver Creek/Forestville wrestling team put itself to the test this past weekend making the trip to the VinLouie's St. Francis Duals, going 2-6 as a team, but with some strong individual performances. Issiah Ruiz shined brightest for the Hillbillies going 8-0 in the 131-pound bracket posting six pins, Rocco Muscarella went 7-1 [...]

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IN THE NEWS IN THE NEWS

Culinary arts students help at Empty Bowls

Culinary arts students help at Empty Bowls

The Culinary Arts program at the LoGuidice Educational Center once again helped to fill some Empty Bowls. Under the guidance of Chef David Caccamise, students made about 650 chocolate chip cookies that were delivered ahead of a recent fundraiser at Wheelock Early Childhood Center in Fredonia.

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Fredonia school board welcomes student members

Fredonia school board welcomes student members

After a successful first year with a student representative on the Fredonia Board of Education last school year, the District is adding to the new tradition this year with a pair of new faces. Anne Creeley was appointed as the primary student representative for the Fredonia Board of Education at its most recent meeting.

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Fredonia adds teacher, grants tenure

Fredonia adds teacher, grants tenure

A former Fredonia teacher stepped up to fill a temporary vacancy as the District's Business Teacher, but the District has now found its long-term solution. At a recent meeting, the Fredonia Board of Education approved the appointment of Colleen Schroeck to a probationary teaching position as a Business Teacher, commencing Dec.

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Fredonia nixes music, sports plans

Fredonia nixes music, sports plans

The voters have spoken. The Fredonia Central School District's capital project three-part proposal was too much for the community to stomach. The voters approved the first proposition - pertaining to maintenance needs of the district - 980-768. When it came to the music and athletic department needs, however, the community balked at the cost.

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Fredonia postpones capital project vote

Fredonia postpones capital project vote

Due to current weather conditions and the forecast for the remainder of the day, the Fredonia Central School District is closed on Thursday, Dec. 12. All after-school and evening events are postponed, including the District's Capital Project vote. The vote is postponed until Friday, Dec. 13 from 2-9 p.m.

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'Our turn' for improvements: Fredonia votes Thursday on capital project

'Our turn' for improvements: Fredonia votes Thursday on capital project

The Fredonia Central School District is doing its best to convince District residents to come out and vote on Thursday regarding its proposed capital project. The District premiered an eight-minute video at its latest Board of Education meeting, featuring statements from several members of the District, including Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox, Business Administrator John Forbes, [...]

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