AP Highlights

The District has been busy advocating for a change to state foundation aid after Governor Hochul's announcement last week. Read more here. Superintendent Dr. Franchini was featured in a segment on WNYT discussing the issue, which can be viewed here.

Two APHS students won awards on Friday night at the Saratoga Arts All Stars Exhibition, which was open to students from 10 counties!

*Griffin Momrow won 1st place for his large black and white pastel drawing titled “A Man and His Cat."

*Avary Vejvoda won 3rd place for her ceramic piece titled “Hidden Hideaway."

Three AMS students were the local 2023 Patriots Pen Essay Contest winners! Sponsored by the Sullivan-Jones VFW Post in Poestenkill, this year's essay theme was: "How are you inspired by America?"

Congratulations go out to:

1st Place - Pamela Williams

2nd Place - Lana Valachovic

3rd Place - Sarah Novick-Toth

This week on the Every Student Every Day Podcast, Superintendent Dr. James Franchini welcomes students Vika Grovenger and Mia Banker, coaches Jamie Hanlon and Keith Meissner, and Athletic Director Mark Bubniak to discuss female wrestling at Averill Park CSD. Listen here or find us wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Students in Mr. Duff's and Mr. Miller’s Video Game class at Averill Park High School showcased their original board games to district administrators. Everyone did a great job!

Volunteers from all five school buildings did a great job at the 2024 MLK Day of Service, making more than 300 bags which included much-needed items for men and women, and putting together special coloring book, puzzle, and game bags for children. These were donated to St. Peter's Health Partners Family Medicine in Rensselaer, St. Peter's Health Partners Family Health in Troy, and Joseph's House in Troy.

Thank you to APHS 9th grade students, Morgan Dier and Spencer Sweet, for painting amazing murals in Ms. Doyle's Algonquin Middle School Art Room!

A big congratulations goes out to Chris McLaren, who will be receiving a $1,500 scholarship from the NYS Education Department as a recipient of the 2024 Scholarships for Academic Excellence! We would also like to extend an additional congratulations to Cavan Hicks, Caroline Nero, Mikayla Malenfant, Paula De Andres and Kay Tichey who will also receive $500 scholarships.

The West Sand Lake Elementary School PTA held its annual Snowball Bash. It was an awesome night of dancing, games, and fun! Thank you to the WSL PTA, parents and family members, including several older students who helped run activities.

Students in Mrs. Nichols’ class at Miller Hill-Sand Lake Elementary School enjoyed sledding with Coach Valentine during P.E.!

Coach Hirschoff’s PE class at West Sand Lake Elementary School enjoyed some bowling!

Students in Mrs. Rosemarino's Career Exploration class at APHS had guest speaker Jennifer Olsen come in to talk about different careers in the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. They learned about qualifications, testing and what a typical day would look like as a DEA pilot.

Girls varsity basketball players honored those that have made an impact on them at their 5th Annual Teacher & Staff Appreciation Night!

Students in the Class of 2028 were able to check out high school electives today during the AMS Elective Fair!

Mrs. Erin Tarbox was invited to speak with K-Kids at West Sand Lake Elementary School. She and her family formed Brinley’s Bags, which are care packages designed to bring comfort to Capital Region NICU families. In the five years since they began, they have assembled over 3,000 bags! WSL K-Kids will lead the school community in a spring collection of items to support this worthy cause!

Deputy Nikles came to Algonquin Middle School to speak to Grade 6 Team students. The importance of online safety, a positive digital footprint, safe usernames, and secure passwords were discussed. Students also had an opportunity to get to know Deputy Nikles better. We thank you for all of your hard work across our Averill Park CSD schools!

Lori Friday and Kenny Hohman from local rock band Super 400 (also Get Zep, and Family Tree) visited Mrs. Monroe's Rock and Roll class to talk about their musical influences, the early beginnings of their band Super 400, touring worldwide, recording albums, running a music school, and living their lives dedicated to music. It was a great conversation - and they played, too!

Mrs. Rhatigan's class at Poestenkill Elementary School worked together to make Stone Soup!

In 10th grade ELA: Act 3, Scene 4 of Macbeth, featuring Ronnie Dawson as Macbeth, and our very own Mrs. Mousakes as Lady Macbeth!

As part of January Wellness Week at Averill Park High School, our very own Mr. Miller provided students in grades 10 and 12 with a comical storytelling session called "Wellness Through Laughter."

5th Graders at Poestenkill Elementary School got to explore sound design in music classes by putting on a “Radio Program” complete with acoustic and electronic sound effects. Inspired by the infamous 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast, students performed script adaptations of the children’s books for other 5th Grade students in their Library special (complete with advertisements). Students spoke in a microphone and played sound effects among the bookshelves behind a screen to provide a unique listening experience.

Members of the National Honor Society at Averill Park High School volunteered at the Regional Food Bank!

Mrs. Guyer's 3rd grade class and Mrs. Maher's 1st grade class were able to get together for a Mentor Buddy Day to work on an activity together!

The competitive cheerleading team placed 1st in the JV Division Class B at the Scotties Showdown recently!

Students in 3G at West Sand Lake Elementary School had book club time during language arts where they are working with a partner, and then independently, to read through assignment pages.

Third grade students at Poestenkill Elementary School read about the Chinese New Year in Library and created Chinese lanterns!

February is Kindergarten registration month, and it is quickly approaching! More information, along with registration instructions and packets, can be found here.

Winter is here, and with it comes snow, ice and wind. The Averill Park Central School District would like to remind students, staff and families about how the District will handle weather-related closures and delays in the 2023-24 school year. For more information, click here.

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

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