Bird's Eye View
Hello Larries Community,
Over the past year, the Bird’s Eye View has given you a window into the life of SLC—where students are learning, creating, and growing together. We continue to be very proud of what’s happening in our classrooms, fields, and stages, and we are grateful to share it with the community that supports us so well. Thank you for continuing to be part of our story!
On behalf of the Board of Education, our students, and all the staff that work here at SLC, I want to personally thank everyone that came out to vote on our 2026-27 school budget. This community's constant realization of how important this school is to the future successes of our students never ceases to amaze me! Without our school’s financial ability to continue to grow our educational programs, facilities, and contact with outside county and state agencies, our community would falter for sure. You will see some changes next year, as we have spent many hours breaking down how to try and further maximize the full potential of our current and incoming new staff. As a district, we owe this to our community and the future of our students.
Again, I just want to say Thank You for all the support we are given as we continue to build not only a solid educational community, but one in which “all students can attain their maximum potential in the future!”
Reminder of Important Educational Dates:
- June 4 - MS Awards Ceremony 6:00 PM
- June 15 & 16 - HS in class Final Exam days
- June 16 - Last day of regular classes for grades 7-12 (Regents exams scheduled from there)
- June 19 - Juneteenth, NO school on this day
- June 24 - UPK Graduation 9:30 AM
- June 25 - 4th Grade Awards Ceremony 9:30 AM
- June 24 & 25 - Half Days for PreK-Grade 6
- June 26 - Graduation Ceremony 6:00 PM, Turf Field
- July 6-24 - ES and MS Summer School 8:30-11:30 AM
- July 6-23 - First Session of HS Summer School 8:00-11:45 AM
- July 27-Aug 17 - Second Session of HS Summer School 8:00-11:45 AM
- August 18 & 19 - HS Summer Regents Exams
Shout Outs and Reminders:
Congratulations to all those that have been recognized, in this June issue, for the outstanding work you are doing both here at SLC and at BOCES.
During the month of May, SLC again worked with local social media specialists and created two more short videos to help show “What special things go on inside SLC.” We hope you will enjoy the upcoming videos as one showcases our 5th grade and the other our 2026 Retirees as they share a bit about their time here at SLC. (Look for them to be shared very soon.)
Congratulations to all of our grades 5-12 Band and Chorus members and teachers on some great performances during the month of May.
Congratulations to all our Spring Sport Scholar Athlete Award winners, Sportsmanship Award winners, and All-Northern athletes. Best of Luck to both our softball and baseball teams as they both play for Section X Titles on June 1st.
We would like to send a huge thank you to the Alcoa Foundation for once again supporting various upcoming summer camps for our kids this summer. We would not be able to hold these without their support.
High School Graduation will be held on our turf field on June 26th. As of today, audience numbers will not be limited unless we need to move the ceremony inside.
Please consider sharing the Bird's Eye View with any neighbors, relatives, friends, or alumni you may know that would like to keep updated on what goes on at SLC.
Thank you for all of your support during the 2025-2026 school year! We look forward to sharing with you again in September. Enjoy your summer!
Christopher Rose
Superintendent of Schools
Below you will find some important information related to HS Final Exams, Regents Exams and Summer School 2026 Information. As always, please feel free to connect with us at the high school if you or your student have any questions.
LOCKER CLEAN-OUT:
All lockers must be cleaned out and locks returned no later than Friday, June 12th, 2026. This applies to both lockers in the hall as well as gym and team room locks. No materials will be stored for the summer and anything remaining will be thrown in the garbage during summer cleaning.
FINAL EXAMS:
Final Exams are scheduled for all HS students on Monday, June 15th and Tuesday, June 16th. Final Exams are a culmination of the skills and knowledge that students have gained throughout the school year. Teachers have been actively working on developing these assessments to assess student knowledge and communicating with students about the expectations of these exams specific to their courses. It is imperative that all students are present in school on these dates to be provided with the exams. Make-up exams will not be given. Final Exams count towards 16% of a student’s overall course average.
REGENTS EXAMS:
New York State requires that students enrolled in coursework ending in a Local, Regents or Advanced Regents Diploma sit and pass the Regents Exams. All students currently enrolled in these courses must satisfy the Regents Exam requirements. Regents Exams are required for students enrolled in Life Science: Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, ELA 11, Global Studies II, and US History. Please see the dates and times below for your child’s exam. Students should arrive 15 minutes prior to their exam time to sign in and be escorted to their seat. Students should make sure they have all required materials for their exam prior to signing in (i.e. pencils, pens, highlighters, etc.). Teachers will share the required materials for the exam in each class.
June 2026 Regents Exam Schedule
If you are coming to school for any reason during Regents days, all students must enter through the main office to sign in to your destination. You can only be in the building for school-related reasons (i.e. Senior Seminars for ELA, Review, etc.). You are to only be with the teacher you have signed in to be with and must remain there through your time in the building.
If your child needs transportation for a Regents Exam, you must call the transportation office to ensure the bus stops for your child with the exception of Geometry as that exam is offered during the school day. Please see the below message from our Director of Transportation, Mr. Redmond for additional information and reach out to him if needed related to transportation.
Greetings from the High School Guidance Office!
As we head into the summer months, we want to remind all high school students and families to stay on track for a strong start to the new school year! Summer is a great time to rest and recharge, but it’s also important to make sure you’re ready for what’s ahead—whether that’s preparing for Regents exams, completing summer assignments, or reviewing your graduation requirements.
Scholarship Opportunity:
Seniors, The New York State Excelsior Scholarship application is now open for students attending a SUNY or CUNY for the 26-27 school year. This scholarship can help cover remaining tuition costs after other financial aid is applied. See the link to apply here.
Summer School Notifications:
Families of students who are recommended for summer school will be receiving notifications soon. If your child needs to attend summer school to stay on track for graduation, or to be eligible for Seaway Tech, please be sure to follow all instructions included in the notice.
Important Reminder for Juniors and Seniors Interested in Attending Seaway Tech:
To be eligible to attend Seaway Tech, students must be on track for graduation. This includes successfully passing required Regents exams. Students who are not meeting these requirements may not be approved for Seaway Tech enrollment in the Fall.
If you have any questions about your child’s academic progress, summer school, or future plans, please don’t hesitate to contact their school counselor. We’re here to help!
Wishing you all a safe, restful, and productive summer!
Warm Regards,
Miss Bethel & Ms. Ruddy
The SLC Spanish Club would like to thank everyone for the amazing turnout at our annual taco night dinner in March. We thank everyone who came out to support us and buy dinners. We would also like to specially thank Nathaniel LaGarry at LBSH housing for hosting and helping us every year, Bob's Burritos for their generous donation of most of our items, Webster's Meat for the discount on beef, Cara Liberty and Town Line, the American Legion Post 514 and the ladies auxiliary, the Massena V.F.W., and anyone else who donated items, money, or time. Our students appreciate this so much.
Your support makes it possible for our students to do cultural activities in our monthly meetings and to have the life-changing and culturally immersive experience of travelling to a Spanish-speaking country. Our students travelled to Costa Rica in the Spring of 2025 and will be travelling to the Dominican Republic next Spring. ¡Muchas gracias del SLC Club de Español!
Our parent group will be hosting two fundraisers coming up to benefit the trip and the Spanish Club. On Saturday, June 6th, they will be hosting a car wash at the Brasher-Winthrop Fire Department from 11-2 and on Sunday, July 19th, they will be hosting a golf tournament at the Cedar View Golf Course starting at 9 AM. Your support at these events is appreciated as well!
SLC's Tri-M Chapter will be hosting it's annual Coffeehouse Concert on Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 PM. The performances will start in the HS Auditorium and will feature SLC's Swing Choir, Select Choir, Jazz Band, and Modern Band. This will be followed by student showcase performances in the cafeteria with various refreshments provided. We are excited to see the students show off their talent and passion!
*Recommended $5 donation to Tri-M National Honor Society
Congratulations to the Varsity Baseball and Softball teams on being named NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete Teams for the Spring Season! These teams will also both be playing in the Class C Championship games at SLU 5:00 PM on Monday, June 1st. If they win, they will and advance to State Regional Finals also being played at SLU on Saturday, June 6th.
Congratulations to our Lalonde Family Initiative Scholarship Winners: Mary-Cate Dow, Maddyson Bernard, Sophia Guerard, and Brian Eggleston. They each received their awards on May 17th at a ceremony held at Pike's Place. A huge thank you to the Lalonde Family Initiative for all that they do for our students and the entire school community!
Fall sport physicals were given on May 19th. If your child is playing a Fall sport, they will need their most recent personal doctor's physical on file with the school nurse before they can start practice.
JV and Varsity Fall sports will begin on Monday, August 24th. Modified sports will begin on Monday, August 31st. Mr. Reome will post the first day practice times on our SLC Athletics Facebook page in early August.
You can find all schedules at https://www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=20061 or on our district website and app.
Dear MS Larries,
MS AWARDS CEREMONY:
June 4 at 6:00 PM
Invitations were sent out last week for students that were invited. Please call the middle school office with any questions. We will not share what award(s) the students will receive ahead of time.
MS SUMMER SCHOOL will be held from July 6 through July 24 from 8:30-11:30.
Breakfast will be served at 8:00 and lunch will be served at 11:30. Parents will be contacted in June regarding summer school. If your child is failing courses, they may be required to attend summer school in order to pass.
FINAL EXAMS:
Final Exams are occurring for all MS students in June. Final Exams are a culmination of the skills and knowledge that students have gained throughout the school year. Teachers have been actively working on developing these assessments to assess student knowledge and communicating with students about the expectations of these exams specific to their courses. It is imperative that all students are present in school on these dates to be provided with the exams.
REGENTS EXAMS:
Please note for our accelerated students, all exams at SLC HS will begin at 8:15 AM for morning exams and 12:15 PM for afternoon exams in place of the standard times indicated on the New York State schedule. Please email your child’s teacher directly, a school counselor, or myself if you have specific questions pertaining to your child.
LOCKER CLEAN-OUT:
All lockers must be cleaned out and locks returned no later than June 16 for 7/8 students and June 22 for 5/6 students. This applies to both lockers in the hall as well as gym lockers. No materials will be stored for the summer and anything remaining will be thrown in the garbage during summer cleaning.
CHROMEBOOK RETURN:
- Grades 7 and 8 will return their Chromebooks, Covers, and Chargers to their 8th period teachers on June 16th.
- Grades 5 and 6 will return their Chromebooks, Covers and Chargers to their homeroom teachers on June 22nd.
END OF YEAR DATES:
- Last day for grades 7 and 8: Tuesday, June 16th
- Last day for grades 5 and 6: Thursday, June 25th (June 24 and 25 are half days)
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Mrs. LaBarge
Middle School Principal
Hello Middle School Families and Friends,
We can’t believe we’ve made it to the end of another school year! We are so grateful for your continued support and partnership in helping your child grow and succeed this year
As a reminder, all 6th–8th grade meetings have now concluded. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s counselor.
We also wrapped up the year with meaningful lessons in our Advisory and Health classes focused on respect. Students did a great job engaging, reflecting, and building awareness around this important topic.
Summer School Information:
For students who have been invited to summer school, counselors will be assisting with phone calls soon. Please be on the lookout for those communications.
Scheduling & Summer Support:
If you have any scheduling questions or concerns, please contact your child’s counselor or the middle school office. Counselors will also have summer days to help address questions or make adjustments as needed.
Student schedules for the upcoming school year will be mailed home on August 7.
Summer Opportunities:
We are excited to offer a variety of summer camp opportunities this year at SLC! For more information, please check our website and watch for upcoming emails. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions.
Summer Tips & Fun Ideas:
• Keep a simple daily routine to balance rest, learning, and fun
• Encourage daily reading (20–30 minutes makes a big difference)
• Stay active—walks, biking, sports, and outdoor play are great options
• Practice everyday skills in fun ways (cooking, reading, shopping, travel planning, etc.)
• Limit screen time when possible and encourage creative activities
• Spend time with family, friends, and community activities
• Make time to relax, recharge, and do something you enjoy each day
Thank you again for your continued support throughout the school year. Wishing you and your family a safe, restful, and joyful summer! ☺️☀️
The Middle School Counseling Team,
Mr. Niles nniles@bfcsd.org (Students A-K)
Mr. Clookey dclookey@bfcsd.org (Students L-Z)
Thank you to the SLC PTO!
Several 5th grade students would like to thank the SLC PTO for the very generous donation made to the SLC Comfort Closet. They are stocked full of hygiene products right now.
Please Reach out to Mrs. Rutledge-Labarge at mrutledge@bfcsd.org (or any staff at SLC) if you or your family is in need of any hygiene products and they will get them to you. Our PTO is the best around!
Lane Snell
Madilyn Austin
Emilee Bernard
Aleigha McGee
Maeve Villnave
Caiden Parker
Kat DeForge
SLC Families,
Ten months ago June seemed so far away, yet here we are, bringing another school year to a close.
Our little Larries are gearing up for some fun on Larries Day (June 18)! I'm not sure who's more excited, the kids or the teachers! If you are interested in volunteering to help on this day, please complete our volunteer form.
The Pre-K Program for the 2026-2027 year is filling up quickly. We appreciate families registering their child sooner than later, so thank you to those who have already done so. At this time, we are fairly confident that we will be having three UPK classrooms, starting next year. This will minimize class size and help support the transition into the school environment for our youngest learners, which is a need we have identified.
Kindergarten registration has opened as well. Please do not wait to register your child, as much of our planning for kindergarten hinges on numbers. In order to best prepare for your child's kindergarten experience, we request that you register them sooner than later. Please call the district office at 315-389-5131 for more information.
Dates to Know:
- Grade 4 swim races will take place at 9:30 on Wednesday, June 3.
- Larries Day is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, with a rain date of Monday, June 22.
- There is no school on Juneteenth (Friday, June 19).
- Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25 will be 12:30 dismissal days for students. June 25 will also be the last day of school.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Colterman
Dear Families and Caregivers,
As we reach the end of another wonderful school year, we want to take a moment to celebrate all the growth our students have made academically, socially, and emotionally. June is a special time to reflect on accomplishments, favorite memories, friendships, and all the learning that has taken place throughout the year.
This month, students are learning about the character trait of reflection. Reflection means taking time to think about our experiences, feelings, choices, and growth so we can learn more about ourselves and others. Our whole school is reading Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña. In the story, CJ and his grandmother help readers see the beauty, kindness, and joy that can be found in everyday moments. Students are learning that reflection helps us appreciate what we have, notice the good around us, and continue growing.
How can you encourage reflection at home?
Talk About the School Year:
“What was your favorite memory from this year?”
“What is something new you learned?”
“What are you proud of?”
Create a Summer Memory Journal. Encourage your child to draw pictures or write about fun moments, feelings, or adventures throughout the summer.
Practice Gratitude. At dinner or bedtime, take turns sharing one thing you were thankful.
Read Together. Visit the library and let your child choose books that interest them. Reading together helps children stay connected, curious, and calm during the summer months.
Enjoy Simple Moments. Take walks, watch sunsets, listen to music, garden, or spend time outside together. Reflection often happens during quiet moments.
As summer begins, here are a few reminders to help children stay healthy, safe, and emotionally well:
Keep a simple routine with regular sleep and meal times.
Make time for play, creativity, and relaxation.
Encourage children to talk about their feelings and worries.
Limit too much screen time and balance it with outdoor play and family time.
Remember that boredom can sometimes lead to creativity and problem-solving.
Wear helmets when riding bikes or scooters.
Use sunscreen and drink plenty of water on hot days.
Practice water safety and always supervise children near pools or lakes.
Teach children to stay with trusted adults and check in when playing outside.
Remind children about kindness and respectful behavior online while using devices or games.
Wear clean clothes and stay hydrated during warm weather.
On a personal note, Ms. LaBarge would like to say thank you for making my first year in the district such a positive and memorable experience. I have truly loved working with your children and being part of this school community this year!
Thank you for your partnership, support, and encouragement throughout this school year. It has been a joy getting to know and work with your children. We hope your family has a safe, restful, and fun-filled summer!
Mrs. McFarland and Ms. LaBarge
The Larries Spotlight Award was created to recognize Elementary Staff who demonstrate a specific trait each quarter. This award is voted upon by peers who want to give a shoutout to one of their colleagues for doing an outstanding job.
Elizabeth Hudson was The Larries Spotlight Award winner for the Fourth Quarter! This quarter’s trait was Reflection and Ms. Hudson received the award from her peers based on her commitment to better herself and her students daily. She cares about learning about what reached students and what didn’t and using those moments to grow with purpose and compassion. This is what makes Ms. Hudson a great teacher for SLC.
Thank you, Ms. Hudson, for always caring about your students and pushing them to do better!
No problem—we have a limited number of extra copies available!
If you’d like to purchase one, please contact Lisa Warner at pto@bfcsd.org with your child’s name, grade, and teacher. Yearbooks are $20 and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Thank you!
Digital Detox Challenge for Summer
As the school year winds down, it's the perfect time to think about our relationship with technology. While devices have become essential tools for learning and connection, summer offers a rare opportunity to step back and reset.
We challenge students and families to try a "Digital Detox Week" during summer break. This doesn't mean abandoning technology entirely—rather, it means being intentional about screen time. Pick one week to reduce social media, gaming, and streaming by 50%. Instead, rediscover activities like reading physical books, outdoor adventures, or face-to-face hangouts with friends.
The benefits? Better sleep, improved focus, and genuine boredom—which sparks creativity. When you return in the Fall, you might be surprised at how refreshed you feel. Who's up for the challenge?
If you have any questions, you can contact Mr. Welsh via email at kwelsh@bfcdsd.org, or call the technology department at (315) 389-5131 ext. 29250.
Contact Information
Email: crose@bfcsd.org
Website: www.bfcsd.org
Location: 1039 State Highway 11C, Brasher Falls, NY 13613
Phone: 315-389-5131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrasherFallsCSD