AP Highlights

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.

Fifth graders at WSL began the new year with a Mindful Monday. The day was filled with puzzles, watercolor painting, and snowflake making. A perfect way to practice mindfulness and discover calming activities for a peaceful start to the new year.

It has been a cherished tradition for Mr. Sibson to read The Polar Express to all Miller Hill kindergarten students on Polar Express Day. This year was bittersweet, as it marked his final reading before retirement.

The Averill Park Athletic Department announced its Golden Knights of Week 17: Elizabeth Cronin and Noah Myers.

Cronin, a freshman on the girls indoor track and field team, placed second in the 3,000 meters at the Ed Cepiel TCITL Springfield Invitational with a time of 10:42.37, breaking a 23-year-old school record by nine seconds. She was also part of the winning 4x800-meter relay team, which set a new school record.

Myers, a member of the boys indoor track and field team, won the shot put at the Ed Cepiel TCITL Springfield Invitational with a throw of 48 feet, 7½ inches.

APHS student Ruby Gazoorian, part of the New Visions: Visual and Performing Arts program, showcased her talents by performing on guitar and presenting an original artwork during the annual Carnival of the Arts. Entirely organized and produced by students, the event offers hands-on experience in leadership, collaboration and artistic direction.

On this episode of the Every Student Every Day podcast, Superintendent Dr. James Franchini speaks with Averill Park soccer standouts Gianna Pietrafesa and Theodore Tichy, both named Section II Goalkeeper of the Year. The students reflect on their achievements, the mental and physical demands of the position, and offer advice to younger players.

Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Just search for ⁠⁠Every Student Every Day⁠⁠⁠.

Kiwanis Kids at WSL will be having a “Warm Hands make for Warm Hearts,” collection for the month of January. All month please consider making a donation of NEW hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves for adults and/or children.

The AMS Kiwanis Builders Club is collecting blankets, bedding, washcloths, and towels from now until 1/25/26. Help them spread warmth to community members in need during this cold snowy winter.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee met and welcomed two former Averill Park student-athletes now competing at the collegiate level. Merry Gaylord, Class of 2022, is a member of the women’s soccer team at Sacred Heart University, and Colin Brunelle, Class of 2023, competes in cross country and track and field at Siena College. The alumni shared their college experiences, discussed the demands of balancing academics and athletics, and offered insight on navigating the challenges of being a student-athlete. The committee thanked both alumni for taking the time to speak with current students.

APHS student Tessa Keeler participated in the New Visions: Emergency Preparedness, Informatics, Cyber, and Homeland Security student showcase at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity. Working in teams, students designed and 3D-printed a hands-free flashlight holder for first responders, capable of maintaining a steady beam for two minutes. The showcase allowed students to present their designs to real-world stakeholders and highlight the problem-solving, collaboration, and technical skills developed during the project.

The AP Athletic Department announce its Golden Knights of Week 16: Gianni Damiano and the girls indoor track and field distance medley relay team.

The distance medley relay team of Emelia Sala, Mae Miller, Alexa Ruppe and Elizabeth Cronin earned first place at the Ocean Breeze Holiday Festival, posting a winning time of 13:16.51.

Damiano, a member of the boys basketball team, was named Most Valuable Player of the Shawn Walsh Memorial Tournament after leading the Golden Knights to a 54-50 championship win over Burnt Hills. He finished the title game with 16 points and four assists.

The Averill Park Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, in conjunction with the Averill Park Athletic Booster Club, is pleased to announce the Averill Park Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The Class of 2026 includes five athletes and one team. The 2026 induction ceremony will take place on Friday, April 24th at Old Daley on Crooked Lake. Prior to the induction ceremony more information will be released about each inductee.

The Happy Mind: Reading, Writing, and Resilience focuses on real-life skills like handling challenges, understanding mental health and communicating effectively. Students will read fiction and nonfiction, take part in meaningful discussions and create writing that connects literature to real-world experiences.

APHS Program Planning

Congratulations to Miller Hill–Sand Lake Elementary School Principal Denis Sibson, who is retired after nearly 30 years of dedicated service to the district. Sibson joined APCSD in 1996 and spent nine years at Algonquin Middle School as a teacher and assistant principal before leading MHSL for more than 20 years.

Try something new or rekindle a former passion in 2026! View our Community Education Offerings for December & January

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.

The District invites the community to explore the AP Magazine 2025, now published and available to view online. This year’s edition highlights the many accomplishments and memorable moments from across the district, including student achievements, classroom spotlights, and initiatives that showcase the vibrancy of school life.

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.

Protect our school community and always report suspicious links and emails.

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

Instagram: @averillparkcsd