WGTA members have made numerous contributions that benefit the West Genesee children, the school district, and the local community.

Jim Vermeulen (CMS) Gives Presentation

At the March NYSPHSAA Track/Field & Cross-Country Coaches Clinic in Liverpool, Jim gave a presentation entitled "Team Management." It described the challenges and rewards of running no-cut 'big-tent' varsity programs which typically feature a wide range of athlete talent and grade-levels.

2012 Announced WG Retirees
from Sue Taber

As of April 10, 2012 these are the upcoming WG retirees!! Congratulations to:

Patricia Andino
Margaret Bailey
Rick Bailey
Donna Boyd
Judy Brown
Judy Buehler
Kathleen Callahan
Rich Camden
Janet Campbell
Joyce Crisafulli
Sam Dance
Chris Edinger
Cathy Egerbrecht
Jane Essi
Steve Frankenpohl
Carol Garnsey
Jane Goot
Diane Grygiel
Lucille Keller
Mary Marcon
Pat McGee
Malcolm Merritt
Linda O'Brien
Andrea Sacks
Earl Sanderson
Virginia Stady
Kathy Smith-Lance
Diane Stukey
Deaetta Szulis

Sam Dance - 2012 Golden Apple Award Winner
From The Post-Standard

Samuel Dance is the recipient of the 2012 Gold Apple Award recognizing teachers who make creative and effective use of newspapers in the classroom. The Post-Standard honored Mr. Dance during Newspaper in Education Week Celebration Night on March 7.

Congratulations to Sam Dance - 2012 Golden Apple Award Winner

WGTA Members Staff NYSUT's State Fair Booth, Win Awards and are In the Parade
By Lynn Davis, Webmaster

WGTA members staffed NYSUT's booth at the NYS Fair on Saturday, August 27th, 2011.

George Eastman (retired from Split Rock) and Christine Rust (Stonehedge)		Val Socha (various elementary buildings), Pat Ranieri (Onondaga Road) and Christine Rust
The WGTA staffs the NYSUT booth at the New York State Fair!

Also seen at the Fair was award winning woodwork by retiree Mel Taber and retiree Greg Forbes
in the WCNY golf cart in the afternoon parade! If I missed anyone please send me a photo!

Award winning woodwork by Mel Taber on display at the Art and Home Center.

Greg Forbes - riding in the WCNY golf cart in the afternoon Fair Parade.

Congratulations Retirees
From The WGTA, June 2011

The WGTA would like to congratulate the following retiring teachers and thank them for their many years of dedication to the children attending West Genesee schools. We wish you a happy and enjoyable retirement!

Donna Coloton- Forman - Elementary Teacher, 31 years, taught in East Hill, Split Rock and Stonehedge.

Ann Crane - Home and Careers teacher, 16 years, currently at Camillus Middle School.

Dave Crawford - Science, 36 years, Camillus Middle School.

Steven Frank - Instrumental Music, 16 years, Stonehedge, East Hill and the High School.

Susan Gillen - Reading and Gifted Education, 14 years, Stonehedge Elementary.

Rose Ann LeBlanc - Elementary Teacher, 34 years, Warners and Split Rock.

William McGrade - Elementary Teacher, 26 years, Stonehedge.

Jane Rose - Library Media Specialist, 21 years, Stonehedge.

Congratulations WG Music Educators
From The WGTA, June 2011

Kudos to West Genesee, chosen as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education" by the The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. The total district-wide enrollment in music classes and performing groups is 3,669. This represents 74.1% of the entire school district population.

Teachers responsible for this program are: Tony Alvaro, Christine Astafan, Greg Borsz, Tracy Cheney, Marcia DeMartini, Jill DiBattista, Kevin Dimmel, Deanna Fitzpatrick, Steve Frackenpohl, Steve Frank, Martha Grener, Leah Randall, Christy Knowlton, Bill Mercer, Maggie Mercer, Kristen Panzetta, Andrew Perry, Andrea Scerbo, Don Schuessler, Rosemarie Speich, Mike Stachnik, and Deaetta Szulis.

Chase Corporate Challenge Scholarship Winners
by Ellen Miller, April, 2011

Last June, while 62 of our WG staffers raced through puddles in a downpour, money was the last thing on our minds. We might have been thinking about those cookies we ate minutes before the start of the race, or perhaps we were preoccupied with finding a port-a-potty, but we probably weren't thinking about creating scholarship opportunities for our youngsters.

But thanks to those who ran, that's exactly what happened. And because of the dedication (and sweat) of our
faculty, a couple of WG families received money towards college tuition.

Bridget Greene is attending New York State University at Geneseo and loving it, according to CiCi Sauda, Teaching Assistant in the Career Center at WGHS. Greene is majoring in Elementary Education.

The other winner was Christopher Murphy, who is attending Florida Southern University, majoring in Sports Business Management, and playing lacrosse.

New 25-Year Club Members
From Sue Taber, Retired, April, 2011

The newest members of the West Genesee 25-Year Club are:

25 Years:
Richard Bailey (Onondaga Road Physical Education teacher)
Donna Clark (Bus attendant)
William Davern (Fine Arts director)
Virginia Ezzo (Teaching Center secretary)
Lynn Rivett (WGMS secretary)
Susan Rozwod (Stonehedge Speech therapist)
Pamela Wilson (Split Rock teaching assistant)
Jacklyn Young (WGHS English teacher)

30 Years:
Richard Camken (Mechanic)
Donna Coloton-Forman (Stonehedge Blue AIS teacher)
Thomas Donahue (WGMS Science teacher)
Patricia Larkin (WGMS Teacher aide)
Diane Lowery (CMS/WGMS ADAPEP counselor)

35 Years:
Patricia Connor (Bus driver)
Christine Edinger (WGHS Math teacher)
Mary Heil (CMS Math teacher)
Joy Miller (Bus driver)

40 Years:
Jane Essi (WGMS Math teacher)

Teachers Honored by Optimists
from The Communicator, December, 2010

Stonehedge Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Kelli Barbuto, CMS mathematics teacher Kathleen Callahan, and high school art teacher Gail Glagola received the 2010 Joseph A. Witowski Teacher of the Year Award. Honorees and their families were guests of the Optimists on November 9th at Gilfilan's West Hill Catering Club. School administrators introduced each honoree and described their unique contributions.

Merrick Honored for Excellence in Counseling
from The Communicator, November, 2010

Kay Merrick, West Genesee Director of Counseling Services, was honored at Le Moyne College with the Edward J. Gorman Award for Excellence in Counseling on September 20. This honor acknowledges Merrick's contributions as a leader in the counseling field. It also recognizes her ability to positively impact the lives of many others in a significant manner, while celebrating the entire school counseling profession.

New WG Staff Members
from The Communicator, October, 2010

New teachers employed by the District from left to right, in back, are Ann Colabufo, Bishop Ludden Special Education; Lorraine Zraik, WGMS - Art; Ashley, WGMS-Special Education; Leah Randall EH/OR-Art; Theresa Kennedy, WGHS - Music; Colleen, WGHS - Math; and Heidi Becerine-Curry, WGHS - Special Education / Literacy. In the front row from left to right are Nicole Krudys, Bishop Ludden - Special Education; Jacqueline Sullivan, CMS- Art; Kevin Krol, WGMS - AIS/Math; Eric Burns, WGHS- Social Studies; Christopher Clayton, WGHS - Technology, and Connor Murphy, WGHS-Social Studies.

WG Staff Recognized at Chase Corporate Challenge 2010
from The Communicator, August, 2010

On June 22, 62 West Genesee School District Staff members gathered at Onondaga Lake Park to take part in the Chase Corporate Challenge Run/Walk. This was the 5th year that West Genesee has been involved in the event.

Participants included teachers, teacher assistants, teacher aides, administrators, office staff members and our superintendent, Dr. Brown. Each building was represented by at least one participant at the event. WGTA member Theresa Garofalo (WGM) organizes the West Genesee participation.

West Genesee walked away as repeat winners of the Scholastic Challenge Award for the lark School division. This was an award given out to the school district with the highest percentage of their employees involved in the Corporate Challenge.

The West Genesee staff members were presented with a plaque and two of our students will be honored this year with $500 scholarships.

August 2010

Science Teachers Attend Honeywell Institute
from The Communicator

Middle School science teachers Judy Allen (WGMS) and Sue Potrikus (CMS) were accepted into the Honeywell Institute for Ecosystems Education which was held from August 9 - 13.

Honeywell teamed up with the Montezuma Audubon Center and the Onondaga Audubon Society to present the programs, which is targeted toward middle school science teachers. The intention was to immerse teachers in the history of Onondaga Lake and its impact on the environment as well as the environmental issues surrounding it.

Left, Larry Laszio, Chestnut Hill, John Clancy, Soule Road, Sue Potrikus, Camillus Middle, and Judy Allen, West Genesee Middle, are being helped by another teacher in the program, conduct environmental sampling of Sw Mill Creek in the WIllow Bay area of Long Branch Park. (Photo: Pennysaver Scotsman Media Group)

The teachers met at the Onondaga Lake Yacht Club each day and were immersed in hands-on activities, speakers, field trips, and field experiences. They were provided with many resource materials including field guide books that can be used with their students in identifying birds and plant life.

September 2009

WGTA Volunteers Staff NYSUT Booth at the NYS Fair
by Lynn Davis

On September 1st WGTA volunteers staffed the NYSUT booth at the New York State Fair. The WGTA volunteers were Thersa Mosey, Kristen Czaplicki, Bonnie Young, Marcia and Pat Ranieri, Pat Andino, Margie Thiele, Lisa Tamiso and Julie Lodge.

WGTA members Lisa Tamiso (left) and Julie Lodge (right) helped staff the NYSUT booth at the Great New York State Fair!

December 2009

WG L.O.T.E. Department Wins Statewide Award
by Ellen Miller

Kudos to The West Genesee "Language Other Than English (L.O.T.E.) Department" for receiving the James E. Allen Statewide Award from the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers on Nov. 14 at the LECNY-NYSAFLT Regional Conference.

This award recognizes and honors outstanding foreign language programs throughout New York State. One school district or school within each of NYSAFLT’s ten regions can be selected annually for the award. The selection committee takes into account the size of the district, number of languages offered, number of students taking languages, extra-curricular programs, public relations, teacher participation at local and state professional events, etc.

(Pictured below: Abbe Guillet and Susan Barnes from NYSAFLT along with WG LOTE teachers and high school administrators: Kathleen Wagner, Paige Gardner, Aileen Pawloski, Michael Caraccio, Mary LeClerc, Marcia Ranieri, Sarah DeCapio, Robert Manipole, Theresa Mosey, Jennifer Roethel, Angela Flynn, Margaret Lerner, and Lisa Tamiso.) Photo reprinted with permission.

December 2009

Two WG Teachers Win Educator of Excellence Award
by Ellen Miller

Kudos to West Genesee High School science teacher Craig Dowler and West Genesee Middle School science teacher Rick Chapman for earning the Greater CNY Education Consortium's Philip Martin Award as an Educator of Excellence at the 17th Annual Professional Partnerships Conference at the OnCenter in Syracuse.

Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award
by Ellen Miller

Kudos to West Genesee Middle School Physical Education Teacher Janine Corning for garnering the 2009 NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYSAHPERD) Central North Zone Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award.

April 2010

West Genesee Music Teachers: A Class Act
by Ellen Miller

We’ve all heard it: West Genesee is one of the best communities for music education in the United States. Our band, orchestra and choral programs are unsurpassed in the area. The driving force behind these quality programs is the elite group we know as West Genesee music teachers. And while we know they give hours of their time working with students outside of school, you may not know that many of them are involved in their own musical endeavors as musicians in their own right.

Andy Perry, band director at WGHS and instrumental music teacher at CMS and WGHS, has been co-conducting The Central Winds; a Music Educators’ Wind Ensemble for the last nine years. The band, made up of music educators from Central New York, prepares three to four concerts a year.

“Being involved as a conductor has truly challenged me to become better. As a result, my own teaching and conducting here at WG has improved immensely,” said Perry.

“The responsibility is large and the pressure to perform is all there. I get better every year as a result of this adult band,” Perry said. The band was chosen to perform at this year’s Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic held in Chicago.

Choral music teachers Don Schuessler and Christy Niedermaier Knowlton serve as music directors in the community as well. Schuessler, CMS music teacher and chorus director, is the associate conductor of the Syracuse University Oratorio Society and a member of the Syracuse Pops Chorus. In addition, he performs as a church musician at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Camillus.

Knowlton, WGMS music teacher and chorus director, serves as the music director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. She also has a private lesson studio of about 20 students, teaching piano and voice.

June 2010

Sue Bingham - Accepted to Honeywell Educators at Space Program
by Ellen Miller

KUDOS to Sue Bingham, 6th grade math teacher at WGMS, who was just accepted to the basic Honeywell educators at space program. The basic program provides teachers with new and innovative teaching strategies to educate students about math and science. Topics include engineering, science and technology. Sue will attend the program in June.

Andrew Perry - Syracuse Symphony Orchestra Outstanding Music Educator of the Year in Instrumental Music-Band
by Ellen Miller

Kudos to Andrew Perry, instrumental music teacher at CMS and WGHS and director of the high school Wind Ensemble since 1987, for being selected winner of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra Outstanding Music Educator of the Year in Instrumental Music- Band.

Perry was nominated by students, parents, colleagues, and administrators for this highly coveted and competitive award. He was recognized by the Syracuse Symphony during its concert on May 15.

Lynn Davis - Website Award Winner
by Ellen Miller

Kudos to WGTA webmaster and retired teacher Lynn Davis for garnering a First Place Award in a national competition sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers Communications Network. This is the 11th national win in 12 years for the website!

And another well-deserved KUDOS to Davis for winning an Award of Merit in the NYSUT Journalism Competition sponsored by the New York State United Teachers. This is the sixth such award in seven years for the website!