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

Erin Stepowany (CMS) sang with the Syracuse Symphony Pops Chorus and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra on May 18 and 19 in a program titled, "An American Tribute."

Congratulations Retirees!

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.
Irish Blessing

Patricia Bain – East Hill
Donna Breen – CMS
Sandra Bullock – Split Rock
Sally Clark – Stonehedge
Mike Cost – High School
Judith Davis – High School
Frederick Guereschi – CMS
Ramsay Hawkinson – CMS
Angela Hawks – WGMS / CMS
Patricia Lathrop – East Hill
Joseph Licameli - CMS
Julia Mariotte-McLane – Stonehedge
Patricia Metz – CMS
Laura Orlando – WGMS
Suzanne Pray – WGMS
Patricia Reeve – High School
Geraldine Richards – High School
Mary Pat Shannon – Stonehedge
Vicki Smith – High School
David Smithson – Stonehedge
Mary Ann Smithson – Split Rock
Carolyn Trombly – CMS
Eugene Wolak – High School

May 2007

New Assistant Newsletter Editor

Ellen Miller (Stonehedge) was appointed as the Assistant Newsletter Editor retroactive to January 1, 2007 when she first started to help us with the newsletter construction.

Finalist for the NYS 2008 Teacher of the Year

Anne Sierotnik (High School) is one of five finalists for the NYS 2008 Teacher of the Year award. Anne is an English teacher and taught in the district for 16 years.

March 2007

The 25 Year Club - March 28, 2007

30 Years
Rose Ann LeBlanc - SR
James Vermeulen - CMS

35 Years
Lynn Davis - CMS
Frederick Guereschi - CMS
Danielle Hamberger - WGMS
Christine Rust - ST-B
Thomas Sakowski - WGMS
David Smithson - ST-B

40 Years
JoAnn Macaluso - WGMS

Mike and Ray Shaved for St. Baldrick's

President Cost and Vice President Fuller together raised $3,756 for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to raise awareness and funds to cure kid's cancer by supporting cancer research and fellowships.

23 Announce Retirement

As of March 2, 2007 twenty-three WGTA members had announced their intention to retire at the end of this school year. The Teacher's Association would like to congratulate and send out best wishes to the following retiring members:

WGHS
Mike Cost - 31 years
Geraldine Richards - 22 years
Vicki Smith - 27 years
Patricia Reeves - 33 years
Judith Davis - 17 years
Eugene Wolak - 29 years

CMS
Donna Breen - 34 years
Ramsey Hawkinson - 33 years
Carolyn Trombly - 18 years
Angela Hawks - 23 years
Joe Licameli - 38 years
Fred Guereschi - 38 years
Patricia Metz - 17 years

WGMS
Laura Orlando - 39 years
Suzanne Pray - 35 years

Stonehedge Blue
Dave Smithson - 37 years
Mary Pat Shannon - 35 years

Stonehedge Gold
Sally Clark - 39 years
Julia (Betsy) Mariotte-Mclane - 37 years

East Hill
Patricia Bain - 37 years
Patricia Lathrop - 26 years

Split Rock
MaryAnne Smithson - 29 years
Sandra Bullock - 31 years

January 2007

Congratulations to Donna Mahar (WGMS) on achieving National Board Certification. Nearly 7,800 teachers earned Certification in 2006 —bringing the total to more than 55,000 teachers across the United States.

MemberShip Proofreader

The WGTA Officers would like to thank Ellen Miller (Stonehedge Blue) for proofreading this month's issue of The MemberShip.

December 2006

Congratulations to Nancy Menges (East Hill), Sue Pray (WGMS) and Peggy Timmons (High School) for being selected as the 2006 Joseph A Witowski Teacher of Year honorees by the Camillus Optimists.

November 2006

Article Published

Congratulations to Jim Vermeulen (CMS resource teacher, Coach and Post-Standard Contributing Writer) on having his article, "In Pursuit of Average - Don't Underestimate the Value of Finishing 'In The Pack'" published in the October 29, 2006 issue of The Post Standard.

Educator of the Week

Congratulations to Matt Bohla (WGMS Social Studies Teacher) for being named the "Educator of the Week" by WSTM-TV Channel 3 for the week of September 25th.

Nominated for Who's Who

Congratulations to Marsha Tunison (CMS - retired) on her nomination to Who's Who In American Education.

October 2006

New Secondary Teachers

Congratulations to new secondary teachers Elaine Mallory (WGMS), Marybeth Smith (CMS), Courtney Updegraff (CMS), Alyssa Hammerschmidt (CMS), Sarah Duerr (CMS), Jeffrey Dixe (HS), Gregory Borsz (HS), Marie Delaney (HS), Cara Gram (HS), Tara Simko (HS), and Kevin Misino (HS).

New Elementary Teachers

Congratulations to new elementary teachers Kathryn Delaney (OR), Jessica Goodnough (OR), Allyson Winters (OR) and Todd Troendle (ST).

Who’s Who

Congratulations to Lisa Tamiso (CMS), Tammy Annicharico (CMS) and Sue Potrikus (CMS) who have been nominated to the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.”

Community Member of the Week

Congratulations to Lynn Davis (CMS) who was featured in the September 25th issue of the Advocate as the “Community Member of the Week.”

September 2006

New SDM Member

Congratulations to new building shared decision making committee members Bev Rovelli (East Hill) and Marcia Ranieri (High School).

In the Syracuse Post-Standard

Congratulations to first year teacher Marie Delaney (English, High School) who was featured in the September 14th Post-Standard as a “young adult who is making a difference.” (Post-Standard) Marie is a West Genesee graduate, who went on to graduate from Le Moyne College – and then returned to West Genesee this year as an English teacher. Marie “wants to inspire students the way she was inspired to come home to the West Genesee school district, to teach at the school she loves.” (Post-Standard)

Congratulations also to Geoffrey Bender (who was Marie’s English teacher at the High School) who motivated Marie to become an English teacher and who “inspired Marie to look for literature that would reflect everyday life.” (Post-Standard) Geoffrey is now pursuing his doctorate at the University of Rochester.