Attica Central School District

Give it up for Attica’s own Skylar Savage (Class of 2023), who just captured the NCAA Division II East Coast Conference title in the 400-meter hurdles!

Skylar, now a junior competing for the Daemen University Wildcats, ran the event in a blazing fast time of 1:05.47 today at the ECC Championships at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester.

Congrats, Skylar!

(Graphic courtesy of Daemen University)

Sending a thank you to Mr. Matt Pita for coming to speak with our high school students during last week’s lunch and learn event!

Pita spoke on his experience playing for the Keydets at the NCAA Division I Virginia Military Institute, being drafted by the New York Yankees, playing professionally for the Scranton/WIlkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees’ AAA affiliate team, and ultimately launching his own business, Armory Baseball & Softball, a private training academy with locations in Rochester and Batavia.

This time, as an added wrinkle to our recurring lunch and learn series, our high school counselors, Mrs. Erica Frongetta and Mr. Dustin Gardner, had Pita and students in attendance play a ground of 20 questions

After asking Pita “yes” and “no” questions about his career, students submitted their guesses about what his career was on slips of paper for a chance to win an array of fabulous prizes from our counseling office.

Thanks again to Pita for taking the time to speak with our students last week and a special shout out for Attica’s own John & Mary’s for the pizza - you put the ‘lunch’ in ‘lunch and learn’!

We’ve got a lot of exciting capital project progress to share with you!

Crews have been hard at work in the Library and STEAM areas down at Attica Elementary, with demolition now completed in those spaces and cleanup underway.

Electrical teams are continuing important work on fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, data cabling, panels, transformers, and new equipment pathways at both the elementary and high schools.

Outside, the outdoor kitchen area has been graded and foundation work is moving forward for the new maintenance building. Footers have been poured, foundation walls are in place, and preparations are underway for upcoming concrete work at the outdoor kitchen.

We are grateful for the continued work of our construction teams and excited to see these projects take shape.

Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community for your patience and support as we continue improving our district facilities!

Our Fresh Connections Club is still going strong over at Attica Middle School and their most recent meeting was really something special as club members teamed up with FFA students for a night full of learning, cooking and a lot of fun!

We kicked things off with a presentation from FFA Officers Evelyn King and Addison Day, who shared what FFA is all about and what students can look forward to when they join. Our younger students were all ears and had some great questions, including “How old do I have to be before I can join?” It was clear our younger students are already excited for what’s ahead!

After that, everyone headed into the kitchen and got right to work in mixed groups. It was awesome to see FFA members and Fresh Connections students working side by side.

Together, they prepared a full meal they had planned out ahead of time. They started with a Buffalo chicken dip made from one of our own chickens we raised last fall, then made a cheesy broccoli bake for the side. The main dish was a mushroom chicken entrée, and for dessert they made carrot cake from scratch with cream cheese frosting. To top it all off, everyone got to make their own milkshakes, which was definitely a highlight!

Once everything was ready, students set the table and sat down to enjoy the meal together. The groups blended together naturally and it was fun to see the younger students, who already know their way around the kitchen, working right alongside the FFA members.

There were lots of laughs, jokes and of course a little friendly competition over whose dish was the best… but honestly, everything turned out so good there was no clear winner.

This was such a great night bringing different groups and ages together.

A big thank you to our FFA students and their advisor, Ms. Alyssa Wright for joining us and making the night so enjoyable!

More photos over on our Facebook page at the link below.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=100057106403663&set=a.1486949909885208
(Photos courtesy of Becky Sphar)

REMINDER: We’re hosting a Community Budget Forum tomorrow - Wednesday, April 29 - at 6 p.m. in our Performing Arts Center.

This forum is intended to provide a clear explanation of our 2026-27 budget proposal, including the factors driving current decisions, as well as an opportunity for questions, feedback, and discussion. We believe that open communication and community engagement are essential as we navigate this process together.

We encourage all members of our community to stay informed, review the budget materials available on our website at the link below, and participate in upcoming opportunities to learn more.

Thank you for your continued support of Attica Central School District and for your shared commitment to our students.

Link: https://www.atticacsd.org/documents/district-info/financial-reporting/budget-documents/2026-2027/25011635

Shout out to our High School Spark Squad for its awesome underground spirit week last week!

Can you guess each day’s theme?

• Monday: Maroon Monday
• Tuesday: Dress like a student
• Wednesday: White lie Wednesday
• Thursday: ‘90s Day
• Friday: Fan Friday

(Photos courtesy of Dustin Gardner)

With Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4 - May 8) fast approaching, Mrs. Sherry Bennett, our elementary school principal, and Mrs. Andrea Barrett, our elementary school secretary, are collecting notes of appreciation for any and all of our incredible staff members here at Attica Central School District!

This is the perfect opportunity to show your gratitude for the amazing people who support, inspire and care for our students each and every day! Just a few words of encouragement or support can go a long way in letting them know their hard work truly matters.

To share a note, use the Google Form at the link below. Submissions will be accepted through Thursday, May 7 and delivered to staff on Friday, May 8.

Remember, these appreciation notes can be for ANY staff member in ANY position at ANY of our schools - the more the better!

Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPJdrIyj4p7S6dYnSIJbO4MfuDKCFkvtU7_yxAzi9UOMIEdw/viewform

Mrs. Dylah Fagan’s first grade class had a particularly melodious - and ecologically responsible - Earth Day celebration earlier this week as students shared the incredible musical instruments they’d been making at home using nothing but recycled materials!

“We saw everything from colorful maracas and creative drums to handmade guitars, wind chimes and so many other unique designs,” said Fagan.

Each student had a chance to show off their instrument, explain how they made it and even gave a little performance for their fellow students.

“We loved celebrating Earth Day by reusing materials in such a meaningful - and musical - way,” said Fagan. “It was so much fun hearing all the different sounds and seeing how imaginative everyone was!”

(Photos courtesy of Dylah Fagan)

Students down at Attica Elementary celebrated Wellness Day earlier this month, participating in a variety of activities to boost their physical, emotional and mental well-being and instill healthy habits they can carry with them the rest of their lives!

After kicking the day off with a school-wide assembly in the multipurpose room, members of our leadership club made hourly announcements over the PA system to share what that hour’s wellness activity was with their fellow students.

Over the course of the day, students played wellness bingo and other board and card games, engaged in movement activities such as cosmic kids yoga or a Zootopia dance party, created their own worry stones and vision boards, plus a whole lot more!

More photos over on our Facebook page at the link below.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=100057106403663&set=a.1482504566996409

(Photos courtesy of Sherry Bennett, Lauren Kocher and Deanna Calkins)

A handful of our middle and high school students headed south over Spring Break for a trip to Costa Rica!

Accompanied by chaperones Sara Bagrowski and Jocelyn Pierce as well as adult travelers David Gromek, Kristina Copeland and Julie Flynn, our contingent of 14 Attica-ites embarked on a 9-day adventure across the Central American republic. Much of the trip took place in Costa Rica’s Arenal Region, home to Arenal National Volcano Park.

“We hiked the park, kayaked on Lake Arenal and visited the Arenal Hot Springs, which is heated by the volcano itself,” said Bagrowski. “We also visited La Fortuna Waterfall where we climbed down and up 600 steps and got to swim in the river near the waterfall.”

Other experiences included visiting a coffee, cocoa and sugar cane farm where our students crushed sugar cane and drank the resulting juice and learned how to make cheese empanadas and corn tortillas.

“From there we went to the Santa Elena Cloud forest where we hiked around and learned about the various plants, birds and insects and then went ziplining,” Bagrowski said. “We also went to Tarcoles River and did a crocodile boat safari where we also saw a variety of birds, and traveled to Manuel Antonio Park to swim in the Pacific and get up close and personal with some monkeys!”

More photos over on our Facebook page at the link below.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100057106403663&set=a.1481138893799643

Big congrats to our Middle School Students of the Month for March!
In the 5th grade, we’ve got Josie Harper, nominated by Mrs. Krystal Dominick.
“Josie is a kind and caring young woman. She is a good friend to others and a hard-working student. Josie has made great gains this year, in all areas,” said Dominick. “Josie shows a genuine interest in her academic growth, especially in the area of reading, and is a true pleasure to teach and an asset to any classroom she is in.”
David Anthony, nominated by Mrs. Kayla Eick, is our 6th grade student of the month.
“David is SUCH a great helper to his peers and tries to keep everyone on task,” said Eick.
Ms. Heather Smith nominated our 7th grade student of the month, Jax Hendershott.
“Jaxson consistently demonstrates genuine enthusiasm in all he does, whether academically or athletically. He approaches new challenges with a positive attitude, curiosity, and a willingness to try their best,” Smith said. “In addition to his energetic engagement, he shows strong character and integrity—treating others with respect, taking responsibility for his actions, and making thoughtful, honest choices. He is fun-loving and kind to his peers. He wears a genuine smile whenever you see him, as well. Jaxson's combination of excitement for learning (in and out of the classroom) and solid values makes him a positive influence in the Attica Middle School family.”
And in the 8th grader, our student of the month is Savahanna Vanderveer, nominated by Mrs. Erin Holt.
“I don’t know Savahanna personally and I’ve never taught her, but I witnessed her display complete and utter compassion for a fellow student earlier this month,” recalled Holt. “This other student had left a classroom sobbing while I was on hall duty and Savahanna happened to be in the hall at the same time. She just wrapped her arms around the crying student and soothed her. She then took her in the bathroom and when I went to check on them, she was with her on the floor just holding her. It gave me faith in this generation of kids.”

Join us in congratulating our High School Students of the Month for March!

For the 9th grade, Ms. Alyssa Wright nominated our March winner, Samantha Zawilski.

“I am nominating Sam for student of the month because she consistently demonstrates a positive attitude, resilience, and determination in the classroom. She approaches each day with optimism and a strong work ethic, even when faced with challenges. Her willingness to stay engaged, encourage others, and give her best effort sets a great example for her peers,” said Wright. “Even on crutches, she was actively helping our guest speaker in animal science. She embodies perseverance and positivity, making her a very deserving candidate for this recognition.”

Jakob Easton, our 10th grade student of the month, was nominated by Mrs. Elizabeth Winters.

“Jakob is a pleasure to have in class. He actively participates in class and takes a leadership role in lab,” said Winters. “He is always willing to lend a helping hand when I need assistance in setting up classroom activities. He is polite and respectful, and gets along well with his peers and faculty alike. Jakob's enthusiasm for learning and positive attitude are an asset in the biology classroom.”

Mr. John Dickhut nominated our 11th grade student of the month, Olivia Koch, a student in his financial math class.

“A few weeks ago, Olivia found money on the floor of my classroom. Her first instinct was to ask me if it was mine. It was not, so I kept the money and eventually found out it belonged to a student from a previous class who was happy to have it back,” Dickhut said. “It also turned out to be a friend of Olivia's who had lost the money. I appreciate this display of honesty and integrity.”

Anna Martino, our 12th grade student of the month, was nominated by Mrs. Elizabeth Winters, who teaches Martino in her AP biology class.

“Anna has an excellent work ethic and has been doing very well in the course. The work she hands in is always of high quality, detailed, and thorough. She exhibits a positive attitude towards learning and has truly embraced the challenges that come along with the course,” Winter said. “Her recent research presentation on ultra-processed food was well-organized, thoughtfully researched, and clearly presented. She demonstrated a strong grasp of the scientific content but also the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. She plans to major in biology in college next year and will be an asset to the science field!”

National Scrabble Day was earlier this week and students in Mrs. Lindsey Gephart’s and Mrs. Melissa Brooks’s class down at Attica Elementary School celebrated in the most appropriate fashion - with a game of Scrabble!

Instead of using the regular old game board, students took to the floor and used custom letter tiles for a giant version of the classic word game.

(Photos courtesy of Lindsey Gephart)

Let’s make some noise for sophomore Mariah Gorski who not only took first place in discus today at the Mercy Invitational, but set a new school record in the process!

Mariah tied the old school record of 105 feet, 3 inches, set by Emily Gersitz in 2022, last year but at today’s invitational, she threw 105 feet, 7 inches, topping the old record by 4 inches.

Way to go, Mariah!

(Photo courtesy of Adam Landphair)

We love seeing our students take their learning beyond the classroom!
One of our 8th grade students, Lucia Eddy, recently completed a job shadow with a local veterinarian as part of her Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project. During her time at the clinic, she gained firsthand insight into animal care, veterinary procedures, and what it takes to work in the animal science field.
To share her experience, she presented to the class and even brought in a special guest - her cat! This gave classmates a fun and engaging way to learn more about animal health, handling, and the skills veterinarians use every day.
She’s just one example of the incredible work our students are doing through their SAE projects! Other students have been busy:
• Building nesting boxes, bat houses, and birdhouses
• Job shadowing on local dairy farms
• Making candles at home
• Creating natural bug spray
• Processing over 200 chickens—and even bringing in homemade chicken wing dip to share with the class
• Baking and donating pies
• Gaining hands-on experience at fish hatcheries
• Running a farmstand at home and selling fresh eggs
• Tractor restoration
• Volunteering at shelters both local and in Rochester
• Raising steers, quail, and horses, and so much more!
These projects allow students to explore their interests, build real-world skills, and connect agriculture to their everyday lives. We’re proud of their hard work, creativity, and dedication!
(Photos courtesy of Alyssa Wright)

We’ve got some talented kids down at Attica Elementary, but we don’t have to tell you that!

Our students and staff came together in the multipurpose room before break last week for our annual Elementary School Talent Show.

Luckily, we were able to stop by and capture a few of our students’ acts, which we’ve compiled in the video over on our YouTube channel that’s linked below.

Go check it out!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoSk67oU0eQ

After spending the past few weeks learning to identify and safely use tools, Ms. Alyssa Wright’s middle school students put their skills into action last week.

They learned how to use PVC cutters to build their own marshmallow launchers, then added their own creative touches by decorating them. Once finished, it was time to test them out!

So, just how far can a marshmallow fly?

Wright’s students discovered they can travel up to an impressive 47 feet and 1 inch, thanks to some careful construction and a little bit of engineering creativity.

First place went to Levi Perry. Runner-up was Caden Morrison with 47 feet. Congrats to both!

(Photos courtesy of Alyssa Wright)

Shout out to our middle school lego robotics team, who competed against teams from across the region last month at the First Lego League competition through Genesee Valley BOCES!

Teams kicked things off with practice rounds before moving into three official Robot Game rounds, where only the highest score counted.

In addition to programming their robot to interact with several missions on the archaeology themed Lego table, the team created a fabulous Innovation Project.

They researched problems that face archaeologists in the field and found that weather was the biggest obstacle. After reading an article about how the rain can make it difficult to clean and sift dirt from the artifacts, the team created a prototype for robotic sieve that used coding to move the lego pieces in order to sift dirt from artifacts. In theory their invention would sense the size of the artifact and adjust hole size and assess the amount of movement the artifact could withstand. The sieve would collect rainwater to clean artifacts, could blow them dry if needed, and would run on solar power.

The judges were impressed that the team's prototype actually moved with programming and said they have only seen that once or twice over the years.

Congrats to our team members: David Anthony, Emerson Spink, Isaac Dunlap, Lucas Zybcynski, Andrew Struzik, Calven Schlau, Lincoln Fleenor, Bobby Cook and James Vogel!

(Photos courtesy of Lyndsay Herkimer)

It was another exciting week of progress down at Attica Elementary, with major work wrapping up in the nurses and behavioural suites and preparatory work beginning for the next phase of capital project construction in our library media center.

This week, teams completed painting, flooring, shades, tackboards, whiteboards, grab handles, lighting, receptacles, low-voltage trim, and continued fire alarm and data work.

Plumbing fixtures are being installed, and millwork was on schedule for delivery earlier this week.

In the library media center, air testing was completed and clean demo began, including shelving removal. Full demo and abatement are scheduled for this week.

Outside, site crews were on hand for GPS layout of the playground, maintenance building, and outdoor kitchen areas.

Ms. Alyssa Wright’s animal room got some good use last week!

With Easter right around the corner, it was the perfect opportunity for a visit from the Easter Bunny, so Carolyn Almeter of Attica Partners for Agriculture and Breezy Hill Dairy let Wright borrow her daughters' sweet rabbit, Annie, to show her students.

Annie is a Flemish Giant breed of rabbit - traditionally raised for meat - but in this case, raised as a pet for Almeter's three daughters.

Thank you to the Almeter family for letting us give apples and attention to Annie all week long!

(Photos courtesy of Alyssa Wright)