Meet our January Middle School Students of the Month!
Representing 5th grade as student of the month is Maiya Jackson.
“Maiya is polite and kind to her teachers and peers and is always willing to help her classmates,” said Jackie Lathigee, Maiya’s nominator. “On multiple occasions I have witnessed Maiya willingly help a student by explaining directions or offering support. She is a great role model!”
Our 6th grade student of the month is Lilyana Meyers.
“Lilyana has shown great improvement with her attendance and efforts in and out of class and is not afraid to ask questions in order to do her best work,” said Allison Cali, who co-nominated Lilyana.
“Lilyana is kind, hardworking, and dependable,” added Stacey Donahue, a co-nominator. “She stays on task and can be counted on to take the lead on projects. She follows through and works hard to get things done.”
Amanda Treichler described our 7th grade student of the month, Sophia Harper, as “incredibly patient.”
“She is a kid that will work with even the most difficult students and be kind and respectful,” said Treichler. “She is always prepared for class and participates actively in class lessons and activities.”
Norah Sphar was nominated as 8th grade student of the month by Jocelyn Pierce, who described Norah as “amazing.”
“She doesn't miss often, but when she does, she is the only one I have ever had email to let me know she got the notes AND to check in,” said Pierce. “Norah is very sweet and respected by all of her peers and teachers. She balances school with sports and extracurriculars and is always seen with a smile on her face.”
Mark your calendars, Blue Devils, because it’s about to get freaky up in here!
Our Drama Club has been working hard and is nearly ready to debut “Freaky Friday: A New Musical” on our Performing Arts Center stage!
“Freaky Friday” tells the story of a mother and daughter who, after constantly butting heads, wake up one morning to discover they’ve magically swapped bodies.
As they search desperately for a way to switch back, mother and daughter gain a deeper appreciation for each other’s struggles and perspectives and ultimately re-discover their love for one another.
This is the first time in at least the past 20 years that our Drama Club has taken on a musical and our cast and crew can’t wait to share their hard work with all of you!
Two performances are scheduled in our Performing Arts Center, 3338 East Main Street Rd., Attica. The first is Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. The second is Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 or $8 for students and will be sold at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 and 1:30 p.m. on March 1.
We want to give some props to our varsity wrestling team, which competed Saturday at the Section V Class B1 Individual Championships at Wayland-Cohocton High School.
Our joint Attica/Batavia team finished with 122 points, third overall behind second place finisher Wayne’s 189.5 points and champion Honeoye Falls-Lima’s 271.5. We also had 7 grapplers earn top 6 finishes at Way-Coh:
• Marc Cook (Batavia): 4th at 108 lbs
• Preston Bannister (Attica): 2nd at 116 lbs
• Blake Donohue (Attica): 4th at 116 lbs
• Luke Gutman (Batavia): 5th at 138 lbs
• Memphis McFollins (Batavia): 5th at 145 lbs
• Dominic Darch (Batavia): 2nd at 215 lbs
• Branden Flanagan (Batavia: 6th at 185 lbs
By finishing in the top 5 in their weight classes, Marc, Preston, Blake, Luke, Memphis and Dominic all punched their tickets to State Qualifiers this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14 and 15, at Haverling High School.
Well done, Blue Devils, and best of luck at State Qualifiers!
Our Fresh Connections Club tackled homemade chicken nuggets at its most recent meeting as students explored how simple ingredients can create healthier, tastier alternatives to store- or restaurant-bought fast food!
Students started with a lesson about the different ingredients needed for homemade nuggets, including chicken, breadcrumbs and seasonings. Club members took turns cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces, blending and forming the chicken nuggets, coating the nuggets in flour and breading and frying them up until golden and crispy.
Then, students turned their attention to creating four dipping sauces - honey mustard, ranch, a sweet barbeque and ketchup.
Club members then tried each of the sauces to decide which was their favorite. Some even tried mixing sauces together to create their own secret varieties!
The meeting wrapped up with a discussion of scratch-made food choices and how cooking at home can be both fun and nutritious.
Club members are already looking forward to their next meeting when they’ll swap savory for sweet and bake homemade sweet rolls! Students will mix, roll and glaze their creations while learning basic baking skills and, of course, enjoying some delicious homemade treats - yum!
Good evening Attica families. Family ID will open on Monday, February 17 to sign up for all spring JV and varsity sports. Practices will start Monday, March 17. Athletes must be signed up on Family ID and have an up to date physical on file. Students using the late bus must sign up in the main office in order to ride.
Congratulations to our January High School Students of the Month!
Jocelyn Pierce nominated Colby Tyoe as student of the month for 9th grade based on his rapid academic improvement over the past few months.
“Through his hard work, Colby raised his grade over 20 points, is participating well in class and has had great attendance,” said Pierce “During learning lab, he helps other students with their homework and has even taken it upon himself to leave a regular study hall and change to learning labs, where he knows he will be more productive. I am very proud of the positive changes he made in his education!”
Brooke Laird was nominated by Dan Snyder as student of the month for 10th grade.
“Brooke is the most positive student in my class,” said Snyder. “She’s witty and is always prepared for whatever the day will bring. Her work is always completed in a timely manner and Brooke never complains about her assignments.”
James Nash cited “massive improvements” in classwork and studying habits as one the main reasons he nominated Natialya Lathrop as student of the month for 11th grade.
“Over the past few weeks, Natialya has really locked in,” said Nash. “She has made an effort to participate in class as much as possible and has shown increased confidence when answering questions. Her growth has been awesome and I couldn't be prouder!”
Keira Courtwright is our 12th grade student of the month. She was nominated by Stacy Crowley.
“Keira has really impressed me this year in AP Calculus. She’s a naturally gifted student, but she also works really hard to reach her academic potential,” Crowley said. “Keira aims to really understand the why behind math and is able to make connections among the content we are learning. She is such a kind and intelligent young lady and I genuinely enjoy having her in my class.”
Let us introduce you to our newest Attica All-Star - Julie Daley!
Daley is a passionate music educator who’s helped instill a love of music in our students for the past 25 years.
"Her ability to connect with them on a personal level creates an environment where learning music becomes a fun and enriching experience,” said Amanda Hofheins, Daley’s colleague and chair of Attica’s music department. “With her positive energy and enthusiasm, she sparks creativity and a genuine love for music in every student she works with.”
Beyond her role as a teacher, Daley is also dedicated to impressing upon her students the importance of giving back to the community, said Stephanie Gietler, a fellow music teacher.
“Through activities like making music and engaging in community outreach and volunteering possibilities, Julie encourages students to not only share their talents but build meaningful connections with others,” said Gietler. “Her dedication to both her students and her community is truly admirable, making her a valued member of our team."
Dawn Woodhouse, a teacher assistant who works with Daley in one of her classes, said students respond naturally to the energy and excitement Daley always brings to class.
“She combines learning with fun activities, like Soundtrap, where students can create their own music,” said Woodhouse. “The students agree - Mrs. Daley is definitely an ‘All-Star’!”
Congratulations, Mrs. Daley, and thank you for all you do!
PLEASE SHARE: Attica Central School District has begun the hiring process for a new High School Principal!
Application materials are due March 7 and we expect to appoint a candidate in April or May.
Take a look at the flier below for more information about the position and instructions on how to apply.
Bit of hands-on learning for Mr. James Nash’s Spanish 5 students this afternoon as they headed down to one of our home and careers classrooms to make arepas!
A staple of Colombian and Venezuelan cuisine, arepas are a type of flatbread made with ground maize, pan-fried and often filled with a variety of fillings.
Nash, who worked as a chef in Utah before becoming a Spanish teacher, led students in preparing - and cooking - the arepas, which students then topped with queso, guacamole or ate plain.
When your QB1 is voted MVP, you mark the occasion.
Sorry - we don’t make the rules!
(Photos courtesy of Alyssa Allein)
Many thanks to Warsaw Central Schools for hosting our eighth graders today for Career Day!
Our students mixed and mingled with representatives from Corporate Communications, Wyoming County Community Health System, the Golisano Institute, the FBI, New York Chips and Genesee Community College.
(Photos courtesy of Melissa Biegasiewicz)
🌟 The Power of Community: A Heartfelt Thank You 🌟
It takes a village to support our children, and the Attica community continues to prove just how strong and compassionate that village is. Today, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to Jessica and Derrick Kirsch for their incredible generosity.
Jessica and Derrick recently donated essential clothing items—warm jackets, footwear, and winter gear—to ensure that students in need have the comfort and confidence they deserve. Their kindness is a beautiful reminder of the power of community and the impact we can make when we come together.
Their donation didn’t just provide warmth—it provided hope. One student, upon receiving these items, was overwhelmed with emotion, in disbelief that someone who had never met him would care so much. The impact of this gift was life-changing, reminding us all that kindness can make a world of difference.
Jessica and Derrick, your generosity is more than just clothing—it’s a message to our students that they are seen, valued, and supported. Thank you for being a shining example of the Attica community’s unwavering care. 💙
#AtticaStrong #CommunityCares #KindnessMatters
The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program marked another year of connecting Genesee Valley BOCES students with hands-on career opportunities in advanced manufacturing!
Last week, at the program’s annual signing day at Genesee Community College, more than 40 students signed on for paid co-ops and job shadowing opportunities with local advanced manufacturing companies from across the region.
Congratulations to our 7 Attica students, all in the electro-mechanical trades program, who “signed” with local manufacturers at last week’s ceremony:
• Emma Spink: Paid co-op with Nortera
• Keagan Clark: Job shadowing with Tambe Electric Corporation
• Isaac Herman: Job shadowing with Koike Aronson Ransome
• Evan Miller: Paid co-op with Tambe Electric Incorporated
• Benjamin Wild: Job shadowing with Tambe Electric
• Boden Spink: Job shadowing with OXBO
• Preston Bannister: Job shadowing with Koike Aronson Ransome
The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program, established by the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association in partnership with Monroe Community College, continues to bridge the gap between education and industry, providing students with real-world experience in high-demand fields.
(Photos courtesy of Alecia Kaus)
Shout out to sophomores Peyton Miller and Blake Donohue, our Physical Education Students of the Month for January!
Head’s up, Attica - we’ve rescheduled our TIES (Together Including Every Student) chapter’s Bingo Night Meet and Greet after we were forced to cancel it last month due to the weather.
The Meet and Greet is now set for Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in our High School Library, 3338 East Main Street Rd., Attica.
This will be a great opportunity to meet new friends and connect with others, learn more about the TIES program and how it fosters inclusion, get answers to your questions in a friendly, relaxed setting - oh, and play some bingo, of course!
From TIES participants, volunteers, families and those interested in the TIES program, everyone is invited to attend this exciting opportunity to hang out, have fun, and be part of something amazing. We can’t wait to see you there!
Questions? Contact our TIES Coordinator, Jennifer Rautenstrauch, at jrautenstrauch@atticacsd.org.
Join us in congratulating our Middle School Lego Robotics team for its strong performance at the Lego League Qualifier Tournament in Le Roy last month!
The team has been preparing for months, creating and tweaking code that programmed a robot to complete a variety of “missions.”
On the day of the tournament, they competed in three robot matches with the purpose of trying to complete the most missions in a 2-1/2-minute period. The best score from the three matches was used to determine who progressed in the tournament.
The missions are different actions on the Lego mat. This year there was a “submerged” theme, so the missions all revolved around water. Some of the missions included picking up water and kelp samples, collecting krill and feeding it to a whale, stacking crab traps, releasing a shark and raising the ship's mast.
Great job team!
(Photos courtesy of Alecia Kaus and Stacey Donahue)
On Friday, Paul Fenton from Fenton's Produce in Batavia visited Alyssa Wright’s Horticulture class to share his expertise and best practices for growing in a high tunnel!
For several seasons, the class has been planting and harvesting tomatoes for our Food Service Program. Now, students are now exploring new options for growing and contributing even more fresh produce back to our district. We’re excited to see what they choose to plant!
A huge thank you to Paul for his ongoing support of our district and community. We are incredibly grateful for our local farmers and all they do to help keep us healthy!
Last week’s Fresh Connections Club meeting was full of energy, creativity, and delicious flavors!
The kids had an exciting time experimenting with fresh fruits and vegetables while learning about the benefits of healthy eating through juices. In addition to juicing, club members also had a fun craft activity - making citrus-inspired magnets with positive messages.
The session started with a short discussion on the health benefits of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. Students were then divided into small groups and given instructions on how to cut and prep the ingredients for the juicers. Students then selected ingredients and tried different combinations, including:
• Green Detox Juice (green apples, cucumber, spinach, lemons, fresh ginger)
• Tropical Sunrise Juice (oranges, pineapple, mangoes, and turmeric)
• Carrot-Apple-Ginger Juice (Carrots, apples, fresh ginger)
• Berry Blast Juice (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and oranges)
Each group took turns using the juicers, carefully adding ingredients, and watching their vibrant juices come to life. They were fascinated by the juicing process and enjoyed the hands-on experience.
Once all the juices were made, we had a taste-testing session where students could try different blends. Some kids were adventurous and loved trying new flavors, while others preferred the sweeter fruit-based juices. Everyone shared their thoughts, and then we made our own creation that was the favorite juice of the day!
After enjoying their fresh juices, club members participated in a fun craft activity. Each child received a round wooden magnet, which they painted to resemble citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. They then wrote positive and encouraging messages on them like "Squeeze the Day,” "You’re Simply the Zest" and "Stay Fresh & Positive!"
The magnets turned out beautifully and students were excited to take them home as a reminder of the fun and healthy habits they learned at the club!
Addie Day, Adda Luck, Evelyn King, Beau Hyman and Liesel Hyman, all members of our FFA chapter, traveled with advisor Alyssa Wright to Warsaw last week to compete in the FFA District 9 competitions.
All five of our members did an excellent job competing in the creed speaking competition.
In creed speaking, students have to memorize the FFA creed and answer three questions related to it. The creed teaches students to speak in a powerful, confident and professional manner in front of judges.
Addie placed first in the junior creed speaking division while Liesel took 6th. In the senior division, Beau took second. All three will be moving on to sub-states at Lyons High School in March.
Congratulations!
(Photo courtesy of Alyssa Wright)
The shoutiest of shout outs to our Middle School Students of the Month for December!
Holding down the fort for the 5th grade is Kallee Kirsch, nominated by Mrs. Heather Smith.
“Kallee is a cheerful and fun-loving kid who is always considerate and respectful of others. She encompasses the core values of our Middle School wholeheartedly, has integrity in all she does and takes on her responsibilities as a student very seriously,” said Smith. “Yes, her academics are high, but it is more than just that. Kallee is compassionate, trustworthy, and shows kindness to others. She is an all-around example of what the Blue Devil Pride stands for.”
Cheyenne Kazmierczak is our Student of the Month from the 6th grade.
“Cheyenne is so sweet, kind and includes all students in activities,” said Mrs. Ryanne Glowney, Cheyenne’s nominator. “One of her peers was upset recently and she quickly jumped in to help out.”
Mrs. Liz Kowalski nominated our 7th grade Student of the Month Lucia Eddy, who Kowalski described as a very hard-working student.
“Lucia keeps up with the pace of two AP classes and is a great leader in and out of the classroom,” said Kowalski. “She’s very organized, works hard as the vice president of Student Council and loves running meetings and giving input and ideas.”
Our 8th grade Student of the Month is Jasmine Santos Rios.
“She’s a hard-working student, works well with others and puts forth a lot of effort in class and outside of class,” said nominator Liz Kowalski. “She helps others during AIS class, as well.”
Congratulations to our Middle School Students of the Month!
