Our fourth graders participated in an academic escape room yesterday!
After each academic task, students were able to “escape” each classroom and trick-or-treat to Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Krawczyk, Nurse Dispensa, Miss Crowley and a grade level teacher.
Nothing like a little candy to serve as motivation!
(Photos courtesy of Jessica Edwards)
Our final featured Friday farm in honor of National Farm to School Month is Burley Berries & Blooms in Warsaw!
Owned and operated by Ryan and Megan Burley, Burley Berries & Blooms has many aspects to its business. It’s a boutique fruit and flower farm, a florist, offers a fruit and flower CSA, u-pick flowers and also operates a micro-creamery where Ryan and Megan produce a variety of flavored milks.
The Burleys have been big supporters of our food service department with Megan leading multiple professional development opportunities for our staff over the past year or so.
Thank you, Burley Berries & Blooms, for being such a fantastic partner!
On October 28, our Fresh Connections Club had an exciting Apple Adventure full of hands-on learning and tasty treats!
First, students learned how to peel, core, and cook apples, adding flavors like cinnamon or honey to make their own unique batch of applesauce to take home and share!
Then, to learn how to keep apples fresh, students tested lemon juice, salt water, and sugar water on apple slices, discovering which method worked best to prevent browning.
Shout out to Logan, for meticulously testing each browning method and sharing thoughtful insights; Jade, Shannon and Adriana who wowed everyone with their custom applesauce flavors and to Arley, who stepped up as a leader, helping younger students with safe peeling tips.
We love seeing our students excited about healthy snacks and food science!
Few shots from across our three school buildings yesterday, full photo album over on our Facebook page at the link below.
Congratulations to all our best costume winners and a huge thank you to all our teachers, staff and students who helped make it such a fun and memorable Halloween!
Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100057106403663&set=a.1064077965505740
Fresh Connections Club - Apple Adventure Recap!
On October 28, our Fresh Connections Club had an exciting Apple Adventure full of hands-on learning and tasty treats!
🍏 Applesauce Making: Students learned how to peel, core, and cook apples, adding flavors like cinnamon or honey to make their own unique batch of applesauce to take home and share!
🍎 Apple Browning Experiment: To learn how to keep apples fresh, students tested lemon juice, salt water, and sugar water on apple slices, discovering which method worked best to prevent browning.
🍏 Apple Trivia: Fun apple facts and trivia had everyone engaged, exploring everything from apple varieties to health benefits.
Shoutouts to Our Stars! Logan meticulously tested each browning method, sharing thoughtful insights; Jade, Shannon, and Adriana wowed everyone with their custom applesauce flavors; and Arley stepped up as a leader, helping younger students with safe peeling tips.
We love seeing our students excited about healthy snacks and food science!
Lots of smiles at our Best Buddies meet up yesterday at Attica Elementary School.
Our buddies got together for some Halloween-themed activities, with younger students rotating through different stations manned by our high schoolers.
The buddies painted pumpkins, pinned the spider on the web, went pumpkin bowling and had scooter races in the hallway among other fun activities.
Thanks for letting us tag along!
Few shots from our Rib-B-Q taste test last week!
Many thanks to everyone who donated at today’s ConnectLife Blood Drive!
Due to the generosity of our students and staff, ConnectLife was able to collect 14 units of blood during today’s drive - not too shabby, Blue Devils!
Our Fresh Connections Club had an incredible first meeting last week with 13 energetic middle school students getting together for an evening of Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice!
At the outset of the Oct. 24 meeting, students paired up in mentor-mentee pairs with 5th/6th graders teaming up with 7th/8th graders. This approach allowed younger students to learn from their older peers while building confidence and creating a supportive club environment.
To kick off the meeting, students took turns making berry and pumpkin spice smoothies with our district’s new smoothie bike, pedaling to blend their drinks. It added a fun fitness twist to the experience and kept everyone laughing and engaged. Fifth grader Jackson Price decided to go a bit rogue and added a touch of maple syrup to his pumpkin spice smoother. The gamble paid off, however, and everyone was wowed by his unique combination of flavors!
Then, students got their own pumpkin to paint and decorate, filling the room with fall colors and creativity.
Students also tried their hand at making air-fried kale chips, exploring different flavors and surprising themselves with how tasty and nutritious this snack could be!
Many thanks to club advisors Becky Sphar and Melissa Brooks for the info and photos - we can’t wait to see what club members get up to at their next meeting, Adventures with Apples!
Fresh Connections Club is made possible via the $100,000 farm to school grant awarded to our district by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets earlier this month.
“I don’t break easy,” reads one of the favorite sayings in Katie Snyder’s, nee Pawlicki’s, senior yearbook.
It’s a mantra that served the 1992 Attica alumna well when she competed in the Wineglass Marathon in Corning and the Chicago Marathon last October and one she expects to once again lean on when she competes in the 54th Annual New York City Marathon Nov. 3.
Snyder, who will be repping her alma mater by wearing an Attica Track & Field jersey during the 26.2-mile race, came to the sport of running later in life.
“Walking my dog down Clinton Street in Bennington for like 16 years - that’s how I started,” said Snyder, a nurse practitioner with United Healthcare.
Eventually, she found her way to the Checkers Athletic Club out of Buffalo and, after chatting with fellow club member and ‘92 Attica grad Todd Gadd one day a couple years ago, decided to run a marathon.
“I approached him at the Gateway Home Meat Raffle and he said ‘You already do all the training, why wouldn’t you run a marathon,’” Snyder recalled. “So I put my name in the lottery for the New York City Marathon and of the 165,000 or so applications that get submitted each year, only 4 percent get chosen for a spot and I was lucky enough to be chosen.”
Snyder’s lowered her time in each marathon she’s run, going from 4 hours and 41 minutes in the Wineglass to 4:40 in Chicago.
“So for New York, I’m hoping for a 4:39,” she said with a laugh.
To achieve her goal, Snyder will have to push through the physical and mental pain that are hallmarks of marathons.
“Usually at mile 20 is when you need the encouragement and support from others,” she said. “But I feel prepared. I’m ready to face it.”
But if, during the 4-½-hour race, Snyder finds herself in need of a little extra boost, all she has to do is look down at the bib number that’ll be safety-pinned to her chest.
“The ironic thing is my bib number ends in 591, which was the phone area code for Attica growing up,” she said. “So I’ll be carrying a little bit of home with me during the race. I feel like it’s meant to be.”
Snyder is pictured in her senior yearbook and shortly after completing the Chicago Marathon last October.
We're thrilled to announce that our Farm to School Coordinator, Alicia Spoth and Food Service Manager, Kris Wicks have been honored at the New York School Nutrition Association Annual Conference in Verona, NY, for their Exemplary Farm to School Projects! This prestigious award recognizes their incredible work in promoting local foods and building valuable partnerships across the state.
"Over the past few years, these two remarkable women have passionately built and expanded Attica’s Farm to School program, bringing fresh, locally sourced foods to our students and fostering a powerful connection between our school and local farmers,” said Meaghan Matuszak, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations. "Their commitment, and that of our outstanding cafeteria staff, to this program is vital to our students' overall success and well-being, supporting healthier eating habits, hands-on learning experiences, and stronger ties to the community.”
If you see Alicia or Kris around, please join us in congratulating them on this wonderful achievement - we’re so proud to have such dedicated, innovative leaders right here in Attica!
This week’s featured Friday farm is Fenton’s Produce out in Batavia!
Owned and operated by Paul and Gail Fenton, Fenton’s Produce is our go-to supplier for fresh produce not only for our cafeteria but also for our new Mobile Farm Stand!
Paul and Gail have been big supporters of our district’s agricultural program the past several years - including by offering advice and expertise as we were getting our high tunnel up and running a few years ago.
Earlier this week, Jill Pierce’s students took a field trip to Fenton’s to learn more about how crops are grown and harvested.
“Paul was wonderful at showing the kids around and answering all the questions,” said Pierce. “It was a great experience for students to see the work that goes into getting the produce that we stock the farm stand with each day.”
Thank you, Fenton’s Produce!
(Photos courtesy of Jill Pierce)
Join us in congratulating Nici Parkhurst on being named an Attica All-Star!
A first grade teacher at Attica Elementary School, Parkhurst is one of just five Attica staff members with 25 years of service to our district.
Sarah Stenson, an elementary school STEAM teacher, has known Parkhurst as a co-teacher, colleague and friend for the past 25 years and called her “one of the most dedicated and talented teachers I have encountered.”
“Not only is she an exceptional teacher,” continued Stenson, “but someone who has positively impacted the lives of countless students, including my own children who were fortunate enough to have her as their fourth-grade teacher.”
Parkhurst also taught Elementary School Principal Sherry Bennett’s kids when they were in first grade.
“Along with her experience, she brings a calm and patient presence to the classroom and is prepared to tackle any situation that arises,” Bennett said. “As an educator, Nici is constantly working to better herself. She never stays long where she is comfortable and always wants to push herself, and her students, to be the best she possibly can - I really admire that in her.”
Fellow first grade teacher Marcia Danahy praised Parkhurst’s kindness and patience.
“Because of that, she’s very approachable for the students, teachers and parents,” said Danahy, who’s worked with Parkhurst for the past 23 years. “Anyone that walks by her classroom can witness Nici's love for her students. You can usually find her laughing and truly enjoying her job and students. Attica Central School District is extremely lucky to have Nici as part of their faculty!”
While Parkhurst drew praise from colleagues for how she interacts with students, her contributions aren’t confined to the classroom.
She’s served as a coach, department chair and leader of Attica Elementary’s Professional Growth Team where she’s helped mentor colleagues and drive innovation.
“She has also been a dedicated member of various committees and parent organizations, demonstrating her commitment to the broader school community and willingness to lead by example,” said Stenson. “In every role, Nici demonstrated the same level of passion, commitment, and excellence she brings to the classroom. She represents the very best of what teaching can and should be.”
For the next two weeks, students can apply to five SUNY schools for free and save up to $250!
SUNY is waiving fees as part of its initiative to encourage high school seniors to apply for college early in the application period.
The free application period runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 3.
Visit suny.edu/apply for more information.
Our district’s new Mobile Farm Stand doesn’t restock itself, it takes a special group of committed volunteers!
At the forefront of that group is our Farm to School Coordinator, Alicia Spoth.
Pictured below, center, during a 2023 field trip to Intergrow Greenhouses in Albion, Spoth’s dedication to ensuring our farm stand is fully stocked and ready for the community to shop is second to none - thank you Alicia!
A huge shout out is also due Jill Pierce and her students, who restock the stand daily, Tuesday through Friday.
Thank you Hayden, Darren, Jamison and Lilli, for all your hard work!
(Photos courtesy of Jill Pierce)
Few shots from our Future Farmers of America chapter’s annual trip to Camp Oswegatchie in Croghan, Lewis County, last month.
Students enjoyed some INTENSE games of tetherball, volleyball, kayaking, ropes courses, zip lining and swinging over the Oswegatchie River.
“They also learned about the area and strengthened their teamwork and leadership skills,” said FFA Advisor Ms. Alyssa Wright.” Every student challenged themselves by climbing 40 feet up a tree for the zip lining course!”
(Photos courtesy of Alyssa Wright)
If you’ve noticed the orange tractor tires outside the entrances to our middle and high schools, you can thank Alyssa Wright’s seventh and eighth grade intro to ag students who’ve been working hard to transform them into festive pumpkins!
Community member Mitch Ling donated the tires and our middle school intro to ag class has spent the past few weeks cleaning and painting them.
“We’re pretty happy with how they turned out,” said Wright.
(Photos courtesy of Alyssa Wright)
Students in Mrs. Jill Pierce’s special education class headed to Becker Farms in Gasport last week for a bit of outside-the-classroom learning!
“We learned about how farms have changed over time, took a wagon ride to the apple orchard, picked apples and fed the goats, pigs and alpacas,” said Pierce. “The class enjoyed the trip and will be using the apples picked to make apple dumplings for their Basic Bites food cart this week!”
(Photos courtesy of Jill Pierce)
Your Attica Blue Devils raised $5,320.66 at their Digging for Domes volleyball game against Pembroke last Thursday night - that’s $1,000 MORE than they raised in their 2022 and 2023 Dig Pink fundraisers COMBINED!
The fundraising game was named in honor of Melanie Domes, a high school special education teacher who was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile ducts, in May. The entire fundraising sum will be donated to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, a global non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for the disease.
“All I have to say is thank you to everyone who supported this cause, whether they were at the game or not,” said Varsity Volleyball Coach Natalie Perl. “I have to give all the credit to our players. They played such an important role in helping raise money. I was and still am amazed at how many donations we got this year and that was due to the players going around and asking different businesses.”
In addition to soliciting donations, Attica volleyball players raised money by selling cupcakes, t-shirts and 50/50 raffle tickets and with a serving competition for members of the audience.
“We sold out of all of our 500 cupcakes and the 2,000 50/50 tickets we bought, so that says a lot,” said Perl. “I also want to thank Pembroke’s varsity coach, Mary Rupp, who’s been great with helping sell t-shirts at Pembroke, and all her players who helped support the fundraiser by purchasing t-shirts, cupcakes and participating in the serving competition.”
The Dragons ended up topping the Blue Devils in five sets Thursday, 26-24, 21-25, 25-22, 20-25, 18-16, but Perl said she was proud of the way her team fought.
“I have to say it was probably the hardest we have played the entire season,” she said. “I’d be lying if I said I knew for sure we'd be able to lock in and go from being emotional to being ready to play. It was challenging for me to do so I'm very proud of the girls for handling it very well.”
(Game photos courtesy of Brennan Bezon)
Our next featured farm for National Farm to School Month is Merle’s Fresh Produce!
Merle’s has been an incredible partner to our food service staff, supplying us with various items for freezing as well as fresh corn, spinach, squash, tomatoes and broccoli for our daily salad bar.
Owned and operated by Matt and Ashley Merle, they’ve also supplied produce for our Mobile Farm Stand this year and are always willing to lend a hand and tackle a new challenge.
Thank you, Merle’s!
