Attica/ Alexander varsity cheerleaders took first today at Dansville High school. They competed against 5 other teams!! Anna Hopfinger won the Phyllis Green Award (Do what you love award)
https://fb.watch/nyOheYPpuj/?mibextid=e1zS5d
Reminder: Our fitness center will be closed on Monday, Oct. 9, for the Columbus Day holiday.
Some of our students saw familiar faces today at Fire Prevention Day!
Fourth graders Ellie Keem, center left, and Allie George, center right, took a moment away from rotating through all the different stations to snap a photo with their dads Thomas, far left, and Dustin, second from right, both of whom are members of the Harris Corners Fire Department.
A huge thank you to all our local firefighters and EMS workers for coming to speak with our students for Fire Prevention Day today at the Elementary School!
Our students learned about some of the vehicles, gear and other equipment first responders use when they head to an emergency.
We spotted a few of our National Honor Society chapter members “out in the wild” volunteering at a couple community service fundraisers this past month.
On Sept. 10, seniors Mia Mondano and Alanna Pellicane volunteered at the chicken barbecue to raise money for Gateway Home. The event was a huge success, with volunteers selling out more than 500 chicken dinners to benefit the hospice care center.
Then, on Oct. 1, Mia and Alanna teamed up with junior Kara Hassenfratz at a clam chowder sale and basket raffle to benefit the Cowlesville Fire Company.
Great job, ladies - we love so see our students out helping make a positive difference in the community!
(Photos courtesy of Alanna Pellicane/Pellicane Photography)
Family ID is now open for modified girls basketball and modified wrestling. Make sure to sign up. Athletes need an updated physical on file with their nurse. First day of practice is October 23.
Your Attica Blue Devils toppled the Pembroke Dragons 25-15, 25-19, 25-22 during its annual Dig Pink volleyball game last night AND raised $2,300 for breast cancer awareness, care and research to boot!
Leading the way for the Blue Devils was senior middle hitter Molly Gersitz with 5 blocks and 1 ace and senior setter Elise Dressel with 27 assists, 5 digs and 2 aces. Senior outside hitter Maddie Robinson was all over the floor with 15 digs, 14 kills and 5 aces while senior outside hitter Ellie Cusmano had 13 kills, 9 digs and 2 aces.
The Blue Devils maintained their perfect record with the win, moving to 11-0 on the season.
A huge thank you to all of the local businesses for donating gift certificates and items, Jenn Holt for making amazing cupcakes, MB Hardie and Kelly Gersitz for organizing, all of the varsity volleyball parents and families for their contributions to the baskets and to Pembroke, for joining us in this fabulous night of fundraising!
Our girls are next in action tonight in Elba as they’ll take on the 8-4 Lancers.
(Photos courtesy of Brennan Bezon)
A few shots from Flickerball last night - full album over on Facebook at the link at teh end of this post.
Semifinal 1: Juniors > Freshmen
Semifinal 2: Seniors > Sophomores
Finals: Seniors > Juniors
Thanks to everyone who participated - on the field or in the stands!
Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100057106403663&set=a.821621596418046
Did you know our elementary school teachers and staff were kids once, too?! We know - crazy, right?
Seeing as today is picture day at Attica Elementary, we thought it’d be fun to travel into yesteryear and take a look at some of their school photos from back in the day!
Can you tell who’s who and what grade they were in when their picture was taken? Leave a guess in the comments!
The answers are upside down along the bottom of each image.
Good luck!
Instead of teaching a normal lesson Friday afternoon, Mr. Matt Struzik led his English 12 students in a circle practice. Circles are a cornerstone of restorative practices and are used to foster a climate of trust and support among a group of peers.
Struzik participated in a similar circle during a professional development day last school year and found it to be impactful, so he decided to try it with his students.
Struzik’s circle revolved around a series of questions which students answered when a talking piece - in this case, a piece of an old hockey stick - came to them.
Some of the questions were light - “Would you rather be able to talk to animals or be able to breathe underwater?” - for instance.
Others like, “Have you ever been lost? How did you get back on track?” were a bit more open-ended and evoked some thoughtful responses from students.
FARM TO SCHOOL: Middle and high school students sampled a new variety of New York-grown apples and jalapeno bites during lunch this past Friday. Both were a hit, with the jalapeno bites slated to return to the lunch menu this Thursday, Oct. 5.
In the elementary school, students sampled mozzarella sticks. The whole school was buzzing with excitement for the sticks to be added to our lunch menu with a side of sauce.
Yum!
(Photos courtesy of Alicia Spoth)
Don’t forget, Devils Nation - Homecoming Week kicks off tomorrow with Color Day.
Make sure you wear your class’s color to school and we’ll see you at Flickerball at 6:30 p.m. sharp!
Our sixth grade classes welcomed two special guests earlier this week - Attica alumni Dave Panfil (class of 2006) and Brad Mest (class of 2008) - who both work as operations and maintenance technicians for Invenergy, the renewable energy company that owns and operates the High Sheldon Wind Farm.
Panfil and Mest spoke with our sixth graders about how windmills transform wind energy to electricity, where the electricity goes and how they climb to the top of windmills to make repairs. They even brought tools and harness equipment with them for students to check out!
Our students were blown away to learn that windmills contain so much technology and that they can be controlled remotely.
Panfil and Mest did a great job answering our students’ questions and connecting their job responsibilities to some of the topics our students cover in their science classes.
The pair’s visit also served as an opportunity for students to learn more about local career opportunities in renewable energy.
Thank you to Dave and Brad for coming to visit!
(Photos courtesy of Rob Crowley)
We had 14 local colleges and universities kind enough to send representatives to Attica this morning for our Rochester Area College Fair!
Seniors and juniors headed down to the cafeteria this morning to speak with representatives, learn more about their post-graduation higher education options and, let’s be honest, get a bit of that free merch…
A huge thank you to all our participating colleges and universities - our students learned a lot!
• Alfred State College
• Alfred University
• SUNY Brockport
• Finger Lakes Community College
• SUNY Geneseo
• Genesee Community College
• Houghton College
• Keuka College
• Monroe Community College
• Nazareth University
• Roberts Wesleyan University
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• St. John Fisher University
• University of Rochester
Please see the following statement from Superintendent Dr. Kiel Illg:
Dear Attica Families,
It is with excitement for the individual and gratefulness for his service that I write to you to announce that Physical Education Teacher and Athletic Director Eric Romesser will be leaving the District for the purposes of retirement on September 28, 2023.
I am extremely grateful for Mr. Romesser's service and dedication in his role as Athletic Director since he began the position in 2012. Since that time Mr. Romesser has led the District in providing engaging, educational experiences through athletics for our students. Mr. Romesser was also instrumental in providing guidance in the development and completion of the new athletic complex for the District.
“I’ve been here in some way, shape or form since 1992,” said Romesser. “In that time we’ve had great kids, understanding and supportive parents and some truly terrific coaches - all of which have made my job that much easier and are just a few of the reasons why Attica is such a special place. Looking back, I can honestly say I’ve loved my time here at Attica. It’s my second home.”
As part of the transition plan for the remainder of the year, the District has selected Mrs. Lisa Young to serve as the Athletic Director. Mrs. Young will begin her duties as Athletic Director on September 29, 2023. I look forward to the leadership, commitment, and support that Mrs. Young will provide to our Athletic Department, students and school community in her new role.
-Dr. Kiel Illg
Superintendent of Schools
FYI: The Attica Fitness Center adult evening session will be closed tonight (9/28)....it will reopen on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m.
Attica students joined more than 1,000 others from across the region at the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia yesterday for GLOW with Your Hands, the career exploration event designed to give students in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties opportunities to learn more about career opportunities in local high-growth, high-demand industries.
More than 65 business and career exhibitors in agriculture, manufacturing and other skilled trades attended this year’s event to present to students. This was an incredible opportunity for our students and they learned a lot!
This annual event is a great opportunity for our students to learn directly from professionals in a variety of industries and get a feel for what career they may wish to pursue after high school.
Remember local outdoor sciences, the new elective High School Science Teacher Jenna Linsey started last year?
Well it was so popular with our students that this year, we’ve had to expand it to two sections!
Linsey’s students are continuing to monitor the health of Baker Brook, which runs near the Attica Nature Trail along the southwest boundary of the middle and high school campus.
They also have a greater understanding of and appreciation for the importance of the Attica Wastewater Treatment Plant after taking a field trip Thursday and hearing from Attica alumni Doug Bietz (class of 2009) and Evan Krawczyk (class of 2014) about how they treat and purify wastewater.
Krawczyk and Beitz, chief operator of the plant, emphasized the importance of ensuring water is as clean as possible before it’s released back into Tonawanda Creek - especially as a means of reducing the chances of harmful algal blooms on Lake Ontario, which the Tonawanda feeds into.
(Photos courtesy of Jenna Linsey)
Senior Olivia Bernacki was recently named a National Recognition Program awardee by College Board, the education non-profit that administers the SAT and Advanced Placement program.
Olivia was recognized with a National Rural and Small Town Award based on her overall GPA and scores on AP tests and the PSAT.
To be recognized as a National Recognition Program awardee by College Board, a student must maintain a 3.5 GPA and score in the top 10 percent on their PSAT or at least a 3 on two different AP tests.
Congratulations, Olivia!
Good news, everyone!
The Scholastic Book Fair, originally set to end today, will remain open in our Middle School Library through Tuesday, Sept. 26!
This annual fair is a win-win for students and our library - students are able to select from a broad selection of quality titles while each dollar spent helps raise funds to purchase materials and equipment for our library.
If you haven’t stopped by to check it out, make sure you do so before it’s gone!
