Attica Central School District

Students in the elementary, middle and high schools taste tested SideKicks before Spring Recess. SideKicks is a smooth frozen cup of real fruit juices that is free of artificial flavors, dairy-free and non-GMO – just great flavors and fun for the whole family. Annemarie Norton, director of K-12 sales for Affinity Group, brought in two SideKicks varieties for students to try - BlueRaspberry-Lemon and BLOOM!, a watermelon-lemonade flavor for our students to try. Both were a hit and our students can’t wait to see it on their trays again. Kudos to Food Service Director Kris Wicks for identifying this new product! (Photos courtesy of Attica food service staff)

Attica welcomed some of the best student musicians from across the region this weekend as our district played host to the Genesee Wyoming Music Educators Association’s All-County II Music Festival! Students rehearsed in Attica the afternoon of Friday, April 12 and again the morning of Saturday, April 13 before putting on an incredible performance Saturday afternoon. Attica was well-represented at the All-County Festival with 18 students selected to participate among the three ensembles. They were: Elementary Band Lucia Eddy: Clarinet Kate George: Trumpet Alexandria Landphair: Flute Caleb MacLane: Saxophone Elliana Vincton: Flute Jr. High Chorus Melinda Driesel: Soprano Octavia Farney: Soprano Amy Ennis: Soprano Balyee Mills: Alto Ilyssa George: Alto Quinn Jerge: Alto Lucian Countermine: Baritone Trevor Gromek: Baritone Jakob Easton: Baritone Sr. High Band Anna George: Flute Kara Hassenfratz: Clarinet Elizabeth Gouinlock: Clarinet Konner Rippel: Euphonium Congratulations to all our All-County musicians!

STATE CHAMPS: Our middle school Odyssey of the Mind team captured the New York State Division 1B Problem 5 title Saturday at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse and will represent Attica and New York State at the World Championships next month at Iowa State University! Team members Caden Morrison, Claira Deuel, Erin Murphy and Amara Brinkman competed against 19 other teams in the Rocking World Detour long-term problem, which challenged teams to create a performance about a touring rock band that is suddenly transported to an unexpected location in the middle of a song that must figure out how to use music to get them back to their tour. Our team earned a perfect 200/200 in the long-term performance category, a 47.04/50 in the style category and a perfect 100/100 in the spontaneous category for a near-perfect overall score of 347.04 out of 350. When they travel to Iowa for the Odyssey World Finals in May, our students will compete alongside 850 other teams from schools from all over the world including Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, United Kingdom, Australia, Argentina, Poland, Russia, Hungary and India, among others. “I’m really excited for this team,” said Attica Odyssey Coach Stacey Donahue. “This opportunity is something they will always remember.” (Photos courtesy of Stacey Donahue)

Students in Mrs. Kayla Eick’s 6th grade math class practiced calculating the surface area and volume of three-dimensional shapes with the help of some new, dry erase board-topped tables! Mrs. Eick uses these tables and other tools in her room to spread her students out at the start of class to review past material and introduce students to the topic of that day’s lesson. In the accompanying photos, Ally Landphair and Eden Dome are pictured at the rectangular table and Daxon Spink and Isabella Myers are pictured at the circular table (Photos courtesy of Rob Crowley)

Not sure what we would have LEAST expected to run into walking through the Middle School this afternoon but a food truck rally definitely would have made the top 5. Nevertheless, there it was, laid out along one side of the hallway between our 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade wings. After a bit of investigating, we figured out these miniature food trucks and their accompanying menus were made by Mrs. Janet Koepsell’s 7th grade health students as part of their nutrition unit. “The project required students to create a food truck based on nutritional knowledge about the MyPlate diagram and special dietary needs such as gluten free and vegetarian or vegan options,” explained Koepsell. “Students were also encouraged to develop unique themes and marketing strategies when developing their food trucks.” Middle school staff stopped by the rally Thursday and Friday to submit “orders” for whichever menu items they wanted at whichever food truck caught their eye. The food truck team with the most items sold will be declared the winner and earn themselves lunch, courtesy of Mrs. Koepsell, from a local restaurant. Mrs. Koepsell plans on totaling up the orders this weekend so she can declare a winner bright and early Monday on the morning announcements.

Shout out to Stephanie Wilson, Amanda George, Jakk Chaplin and John Perl for their eclipse photo submissions! Didn’t get a chance to snap a shot? Not to worry, Attica’s next total solar eclipse is only 44,027 (ish) days away!

Just a reminder, Blue Devils - our ‘Capital Project 2024’ webpage is your one-stop shop for information about our capital project proposal! This page is chock full of important information about our proposal including background on the planning process, how we’ve gathered input from stakeholder groups, description of proposed project elements, financial information, timelines and a schedule of upcoming informational meetings at which residents can learn more about the project. These accompanying informational filers, which will also be running in this weekend’s edition of the Attica Penny Saver, provides a good overview of the work that would be done as part of the project, should district voters approve it on May 21. Use the link below to access the page. Link: https://www.atticacsd.org/page/capital

ATTENTION ATTICA: The location of our Thursday, April 11 Board of Education meeting has changed from the High School Library to the Performing Arts Center. The meeting will still begin at 7 p.m.

LOCATION CHANGE: Due to the All-County Music Festival taking place in our District Auditorium this Friday, April 12, we will be moving our UPK lottery to our Elementary School Multipurpose Room at 31 Prospect St. The lottery will still take place Friday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m. Attendance is not required, but people are welcome to attend. Thank you!

We’ve added a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document to our ‘Capital Project 2024’ webpage. This FAQ section addresses a number of common questions about our proposed capital project that district residents will vote on May 21 including how the project will be financed, how state aid reimbursement works and what happens if residents vote the project down. Click on the link below to view the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document on our website. Link: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2319/ACSD/4167767/2024_Capital_Project_FAQ_s.pdf

Don’t miss April's Total Body Workouts classes! These classes are FREE and open to ALL staff and community members. Please see the attached form for available sessions. Use the link below to sign up or send an email to Laura O’Donnell at lodonnell@atticacsd.org. Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0Vj7VksHfuI235NpiHPINZnpJ_jfUnTq4v_6Jnh30KBCNmw/viewform

Laura O’Donnell, a science teacher at Attica High School, is our newest Attica All-Star! O’Donnell was nominated for this recognition by her building principal, Josh Audsley. “Laura is an amazing teacher who works extremely well with her colleagues, students and administration,” said Audsley. “She cares deeply about her students, the school community and is passionate about science and teaching. Laura does a great job of demystifying complicated sciences for her students and is a constant force for good here at Attica Central Schools. We’re extremely lucky to have her!” O’Donnell has been teaching at Attica for 19 years - mostly as a biology teacher - but is also certified in chemistry and Earth science. She’s the Class of 2027 co-advisor, has served as a ski club advisor for three years and, in 2017, was named a New York State Master Teacher following a rigorous application and review process. Now a Master Teacher Emeritus, examples of O’Donnell’s past work include leading a science cohort through Genesee Valley BOCES during which she worked with other teachers to help unpack and understand new science standards and develop lesson plans, partnering with the University of Buffalo as part of the Western New York Genetics in Research Partnership where she leads an interactive project in basic genome analysis and bioinformatics with students and sitting on a subcommittee along with fellow Master Teachers to explore ways to encourage college student to pursue careers in teaching and science. Congratulations, Laura! Nominees for future Attica All-Star recognitions can be submitted to your building administrator or direct supervisor. Nominees can be any district employee that goes beyond the usual scope of their duties and whose efforts have a positive impact on students and the district. Nominees will be considered by the district’s leadership team and recipients will be announced every few weeks.

A HUGE thank you to the members of the Buffalo Sabres organization who came out this week to work with our elementary school students during physical education class! The Sabres group introduced new hockey skills and games to our 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders who were also given Sabres t-shirts and a FREE ticket to an upcoming game - so cool! Attica Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher Alyssa Allein set up the special event while physical education teachers Shawn Fromwiller and Anthony Ianni assisted during classes. (Photos courtesy of Shawn Fromwiller)

Mrs. Carrie Willey’s pre-kindergarten students are ready for the eclipse after making their own glasses to safely view the once-in-a-lifetime celestial event on April 8! (Photo courtesy of Carrie Willey)

If you’ve been in the High School lobby recently, you’ve probably noticed that the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse came a little early, thanks to Ms. Steves' Studio In Art students! Last week, students used the power of negative shape and the smudginess of chalk to create their one-of-a-kind artworks. Together, these pieces are truly a total eclipse of the art! (Photos courtesy of Laura Steves)

Allison Platten will lead three Barre Above classes in the High School Cafeteria, 3338 East Main Street Rd., Attica, in April. Barre Above is a full body, low-impact workout, with emphasis on the lower body and core. It’s a fusion of ballet, pilates, yoga and strength training designed for a wide range of fitness levels, ages and bodies. Classes are scheduled for April 9, 16 and 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. These classes are free for Attica staff and community members. You must be 18 years old to register. A yoga mat is suggested. Sign up at the link below. Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffsHODqeKU66O8krcJXY8vNORFp2L40pkOoJTjPyFAWbtmKw/viewform

We’ve created an interactive map that breaks down the major elements of our proposed capital project. The map allows users to click on the project element they’re interested in - the new playground at Attica Elementary School for example - then brings them to a collection of artist’s renderings or architectural plans that show the element in greater detail. We encourage you to go take a look at the map at the link below. We think it’s a great way for our district residents to get a better feel for the capital project proposal they’ll be voting on May 21. Link: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2319/ACSD/4096746/Capital_Project_2024.pdf

Spotted this guy on our Elementary School security cameras this morning - he must be hopping by as he prepares for Easter!

Congratulations to our 20 (!) student musicians selected to perform at Pavilion High School this past weekend at the Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators Association’s All-County I Festival! Students headed to Pavilion Friday, March 22 for rehearsals and again Saturday, March 23 before their performance Saturday afternoon. The March 23 concert featured performances by the Elementary Chorus, Jr. High Band and High School Chorus. Members of the Elementary Chorus were selected based on teacher recommendations while members of the Jr. High Band and High School Chorus were selected following an audition that included the performance of a prepared solo, scales (for instrumentalists) and sight reading. Attica students selected for one of these prestigious ensembles were: Elementary Chorus (5th and 6th Grade) • Hudson Sphar (soprano) • Alexandria Landphair (soprano) • Emily Woloszyn (soprano) • Dylan Williams (soprano) • Lucia Eddy (soprano) • Nathan Burns (alto) • Jayci Bauer (alto) • Logan Brueckman (alto) • Caden Morrison (alto) • Emilia Wallace (alto) Jr. High Band (7th and 8th Grade) • Hope Anetrini (flute) • Nola Clark (trumpet) • Riley Gestwick (trumpet) • William Gouinlock (baritone) • Madelyn Saxton (alto saxophone) High School Chorus (Grades 9-12) • Kara Hassenfratz (soprano) • Kate Metzger (alto) • Leah Ford (alto) • Sophia Biniaszewski (alto) • Peyton Miller (alto) (Photos courtesy of Julie Daley, Stephanie Gietler and Austin Matson)

Please see the following message from Superintendent Dr. Kiel Illg: After careful consideration and consultation with peers, emergency management services, administration and our Board of Education, I have made the decision to close schools on Monday, April 8, 2024 due to the Solar Eclipse. Given the unique circumstances being created by the Solar Eclipse (ie. including the challenges of anticipated traffic issues and concerns of the lack of availability of emergency services), our availability of "snow days/emergency closure days" built into our calendar and our ongoing review of the calendar we have decided to make the instructional changes at this time. I understand that this change may require adjustments for students, parents, and staff members, and we will work diligently to communicate this decision effectively beginning today. I am hopeful that announcing this decision now will provide families and our employees more appropriate time to plan for the change of the instructional calendar. Additionally, there will be no activities or events and all buildings/offices will be closed. I hope you enjoy the day with your family, friends and loved ones. Thank you, Kiel Illg, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools