Excellence in Our Schools

Transcription

1 South Colonie Central School District Excellence in Our Schools

2 An enriched and expansive academic program High School Level u While all students are now required to graduate with a New York State Regents Diploma, more than half of graduates now earn an Advanced Regents Diploma requiring additional credits in Mathematics and Science, and 25 percent earn a Grade Point Average of 90% or higher. u Nine out of 10 graduates go on to attend twoand four-year colleges and universities. Graduates have been accepted to prestigious schools including Johns Hopkins, UNC-Chapel Hill, Cornell, Boston College, West Point, NYU, Penn State Medical, Siena-Albany Medical, RPI, Union, Villanova, SUNY Binghamton, Buffalo, Geneseo and Albany, College of Saint Rose, HVCC and SCCC. u South Colonie graduating classes routinely earn more than $2.5 million in college scholarship money. The South Colonie Central School District offers an enriched and expansive academic program that far exceeds New York State curriculum requirements. We provide a world class education that challenges all students, fosters independent and creative thinking, and prepares and inspires our students to achieve their full potential. The Early Years UPK-Grade 8 u South Colonie focuses on early literacy initiatives including Universal Pre-Kindergarten, Full Day Kindergarten and the Summer Literacy Academy. Results have been impressive as most children attain literacy skills sooner, making their UPK-12 experience much more enjoyable and productive. u The district continues to monitor all students very carefully to assure that each individual child succeeds. We know all students can be successful if high expectations are aligned with thoughtful resource allocation and support. u Pupils start learning about future careers in elementary school with exposure to career fairs and Junior Achievement projects. u Our students are challenged to develop critical thinking skills at a young age by participating in Odyssey of the Mind, Math and Science Olympiads, as well as other clubs and enrichment activities. u South Colonie has recently been recognized as an AP Honor Roll School District by the College Board for simultaneously increasing student access to Advanced Placement courses while increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher (out of 4) on AP exams. u Curricula in General Engineering and Biomedical Engineering are offered through the nationally recognized, pre-engineering program Project Lead the Way. u South Colonie students are offered opportunities to earn a number of college credits while in high school by taking classes in English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies through the State University at Albany, HVCC, SUNY Adirondack, and the College of Saint Rose. The district continues to develop a variety of articulation agreements to support and assist our students and their families with reduced credit costs and expanded college in high school opportunities. u CCHS students continue to be very competitive at US FIRST Robotics a national event where young people solve engineering design problems as part of a team. u Nearly three quarters of our students are involved in athletics and/or student clubs and organizations from year to year. The district takes pride in providing a wide range of opportunities for all students. u Over 50 graduates have been inducted into the Colonie Central High School Hall of Fame established in 1994 to honor South Colonie alumni who serve as role models and as a source of inspiration for our students based on their numerous accomplishments after graduation.

3 Beyond the Books u South Colonie student athletes excel on the field and in the classroom with many of its teams capturing Sectional titles while being named New York State Scholar Athletes for their 90% or better academic averages. Recent teams have been recognized as having the highest academic averages in New York State. u South Colonie students benefit from a wide range of Fine Arts programs such as the award winning Line & Cue Theater Group, participating in performances in NYS Bands and Orchestras, and having artists regularly featured in local art shows. The district has also been recognized as a Best Community for Music Education. u Community service and education go hand-in-hand in South Colonie. Each year, the district s Stuff the Bus program assists the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots effort to provide gifts for needy children throughout the Capital Region during the holiday season. Schools and school organizations have also been honored for their Character Education efforts to assist the community in events such as the Penny Harvest program and local and global disaster relief. u South Colonie recognizes, honors and welcomes its Senior Citizens by providing enhanced STAR exemptions reducing school property taxes for qualified individuals, offering evening courses at reduced rates, and granting free admission to student athletics, plays, dinner theaters and concerts. Providing Safe Schools u Safety is a theme that runs throughout our UPK-12 school programs. This includes bus safety, bicycle safety, offering Driver s Education, and providing year-long, research based anti-bullying programs. Additionally, we have developed strong partnerships with the Colonie Police Department to provide the DARE program as well as School Resource Officers at our Middle and High schools. u The district hosts and coordinates a Regional Safe Schools Committee which monitors safety procedures and emergency plans for many private and public schools in the Colonie area. A Strong Faculty u South Colonie teachers were recently ranked second in the Capital Region for Advanced Educational Degrees. u South Colonie faculty continue to set the bar high with ongoing training, authoring books and curriculum material, speaking at national and state conventions, and participating in enrichment activities. The district currently hosts the Regional Teachers Center and actively participates in Model Schools Training. u South Colonie educators have been named Teachers of the Year by business and professional organizations for leading and mentoring today s youth, while others have been featured as Educators of the Week. u South Colonie school bus drivers have been honored for driving safety and acts of heroism including awards from the Albany County Traffic Safety Division and the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Automobile Association of America. u Beyond our school walls, Colonie, New York, has been ranked at the top of the list of the safest places to live in the United States, according to CQ Press City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America. The rankings include all cities of at least 75,000 residents that reported crime data to the FBI in a variety of categories.

4 O u r C o l o n i e C o m m u n i t y... Part of the Growing Tech Valley Region of the Capital District Colonie is part of New York s Tech Valley Region. An area which stretches from the Canadian border near Montreal to just north of New York City. The region is brimming with opportunity and excitement. Tech Valley offers rewarding career and business prospects, world-class educational and research facilities, and a fantastic quality of life. The Tech Valley Region accommodates just about every lifestyle choice, from cities to suburbs to rural countryside. No matter where you decide to settle, you ll enjoy a wonderful quality of life at a reasonable cost of living. Housing prices are well below what you ll find in major metropolitan areas and the employment opportunities, health care, school systems and recreational opportunities are outstanding.

5 The South Colonie Learning Experience Celebrating Diversity, Excellence and Pride in Our Schools! Our community should be proud of the fact that we really have worked together to give our children a fantastic start in life. The public should also feel good knowing that the schools in South Colonie are excelling, producing outstanding results, and giving all students the opportunities we would hope for. I thank our community for continuing to invest in the future. South Colonie Superintendent Jonathan Buhner South Colonie Central School District Mission Statement Preparing successful contributing citizens of the world through school, family and community partnerships, while addressing the diverse needs of all students. Diversity, Excellence and Pride are three words often used to sum up the South Colonie Central School District learning experience. As such, our district has built a longstanding reputation in the Capital Region for truly preparing World Class Citizens for success in life, college and careers. Our dedicated faculty and staff join our parents and students in celebrating the fact that our school population is diverse both in cultural and socio-economic status. In fact, at last count our families spoke 22 different languages. As a district, we take pride in knowing that all students can achieve and demonstrate excellence. In many ways, South Colonie represents what most would envision as a great public school system. The numbers back this up. For example, South Colonie is annually ranked in the top quartile among 84 Capital Region school districts for academic performance. This ranking is based on an analysis by Buffalo Business First s Guide to Upstate School Districts and the Capital District Business Review. Conversely, the district is ranked in the lower third in cost per pupil or actual expense per student. In fact, the Center for American Progress has named South Colonie a High Return on Investment School District the highest ranking a district can earn for overall program evaluations and educational productivity. Our school property taxes are lower in cost per thousand than neighboring districts and realtors often tell us when a South Colonie home appears on the market it doesn t last very long. So, take a few minutes to get to know us and learn what the South Colonie learning experience is all about.

6 Our South Colonie Core Values We Believe: u That all children can learn. u In educating the whole child so he/she can meet the District s Standards. u In focusing on student achievement. u In providing a comprehensive and enriched curriculum for all students, reflecting the needs and available resources of the community. u That the combined commitment of the Board of Education, staff, families, students, and community is the key to educational success. Our Schools Colonie Central High School Grades Raider Boulevard (518) Lisha Kill Middle School Grades Waterman Avenue (518) Sand Creek Middle School Grades Sand Creek Road Albany, NY 1220 (518) Forest Park Elementary School Grades K Forest Drive (518) For more information about our schools, including news and calendar events information, visit our award-winning website at Roessleville Elementary School Grades UPK California Avenue (518) Saddlewood Elementary School Grades UPK Loralee Drive (518) Shaker Road Elementary School Grades K Shaker Road Loudonville, NY (518) Veeder Elementary School Grades K-4 25 Veeder Drive (518) Central School District 102 Loralee Drive, Albany, New York Phone: (518) Fax: (518)