et it snow….let it snow…let it snow! Sorry… even though
it means I’ll have to shovel, I enjoy the winter season (hope
you do as well). Aside from fighting traffic and buying pre-
sents, this season brings the opportunity to create special
memories and share precious moments with family and
friends. Whether you’re young or young at heart, my holiday
wish to all is TIME and PEACE to enjoy valuable moments
with others, providing you extra smiles for years to come.
On to other business:
Please accept this personal invitation to join in our
COMMUNITY FORUM
on November 30
th
. We are holding five informational
sessions beginning at 7pm in the High School. All five sessions run simultaneously (40 minutes), and then repeated…allowing
participants to attend 2 different presentations within 90 minutes. Topics include: Improving Sports Team/Club Participation…
Helping our Children Read… What about this 2% Tax Cap?... The State of our Buildings and Grounds (Our next Bond)… Spe-
cial Education, what’s so special?
We are planning to provide important information and also seek direct input from all attendees…strengthening the partnership
with our families and community. Please consider sharing 90 minutes with us on November 30
th
.
Kudos to the Fall Drama and the HS Select Chorus. Both student groups shared their talents last month in separate events.
Word from the street…TWO THUMBS UP!...Wonderful performances, wonderful students. A special thanks to Mr. Dunn for his
efforts.
Check out the district calendar, lots going on over the next few weeks…Bus Vote…Concerts…Winter Sports underway…and
the COMMUNITY FORUM! Hope to see you out and about.
PRIDE
December 2011
John Walker
Superintendent
NR
-
W
North Rose-Wolcott
Central School District
Last May we were not able to pre-
sent our annual proposition for pur-
chasing buses. The governor had pro-
posed some changes to state aid for-
mulas that would have resulted in no
aid for our bus purchases during the 2011-2012 school year.
We receive approximately a 90% reimbursement on our bus
purchases. Without that reimbursement, there would have
been a significant impact on our local budget. Those pro-
posals by the governor were defeated and we will continue to
receive aid on bus purchases.
At this time we are presenting the following proposition:
Shall the Board of Education of the North Rose-Wolcott Cen-
tral School District be authorized to purchase buses for stu-
dent transportation with a total aggregate estimated maxi-
mum cost of $450,000, with such cost paid in part by an ex-
penditure of $200,000 from the District’s existing School Bus
Capital Reserve fund, with the balance of such cost to be
funded out of available fund balance as permitted by law.
The public is encouraged to vote on this prop-
osition on
December 8, 2011 from 2:00 PM un-
til 8:00 PM in the foyer of the High School.
This proposition will allow us to continue the
safe and efficient transportation of our students
without the need to levy any additional taxes.
Provided that there are not any new changes in
state aid formulas, we plan to return to our normal schedule
of presenting bus purchase propositions in May.
If you have any questions about this proposition or how
we purchase buses, please contact our School Business Ad-
ministrator, Robert Magin, at 315-594-3150.
NR
-
W
Robert Magin
School Business
Administrator
School Business
Administrator
SCHOOL BUS VOTE
DECEMBER 8, 2011
2-8 PM
NR-W HIGH SCHOOL FOYER
www.nrwcs.org
December 2011
Due to the efforts of their teachers, students at NRWE and
Middle School were able to connect and try out some new technol-
ogy!
On October 14
th
, first grade students of Mrs. Lumb and
Miss Kelsey participated in a “Virtual Buddy Reading” project with
Mrs. Cole’s and Mrs. DeFeo’s 6th grade students at the Middle
School (using Skype)! Mrs. Cole’s sixth grade students loved be-
ing able to read a picture book to the younger students, but they
were most excited to have the first graders in Mrs. Lumb’s class
read to them! It was a wonderful experience and the students hope
to connect with their reading buddies many more times throughout
the year!
The Cougar’s Den is Open at the
Middle School!
The Cougar’s Den opened on
October 14
th
and is open once a
month during lunchtime in the cafete-
ria for students! Students receive
Cougar Cash for following our core expectations of be-
ing respectful, responsible, safe & kind! They are able
to use their Cougar Cash to purchase from a variety of
items. Many staff offered special activities for students
to purchase, such as: lunch with a teacher, playing
board games after school, spa/manicure afternoon, ice
cream & a movie, jewelry making & others. We appre-
ciate our students for making our school positive!
FIRE SAFETY AT NRWE
On Friday, October
21st, students met with
Sparky and members of the
Fire Department. They learned
about Fire Safety, practiced
stop drop and roll , and found out
how important it was for every home
to have a safe outside meeting place
to go to in the event of a fire. Stu-
dents were treated to a tour of the fire
trucks and a demonstration of how
the fire hose shoots water! Kinder-
garteners all received fire hats mak-
ing them “official” firefighters!!!!!
From top to bottom, L to R: Ms. Rothfuss, co-advisor; Benjamin, Nicole ,Conner, Bradley, Ryan, Eric, Helen,
Andre’, Laura, Zack, Kate, Zachary, Meagan, Jordann, Nicholas, Erin, Kara, Carly, Harley.
19 New National
Honor Society
Members
On November 1, 2011 the NR-W National Honor Socie-
ty Induction installed 19 new members. Tyler T., 12
th
, NHS
President, was Master of Ceremonies. Mr. Dunn provided
music on the grand piano. Readings on the qualifications
of membership on character, leadership, service and schol-
arship helped the general student body to understand what
makes an exceptional student and role model. Co-Advisor
Ms. Rothfuss identified the achievements of new inductees
and swore in the new members. Principal Benz and Assis-
tant Principal Hoyt, identified the qualifications and pledge
for new members. Inductees must have met qualifications
of a minimum 90.0% overall average, submit an application
including three character references, and a faculty commit-
tee reviewed all candidates. Co-advisor Mrs. Packard was
instrumental in much of the background work for the cere-
mony. National Honor Society is a great achievement and
honor.
Congratulations!
www.nrwcs.org
December 2011
Dec. 6
NRWE Family Reading Night: 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Dec. 8
School Bus Vote @ HS Foyer 2 - 8 PM
5 Hour Course @ HS 4:30-9:30 PM
HS Art Exhibition: 6 PM
HS Winter Concert: 7 PM
Dec. 10
ACT Exam @ HS 8 AM-12 PM
Dec. 13
BOE Meeting HS Room #210 @ 7 PM
Dec. 14
NRWE Winter Concert 6:30 PM
Dec. 15
MS Winter Concert @ 6:30 PM
Dec. 22
MS Holiday Tea
Dec. 23
HS Holiday Tea
Dec. 26
Holiday Recess begins
Jan. 3
School Resumes
Jan. 10
BOE Meeting HS Room #210 @ 7 PM
Jan. 12
Grades 3 & 4 Roller Skating @ NRWE 3:15-4:45 PM
MS Roller Skating @ NRWE 6:30-8:30 PM
5 Hour Course @ HS 4:30 - 9:30 PM
Jan. 16
No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Important Dates
Emergency School Closings
When schools must be closed, the decision is made
by the Superintendent of Schools based on available infor-
mation and recommendations from several sources. If the
decision is made to close the schools, the Superintendent will call you via
our Connect-ED communication system. In addition, it will be broadcast
on television and the following radio stations:
Radio Stations: WHEN (620 AM), WHAM (1180 AM), WHTK Sports Radio
(1280), WBEE (92.5 FM), The Fox (95.1), WPXY (97.9 FM), WTKW (99.5), The
Drive (100.5), WKRL (100.9), WZUN (102.1, 106.1), Sunny-FM (102.3), WTKV
(105.5), WKRH (106.5), Kiss FM(106.7), WHTK-FM (107.3)
TV Stations : WSTM Channel 3, WTVH Channel 5, WROC Channel 8, WIXT-
TV Channel 9, WHEN Channel 10, WHAM Channel 13, R-News YNN (Cable
TV)
If schools must close during the day, these same communication tools
will be used. Parents should make sure children know in advance what
to do should they come home unexpectedly and find no one there. Prior
arrangements should be made to have children cared for until a parent
arrives home.
Being responsible is one of the core
expectations at the Middle School.
One way students demonstrate being
responsible is by their achievement and by earning good
grades. To acknowledge academic success, each quarter,
students who make any honor roll status; will earn Cougar
Cash to redeem at the Cougar’s Den! The Cougar Pride
Building team will present students with Cougar Cash as
follows: Principal’s Honor Roll – 25 Cougar Cash, High
Honor Roll – 15 Cougar Cash and Honor Roll- 10 Cougar
Cash.
Congratulations
to our Honor Roll students
for being responsible & for their academic
success!
2011 North Rose-Wolcott Athletic Hall of Fame Induction
The North Rose-Wolcott Athletic Hall
of Fame was established to recognize
and celebrate the accomplishments of
outstanding athletes, coaches, adminis-
trators and Cougar supporters. Through
recognition, those individuals and their
families will be reconnected with North
Rose-Wolcott
Central School and pro-
vide current students and athletes with an
understanding and appreciation for posi-
tive role models in the tradition of Cougar
athletes. On Saturday, October 15, 2011
a new class of the Cougar Athletic Hall of
Fame was inducted.
Congratulations to
the inductees and their families!
From (L to R:) Athlete category: Dennis Verkest, Kristi (Burns) Hochreite, Zachary
Brooks, Ben Wilson, Norman Terhune, Mike Virts, Coach category: James Nealon,
Honorary category: 1934 Leavenworth Soccer Team - represented by Judi Buckalew
A Holiday Gift from
the High School
To Please the Eyes,
Ears and Belly!
Come to the
High School Holiday Concert &
Art Opening
! On
December 8
th
starting at
6:00
pm
there will be an opening for
All Aboard! A Train
Themed
Art
Exhibit
in
the
Gal-
lery .
The
Interact Club
will sell a simple,
healthy fare of a bowl of
soup
, 2 slices of Italian
bread and apples ($3.50) for those who are hun-
gry. Profits will go to sponsor Foreign Exchange
Students for the 2012-2013 school year. Starting at
7:00
pm
, the
HS Bands & Choirs
will be showcasing their
hard work and holiday tunes for your enjoyment! What an
enjoyable evening! A feast for your senses – of sight,
taste and sound. Please come and support the endeav-
ors of our students!
Season’s
Greetings!
Academic uccess=Cougar Cash!
Kari Durham
BOE President
Presentations/Discussions:
Middle School Building Tour
Administrator Reports
Curriculum Reports
Student BOE Member Report
Public Access:
Rosa Fox, MS Instrumental Music Teacher,
provided members and principals with music
department concert schedules.
Approval:
Treasurer’s Reports for July and August 2011
2012-13 Budget Calendar
School bus purchase proposition
Appointments:
2011-12 Curriculum Council Members
Boys’ Mod. Basketball Coaching Appointment:
Jay Reynolds
Volunteers
www.nrwcs.org
December 2011
Water Cooler Conversations
& the Importance of the
Chain of Command
It’s the same all over – humor me
and review this common tale:
When Carol left from work last night she was in a horrible
mood. Nothing had gone right at work that day. She was a
member of a secretarial pool and things just kept breaking
down. She was running reports and the computer froze, in a
vain attempt to finish something she decided to carry out the
typewriter and then make copies for a meeting. After typing
and manually spell-checking she went to make thirty copies
and the machine was labeled “out of order.” It wasn’t her day
and she decided to call her boss and left a voicemail detail-
ing the facts and how her work was now incomplete. She
went home frustrated but determined to try again tomorrow.
Entering work the following day she was still upset. She
stood at the water cooler complaining and sighing. Many of
the other employees were sympathetic and even added
some of their frustrations to the conversation. Mid-afternoon
the President of the company came to visit Carol at her desk
and inquired about the reports. She responded they weren’t
ready and began repeating her story about the troubles
she’d encountered. After listening quietly the officer simply
asked, “Who did you call for help?” Carol responded that she
had left him a message, didn’t he retrieve those? Then she
began echoing the sentiments heard at the water cooler and
how there were many dissatisfied with many working condi-
tions. The President again asked, “and did they speak to
human resources to get these items addressed? Did you call
the Copy repair center? Did you contact IT services for the
computer issue?” Carol was astonished. She just told him
what more could she do? He responded, “but those areas
are for others to resolve. Those issues are handled by very
trustworthy people who are experts in their fields. I oversee
these operations but in the end those that are most closely
responsible must be given the opportunity to respond first.
They are closest and would be most efficient.” Carol under-
stood. She called the names he listed and went back to work
– no harm, no foul. Valuable lessons learned.
This is the board conundrum. We are the faces around
the water cooler. All of us participate in many different faces
of small community life. We are the ones with sympathy (and
empathy) for most problems encountered in our quaint dis-
trict. The problem is that we are NOT the ones equipped or
empowered to
SOLVE
the problems. So many times just
being present or listening mistakenly engages people in the
thought that we are going to MAKE a change or seek a reso-
lution. This is false. Many of the board members are simple
listeners by nature and process and learn from others. We
want to hear what everyone is concerned about (or proud of
or worried about, etc) but most times it is unnecessary &
unwarranted for us to take these issues to the board level.
Many times – my family can attest – you will hear me say,
“this isn’t a board issue but let me give you the name of the
person you can call.” This should not be misinterpreted as a
board member expressing disinterest. Certainly, I’ve heard
your concern and very likely will reflect on it. BUT – I can’t
solve any issue (especially alone, and very likely not even
with my 8 cohorts). What we can do – and will – is help you
find the source CLOSEST to your particular issue and guide
you to that contact. There have even been times when I will
contact this person and tell them to expect your call – simply
because I already have a relationship and it may be inher-
ently easier for me to break the ice. Otherwise, once again,
you will hear this full board rely on and adhere to the Chain
of Command. This chain serves a great purpose and its
SANCTITY can’t be under-valued. Allowing those that are
appointed to serve, hired to handle certain responsibilities –
this is absolutely necessary for success. The board’s role is
limited in scope and vital to making sure that we stay on
track. Addressing policy and tracking the pulse of our financ-
es – these issues need all of our time and attention.
V
“The Mission of the North Rose-Wolcott Central School District is
to create a safe and enriching learning environment
that will prepare our students to make positive and meaningful
contributions to society.”
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