International Women’s Writer’s Guild

Last spring, the founder of the International Women’s Writer’s Guild, Hannelore Hahn, visited Schenectady High School to talk to young women in the GE house about writing, relationships, and setting goals. Four GE students were selected to attend the Guild’s annual writer’s conference at Skidmore College. Katarina Lassiter, Amanda Ayuso, Shana Jacobs, and Laura Butt spent time during Regents week writing narratives, stories, and poems at the Skidmore conference. The students enjoyed sharing their experience with authors of fiction, non-fiction, poets, and creative workshop facilitators on the Skidmore Campus. They were accompanied by Dr. Angela Benedetto. The participating students and Dr. Benedetto thank Hannelore Hahn for her generous contribution sponsoring the students attending the conference. Thanks to Mr. Peter Parisi for his support as well. Students will be selected for this years’ conference in the Spring.

Earth Science Lab

EARTH SCIENCE STUDENTS have been working on a shadow observations lab which showed evidence that earth rotates on its axis. Ask them what happens to their shadow throughout the day. They should know what high solar noon means, where sunrise and sunset occur and why the sun’s altitude changes each day.
Earth science students just completed learning about latitude longitude, time zones and the connection between Polaris and latitude. They should be able to show you how to find Polaris using the Big Dipper in the night sky. Take them outside and ask them all about it!

JROTC

SHS JROTC Color Guard performances span sports events, the Scotia Memorial Day Parade, Awards Nights, and Graduation. Glen Butler, Dylan Boyer, Michael Gonzalez, and Adam Williams earned Color Guard ribbons for their dedication in performing for the school and community. The cadets of the SHS AF JROTC unit are involved in community service throughout the year, community clean up, preparing Thanksgiving Baskets, assistance with cross country and track invitationals, Special Olympics, and SHS Fitness Day. Over the course of the 2007-2008 school year, our cadets donated 438 hours of service to our school and local community.

Two of our cadets took part in the Leadership Weekend at Norwich University in Vermont, spending their entire weekend on campus involved in physical fitness training, water survival training, the leadership reaction course (LRC), and rock climbing. Academic classes included effective communication, leading, and following. Of the four flights (groups) Naytia Robinson’s flight finished in first place for the weekend and Dylan Boyers finished second!

Over the summer, four cadets spent 9 days in Summer Leadership School (SLS), hosted by East Orange High School at Ft. Dix in New Jersey. Academics, the leadership reaction course, drill, and orienteering made for a challenging week and a half! Of the eight 16-20 member flights, Honor Flight (first place) was awarded to A Flight - Naytia Robinson, Dylan Boyer, and Matt Batease; and Kickball Champions went to B Flight with Andrew Rosa. Naytia Robinson and Matt Batease were best in field earning the Female and Male Athlete Award - a first for one school earning both awards! Dylan Boyer had the honor of being a member of the Color Guard for the Pass in Review parade and Awards Ceremony. Best in Drill went to Chief Jayne Thompson’s Flight. Our cadets had a challenging and exciting time enhancing their leadership and people skills – all looking forward to applying what they learned back at Schenectady and their next opportunity to attend SLS!!!

Dylan Boyer had the opportunity to meet with Major Samantha Weeks, Lead Solo pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds, graduate of the Air Force Academy and Rome Free Academy (RFA Class of ’94). Prior to the Air Show she briefed and entertained questions from Rome Free Academy and Schenectady JROTC cadets mostly centering around what it takes to be a pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds. The bottom line was that it takes focus and determination!

The Air National Guard med-evac training flight is a highlight for all of our cadets! Interaction with pilots, navigators, loadmasters and nurses aboard the aircraft significantly broadens the outlook our cadets have for life after high school.

GE Aerospace Engineer

Mr. Sriram Shankaran talked with GE seniors about his role in designing engines for next generation’s jets. Sriram works with GE Research and Development in Niskayuna and has volunteered to mentor Mr. Christopher Ognibene’s economic class. He brings real life corporate experience to an economics class grounded in theory. GE and SHS have had a long relationship in senior economics classes. This is the 8th consecutive year a volunteer has been mentoring an economic class.

Annual "Pink Out"

On Wednesday October 22nd. Staff, as well as students, wore pink to support breast cancer awareness. Associate Superintendent Gary Comley was also seen sporting a pink ribbon. Thanks to all who participated and donated to this worthy cause.

GE Scholar Hour

A GE House After School Program, it runs three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday from 3:15 -4:15 PM. Students get help and learn new skills. On Tuesdays the program offers leisure activities which include a cooking class, playing fun games like chess, and martial arts. Wednesdays is Academic night where extra help is provided for the core subjects of Social Studies, English, Math, and Science. A Natures Classroom is also included. Thursdays focuses on academics and technology. Students can get extra help in Math or Science as well as learn web development and computer repair. The Scholar Hour is a great opportunity for students to develop valuable skills, enrich their educational experience, and most importantly, have fun!

Team 11 and 12 College Visits

The GE House has a long established practice of taking our own students on 6 to 10 college visits every year. We have already visited SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Plattsburgh. If you have any questions regarding the college visits please contact Ms. Nancy Huth at huthn@schenectady.k12.ny.us.

College Admissions Night

On Thursday, October 16th the GE House sponsored its 3rd annual College Admissions evening. The event, which was organized by faculty members Ms. Nancy Huth and Mr. Christopher Ognibene was well attended by GE Families. Presenters included GE Guidance Counselors Ms. Chelsea Crandall, Mr. Scott Trottier, and the College Admissions Officers from The College of Saint Rose and Hudson Valley Community College. Topics discussed ranged from financial aide and scholarships to the application process. At the end of the evening, a raffle was conducted which provided ten families with books about the college.

The Counselor's Corner

Mrs. Sarah Curcio- Mrs. Curcio is in her 4th year as a School Counselor. She is the counselor for GE students primarily whose last name begins with the letters A-L. Her email is curcios@schenectady.k12.ny.us.

Mr. Scott Trottier- Mr. Trottier is in his 3rd year as School Counselor. He is the counselor for the GE students, primarily whose last name begins with the letters M-Z. His email is trottiers@schenectady.k12.ny.us.

Ms. Chelsea Crandall- Ms. Crandall is in her 2nd year as School Counselor. She is assigned students from all 4 houses. Her email is crandallc@schenectady.k12.ny.us.

What can your counselor do for you?

1. Advise you regarding your selection of classes,


2. Help you to get involved in after school clubs and activities,


3. Help you with college/career planning,


4. Help you to solve all sorts of problems,


5. Help you to make positive choices, and


6. Many other things, all you have to do is ask and they will try to help.
   

Other News: Seniors, the Counselors will be holding workshops where you can get help applying to SUNY Colleges online. It is the easiest and most efficient way to apply to the SUNY Colleges. Be sure to come to one of these workshops if you need help applying. Financial Aid Night will be held on January 12th at 6:30 p.m.

Message from the GE House Principal

GREETINGS: GE House is proud to present its first issue of the GE Newsletter. Why read the GE Newsletter? Important information about upcoming GE House and school-wide events and activities will always be included in the newsletter. Reading the newsletter will also keep you relatively well informed about what is happening in the GE House and the accomplishments of our students and our teachers. Speaking of school events please do not forget the Go Home Early Drill scheduled for November 14th. High School students will be dismissed at 2:50 PM.

Look for a GE Newsletter at the end of each quarter. If you believe that the newsletter is leaving things out, please let me know. We are making every effort to include a broad range of news. We will work hard to ensure that the newsletter is timely, relevant and informative. A digital version of this newsletter is also available on the internet at GENewsletterSHS.blogspot.com.

By the time you have read this newsletter, we will be starting the second quarter of the school year. All of us in the GE House truly believe that this year is off to a great start. The GE House has already conducted a number of important activities for our students and their parents.

I hope that you are looking forward to having your children participate in the programs and activities that have always defined the GE House. These programs and activities include but are not limited to:

• Working with mentors from GE Global Research, and Union College
• Participating in the GE House Extended Day Program
• Participating in our yearly grade level field trips
• Participating in our extensive grade 11 and 12 college visitation program
• Participating in assemblies featuring nationally known presenters
• Participating in our numerous student awards ceremonies and celebrations

Our students are distinguishing themselves in the classrooms, on the athletic fields, as Peer Mediators, in performances, etc... Please stay involved in the lives of your children and help us to resolve any issues that may stand in the way of ensuring that they take full advantage of the opportunities and the education offered at the high school and in the GE House. Remember the words of Abraham Lincoln, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

ACADEMIC NOTES: Congratulations to senior Peter Shapiro! He was recently named Commended Student in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program. Peter has been presented with a Letter of Commendation from SHS and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

SEPTEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH: Congratulations to our students for earning this distinction! Team 9-Zipporah Dundas, Team 10-Sandra Delvalle, Team 11-Mariah Rosenberger, and Team 12-Marcia Rahiman.

ON THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS RADAR SCREEN: As we head into the eye of the college application/admissions hurricane it will become essential for you to stay in contact with GE Guidance Counselors featured in this GE Newsletter. Make it a priority to call the Guidance Office in order to check-on SAT and ACT testing dates and college admissions deadlines.

Lastly, with all the exciting events taking place in the GE House it will be a challenge to put out a newsletter that includes every single story. But, it might be in a future newsletter. In our next issue look for stories featuring GE Scholar students on our fall athletic teams, our foreign exchange students, the Thanksgiving Food Drive, and many more.