Please check out our Junior Senior High School student's January 2024 Issue of the Ramblurr and the Video Re-Cap.

Great reporting by all of our students.

January Recap
Ramblurr Edition #4

2024 Model Bridge Competition

Several of Mr. Bryden's classes have dedicated their efforts to designing and constructing model truss or arch-style bridges since Thanksgiving. Engaging in friendly competition with neighboring school districts, the Rensselaer team emerged with the highest efficiency ratio among all participants. Today, our Rensselaer students proudly claimed 4 out of the 18 cash prizes awarded. Notable achievements include 10th grader Charlie M securing the Grand Prize for efficiency ratio, senior Seth K earning 3rd Prize for efficiency ratio, George K clinching 3rd Prize for heaviest load bearing, and 8th grader Donald B securing 2nd Prize for Middle School heaviest load bearing. As we eagerly anticipate the remaining 6 awards for aesthetics, these accomplishments exemplify the exceptional skills and dedication of our students in this challenging competition.

Pre-K Friendship Story Time

Students of Ms. Herrick's journalism class went to the Van Rensselaer Elementary Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms to read during their story time about friendship. A great time was had by all. Mrs. Chenot's, Ms. Mooney's, and Mrs. Parella-Forrest's Classrooms asked for a repeat performance.

NYS Mentoring Program Valentines Day

On Valentine's Day, the NYS Mentoring Program gathered for a delightful session of baking and decorating cookies. A special thank you goes to Mrs. Mahar for her outstanding contributions to our community. Your efforts are truly valued, and we want to express our sincere appreciation. Wishing you a joyful Family & Consumer Science Teacher Appreciation Day!

"Hearts Across the USA"

"Hearts Across the USA" brought immense joy to the VRES 2nd Graders this Valentine's Day as they received heartfelt greetings in the form of Valentine's Day cards from every state, courtesy of their caring family and friends. The classrooms buzzed with excitement as the children eagerly opened envelopes adorned with stamps from across the nation, discovering the unique and thoughtful messages inside. The initiative not only connected the students with loved ones but also allowed them to appreciate the vastness and diversity of our great country. As each card became a symbol of love sent from different corners of the United States, "Hearts Across the USA" created a memorable and enriching experience for the young hearts at VRES, fostering a sense of unity and connection on this special day.

Amanda Gorman's "Change Sings: A Children's Anthem"

In Mrs. Thomas' VRES 4th Grade Art class, students had the pleasure of hosting a special guest speaker, Mrs. Crouch, who read Amanda Gorman's "Change Sings: A Children's Anthem." This inspiring book reading served as an introduction to Amanda Gorman's artwork, igniting the students' creativity as they prepare to replicate her style in their next project.

Lunar New Year Celebration

VRES celebrated the Lunar New Year yesterday with a vibrant dragon parade that navigated our elementary school, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity for the Year of the Dragon ahead.

We kindly invite you to watch our video. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VJ_rSLe85ww8JoaKjULGfr3WvwX-KF8-/view?usp=sharing

Rensselaer Science Olympian Team

Over the weekend, our seventh graders showcased their dedication and talent at the Regional Competition, making our school proud. We are thrilled to announce that they were honored with the Spirit Award, reflecting their outstanding school spirit and camaraderie. Additionally, their exceptional performance earned them medals in multiple events, including 5th place in Ecology, 6th place in Tower Building, and 10th place in Experimental Design. Notably, their tower withstood an impressive load of 15,000 grams without breaking, a testament to their ingenuity and teamwork. We invite you to view some captivating snapshots from the competition, capturing moments of enthusiasm and triumph.

The video features the student-built tower, holding over 15,000 grams (approximately 33 pounds) of sand, and notably, it remained intact despite the weight, distinguishing it as the sole tower to endure without breaking. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-U7NsfrykDowTylp22FSVmyqpEMIqi3J/view?usp=drive_link

Application Procedures for HVCC STEM High School & TECH Valley

Attention prospective students and parents! If you're considering HVCC STEM High School or TECH Valley for your high school journey, please click on the following document to learn more about the application process: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D46PfGT2xFL3HroVvq6E_FEpS_NrXK0VV_-0fRdUZdw/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you to Empire Generating Company LLC

for their generous donation of $15,000 to our Backpack Program for food, hygiene and home products. We thank our local partners in education! As always, if a family is interested in the Backpack Program please contact Heather Staszak at Hstaszak@rcsd.k12.ny.us.

All after school activities at RCSD are canceled for Tuesday, 1/16. The school campus will be closed. Boys & Girls club will remain open for after school attendees.

Please check out our Junior Senior High School student's December 2023 Issue of the Ramblurr and the Video Re-Cap. Great reporting by all of our students.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF2-3aS728/7BPoYVfoXy7P-r3Qj8tt2A/view?utm_content=DAF2-3aS728&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=recording_view

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF1mj87K2U/dvvEEOFwMv0mrOCPwZaZEg/view?utm_content=DAF1mj87K2U&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium

Members of the Rensselaer City School District Community:

As many of you know, RCSD is going to have an early dismissal on Wednesday, 1/10. PK and 6-12 will dismiss at 11:45am and K-5 will dismiss at 12:30 as we usually do.

This staff development day is held on a Wednesday in an effort to improve attendance. We know that our educators need time for development and collaboration to be at their best. Unfortunately, it seems that when we have an early dismissal on a Friday, student attendance is measurably lower. We all know the importance of attendance, so we are holding this staff development on Wednesday in hopes of improvement. Thanks to everyone for your partnership in education! We also welcome any suggestions to improve student attendance.

Joe

PTA is selling Teddy Grams for Valentine's Day!

Each bear is $5 and parents can add a personalized note for their child(ren) by filling out the included form. The PTA will be collecting orders UNTIL Friday, February 9th. Items will be passed out on Wednesday, February 14th during the school day.

https://forms.gle/VFPCKJFnEkoFMaqh7

Please support our Rensselaer Rams Winter Varsity Sports on our Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ny/rensselaer/organization/126868/rensselaerscho-high-school

We are wishing everyone a joyous and festive holiday season! As we gather with loved ones to celebrate the magic of this special time of year, may warmth and happiness surround every one of you. The spirit of the holidays is beautifully captured in the recently held Junior Senior High School Winter Concert, where talented young musicians filled the air with melodies of joy and harmony. These captivating performances not only showcased the students' dedication and skill but also served as a reminder of the power of music to bring people together. May your holidays be filled with love, laughter, and the sweet sounds of celebration. Here's to creating cherished memories and embracing the spirit of togetherness. Happy holidays to all! 🎄🎁🎉

Check out the video of the concert: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Aaf9pwK3-2GJtLDYAcHCokOK1F73dnE8/view

🎉 Happy Holidays, fRAMily!🎄

Check out our festive Canva presentation for a snapshot of the memorable holiday celebrations this year. Thank you for being part of our community. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a fantastic New Year! 🌟

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF3hEd-61E/OQ-qc3dQZdOusFEKcuNkTw/view?utm_content=DAF3hEd-61E&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

Check out https://www.facebook.com/YankeeTrails to see Santa Claus at Van Rensselaer Elementary!

Gratitude to Colonie Block for their generous donation, enriching Van Rensselaer Elementary's 1st-grade classes. The contribution includes mats, headphones, foam paper, interlocking blocks for STEAM activities, Play-Doh, and more. This support creates a positive impact, fostering creativity and a love for learning among our students. Thank you, Colonie Block, for being a valuable partner in education.

Attention senior athletes and parents:
We are working on getting a date set up to take the photos for the senior sports banners. We need the following information from you -

Senior's name
Sport uniform they wish to wear for the picture
uniform #
Was the uniform returned to the coach at the end of the last season they wore it for - or are they currently in season?

Please email this to Coach Spath ; wspath@rcsd.k12.ny.us

We need all of this information by December 19. If we are able to receive all of this information by this date we can have the pictures taken during the second week of January and hopefully have them back in time for winter sports senior nights.
Once we have a date solidified a time slot will be sent out to each student.
Thank you for your cooperation as we work to get this done sooner this year for our athletes.

Mrs. Tamburrino's Geometry class worked with Mrs. Thomas' 6th Grade Art Class to make holiday cards. Students had to use Geometric Constructions (using only a writing utensil, compass, and a straightedge) to make their holiday designs.

Please check out their work: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF24DR9lDc/joygyqvoc29v3ytEFWh14g/view