webster on the web

I was just reminded recently that kindergarten registration is upon us again.  Normally this is not very exciting news, but this year it’s different in a big way. This year, for the first time ever in Webster, parents will be registering their children for full-day kindergarten instead of half-day.

The move to full-day kindergarten for the 2013/14 school year was officially approved by the school board back in December, after the proposal drew strong community support.  The new schedule will mean some changes for families, and a lot of changes for the schools.

In anticipation of all those changes, kindergarten registration is taking place earlier than in previous years.  The process will begin the week of February 11, with each school handling its own registrations. Parent orientation sessions have also been pushed back to give schools more time to update materials. At least a few schools will hold these meetings in May.

Make sure to watch your mail for more information from your school if you have a kindergarten-aged child.  It’s also a great idea to sign up for your school’s electronic newsletter, if you haven’t already.  This is a great way to keep up on what’s happening in the school if you have kids there already, and a nice way to get acquainted if your child will be attending for the first time next year. You can sign up through the Webster School District website.  Look for this icon on the bottom right-hand portion of the page:

I was just reminded recently that kindergarten registration is upon us again.  Normally this is not very exciting news, but this year it’s different in a big way. This year, for the first time ever in Webster, parents will be registering their children for full-day kindergarten instead of half-day.

The move to full-day kindergarten for the 2013/14 school year was officially approved by the school board back in December, after the proposal drew strong community support.  The new schedule will mean some changes for families, and a lot of changes for the schools.

In anticipation of all those changes, kindergarten registration is taking place earlier than in previous years.  The process will begin the week of February 11, with each school handling its own registrations. Parent orientation sessions have also been pushed back to give schools more time to update materials. At least a few schools will hold these meetings in May.

Make sure to watch your mail for more information from your school if you have a kindergarten-aged child.  It’s also a great idea to sign up for your school’s electronic newsletter, if you haven’t already.  This is a great way to keep up on what’s happening in the school if you have kids there already, and a nice way to get acquainted if your child will be attending for the first time next year. You can sign up through the Webster School District website.  Look for this icon on the bottom right-hand portion of the page:

The approach of the holiday season (and a week off!) is a giddy time at every school, but Webster Thomas always seems to find unusually entertaining ways to celebrate.

All day yesterday, carolers and musicians brought Christmas cheer to Webster Thomas students and staff. The day started with a performance by the Brass Choir, led by Paul Van Horn. During the day, Thomas Bertrand’s chemistry students strolled into classrooms, singing Chemistry Carols, and the Select Choir, led by Brenda Nitsch, performed carols in the front hall as students were leaving for the day.

I didn’t get film from the Brass Choir performance, but below are a few photos our principal, Glenn Widor, snapped.  After that is a YouTube video featuring the Select Choir, followed by two versions of “Deck the Lab With Rubber Tubing.”  Enjoy.

Paul Van Horn directed the Brass Choir

Click on the photo to see a video of the Select Choir and the Chemistry Carolers.

It’s funny, but I can still remember how excited I got every year when it was time to buy a Christmas gift for my grade school teacher. I always took the task very seriously, and chose very carefully, knowing full well that my gift would be her favorite by far.  One year in particular stands out in my memory, because I had found the the most perfect gift ever: a plastic statue with the inscription “World’s Best Teacher.”

Of course, now that I am older and wiser, and three times a mother myself, I recognize how silly that gift was. I’m certain my teacher accepted it graciously and made me feel like it was, indeed, the best gift she had ever received … and then tossed it in the trash that night.

Because, let’s face it.  You can only have so many “#1 Teacher” nick-knacks, hand-made photo frames and “World’s Best Teacher” coffee mugs. (Frankly, most of the teachers I know would rather get a pint glass or wine glass, but that’s beside the point.)  And from a parent’s perspective, it’s kind of hard to figure out what a teacher would really want for Christmas, let alone convince a young child that a practical gift is a viable option.

Which is why I think the Teachers’ Christmas Wish List at Klem North Elementary is an inspired idea. The idea was hatched by the Klem North PTSA, and I found out about it from the Klem North Star blog.  Most of the items the teachers have included on their lists are things they need for their classrooms which they normally have to purchase themselves (you know how school budgets are these days). Many of the requests, therefore (like hand sanitizer and ziplock bags), might not be as much fun as a coffee mug, but will surely be a heck of a lot more useful.

Klem North families can check out the bulletin board in the cafeteria to see if their favorite teacher has posted a wish list, or you can click here to see the list online. But even if you’re not a Klem North family, you might want to look at the lists anyway, because they’re chock full of great gift ideas that teachers will really appreciate.

The Willink Middle School “Simply Select” and “Stuck in the Middle” choruses, directed by Michael Roller and Tiffany Polino, will be the featured guest performers Friday morning on WBEE radio, 92.5 FM.

The choruses – comprised of about 55 students from grades 6 through 8 – will visit the WBEE studios Friday morning, where they’ll get a tour of the station and perform two holiday songs. Their performance will be aired live between 9:45 and 10 am, and recorded for later use during the holiday season.

Not only that…

While they’re in the studio, the kids will also perform and record their rendition of the National Anthem. They received a special invitation to do so after one of the station employees heard them perform it at an Amerks game last year, and thought it would be perfect for the station’s daily recognition of veterans and troops serving our country, which airs at noon. What an honor that is.

So tune in to WBEE 92.5 FM Friday between 9:45 and 10 am to hear the kids live, then listen for their performances to be aired regularly over the next few weeks. You can also listen live on your computer by visiting the WBEE website, but I had a hard time getting that to work.   (Hint: It seemed to work better on Internet Explorer than Mozilla, and I had to re-load it several times.)

Do you know an awesome teacher? There’s still time to nominate outstanding educators for the 2013 Oak Tree Award.

The annual Oak Tree Award is sponsored by the Webster Teacher Association and Webster Central PTSA, and recognizes teacher excellence at both elementary and secondary levels. Any Webster Central School District resident or district employee (including teachers and administrators), student or parents may nominate teachers. Two winners are chosen every year.

Click here to see the nomination criteria and download a form.  But do it soon; nominations are due by this Friday, Dec. 14.