Employees Organize Snack Drive for Students

In a display of community spirit, employees from Hoffman’s Car Wash rallied together to organize a snack drive, donating snacks to Roessleville Elementary School. 

Recognizing a need that many families in our community have, employees at Hoffman’s Car Wash decided to take matters into their own hands. They began by setting up collection boxes and encouraged colleagues  to contribute.

The response was nothing short of remarkable and this week they delivered over 20 boxes of  snacks to Roessleville.

The snacks will be distributed to classrooms and can be handed out to students who forget a snack, said principal Marybeth Tedesico. “This act of kindness not only fills our students’ bellies but is a powerful reminder that our community cares about our children’s well-being.”

As the school year progresses, the employees of Hoffman’s Car Wash remain committed to their mission of giving back to the community. Their successful snack drive is a testament to the positive change that can be achieved when people unite with a common purpose.

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The dedicated teachers at Roessleville Elementary School recently gathered the entire student body for a special assembly focused on understanding and managing emotions. The event, held in the school’s cafeteria, aimed to introduce students to a valuable tool known as the “Zones of Regulation.”. 

The assembly provided information on the simple yet powerful framework designed to help students recognize and manage their emotions effectively. 

A critical aspect of this curriculum is that all team members know and understand The Zones language. This creates a comfortable and supportive environment for the student to practice their self-regulation skills. It also helps the student learn the skills more quickly and be more likely to apply them in many situations.

“The assembly concluded with the message that It’s okay to feel all emotions, but it’s important to know how to manage them effectively,” said Roessleville principal Marybeth Tedisco. “Our teachers emphasized that recognizing how you are feeling and having the strategies to help regulate your emotions will not only improve emotional well-being but also academic performance and relationships with peers.”

Roessleville Elementary School’s commitment to nurturing the emotional well-being of its students shines as a beacon of hope. Through initiatives like this assembly, they are not just educating young minds but also empowering future generations with the tools to navigate life’s emotional challenges with confidence and resilience. The success of this assembly proves that knowledge, when shared with love and dedication, has the power to change lives for the better.

More about the Zones of Regulation can be found here https://zonesofregulation.com.

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With a rich history of educational excellence and community spirit, the South Colonie School District is now adding an inspiring chapter to its legacy by fostering a culture of kindness that resonates far beyond the classroom walls.

The campaign, conceived to honor the district’s 75 year legacy, is an invitation for students, teachers, parents, and community members to collectively engage in acts of kindness that make a positive impact. The campaign’s design is strategic – focusing on simple acts that collectively create a substantial positive change.

“More than celebrating the passage of time, this campaign is about celebrating the power of kindness that unites us all,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perry.  “Our building level activities committee led by Sand Creek principal Michael Marohn developed this idea with the  aim to inspire not only our students but the entire community to embrace the beauty of giving back.”

South Colonie’s commitment to the campaign is echoed in its curriculum. 

“Community is one of our four pillars,” Perry added. “From having the opportunity for students to support the larger community through activities like our Toys for Tots campaign or iCare students at the high school raising money year round for a cause, community involvement and support is at the heart of what we do.”

Community members can also join the cause, pledging to participate and share their own acts of kindness using the campaign’s official hashtag,  #ProudlyColonie75Acts or by emailing photos to ProudlyColonie@scolonie.org.

As the school year unfolds, South Colonie is set to showcase the impact of these acts through regular updates, demonstrating the positive change that arises from collective kindness.

For more information on our 75th Anniversary and related activities please visit https://www.southcolonieschools.org/proudly-colonie-celebrating-75-years/.  For suggestions and ideas on daily act of kindness, please view our Kindness Calendar here. 

Embrace Kindness: 10 Sample Suggestions

• Ask someone how they are feeling today.
• Tell a friend why you are proud of them.
• Listen to someone and offer encouragement.
• Validate someone’s feelings.
• Use positive self- talk today.
• Apologize to someone.
• Offer to help a classmate or teacher.
• Forgive a mistake.
• Say thank you to a custodian.
• Leave a kind post-it in a library book.

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Supply list by grade

Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade

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In the fall, the South Colonie Central School District began a new series, “Meet the Pack,” to highlight South Colonie staff members that go above and beyond for the school community. Meet Roessleville Elementary School Social Worker Allison Mullen*!

Allison Mullen is the school social worker for Roessleville Elementary. Mullen received nominations for her ability to connect and have a positive impact on not only students but teachers and families as well. 

“I was surprised when I was nominated! It touched my heart. I always say I love my job and I truly do. I love the people and the students that I work with,” said Mullen

Mullen has been with the South Colonie district for six years. During the first four years, she split her time between Forest Park and Roessleville elementary schools. Two years ago, the addition of new social workers to the department made it possible for Mullen to just focus on Roessleville, which allows for her to be a constant presence in the school and to build strong relationships with students.

“My favorite part of the day is having the students come in and knowing them all by name. I think I know every student’s name in the school,” said Mullen, which is no small feat given that there are 335 students enrolled!

Since COVID, South Colonie’s schools have put an emphasis on their social work department. Mullen shared that there is now at least one full-time social worker assigned at each school in South Colonie. More social-emotional support staff gives school social workers the ability to address crises in a prompt manner and also be there for the day-to-day needs of students like how to cope with feelings or what to do when something goes wrong. 

“Having that connection with students and letting them know that they can come to me whenever they need to, whether it is something small with a friend, something going on at home, or a struggle with a teacher. I want to build that relationship and be a person that they can go to when they need,” Mullen commented.

To Mullen, the best part of the South Colonie School District is the family dynamic. Mullen was initially attracted to the district for the homelike feel and because she is also a Colonie grad.

This March, Mullen stepped into the role of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) Coordinator. She has completed TCIS training throughout her career and became a trainer last year. She is now responsible for providing training and workshops to all staff on the topics of de-escalation, crisis management, providing a supportive environment, and helping create a trauma-sensitive environment for their students.

When she is not at school, Mullen loves to spend time with her family, particularly her niece and nephews. She is an avid Disney lover and the proud owner of two dogs and one cat. 

* You may know her as Allison Carpenter, since she recently got married and changed her name. Congratulations to the happy couple!

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Roessleville UPK students recently held a sweet and impactful event to support childhood cancer.  Students in Mrs. Brinkman and Mrs. Govel’s UPK classes came together to host a lemonade stand to support the incredible work of ‘Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’ to find a cure for childhood cancer. 

“We are incredibly proud of our UPK students and the entire Roessleville Community for coming together to support the lemonade stand fundraiser. It is inspiring to witness young hearts and minds grasping the concept of making a difference and taking action,” said Mrs. Brinkman and Mrs. Govel. “ Their enthusiasm and dedication have shown us that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound impact on others. Thank you for joining us in this important cause.”

The Roessleville school community raised $825 in support of the foundation. Great job to all!

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South Colonie hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Saturday, May 20, to highlight the installation of five new playgrounds at its elementary schools. The playground equipment was made possible through generous donations from several school PTA groups and a grant from Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie).

During the ceremonial ribbon cutting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perry emphasized the importance of outdoor playground spaces for student development. He stated, “We knew that having outdoor playground space for our students to play was vital to their development. In addition to the physical benefits, the space also provides a natural setting for students to interact outside of the classroom, where they can learn many life skills. Rebuilding these outdoor spaces for students has been a priority for us as we evaluate the overall needs of the district.”

Last year, several elementary PTAs announced grants to help cover the costs of enhancing or replacing the existing playgrounds in each school. The new equipment arrived just after the new year, and installation crews began their work at each elementary school within the South Colonie Central School district. The final installation will take place at Shaker Road Elementary School in the coming weeks.

In addition to the donations from the South Colonie PTA groups and a $25,000 grant from Assemblymember Steck, the district invested approximately $30,000 in equipment to each building in addition to labor and concrete costs associated with installation.  Funding provided by the district came from the American Rescue Plan Act ESSER grant.

“The South Colonie School District is known for its amazing schools, and this new playground continues that tradition by providing our youngest learners with a safe space built to encourage their development and well-being,” said Assemblymember Phil Steck. “I’m proud to have provided funding for a project that is sure to have an impact on many of our families.”

“We are so thankful for the support of our PTAs and of course Assemblymember Steck in supporting this initiative. We look forward to celebrating this special time for our students this weekend,” Perry added.

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South Colonie Central School District announced today its continued partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and the Village of Colonie for the 2022 “Stuff the Bus” Toys for Tots Campaign. For the 16th consecutive year, the district will host numerous toy collection drives to ensure children in the community receive gifts during the holiday season. 

Kick-off Toy Raid at Veeder Elementary

South Colonie Central School District will kick-off this year’s campaign at Veeder Elementary on Monday, Nov. 28  at 10 a.m.

Collection drives to be held at South Colonie locations

Additionally, the South Colonie Transportation Department will facilitate toy pick-ups at the following dates and locations:

• • Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Saddlewood Elementary from 9:30 to 10 a.m. 
  • Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Shaker Road Elementary from 9:30 to 10 a.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 2 at Roessleville Elementary from 9:30 to 10 a.m. 
  • Monday, Dec. 5 at Forest Park Elementary from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Sand Creek Middle School from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Lisha Kill Middle School from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.

A toy-drive will also be held at the Village Recreation Center in Colonie.  Families can drop unwrapped toys there until close of business on Thursday, Dec. 8. 

Light parade at CCHS to culminate campaign

This year’s campaign will culminate with a  “Lights in the Park”, drive through style show held at Colonie High School on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. 

“Our Colonie families can come out and enjoy a fun festive evening while supporting a great cause,” said Brian Scalzo, associate principal at CCHS. “Families are asked to bring a new unwrapped gift as entry to the event.”

The event will be open to the public. All toys collected will be donated to support Toys for Tots.

Inviting the South Colonie community to participate 

The collection drives will provide South Colonie families with the opportunity to donate new, unwrapped toys for distribution to children in need. South Colonie families who are interested in participating should send their child to school with the toy or make arrangements to drop off the toy prior to the scheduled collection date.  Residents of the community are also invited to participate by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to any of the participating locations or to the district office. 

“We are proud to partner once again with the U.S. Marines Corps and the Village of Colonie to continue this holiday tradition to support families in our community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perry.  “Inflation has certainly placed a financial burden for many and we are thankful to be able to contribute to children in our community by working with our partners to facilitate these drives. Not only will it give children in our schools the opportunity to model the importance of expressing empathy for others, but South Colonie families will also be able to benefit from the program.”

For more information about the Toys for Tots program, visit www.capitalregiontoysfortots.org.

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 Our elementary schools took part in celebrating World Peace Day on Wednesday, Sept. 21 by attending a read-aloud of the book Can We Say Peace! Students in the district’s five elementary schools participated in individual assemblies geared towards opening a dialogue about what peace means. 

“It is important to teach students what it means to be peaceful and how to work together to create peaceful schools and communities where everyone feels welcome.” Says Roesselville Elementary Principal, Mrs. Tedisco. “We will continue these conversations in a safe and supportive environment with the hopes that it will inspire them to be peacemakers within our community.”

Each school had a unique way of celebrating World Peace Day and incorporated the intended message with their unique population in mind. Rossellville ended their peace day celebration by asking students to participate in a ‘mindful moment’ led by faculty members, where students learned how to create peace within themselves, as well as how to direct their peaceful thoughts outwards into the community. Veeder practiced acknowledging their peers in peaceful ways, demonstrating the power of calm and kind words. Forest Park held a virtual celebration within their community that aimed for inclusivity, and gave students the opportunity to practice peaceful online etiquette. Across all of our elementary schools, our faculty and staff took special care in ensuring that our students had all of the necessary tools to learn about what peace can mean for themselves, others, and their community as a whole.

Teachers and staff members participating in the Elementary DEI committee came together over the summer to discuss themes and age appropriate activities for the 2022-23 school year. This work aligns with the district’s commitment to becoming a more inclusive environment for students and faculty. 

Thank you to our administrators for making this possible!

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Dear South Colonie Parents/Guardians,

This message is to inform you that the 2022-23 school information for your child(ren) will be released and available to view on the ASPEN portal at the following times:

• • Elementary and Middle School schedules and teacher assignments will be available to view on Friday, Aug. 26 at 3 p.m.
  • High School schedules and teacher assignments will be available to view on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 3 p.m.

Information about how to access the ASPEN portal can be found here: https://www.southcolonieschools.org/parents/aspen-portal-information/.  

We look forward to seeing our students back on campus on Wednesday. Sept 7.

Sincerely,

Timothy Backus
Deputy Superintendent

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