Board of Education Recognizes Middle School Difference Makers
The Windsor Central School District Board of Education recognized students, faculty, and community members who have made great contributions and brought pride to the District Tuesday, April 11 at Windsor Central Middle School.
The Board honored the Middle School’s two Mathalon teams consisting of Brynn Andrews, Rory Bunnell, Anna DeJohn, Hayden Greene, Cassandra Johnson, Eric Miller, and Keira Smith.
This year Windsor matched its best showing ever, with one team placing in the top three. Brynn, Rory, Anna, Hayden, Cassie, Eric, and Keira worked together to bring home a trophy for the Middle School.
Additionally, for only the second time ever, Windsor had a student place in the Individual round. Congratulations to Cassie Johnson, who tied for second place with a fantastic score.
The Board recognized 8th-grade students Avery Robinson, Noa Lawrence, Jeremiah Baxter, Lucas Kappler for their efforts to repair and refinish the large conference-room table in the Middle School. The students evaluated the extent of repairs the table needed and began a design process. The team met with Middle School Principal Kevin Strahley to determine the final surface design among a number of creative proposed options. The result was a beautifully finished table in Windsor school colors emblazoned with a big W.
The Windsor Middle School had more representatives than any other school at the Southern Tier Scholastic Science Fair in March at SUNY Broome. Zachary Burpee, Giovanna Bucciarelli, Erica Daquin, Kobe Dela Cruz, Katelyn Gary, Sophia Kabat, Kirsten Benedict, Hannah Saxby, Ella Grubham represented the Middle School.
Zachary Burpee and Giovanna Bucciarelli combined to win a Gold Medal, a Merlin Award, and the Sigma Xi Future Investigator Award. Kobe Dela Cruz won a Bronze Medal, the Rumble Ponies Award, and the Raymond TEM in the STEM Award. Katelyn Gary and Erica Daquin received Honorable Mention.
Sophia Kabat won a Gold Medal. 7th-grader Kirsten Benedict won a Silver Medal. 6th-grader Hannah Saxby won a Silver Medal, and the SUNY Broome Faculty Excellence Award. Ella Grubham, also a 6th- grader, won a Silver Medal, and the Diamond Visionics Excellence Award.
Additionally, Kirsten Benedict moved on to the state competition in Syracuse, where she received a medal at the Central New York Science and Engineering Fair on Sunday, March 26th. There, she won a Junior Division Honors Medallion for 7th Grade.
Katelyn Gary and Erica Daquin also took part in the Upstate Medical University 10th Annual Binghamton Biomedical Research Conference on April 1, which was held at Binghamton University. They stood among other doctors and medical students to share the findings of their project.
A local doctor offered to sponsor a display station for them at the Upstate Medical University Annual Conference. They were asked to present their findings as if they were leaders in the field sharing among their peers. It was unprecedented territory for any student to be invited, sponsored, and showcased for their achievement, and it was an incredible experience for these students.
Mrs. Daina Kocak took the Middle School Science Fair to new heights this year, and it is obvious that her students have benefitted from the experience.
This year, Mrs. Kocak’s students completed their projects like any other year, but they were then asked to examine the benefits of their work and share it with the world. They picked a company or individual that could benefit from the knowledge they gained from doing their science fair experiment, found addresses, wrote formal letters, and mailed them.
Letters poured in. Students beamed with pride as they heard from Wegmans, Lourdes Hospital, UHS, Binghamton Animal Clinic, SC Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Southern Tier Dermatology, Coca Cola, the Head coach of the Men’s Basketball Team at Binghamton University, and even the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington D.C.
According to Middle School Principal Kevin Strahley she wants to make a difference in the lives of her students by letting them know that their work can make a difference in the world.
Tom Mastro has worked diligently to develop the partnership between Binghamton University and the Windsor Central School District. Back in October, a group of 6th grade students were identified as being in need of assistance in Math. Mastro and Middle School Associate Principal Toby Youngs collaborated to create a program to match these at-risk students with positive role models who could support them academically and socially.
Mastro worked tirelessly to recruit and interview mentors, arrange for special transportation for them, and ensure that both the needs of his BU students and the Windsor Middle School students were being met. This year, we piloted the program with 10 mentors serving our students. Mastro has already received approval from BU to expand the program to 25 mentors next year.
Miranda Currier came to Windsor Middle School this year as a Binghamton University Mentor looking to gain experience working with students. She was paired with a student and assigned duties as a mentor. A Math major with future hopes to be an educator, Miranda has taken the role of mentor to a new level. She has made our students a priority in her schedule by attending “Pack the House”, the Middle School Volleyball tournament, and the Middle School Dodgeball tournament, where she coached one of the 6th grade teams.
She has made suggestions of how her time can better serve our students, requested to work with more than one student, and has even gone as far as recommending she be assigned to the Mod 11 Learning Center so she can work with more of the Middle School’s struggling students.
Social worker Laura Fiore is a ‘Guardian Angel’ for students. She is a tireless advocate for all students in need. Whether she is making home visits; conducting Risk Assessments; interacting with CPS, DSS, PINS, Catholic Charities, and any other outside agency; meeting with parents, students, colleagues, and administrators; following up to ensure transportation for homeless students; or offering input at CSE or Pupil Personnel Meetings, Laura is the moral compass of the Middle School, according to Principal Kevin Strahley.
Perhaps the best example of her dedication to students is seen through her work with the Service Learning Club. Each year she puts together a group of students who learn by doing for others, following Laura’s example. These students work at all school events, raise money, run a school dance, and take part in the Ramp It Up program. Laura’s connection with the Youth Mentoring program of the Broome County Council of Churches connects our students with this inspiring initiative that builds wheelchair ramps for homebound people across the county. Residents in need are provided easier home access, while our students learn teamwork, community involvement and pride, along with a basic knowledge of carpentry skills.
