PARENT PORTAL ACCESS REQUEST FORM
Report cards will be available online this year through the SchoolTool Parent Portal. Parents/guardians who have not already set up an account for the Parent Portal can download the Request Form and return it in person to any one of our schools (middle school staff are located in the high school for the summer) or during our fall Open Houses. A photo ID is required when returning the form.

FREE/REDUCED MEALS APPLICATION
The cost of breakfast for students in grades K-12 is $1.05, lunch for K-5 is $1.40 and lunch for 6-12 is $1.55. Children from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible for free or reduced price meals, which cost $.25 for breakfast and $.25 for lunch. To apply for free or reduced price meals, download the application and return it to Mrs. Anderson in the District Administration office.

New Round-about Takes Shape
The new round-about near the middle school is taking shape - here is an aerial view of the progress

2009-10 SCHOOL YEAR

QHS Recycling - A Team Effort
Last fall the high school began a recycling program for bottles and cans thanks to Suzanne Merrill, QHS English teacher and 2010 retiree, and Patrick Ostwald, QHS 2010 graduate. Mrs. Merrill found a grant that would cover the cost to set up a recycling program, and when she asked for student volunteers to get the program going Patrick stepped forward. He filled out the application and set up the recycling bins once they arrived. As the bins filled up, Special Education teacher Bob Dean saw an opportunity for his students to become involved. With the help of Sarah Bills, Teacher Aide, students collected and redeemed over $275 worth of bottles and cans during the year. Mr. Dean, Ms. Bills, and the students then used the money to benefit needy families and students in our community. Thank you to everyone involved for making a difference in your community.

Board of Education Member Receives Distinguished Service Award
Frank Miller, retired Queensbury teacher and current Board of Education member, received the NYSAAA (NYS Athletic Administrators Association) Distinguished Service Award for Chapter 2 (Capital District). Frank was chosen for his many years of dedicated service to the Section as an educator, coach, official and administrator in an officials organization (wrestling). He was honored at the Dave Martens Awards Luncheon at the Annual State Conference held March 16 - 19 in Saratoga.

Petitions for BOE Seats Available
There are two Board of Education seats up for election this year. Petitions for anyone interested in running for election are available in the District Clerk's office. The filing deadline is April 19, 2010. Please contact Mrs. VanHatten at 824-5604 for more information.

Queensbury Students score big in the Odyssey of the Mind Competition
Congratulations to the Middle School Odyssey Team: Amanda Guido, Amanda Teppo, Lydia Hanchett, Ericka Wadleigh and Mara Bureau for winning first place in their division at Regional competition. Congratulations also go out to two WHBI teams, Return to the Gift of Flight team: Ethan Ballard, Tristan Bauldauf and Hudson Waters and Superstition team: Ryan Hill, Patrick Dee, Sullivan Fitzgerald, Alejandro Garcia, Michael Giudo, Dominic Nassivera and Ben Spur.They will all be going to the state competition at Binghamton University Saturday, March 27th.

2nd ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE ABUSE FORUM SCHEDULED
Parents, students and community members are invited to attend a second community forum on teenage alcohol and substance abuse on Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the high school LGI. Topics covered will be the results of a drug survey taken by all students in grades 6-12 recently and continued discussion on plans for preventative education for students. Jennifer Wood from the Prevention Council, sponsor of the drug survey, will be on hand to discuss the results and compare them to previous surveys. High school SADD members will be on hand to give a student perspective of the drug survey results and to offer suggestions and plans for upcoming school-wide prevention initiatives.

Thanks for Successful Open Forum: Alcohol/Substance Abuse/Social Hosting Laws
Over 500 students, staff and community members attended the Open Forum Discussion about teenage alcohol and substance abuse trends and Social Hosting Laws at the Queensbury High School on November 17th. A special thanks to District Attorney Kate Hogan, Sheriff Bud York, John Underwood from the American Athlete Institute, Jen Wood from the Prevention Council, and NYS Police Officer Steve Ortiz for participating on the speakers panel. Thanks also to Mr. Dan Kane, SADD Advisor, and the SADD students for helping coordinate the event. The Queensbury Parent Pledge form is available for parents to sign in support of our goal to encourage Queensbury youth to be substance-free. Please return completed forms to the QHS Main Office.

QHS Teacher named as NYS Education Department Teacher of the year finalist
Sandy Jabaut, QHS Art teacher and K-12 Dept. Chair, has been recognized by the New York State Department of Education as a finalist for Teacher of the Year.  She is one of only five teachers from across all of NYS who have earned this distinction.  Sandy will be recognized as a finalist at a state reception in Albany in October.  The winner of the award went to a teacher from Orange County.

Two QHS Seniors selected as semifinalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program
Queensbury High School is proud to announce that seniors Benjamin Frank  and Shriya Nevatia have been selected as Semifinalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program.  This distinction places these young adults in an elite group of 16,000 students representing less than one percent of U.S. high school graduating seniors.  Their involvement in this program is due to their performance on the PSAT exam taken last year.  Semifinalists are now eligible to compete for 8,200 National Merit Scholarship awards worth more than $36 million.  Benjamin is the son of Dr. Alex Frank and Dr. Stacey Mandelbaum of Queensbury;  and Shriya is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Surendra Nevatia, also of Queensbury.  Congratulations to the Ben, Shriya, and their families on this prestigious honor.

BOCES Launches Parenting2Day Website
The site offers resources for parents about discipline, growth and emotional health, kid's safety, and family communication. Take a moment to check it out by clicking here: Parenting2Day!

New Queensbury Logo
Last year the Strategic Planning Committee asked students to submit designs for a logo that depicted the district mission statement. The committee reviewed entries from students across the district and chose a design created by Shriya Nevatia, a high school junior. All of the designs submitted have been incorporated into posters that are displayed around the district. Congratulations to Shriya for submitting the winning design, and thank you to all of our students who took part in the contest.

John DeSanto, "Outstanding Member" of NYS Association of School Business Officials
Congratulations to John DeSanto, Assistant Superintendent of Business, who has been honored as an “outstanding member” of the Capital Chapter of the NYS Association of School Business Officials for 2009. This recognition also brings a $1,000 scholarship opportunity from NYSASBO for a Queensbury senior who intends to pursue business, finance and/or education in college. The outstanding member recognition is given annually by the NYSASBO Capital Chapter “to a member who exemplifies the honor, commitment and dedication of the school business officials within the Chapter.”

Scott Stuart named NYS Athletic Administrator of the Year
Congratulations to Scott Stuart who was named Chapter 2 New York State Athletic Administrator of the Year this past weekend. Scott has been the Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics at QUFSD for the past 11 years. Outside of the office he is the Treasurer for the Foothills Council (10 years), Section 2 Ice Hockey Coordinator (9 years), Secretary for the State Ice Hockey Committee and is the Chapter 2 representative for the NYS Athletic Administrators Association. In his spare time, Scott is an ice hockey official.

Scott began his career as a coach/teacher at the high school, prep school and college level in 1977. He received his undergraduate degree from UMass-Amherst and has done graduate course work at SUNY Cortland and Castleton State College.

Congratulations to the Nordic Ski teams, two-time State Champions
Congratulations to the Boys and Girls Nordic Ski teams. Both teams defended their State championships and are now two-time State Champions. Individually Kevin Sprague placed 2nd, Will Frielinghaus 4th, Pat Carroll 6th, Drew Nevins 10th, Nick Underwood 17th, Aaron Newell 26th, and Jon Williams 28th. For the Girls Carly Wynn was the top skier for the second year in a row, Danielle Winslow 3rd, Chelsea O’Reilly 7th, Juliann Lajoie 10th, Morgan Mueller 11th, Rachael Bachman 13th and Brittney Winslow 25th.

On the Alpine side Tim Hughes placed 3rd and 4th, Jon Underhill 24th, and Alexis Hudson 22 and 26th.

Congratulations to all the skiers and Coach Bob Underwood and Steve Jackson on another outstanding season!