Attica Central School District

Attica’s own Joe Parkhurst getting it DONE at the Horizon League Championships in Indianapolis last week! Swimming for the NCAA Division I Cleveland State Vikings, Parkhurst placed in 7 events over the course of the four-day meet: • 50-yard freestyle: 14th (20.42) • 100-yard freestyle: 14th (45.15) • 100-yard breaststroke: 13th (56.13) • 200-yard medley relay, freestyle leg: 3rd (1:27.98 overall, 20.22 freestyle leg) • 200-yard freestyle relay: 4th (1:19.78 overall, 19.76 50-leg) • 400-yard freestyle relay: 2nd (2:56.06 overall, 44.09 100-leg) Highlights from the meet for Joe were probably his 19.76-second swim on his 50-yard leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 4th fastest time in Cleveland State Swimming history, as well as the Vikings’ 400-yard freestyle relay time of 2:56,06, which set a new school record. The Vikings men’s team took 3rd overall in the 7-team meet with 491 points and end their season at 4-2. Way to go, Joe! (Photos courtesy of Nici Parkhurst)

Our Attica Elementary Food Service Program is excited to celebrate READING WEEK with our students next week! Members of our food service staff are teaming up with Principal Sherry Bennett and Food Service Director Kris Wicks to create a special menu that pairs our students’ favorite meals with books to match! We hope you’ll encourage your child to choose the main menu item each day and dive into the story behind it! Mark your calendars—this is one week you won’t want to miss! Oh, and don’t forget - lunches are free for all students this school year! #ReadingWeek #AtticaElementary #FoodAndBooks #FreeLunch #ExcitingTimes

Get excited, Blue Devils, because next month, Mr. John Versage and his students’ homemade apple chips are coming to a cafeteria salad bar NEAR YOU. Starting March 13, the apple chips will be a featured offering on our salad bar every second Thursday of the month, a day which will henceforth be known as Apple Chip Thursday! We’re always looking for fresh, local products to feature as options on our lunch lines and it doesn’t get much more local than down the hall! Parents, don’t forget to remind your kiddos about this tasty treat when discussing their lunch choices. In anticipation of our first Apple Chip Thursday on March 13, we recently stopped by one of Versage’s middle school intro to technology classes to see what goes into making these crispy, healthy snacks - check it out over on our YouTube channel at the link below! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rthwUe1uc

What an unforgettable night! Before February break, a few of our students had the honor of attending A Night To Shine, courtesy of the Tim Tebow Foundation. This prom night experience was designed to celebrate our students. The night was filled with joy, laughter and shining moments for all involved. A huge thank you to everyone who made this night a reality and to all the volunteers who helped create a safe and supportive atmosphere for our students! (Photos courtesy of Kimberly Maerten)

We stopped by rehearsal yesterday for our Drama Club’s upcoming production of “Freaky Friday: A New Musical” and take it from us - you’re not going to want to miss this show! This is the first time in at least 20 years that our Drama Club has chosen to stage a musical and our cast and crew have been working hard to make sure it’s sufficiently freaky! Two performances are scheduled in our Performing Arts Center, 3338 East Main Street Rd., Attica. The first is Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. The second is Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 or $8 for students and will be sold at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 and 1:30 p.m. on March 1. We hope to see you this weekend! Full photo album over on our Facebook page at the link below. Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100057106403663&set=a.1144635027450033

Our Blue Devils Dispatch for February 2025 is live! Each of our principals has created a parent newsletter specific to their school with the help of our teachers and staff - use the links below to read all three! • Attica Elementary School January Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/3b4cf • Attica Middle School January Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/1sa6q • Attica High School January Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/hbwgy

It’s with great pride that we announce our students selected to represent Attica in the Wyoming County Arts Council’s annual High School Art Show in Perry. “I can only select 10 students to represent Attica,” said High School Art Teacher Laura Steves, “which is tough, because we have so many incredible student artists here.” This year the following students have been selected: • Stephanie Silvernail (12th) • Evelyn Walthew (10th) • Mara Hernandez-Veliz (10th) • Rebekah Hess (9th) • Alanna Blackshire (9th) • Bella Thie (9th) • Emmett Vincton (9th) • Jason Mincer (9th) • Amber Szuniewicz (9th) • Landen Nagel (9th) Congratulations! The show opens Friday, Feb, 28 and runs through March 22 at the WYCO Arts Council Gallery, 31 South Main St., Perry. Pictured are pieces from Stephanie Silvernaul (tic-tac-toe board), Alanna Blackshire (landscape painting) and Amber Szuniewicz (neuropathic painting). (Photos courtesy of Laura Steves)

Our February 12 Fresh Connections Club meeting was a sweet success! Sixteen students (Grades 5–7) joined Becky Sphar & Melissa Brooks for a hands-on baking workshop with Alex, owner of Bubbys Breads-Maplewood Market! What We Did: Learned how to make homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch; picked up expert tips on perfecting texture and flavor; practiced proper dishwashing, kitchen safety and sanitation. The best part? Getting to enjoy our delicious creations! Students left inspired by Alex’s baking expertise and with valuable kitchen skills to last a lifetime. Next Meeting: Thursday, January 23 – Embracing Our Roots: Turning Veggies into Treats! #FreshConnectionsClub #BakingWithBubbysBreads #SweetSuccess #CulinaryCreativity

Exciting things are happening at our Elementary School Library! Melanie Loranty, our library media specialist down on Prospect Street, has recently made some fantastic agriculture-focused book purchases to add to our collection, helping our students connect with the rich farming and growing traditions in our community. But that's not all! Some talented students in technology teacher John Versage's class have built a special barn to house these books, making them even more accessible for students eager to dive into the world of agriculture! A huge thank you to sophomores Gavin Duffy, Justin Stockweather, Blake Kines, and Noah Sabatino for their hard work and creativity in building this awesome project! Next up? Painting the barn! We can't wait to see the final product and hear how much our students enjoy using this new space. Stay tuned for more updates! #CommunityRoots #AgricultureEducation #LibraryLove #StudentProjects #GrowingTogether

We’ve been scouring the classrooms and hallways of Attica Elementary School for random acts of kindness all week and today, we spotted students in Mrs. Audra Landis’ kindergartners doing just that! McDonald’s class used teamwork to make Valentine’s Day cards for their special area teachers, then delivered them, one by one, to each teacher’s mailbox! Well done, kindergarteners! (Photos courtesy of Audra Landis)

Hey Blue Devils - send some good vibes out Cleveland way to help Attica’s own Joe Parkhurst as he prepares to compete in the Horizon League Championships in Indianapolis next week! Joe, who graduated last year, is having one heck of a freshman year for the NCAA Division I Cleveland State Vikings. He’s currently 6th on the team in points scored on the season and was part of Cleveland State’s 200-yard freestyle relay that set a new, Magnus Cup record of 1:20.24 back in November. It’s going to be a busy few days for Joe in Indianapolis as he’s slated to swim events each day of the four-day championships, so some extra love from his hometown sure isn’t going to go amiss! The Horizon League Championships run from Feb. 19-22 and will be livestreamed on ESPN+. Best of luck in Indianapolis, Joe! (Photos courtesy of Nici Parkhurst)

Give it up for our 7th/8th grade math team, which has won Genesee Valley BOCES’s Interscholastic Math Competition for the 7th straight year! Our team amassed 309 total points over the course of its three-competition season, which wrapped up yesterday, ahead of second place finisher Le Roy’s 276. Congratulations to our team members - JJ Pearl, Liesel Hyman, Will Gouinlock, Logan Armstrong, Norah Sphar, Eden Domes, Faye Cannon, Ally Landphair and Lucia Eddy - on another terrific season!

REMINDER: Our TIES chapter’s Bingo Night Meet and Greet is TODAY from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in our High School Library, 3338 East Main Street Rd., Attica. This will be a great opportunity to meet new friends and connect with others, learn more about the TIES program and how it fosters inclusion, get answers to your questions in a friendly, relaxed setting. We hope to see you this afternoon!

Give it up for our varsity cheer squad, which captured the Genesee Region Athletic Association Division I title last night in Holley! Our Blue Devils scored a 68.8, comfortably ahead of second place finisher Holley’s 63.5. A special shout out goes to senior Paige Warwick, who was selected to represent Attica at the upcoming Ronald McDonald All-Star game. Our girls will next be in action this Saturday, Feb. 15, at Gates-Chili High School when they’ll compete against 17 other teams for the Section V Class D1 title. Great job and good luck, ladies! Click on the link below to see cheerleaders' GRAA-winning routine. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGnMb-qZJsA

Meet our January Middle School Students of the Month! Representing 5th grade as student of the month is Maiya Jackson. “Maiya is polite and kind to her teachers and peers and is always willing to help her classmates,” said Jackie Lathigee, Maiya’s nominator. “On multiple occasions I have witnessed Maiya willingly help a student by explaining directions or offering support. She is a great role model!” Our 6th grade student of the month is Lilyana Meyers. “Lilyana has shown great improvement with her attendance and efforts in and out of class and is not afraid to ask questions in order to do her best work,” said Allison Cali, who co-nominated Lilyana. “Lilyana is kind, hardworking, and dependable,” added Stacey Donahue, a co-nominator. “She stays on task and can be counted on to take the lead on projects. She follows through and works hard to get things done.” Amanda Treichler described our 7th grade student of the month, Sophia Harper, as “incredibly patient.” “She is a kid that will work with even the most difficult students and be kind and respectful,” said Treichler. “She is always prepared for class and participates actively in class lessons and activities.” Norah Sphar was nominated as 8th grade student of the month by Jocelyn Pierce, who described Norah as “amazing.” “She doesn't miss often, but when she does, she is the only one I have ever had email to let me know she got the notes AND to check in,” said Pierce. “Norah is very sweet and respected by all of her peers and teachers. She balances school with sports and extracurriculars and is always seen with a smile on her face.”

Mark your calendars, Blue Devils, because it’s about to get freaky up in here! Our Drama Club has been working hard and is nearly ready to debut “Freaky Friday: A New Musical” on our Performing Arts Center stage! “Freaky Friday” tells the story of a mother and daughter who, after constantly butting heads, wake up one morning to discover they’ve magically swapped bodies. As they search desperately for a way to switch back, mother and daughter gain a deeper appreciation for each other’s struggles and perspectives and ultimately re-discover their love for one another. This is the first time in at least the past 20 years that our Drama Club has taken on a musical and our cast and crew can’t wait to share their hard work with all of you! Two performances are scheduled in our Performing Arts Center, 3338 East Main Street Rd., Attica. The first is Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. The second is Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 or $8 for students and will be sold at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 and 1:30 p.m. on March 1.

We want to give some props to our varsity wrestling team, which competed Saturday at the Section V Class B1 Individual Championships at Wayland-Cohocton High School. Our joint Attica/Batavia team finished with 122 points, third overall behind second place finisher Wayne’s 189.5 points and champion Honeoye Falls-Lima’s 271.5. We also had 7 grapplers earn top 6 finishes at Way-Coh: • Marc Cook (Batavia): 4th at 108 lbs • Preston Bannister (Attica): 2nd at 116 lbs • Blake Donohue (Attica): 4th at 116 lbs • Luke Gutman (Batavia): 5th at 138 lbs • Memphis McFollins (Batavia): 5th at 145 lbs • Dominic Darch (Batavia): 2nd at 215 lbs • Branden Flanagan (Batavia: 6th at 185 lbs By finishing in the top 5 in their weight classes, Marc, Preston, Blake, Luke, Memphis and Dominic all punched their tickets to State Qualifiers this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14 and 15, at Haverling High School. Well done, Blue Devils, and best of luck at State Qualifiers!

Our Fresh Connections Club tackled homemade chicken nuggets at its most recent meeting as students explored how simple ingredients can create healthier, tastier alternatives to store- or restaurant-bought fast food! Students started with a lesson about the different ingredients needed for homemade nuggets, including chicken, breadcrumbs and seasonings. Club members took turns cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces, blending and forming the chicken nuggets, coating the nuggets in flour and breading and frying them up until golden and crispy. Then, students turned their attention to creating four dipping sauces - honey mustard, ranch, a sweet barbeque and ketchup. Club members then tried each of the sauces to decide which was their favorite. Some even tried mixing sauces together to create their own secret varieties! The meeting wrapped up with a discussion of scratch-made food choices and how cooking at home can be both fun and nutritious. Club members are already looking forward to their next meeting when they’ll swap savory for sweet and bake homemade sweet rolls! Students will mix, roll and glaze their creations while learning basic baking skills and, of course, enjoying some delicious homemade treats - yum!

Good evening Attica families. Family ID will open on Monday, February 17 to sign up for all spring JV and varsity sports. Practices will start Monday, March 17. Athletes must be signed up on Family ID and have an up to date physical on file. Students using the late bus must sign up in the main office in order to ride.

Congratulations to our January High School Students of the Month! Jocelyn Pierce nominated Colby Tyoe as student of the month for 9th grade based on his rapid academic improvement over the past few months. “Through his hard work, Colby raised his grade over 20 points, is participating well in class and has had great attendance,” said Pierce “During learning lab, he helps other students with their homework and has even taken it upon himself to leave a regular study hall and change to learning labs, where he knows he will be more productive. I am very proud of the positive changes he made in his education!” Brooke Laird was nominated by Dan Snyder as student of the month for 10th grade. “Brooke is the most positive student in my class,” said Snyder. “She’s witty and is always prepared for whatever the day will bring. Her work is always completed in a timely manner and Brooke never complains about her assignments.” James Nash cited “massive improvements” in classwork and studying habits as one the main reasons he nominated Natialya Lathrop as student of the month for 11th grade. “Over the past few weeks, Natialya has really locked in,” said Nash. “She has made an effort to participate in class as much as possible and has shown increased confidence when answering questions. Her growth has been awesome and I couldn't be prouder!” Keira Courtwright is our 12th grade student of the month. She was nominated by Stacy Crowley. “Keira has really impressed me this year in AP Calculus. She’s a naturally gifted student, but she also works really hard to reach her academic potential,” Crowley said. “Keira aims to really understand the why behind math and is able to make connections among the content we are learning. She is such a kind and intelligent young lady and I genuinely enjoy having her in my class.”