Attica Central School District

Our students had an exciting half-day visit to the Batavia CTE Center today! During their visit, students selected their top two CTE programs and spent an hour in each, engaging in hands-on activities and exploring potential career paths. Programs like Graphic Arts, Electro-Mechanical Trades, and Auto Body were among the many options that gave students a chance to dive into real-world skills and trades. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for students to discover their interests and begin thinking about their future goals. (Photos courtesy of Lyndsay Herkimer)

We’re thrilled to announce our district’s Best Buddies chapter is a 2025 recipient of the Excellence in Student Services Award from the Genesee Valley School Board Association! Best Buddies is an international, non-profit organization that creates opportunities for elementary and middle school students with disabilities to build relationships with high school-age mentors. Through planned social events, the "Buddies" gain self-advocacy skills, increase social communication, inclusivity and connections in order to feel more secure and valued. Our Best Buddies chapter is led by Laura O’Donnell, a high school science teacher, and Joy Stoldt, a high school special education teacher. Attica representatives were presented with the award at the GVSBA’s annual Legislative Leadership Breakfast and Excellence in Student Services Awards at Elba Central Schools this past weekend After the awards program, superintendents and educators from across the region were able to meet with Assemblyman Steve Hawley as well as Sen. George Borrello, Assemblymember Andrea Bailey and Chris Zeltmann, a representative of Sen. Charles Schumer's Office, to advocate and discuss current and future education issues. O’Donnell is pictured in the photo above along with Attica Superintendent Dr. Kiel Illg, right, Sen. Borrello, left, and Assemblymember Bailey, second from left. (Photo courtesy of Alecia Kaus)

If you know our School Resource Officer Deputy Sam West, then you know he’ll HATE that we’re about to say a bunch of nice stuff about him as our latest Attica All-Star! West was nominated by Meaghan Matuszak, our Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations, in recognition of the “incredible work he continues to do in building meaningful and supportive relationships with our students.” “Deputy West has consistently demonstrated his commitment to our students’ well-being by fostering trust, offering guidance, and being a positive role model,” said Matuszak. “His interactions with students go beyond his official duties, making him a trusted figure within our school community. He has earned the respect of both students and staff alike by always approaching his role with warmth, understanding, and a genuine desire to help.” Recently, Deputy West went above and beyond in a deeply touching way. Without seeking recognition, he purchased clothing and sneakers for a student in need—an action that speaks to the true essence of kindness and selflessness. This gesture not only addressed a material need but also sent a powerful message of care and compassion to a student who may have otherwise felt overlooked or unsupported. The impact of this quiet act can’t be overstated and is a reminder that, sometimes, the most meaningful support is given when we least expect it. “Deputy West’s ability to connect with students and his dedication to their well-being extends far beyond the call of duty. His kindness and quiet generosity are making a lasting difference in the lives of our students, teaching them not just about safety, but about empathy, compassion, and community,” Matuszak added. “I can think of no one more deserving of being recognized as an Attica All-Star than Deputy West. His actions truly reflect the heart of our school and the values we strive to instill in our students.” Congratulations, Deputy West, and thank you for all you do!

Due to inclement weather, the Regents exams that were scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 21st have been rescheduled to take place on Thursday, January 23rd. The Regents exams that were scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 22nd have been rescheduled to take place on Friday, January 24th. Have a good day and please stay safe.

DON’T FORGET about our TIES (Together Including Every Student) Bingo Night Meet and Greet tomorrow from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in our High School Library! 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 - oh, and play some bingo, of course!

Our Blue Devils Dispatch for January 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/ep87b • Attica Middle School January Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/dvanq • Attica High School January Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/9rxw1-the-weekly-update-4

Due to the expected inclement weather conditions, Attica Central School District will be closed tomorrow - Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Enjoy your day off and stay warm, Blue Devils!

Good Morning, The Attica Central School District Ski Club event scheduled for today January 20, 2025 is canceled due to the forecasted inclement weather conditions. Thank you. Sincerely, Dr. Kiel Illg Superintendent of Schools

Last night, our Fresh Connections Club was positively BUBBLING with excitement as 16 young chefs in grades 5 through 7 gathered to explore the art of soup-making! Under the expert guidance of instructors Becky Sphar and Melissa Brooks, the students worked in teams to create four delicious soups: • Stuffed Pepper Soup • Olive Garden’s Pasta Fagioli • Creamy Tomato Soup • Classic Chicken Noodle Soup Starting with “mise en place,” our budding chefs learned the importance of prepping and organizing their ingredients like pros. From chopping veggies to browning meat, cleaning chicken, and mastering the immersion blender, their culinary skills were on full display. The best part? A shared tasting session where everyone sampled all four soups - yum! Students even reflected on their successes and brainstormed ways to level up for next time. What a delicious way to beat the winter chill! Stay tuned for more flavorful fun when the Fresh Connections Club next meets to embrace their roots by turning veggies into treats!

Mark your calendars, Attica, for our TIES (Together Including Every Student) chapter’s upcoming Bingo Night Meet and Greet! 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 - oh, and play some bingo, of course! The Meet and Greet is set for Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in our High School Library, 3338 East Main Street Rd., Attica. From TIES participants, volunteers, families and those interested in the TIES program, everyone is invited to attend this exciting opportunity to hang out, have fun, and be part of something amazing. We can’t wait to see you there! Questions? Contact our TIES Coordinator, Jennifer Rautenstrauch, at jrautenstrauch@atticacsd.org.

Members of our Fresh Connections Club crêpe-ed into the new year with a sweet (and savory) meeting last week! Under the direction of instructors Becky Sphar and Jenelle Bauer, 16 students explored the art of making crêpes—learning the ins and outs of creating both sweet and savory versions of this delicious French classic. From whipping fresh cream to slicing strawberries, and even perfecting their crêpe-rolling technique, the club buzzed with creativity and teamwork. Students rotated through kitchen stations to: • Make the batter • Create cream cheese fillings • Slice fresh fruits • Whip up fluffy cream Topping their crêpes with powdered sugar, syrup, and more, our students experimented with flavor combos that were as fun to make as they were to eat! Beyond the kitchen, we dived into the history of crêpes and their French origins, fostering curiosity about global cuisines. A huge thanks to our instructors for leading this culinary adventure and to our students for their enthusiasm and teamwork! We’re excited to see what they’ll cook up next - literally!

Give it up for Baylee Mills and Colton Spink, our Physical Education Students of the Month for December! Baylee, a freshman, and Colton, a sophomore, were named Students of the Month for displaying positive behavior during physical education classes, showing a desire to learn new skills and putting forward their best effort 100 percent of the time. Bravo!

SAVE THE DATE: Our Future Farmers of America chapter is hosting its 8th annual Pancake Breakfast at the North Java Fire Hall, 4274 NY-98, North Java, on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. FFA members will be serving pancakes, ham, eggs, cheesy potatoes and drinks. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. In addition to the breakfast, Attica Partners for Agriculture has generously sponsored a spring raffle in support of our FFA chapter. Tickets are $10 and are being sold by FFA members. The drawing will take place at 12 p.m. Feb. 9, at the end of the pancake breakfast. You don’t need to attend the breakfast to claim your prize. For more information, contact FFA Advisor Alyssa Wright at awright@atticacsd.org. And don’t forget to check out the accompanying image to see all the great stuff you could win!

Yesterday, our athletic director Mrs. Lisa Young took four of our student athletes - Abigail Wilkinson, Isaac Herman, Vanessa Schlau and Alyssa Elmore - to the Section V Leadership Conference at Monroe Community College where guest speaker Eric Kussin addressed attendees on the topics of mental health and sports. Kussin was a professional sports executive with the Chicago Sky, Phoenix Suns, New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers before his mental health took an unexpected and rapid decline. He struggled with PTSD, anxiety and depression for several years before getting a handle on things. Kussin now speaks across the globe about how to navigate the stress, anxiety and trauma that all people experience. “He spoke about his experiences and challenges and provided the student athletes with ways to identify when their mental wellness is not OK,” said Clark. “This initiative goes along with the #SameHere the global mental health movement that is providing awareness for mental health.”

Attention, Attica: All after school activities are cancelled for today - Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 - due to the current and forecasted inclement weather.

Few shots from the Mighty Marching Blue Devils’ trip to Florida over Winter Recess. During the eight-day trip, our student musicians performed at Icon Park and Disney’s Magic Kingdom while also taking in some of the many attractions the sunshine state has to offer. Head on over to our Facebook page at the link below for a full photo album and many thanks to all those who submitted photos from the trip! Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=100057106403663&set=a.1114177033829166

This month, our food service program is celebrating the delicious, locally grown New York potato! Did you know New York ranks 14th in the U.S. for potato production, with many of those potatoes coming right from Wyoming County? It’s true! Last Friday, our talented food service team prepared homemade potato salad, which was offered on our salad bar and as a grab-and-go sample. The feedback from students was fantastic with “Delicious,” “Two thumbs up,” and “Can I have some more?” just some of the comments we heard from our kiddos. This tasty dish is now a part of our rotating specialty salad bar offerings, bringing fresh, local flavors to our school! Stay tuned for more exciting Harvest of the Month features and student taste tests!

We were walking down the hall earlier this week when, out of the corner of our eye, we spotted three of Mrs. Sarah Michalak’s 1st period global history students sporting some, shall we say, unusual headwear. We obviously had to investigate further and, as it turns out, Michalak’s freshmen students were in the middle of performing a skit about how Ashoka, a king of the Mauryan Empire in modern-day India, converted to Buddhism which, in turn opened the door to religious tolerance in his kingdom and the eventual spread of Buddhism across Asia. The skit is part of students’ ongoing unit on classical civilizations, said Michalak. We’ve got to give it up for Emmitt Vincton, whose portrayal of a Buddhist scholar was PARTICULARLY compelling.

Just a quick shout out to our own Ms. Jenelle Bauer, who’s created a comfortable environment in her 5th period classroom where her students can learn casually and often through conversation. In fact, students are so comfortable that when it’s time to buckle down, they have no problem at all kicking off their shoes and getting to work - literally! (Photo courtesy of Melissa Brooks)

Our 7th-12th grade chorus students took in a performance of “The Lion King” at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo last week and let us tell you - these Blue Devils were NOT sleeping that night because they just couldn’t wait… to see this show! (We’ll see ourselves out)