Join us in offering our hearty congratulations to our December High School Students of the Month!
McKenna Green, our Student of the Month for 9th grade, was nominated by Mrs. Becky Sphar for her “consistent willingness to help with any task, no matter how big or small.”
“McKenna is always eager to lend a hand,” Sphar continued, “and her positive attitude and commitment to making good choices and treating others with kindness make her a true role model for her peers.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Winters nominated sophomore Justin Stockweather as Student of the Month for 10th grade.
“Justin has a positive attitude during class, actively participates, is well behaved, and has a good sense of humor,” Winters said. “He’s recently made good use of some test-taking strategies and has really improved his performance on assessments in a variety of content areas.”
Junior Carrie Harris is our Student of the Month for 11th grade.
“Carrie is polite to her teachers and peers,” said Mrs. Joy Stoldt, Carrie’s nominator. “She tries her best and works hard to complete her assignments and is outgoing in sports.”
Ms. Jocelyn Pierce nominated our 12th grade Student of the Month, Bailey Nixon, in no small part because of her consistent service as secretary for the class of 2025, a position she’s held since she was a freshman.
“Her role as secretary goes above and beyond recording minutes. Bailey has helped collect non-participation fees, help with organization and collection of fundraisers, and has helped tremendously with homecoming activities and the floats,” said Pierce. “For Christmas hall decorating, Bailey and her friend, Catharine, hung up all of the paper decorations without help from any other classmates. They gave up their time to make the halls look amazing.”
Outside her involvement in student government, Pierce said Bailey is respected by her teachers and classmates, always has a smile on her face, is a top 10 student and dominant athlete.
“Attica will definitely miss her next year,” Pierce said.
Rob Crowley, our varsity boys basketball coach, organized his team’s first Teacher Appreciation Night seven years ago and the tradition has been going strong ever since.
“I’d seen other teams do this across Section V before but it was something I felt was really necessary here at our school,” said Crowley. “I think it’s a good opportunity for our student athletes to connect back to their classrooms and recognize teachers that have had a positive impact on them over the years.”
This year, we decided to tag along and grab a little footage as our varsity basketball players headed to their chosen teachers’ classrooms to tell them they’d been selected and some of the reasons why they’re appreciated.
Check it out at the link below - might want to have a few tissues on hand before you watch this one, though!
This year’s Teacher Recognition Night ceremony will take place Jan. 21 immediately prior to the Blue Devils’ 7 p.m. home game against Kendall.
We hope you’re able to join us!
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePTjJZ0qzMs
Meet our Food Service All-Star for January - Kayla George!
Kayla, a cook at Attica Elementary School, has brought enthusiasm, energy and amazing new ideas to Prospect Street.
With the support of her dedicated team, December was an unforgettable month for students enjoying breakfast and lunch in our cafeteria. From introducing Waffle, our Elementary School’s Elf on the Shelf, to special Grinch Day treats and festive decorations, Kayla truly brought holiday magic to both students and staff alike.
“She continues to go above and beyond for our students in the cafeteria,” said Teacher Assistant Ashlee Camp, who nominated Kayla as an All-Star.
“Kayla has been an amazing addition to our building this year, always greeting the staff and students with a smile,” added Elementary School Principal Sherry Bennett. “She goes out of her way to check in with the students and helps them whenever she can. Her positive attitude is contagious and we’re lucky to have her on the team!”
Looking forward to 2025, Kayla is excited about our team's Farm to School Program and expanding special events for our students.
Thank you, Kayla, for your hard work and unwavering dedication to the students of Attica Elementary and congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
PLEASE SHARE: The Attica Landmark Society will present a screening of "Conversations with Friends" next week in our Performing Arts Center, 3338 E. Main Street Rd., Attica.
The documentary showcases the lives of four local residents who tell their stories regarding World War II.
All proceeds will go toward the restoration of the chapel at Forest Hill Cemetery in Attica.
The screening is set for Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Let us be the first to wish you a Happy New Year, Blue Devils!
Heads up, Blue Devils - our fall newsletter will be delivered in this weekend’s edition of the Attica Penny Saver.
You can also read it on our website at the link below.
Link: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2319/ACSD/5140962/Attica_Fall_Newsletter_Final.pdf
Merry Christmas, Blue Devils!
Santa’s Workshop returned to Attica Elementary last week!
This annual pop-up holiday market is a great way for our youngest students to shop for holiday gifts for members of their family.
Many thanks to our National Honor Society members, many of whom volunteered to help students shop, and the Attica Elementary Parent Teacher Group, which organized this year’s market - they did a great job!
We’ve decided to center final Attica All-Star recognitions of 2024 on the theme of giving and highlight one staff member in each of our three school buildings who goes above and beyond to improve the lives of those around them.
In the elementary school, our Attica All-Star is Nurse Missy Dispenza!
“In addition to coordinating the collection of items at Thanksgiving and Christmas for the Attica Basket Committee, Missy also coordinates and maintains the collection of clothing, shoes, jackets, hats, and mittens for kids that may be in need,” said Elementary School Principal Sherry Bennett. “The collects, washes, sorts and organizes these items all year round so that we are able to ensure our students have exactly what they need. This year she also helped to collect holiday apparel so that more students are able to participate in our theme/dress up days and no one was left out.”
Our Attica All-Star from the middle school is fifth grade teacher Heather Smith, who also serves as advisor of our National Junior Honor Society chapter.
“Heather exemplifies generosity and dedication through her unwavering commitment to community service. As the advisor for the National Junior Honor Society, she inspires students to give back and engage in meaningful activities,” said Middle School Principal Paul Clark. “Her leadership in organizing a food drive for Gateway House demonstrates her compassion for those in need, while her efforts in coordinating our recent Wounded Warrior speaker event and walk-a-thon showcase her commitment to supporting veterans. Through these initiatives, Heather not only fosters a spirit of service among her students but also makes a significant impact in the community.”
Our high school Attica All-Star is Matt Struzik who, among many other things, takes a leading role in coordinating the Attica Basket Committee and We Care Club’s annual Holiday Gift Drive.
This year, the drive helped provide a merrier Christmas for 96 students from 32 families within the Attica Central School District.
Congratulations to our three Attica All-Stars and thank you for setting a positive example for our students, and us, to emulate!
Earlier this week, members of our 5th/6th Grade Chorus and 7th/8th Grade Band visited The Manor House Senior Living Facility in Batavia to spread a bit of musical, holiday cheer among residents.
Students sang and played Christmas carols and even had their picture taken with a couple residents who are from Attica.
“Students then went to St. Luke’s church in Attica, where they performed for the Attica seniors group and then frosted cookies with the seniors,” said Music Teacher Julie Daley, who accompanied students on the field trip. “It was a great time with lots of good conversation, laughs and wonderful memories for everybody involved.”
(Photos courtesy of Julie Daley)
Our Middle School teachers and staff wish you a happy holiday!
We welcomed a special visitor down at Attica Elementary School earlier this week!
(Don’t worry, Mrs. Bennett checked to make sure his heart was still a size too big before we let him in the door).
And make sure you check out the video from his visit we posted over on our YouTube channel at the link below!
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbFqZGLhJVM
Our third graders have been working extremely hard over the past couple weeks learning about Christmas traditions from around the world.
Yesterday, they shared what they’d learned with their classmates, presenting in small groups on the holiday traditions of their assigned countries.
Great job, third graders!
(Photos courtesy of Molly Kirsch)
At our Fresh Connections Club meeting earlier this month, students combined creativity, teamwork, and delicious snacks to create a memorable and productive evening.
To start, students made loaded baked potatoes in the microwave—a quick and easy snack they can replicate at home. They enjoyed personalizing their potatoes with a variety of toppings like butter, cheese, sour cream, and green onions while learning how to make a simple, nutritious meal independently.
Once energized, the students turned their attention to decorating the FACS and Ag hallway. Using colorful streamers, banners, and hand-drawn designs, they worked together to create a vibrant display that highlights the Fresh Connections Club, Farm to School initiative, and Agriculture Program. The hallway now celebrates our mission to connect local farming with healthy eating and raise awareness about agriculture's importance in our school and community!
After completing the decorations, the group shifted to the kitchen for a sweet treat. Students baked chocolate chip cookies and prepared personalized hot cocoa, adding marshmallows, whipped cream, cinnamon sprinkles, or caramel drizzle to make it their own. This activity brought joy and warmth to the evening, as students enjoyed their creations together.
To wrap up the meeting, each family received a produce box packed with fresh fruits and vegetables from the farm stand. This thoughtful gesture allowed students to bring a piece of the club's mission home, sharing fresh, local produce with their families.
(Photos courtesy of Becky Sphar and Jenelle Bauer)
We know you’ll join us in congratulating our Attica Middle School November Students of the Month!
McKayla Spencer is our 5th grade Student of the Month and was nominated by Mrs. Dawn Woodhouse and Mrs. Krystal Dominick.
“McKayla is always kind and goes above and beyond,” said Woodhouse. “She’s a wonderful student and friend to her classmates.”
Added Dominick: “McKayla is an absolute pleasure to have in class. She is responsible, hard-working, bright, and most importantly kind and respectful. We can always count on McKayla to do the right thing and be a good classmate and friend, but more importantly to be true to herself!”
Mrs. Melissa Mitchell and Mrs. Allison Cali nominated our 6th grade Student of the Month, Emma Lathigee, for consistently doing things to make the middle school a better place.
“Emma spends much of her time encouraging others by writing kind notes for her peers and teachers and is a good friend to everyone,” said Cali. “She's kind, positive, and has a great attitude each day. She lightens our class with her upbeat attitude and smile!”
Our 7th grade Student of the Month is Arianny Rudolph, who’s a new student this year having previously attended school in Texas.
Arianny was nominated by Mrs. Jody Hruby, who described her student as a ”polite, well-mannered and extremely diligent” student.
“This past week she forgot her book and was not able to complete an in-class assignment to the best of her ability,” said Hruby. “The next day she brought me a sheet of lined paper with the questions she remembered and extremely detailed answers to be sure I knew she'd read the book and cared about the work. I'm impressed by her!”
Hruby also nominated our 8th grader Student of the Month, Makayla Foster.
“Makayla is a beacon of kindness,” Hruby said. “She welcomes everyone to her table at lunch, is always eager to share a smile and is a source of daily encouragement for a classmate who likes to write songs and sing. Makayla demonstrates good character and is a great friend.”
Our Food Service Team and Cafeteria Committee are always striving to enhance the Blue Devils meal experience.
Earlier this week, Food Service Director Kris Wicks, Cook Shawn Drysdale, Farm-to-School Coordinator Alicia Spoth and Attica Board of Education members Thane Wright and Susan Herman attended the New York School Nutrition Association’s Regional Industry Seminar in Rochester.
They explored new menu items, revisited some fan favorites and brainstormed creative ideas to continue growing our school meal menus.
We're so grateful for this dedicated team and their commitment to providing delicious and nutritious meals for our students - thank you for everything you do!
Few shots from Elf Day earlier this week.
Full album over on our Facebook page at the link below.
Oh, and don’t forget to check out our video from the day - we’ve uploaded it to our YouTube channel, likewise at the link below!
Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100057106403663&set=a.1097687108811492
YouTube video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87sNndbRe2g
Our 7th/8th grade math team had their first competition of the year earlier this week!
With one meet down and two left to go, our team is currently in first place with 110 points among nine participating schools. Batavia is second at the moment with 101 points.
Leading the 8th grade scorers was JJ Pearl while Faye Cannon and Ally Landphair tied as our top 7th grade scorers.
Our team has a lot of depth this year and all members contributed to the win.
Other team members include 8th graders Will Gouinlock and Logan Armstrong and 7th graders Eden Domes, Lucia Eddy and Audryana Tober.
Well done, mathletes!
(Photo courtesy of Adam Landphair)
Shout out to our High School Students of the Month for November!
Our 9th grade Student of the Month is Austin Sponaugle, who was nominated by Ms. Laura Steves.
“Austin has the innate ability to 'read the room' and take action,” said Steves. “In a class of 28 art students, Austin has assisted others time and time again with helping them gather supplies for their projects or by simply helping by cleaning up the shared workspace. Not only can his classmates count on him, but I can count on Austin to bring a positive vibe to the class each and every day.”
Mara Hernandez, our Spanish foreign exchange student, is our 10th grade Student of the Month.
“Mara is so polite, always has a smile on her face, respects and is respected by her peers and teachers,” said Ms. Jocelyn Pierce, who nominated Mara. “Her work is amazing too - it’s so neat, done to perfection, and she is excelling in her classes. If she has any trouble, she seeks out help and wants to make sure she understands the material for future assessments. Mara is friendly and happy, and a perfect student of the month!”
James Nash nominated Alyssa Armstrong as our Student of the Month for the 11th grade.
“Alyssa has been working hard on getting better at Spanish and it's been impressive to see her progressively improve,” said Nash.
Our 12th grade Student of the Month is Nolan Rzepka, who was nominated by Mrs. Stacy Crowley. Crowley nominated Nolan because of his decision to challenge himself this year by taking AP calculus.
“I am proud of Nolan for using his 8th period study hall to get extra help and have his work checked over,” Crowley said. “He’s very capable and this extra effort is making a big difference for him. I am excited to see how well he continues to do as he puts in the time!”
Our third and fourth graders were THRILLED to be part of Attica’s annual WinterFest celebration this past weekend!
About 25 of our elementary school students, under the direction of Mrs. Jill Farrell, performed Christmas carols on the front porch of Stevens Memorial Community Library Saturday morning.
Community members and parents gathered on the front lawn and sidewalk to watch our talented students before continuing their way down Main Street to enjoy other WinterFest activities.
(Photos courtesy of Katie Kennedy)
