Annual Budget Vote Tuesday, May 20

The annual school budget vote will be held Tuesday, May 20, at the district's three elementary schools.

For 2008-09 Budget information, click here.

Where do I vote? Click here to find your polling location.

Local artist teaches students about her craft

In May, Guilderland-based artist Laura Hamor's work was displayed in the Principal's Gallery at Abram Lansing, and the sculptural illustrator and painter visited students to show them her work.

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All the world's a stage

The fifth-grade students in Janine Massaro's class are not only communicating with their pen pals at Scotia-Glenville High School, they are learning a Shakespeare play that they will perform together. MORE

School gallery brings artists to students

Over the course of the past year, not only have Abram Lansing Elementary School students had the chance to see professional artwork in their school's new art gallery, they have learned from visiting artists and hands-on experiences.

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The lighter side of serious tests

For the New York State Mathematics Assessments for grades 3,4 and 5, students at Abram Lansing once again were treated with some unusual visitors.

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Walking on snow

The fifth-grade students at Abram Lansing Elementary School had an unusual physical education class at the end of February.

Instead of the typical class in the gym, students strapped on snowshoes and trudged through the field and park behind the school as part of a special program.

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Thumbs up for clean teeth!

In February, UPK students got a lesson in clean teeth.

Lisa Kaminiski, a dental health educator from Capital District Pediatric Dentistry, visited the class to talk with the students. The children learned about the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth and going to the dentist. MORE

Strike up the band

Andy the Music Man visited the universal prekindergarten classes at Abram Lansing Elementary School in February, teaching children about letters while sharing songs!

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How far do 100 students stretch?

Last year on the 100th day of school, Abram Lansing students tried to guess how far 100 carrots would stretch down the hall.

This year, their task took a more personable turn, as students estimated how far 100 universal prekindergarten and kindergarten students lying down would stretch! MORE

From the ground up

Students at Abram Lansing Elementary School are inching closer to their goal of writing, choreographing and designing a theatrical production this year.

Through grants from the Partners for Arts Education and Partners in Dance, the school and the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company secured money to bring three different artists to the school to coordinate the project, which will end with students in four grades performing their original story. MORE

Making the ELA tests bearable

If anything, students at Abram Lansing will be looking forward to the state-mandated English Language Arts tests next year thanks to antics of Principal Cliff Bird, who has made it his mission to make test days a little more enjoyable for everyone.

Instead of walking through the halls to deliver the test packets to each third, fourth and fifth-grade classroom on the morning of the tests — Jan. 8-10 this year — Mr. Bird thought of three creative ways drop off the tests. MORE

Magic on Stage

Lisa Ethier's fourth-grade class had a chance to experience the theater this holiday season through free tickets from Verizon Wireless.

On Dec. 7 her class went to Proctors Theater to see The Nutcracker performed by the Northeast Ballet Company.

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Students experience Thomas Locker's work

With the help of a local artist, students at Abram Lansing learned about the region through both art class and the library.

Art teacher Chris Scott and librarian Carolyn McLoughlin created a unit together that had students searching maps and analyzing the artwork of renowned artist Thomas Locker, who has illustrated many books written by his wife Candace. MORE

 

Scientists for a day

They used microscopes and wore lab coats, investigated acids and bases and learned about pH. The scientists weren't professionals—YET—they were students from around the Capital Region, including fifth graders from Abram Lansing Elementary School.

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One frog, one toad and many happy students

In the hallway outside Betsy O'Neill's classroom at Abram Lansing are wanted posters—for frogs, and toads. These posters are just one of the ways her class prepared to attend the play "A Year with Frog and Toad," at Proctor's Theatre this past October.

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Thomas Locker's work displayed at Abram Lansing

Students at Abram Lansing are getting a glimpse of life in the region and the way art can be used to tell a story through the artwork of renowned artist Thomas Locker, whose works are on display at the art gallery at the school right now.

The artist, who lives in the Catskills, had Cohoes art teacher Chris Scott visit his home to select 12 paintings for the space. MORE

Field trip "strikes" a chord for bowling enthusiasts

In November, all students at Abram Lansing had a chance to not only go bowling for the day, but to learn about the mechanics of the bowling alley and some of the secrets behind the sport.

"Bowling is a great sport," said Terry Gendron, the physical education teacher at Abram Lansing, who organized the trip. "This experience is teaching the kids something they will be able to enjoy their entire life." MORE

Books for Breakfast

Each October Elementary School Librarian Carolyn McLaughlin hosts a breakfast for teachers at the district's three elementary schools. Not only is the gesture a one that builds community, it also gives teachers a chance to check out the library's new books.

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Lift-off!

Students at Abram Lansing Elementary School became part of a space mission on Tuesday, Oct. 23 when their signatures were launched into space aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-120.

Last May, Abram Lansing students, teachers and administrators and city Mayor John McDonald, signed the Space Day posters. MORE

Link to NASA Mission Planner Game
Space Day Web site

Fire department visits UPK students at Abram Lansing

For students in Abram Lansing's UPK class, having a fire truck visit the school was a big deal.

Wearing hats they had decorated themselves and singing a song about fire trucks, the students cheered when members of the Cohoes Fire Department came to the school to show them the truck and talk a bit about fire safety in recognition of October as Fire Prevention Month.

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District takes proactive approach to MRSA infection prevention

Recently, there has been some media attention over "Staph" infections, a type of infection caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

Some cases have been reported in Saratoga County.

District officials are taking a proactive approach to ensure the health of students and staff.

Most importantly, students and staff at each school are being encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water, especially before eating, after using sports facilities or the restroom. In addition, school officials are making sure administrators, teachers, school nurses, coaches and the custodial staff have protective information available for themselves and to share with the school population. The importance of sanitation is being reinforced with the cleaning staff, and special emphasis is being placed on physical education and sports equipment, locker rooms and common surfaces and areas. MORE

Cohoes teacher part of surprise "A Day Made Better Event"

An Abram Lansing Elementary School teacher was one of 1,000 winners nationwide in the "A Day Made Better" contest.

Fourth-grade teacher Mary Ann DeCarr was surprised by a group of Office Max workers on Oct. 2 with more than $1,500 in classroom resources and supplies for the school. MORE

Elementary students run for fun!

On Sept. 26, elementary school students from Abram Lansing, Harmony Hill and Van Schaick all ran in a cross country meet, which was held at Harmony Hill.

During the unseasonably warm Wednesday afternoon, about 200 K-5 students participated. MORE

Signatures set to fly

Signatures from the Abram Lansing Elementary School students and staff will be traveling to space on the upcoming Space Shuttle mission STS-120, which is scheduled for launch on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

STS-120 is the 120th Space Shuttle flight, and the 23rd Space Shuttle mission to go to the International Space Station, and astronauts will be flying in the Space Shuttle Discovery. Among other things, this mission will take an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module for the Space Station and pick up Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson on the Space Station and return him to earth. The flight will also carry Anderson's replacement, Daniel Tani, to the station. MORE

Abram Lansing Elementary School and Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company kick off year long storytelling project

Students and staff at Abram Lansing Elementary School, along with the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, storyteller Pleasant DeSpain and percussionist Brian Mellick, will embarked on a journey of music, movement, storytelling and art beginning on Sept. 17.

Through grants from the Partners for Arts Education and Partners in Dance, the school and dance company secured money to bring three different artists to the school to coordinate the project, which will end with students in four grades performing an original story. MORE

A trip back in history

As the Abram Lansing fourth graders stepped onto the Lois McClure, a reproduction of an 1862-class canal boat, during a field trip on Sept. 12, the students and teachers traveled back in history. The floating museum, however, stayed firmly anchored aboard the canal scooter in the Hudson River. MORE

To view a photo gallery from the students' trip, click here.