The Grand Island School Board has new staff including Jackie Carpenter (Arts), Kathy Chadwick (Community Education), Megan McAfee (Kindergarten) and Hilary Kretz Harvey (Grand Island High School Interim Principal).

Saturday, September 3, 2022 07:00 AM

Alice Gerald

The New York Board of Governors of the Special Education Summer Institute has recognized Sherrill Cardon as the New York State Special Education Administrator, Grand Island Central School District Superintendent Brian Graham announced Monday at a school board meeting.

Cardone, Deputy Superintendent of Student Human Resources Services, said, “I am grateful to the administration team, community school board, teachers, and all staff for their support over the last 14 years. Give me the best career I could ever hope for.” It was special to have Mom and Dad there, too, so honored.”

In other news:

• Charlotte Sidway Elementary was awarded the 2021-23 National PTA School of Excellence. From 2020 he served as PTA president until 2022, said Michelle Edmonds. We know that the combination of these efforts will improve student performance. And by working together to provide family-friendly tools, we can create a love of learning in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. It helps students grow into excited lifelong learners. Thank you for recognizing this achievement for our school and district. “

Sidway’s new PTA president is Alison Dukat.

Principal Michael Antonelli said during the application process, the school welcomed all families into the school community and focused on areas such as supporting student success, inclusion and impact. has followed the roadmap to excellence provided by PTSA National, showing us what to do throughout the year, reporting on our progress, and executing our plans at the beginning of the year.”

Antonelli said events the school highlighted included “meeting the teachers” before the first day of school and “meeting the principal” outdoors under a tent. He noted that Viking values ​​were reintroduced in Sidway. “We introduced Sid the Viking, a wonderful little man helping children do the right thing. If you ask who we are, they will yell at you, “Viking.”

“Mr. Dougherty is unleashed with a paintbrush all through school. He paints Sid like he does things Sid’s way. So you see Sid doing things that are kind and helpful.” Since we are all Vikings, the front door is also adorned with paintings, depicting different Vikings.

“As the year progresses, we bring classroom volunteers back to classrooms, PTA meetings, field trips to eco-islands, parent volunteers to farms in western New York, art shows, writer visits, mentor fundraising, and culminate. A fun run that reached .. At all these events, family participation was overwhelming.

“My heartfelt congratulations to the PTA for making the family feel welcome in Sidway.”

• New staff members were introduced, including Megan McAfee, who works as a long-term substitute teacher at Sidway Elementary Kindergarten. Jackie Carpenter is hired as a part-time art teacher at Grand Island High School. Katherine Chadwick, in charge of community education. Hilary Kretz Harvey is the interim principal of Grand Island High School.