Avon Central Schools

For the past few weeks, Mrs. Emily Schroeder’s freshmen students have been gathering stories from veterans, refugees, immigrants and visitors about their experiences abroad as part of a research project for global history class. In addition to learning about foreign nations’ people, culture and history, the purpose of the assignment, said Schroeder, was for students to help personal histories for future generations, make personal connections to major events of the 20th century, practice the techniques of conducting personal interviews and collecting authentic documents and to help them better understand, appreciate and preserve the stories of these relatives and neighbors. Schroeder also hoped the assignment would help foster connections between students and members of the broader Avon community “while also allowing students to explore history through the best primary source available, an eyewitness.” Yesterday, Schroeder’s students presented their findings to invited friends, family and one another in the High School Library.

Throughout the month of February, Mrs. Emily Schroeder, a social studies teacher in our high school, has been featuring prominent Black Americans on her “Today in History” board. “I try to pick events that are either relevant to my curriculum or that I think students would be interested in,” said Schroeder. “It has become such a staple in my classroom that, should I ever fail to do it, students will ask me to let them know what happened or will begin to look up events on their own.” For February, Schroeder decided to highlight Black Americans who have played a role in the making of America as a way of recognizing Black History Month. Earlier this week, Schroeder featured Frederick Douglass, the famed abolitionist, newspaperman, orator and suffragist who called Rochester home for much of his adult life. Other historical figures Schroeder’s featured this month include: • Serena Williams: Tennis player • Eugene Goodman: Police officer credited with directing people away from the Senate Chamber during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol • Carter Woodson: Historian credited with starting Black History Month • Kamala Harris: First female vice president, first vice president of Black and Asian descent • Beyonce: Famous musician • Katherine Johnson: NASA mathematician • Claudette Colvin: Civil rights pioneer • Mae Carol Jemison: Engineer, physician and astronaut (first Black female to travel into space) • Aretha Franklin: Musician • Thurgood Marshall: Supreme Court justice • Harriet Tubman: Abolitionist • Maya Angelo: Poet • Muhammad Ali: Boxer and civil rights activist • Barack Obama: First Black president

High school science teacher Chris Heimburger dusted off his Van de Graaff Generator yesterday for a lesson on charged particles for his physics students. The results were - how should we put it - electrifying.

Another week, another healthy contingent of Braves representing Avon at an all-county music festival! Student musicians from each of the Genesee Valley School Music Association’s 12 component school districts selected for Junior Band and Senior Chorus rehearsed together at Warsaw Central Schools Friday and Saturday before putting on a concert Saturday afternoon. Musicians were selected for the two groups based on their performance at a solo-festival earlier this year. The following Avon students were selected for All-County Junior Band: • Gerard K. (clarinet) • Sophia D. (clarinet) • Megan K., (bass clarinet) • Julia S. (tuba) • Alana S. (tuba) The following Avon students were selected for All-County Senior Chorus: • Hannah C. (alto) • Emma D. (soprano) • Olivia N. (alto) • Charlotte D. (alto) • Gretta P. (alto) Congratulations to our student musicians! (Photos courtesy of Kristen Maxfield and Charlotte Collins)

Congratulations to Emma M. and Riley G., our Music Students of the Month for January! Each month, Elementary School Music Teacher Mrs. Kaylee Corell picks two students of the month - one from third and fourth grade and one from first and second grade. Students are picked for the recognition based on how frequently they make Corell’s “Wall of Fame” throughout the month. “Students can get on the Wall of Fame for lots of reasons - playing or singing something very well, answering a difficult music question and sometimes having exceptional behavior and focus,” Corell explained. “I choose my winner at the end of month based on who made it on the Wall of Fame the most times that month along with behavior in class and consistent participation.” Emma was the winner for third and fourth grade while Riley was the winner from first and second grade. Keep up the good work, you two!

Tonight is senior night for the Avon/Geneseo/Livonia Lakers! Avon has two seniors who will be recognized tonight - Christian R. and Jack F. Jack and Christian are both forwards for the Lakers. Christian, one of the team’s captains, is also the Lakers’ leading scorer this season, with 13 goals and 17 assists through 16 games. Best of luck to Christian, Jack and the Lakers as they take on the Wayne/Finger Lakes Panthers tonight at the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena at SUNY Geneseo!

It’s one of our favorite days of the year! Yesterday, students in Mrs. Jill Terry’s statistics class headed to the elementary school to play original board games with some of our younger students. The board games were part of a class project to create a kids game that relied on chance. Each game consisted of a board, directions and packaging and made use of dice, cards or both to move players’ pieces across the board. Our elementary schoolers had a blast playing with “those big high schoolers!”

Senior Chris K. signed a letter of intent last week, committing to attend Alfred State College for baseball. Many know Chris from his dominant season between the posts for Avon’s varsity soccer team - his .143 goals against average this past season led all of Section V - but he’s also had his fair share of success out on the baseball diamond. According to MaxPreps.com, Chris batted .429, had 30 hits, 19 RBS and scored 27 runs for the Braves during their 2021-22 season. He also led the team in home runs (6) and OBP (.529). On defense, Chris plays shortstop and has also pitched for the Braves. During two varsity seasons, he’s collected a 6-4 record and 51 strikeouts while posting a 3.20 ERA. Congratulations, Chris, and good luck at Alfred State! Go Pioneers (and Braves)! (Photos courtesy of Chloe W.)

The Snowy Raccoons topped the Bonnie Ballers in straight sets this afternoon in our intramural volleyball championship game. Heck of a game. You’re all winners in our book!

The Great Kindness Challenge wrapped up this afternoon in Avon Elementary School. Throughout the week, students participated in activities in their classrooms to learn more about different aspects of kindness, then challenged themselves to commit acts of kindness during the school day. For example, students in Mrs. Elizabeth Stroud's third grade class created a snack shelf where students who’d forgotten their snack for the day could come grab something to eat. Students in Mrs. Sarah Howell’s third grade class picked affirmations for different teachers, then wrote letters to those teachers telling them why they embodied that trait. Each time a class performed an act of kindness, they earned a kindness leaf for our kindness tree. At the end of the week, the class with the most leaves on the tree would be named the winner. While all of our students did a great job showing kindness the entire week, the class that earned the most leaves and was named winner of the Great Kindness Challenge was Mrs. Jennifer Leonard’s first grade class! She and her students were presented with the coveted Spirit Stick today during our Braves Leaders of the Month Assembly. A special shout out to Alexis McTarnaghan, Baylee Barrett and all of our other teachers, staff and students who made this challenge such a success!

Avon will be well-represented at the Genesee Valley School Music Association’s All-County Music Festival, which begins this afternoon at Perry Central School District. Student musicians from each of GVSMA’s 12 component school districts selected for 5/6 band, junior chorus and high school jazz band will rehearse together as groups this afternoon and tomorrow morning before a concert tomorrow afternoon. Members of the 5/6 Band were selected based on teacher recommendations while members of the junior chorus auditioned at a solo-festival earlier this year. Congratulations to our 15 all-county student musicians! The following Avon students were selected for the All-County 5/6 Band: • Gavin S. (trombone) • Zuniel C. (trombone) • Alaney G. (alto saxophone) • Jeff G. (trumpet) • Delaney J. (clarinet) • Ryan K. (trumpet) • Claire L. (flute) • Adam P. (alto saxophone) The following Avon students were selected for the All-County Junior Chorus (grades 7-9): • Megan K. (alto) • Mitchell B. (baritone) • Clara D. (soprano) • Lucy M. (alto) • Ellie T. (alto) • Mason B. (baritone) • Molly R. (soprano)

Members of the Avon/Geneseo/Livonia Lakers hockey team held a teacher appreciation night last week before their home game against Iroquois Central. Avon’s nine team members - Colton D., Christian R., Dylan A., Fletcher K., Sullivan D., David O., Nicholas L., Jack R. and Jack F. - each picked a member of our faculty who they appreciate and are thankful for and recognized them at center ice before the game. Shout out to all our teachers for doing what you do. Our school district wouldn’t be what it is without you. (Photo courtesy of Mike Tenalio)

At last night’s Board of Education meeting, Board President Rodney George and High School Art Teacher Elizabeth Patteson presented junior Ella O. with the district’s Arts & Music Award for her contributions to several recent Art Club projects and activities. In her remarks at last night’s award presentation, Patteson, who also serves as advisor to the Art Club, described Ella as “outgoing, friendly, passionate and hard-working.” “Since last spring the Art Club has volunteered their time to do face painting for younger students at three large scale events and in one smaller setting and Ella was in attendance at all of them, creating mini masterpieces,” continued Patteson. “The Art Club has produced two large scale murals in the community and Ella has been an integral part of both works. Ella showed up for the paint sessions in the dark to project the images, the days off of school and the weekend work sessions too. She came to each work day with a smile and enthusiasm that was contagious.” Thank you, Ella, for your commitment to the Art Club and congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! (Photos courtesy of Jen VanRy)

High School Principal Ryan Wagner presented Livingston County Veterans Services Director David Terry with the proceeds from our Veterans Day 5K Run/Walk at last night’s Board of Education meeting. After expenses, our inaugural 5K raised $1,351 for the county’s Veterans Services Department. This donation was made possible by all those who came out to run, walk or volunteer at our 5K. Thank you for your support of our nation’s veterans! (Photos courtesy of Jen VanRy)

Representatives from Genesee Valley BOCES stopped by Avon last week to tell our sophomores and juniors about the educational partnership’s health career and sports science academies. Just two of the many academic programs available to students, BOCES’ health careers and sports sciences academies are one-year programs designed for seniors who plan to attend a two- or four-year college after high school. In addition to serving as a solid foundation for further studies, the academies also allow students to earn college credits at about ⅓ the cost of a typical college or university. The health career academy prepares students for careers in chiropractic, dentistry and substance abuse counseling, among many others. Some of the career paths available to students in the sports science academy include athletic training, physical therapy and exercise physiology - likewise, among many others. Many thanks to Judy Essig, a criminal justice instructor with BOCES, and Ann Valento, director of ACE Advanced Studies with Genesee Community College, which partners with BOCES to offer the academic programs, for coming to speak with our students!

Avon came away from the Livingston County Athletic Association Swimming & Diving Championships in Bath this weekend with a second place finish, falling to champion Livonia by a score of 584 to 393. Freshman Jessie C. was Avon’s sole winner as she captured the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:15.26. Jessie also took second in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:03.20. Other top performers for the Braves were: • Brandon H., a freshman, who took third in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.72) and second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:24.34) • Kaitlyn G., a junior, took second in the 100-yard butterfly (1:00.37) and fourth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:18.24) • The team of Brandon H., Kaitlyn G., Jax R. and Jessie C. took second in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:47.59. The Braves were named LCAA Division II champions on the strength of their regular season record while Jax, Jessie, Brandon, Kaitlyn and diver Sydney M. were named LCAA all-stars! Our swimmers have a couple more dual meets before they can turn their attention to sectionals. Let’s keep that momentum going, Braves!

Senior wrestler Ryan F. recorded the 100th win of his career earlier this month at the Caledonia-Mumford Duals, which Avon/Geneseo won with a 5-0 record. Ryan has wrestled at 102 and 110 lbs during his four-year varsity career. His career record now stands at 105-25 - and there’s still a lot of season left for him to add to that win total. Congratulations, Ryan!

Shoutout to our Braves divers, who captured 5 of the top 10 places last night in the Livingston County Athletic Association's Diving Championships in Bath. Leading the way for Avon were junior Megan M., who placed second with 329.05 points, and senior Sydney M., who took third with a score of 303.65. Junior Abby W. took sixth with 279.4 points, junior Taylor S. took seventh with 228.2 and Izzy C., a freshman, placed ninth with 210.55 points. This strong showing in the 11-dive event puts Avon in a good position heading into the LCAA swimming championships tonight in Bath. Go Braves!

TIMBER!!! Our swimmers felled a veritable forest of York pool records during their meet last night against York-Pavilion. Freshman Jessie C. started out the record-breaking in the 200-yard freestyle, her 2:06.83 swim breaking the old pool record of 2:11.06 set in 2014 by more than four seconds. Later in the meet, Jessie would go on to break pool records in the 50-yard freestyle as the lead-off swimmer in the 200-yard freestyle relay (26.19) and 100-yard breaststroke (1.16.25). Not to be outdone, junior Kaitlyn G. set new pool records in the 200-yard individual medley (2:23.39), 500-yard freestyle (5:37.82) and 100-yard freestyle as the lead off swimmer in the 400-yard freestyle relay (58.89). Kaitlyn’s 500-yard freestyle swim was particularly impressive as it shattered the old pool record of 5:50.37 set in 2019 by more than 12-1/2 seconds. Kaitlyn and Jessie also teamed up with senior Claire S. and sophomore Abby S. to set new pool records in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:48.86) and 400-yard freestyle relay (4:02.10). In all, Braves swimmers set new girls pool records in 8 of 12 events. Incredible! “Our team has been working extremely hard all year and it is great to see all of that hard work paying off in the middle of the season. We had many great performances, best times or scores, throughout the course of the meet and it really feels like we are hitting our stride for the last push of the season,” said Head Swim Coach Dan Paganin. “These record breaking girls are tremendous athletes and great team leaders. I am proud of their efforts and all of their accomplishments are definitely well deserved. I am excited to see them continue to improve over the course of the next few weeks as we get into championship season. They have all qualified for sectional events so we will be looking for them to be major contributors for our success in February.” With their 51-43 win over York-Pavilion, the Braves moved to 5-1 on the season and are next in action Thursday, Jan. 12 at Haverling.

Avon Community: We’re happy to announce the proposed capital improvement project was approved by district voters! The final results were: In favor: 156 Opposed: 136 The approval of this project positions our district as an integral part of the broader Avon community for years to come. The positive referendum allows us to address both infrastructure and instruction, ensuring strong academic programming for students within improved facilities. The Board of Education is grateful for the continued support of our residents. We will immediately enter the design phase that will take 10-12 months. Updates about the project - including opportunities for stakeholder input on final project design elements - will be disseminated through a variety of sources and will be posted on the district’s web page. The pace will increase in the coming weeks and months, and we look forward to providing updates. Thank you for your support.