Avon Central Schools

Shout out to seniors Kaitlyn G. and Michael R., both of whom are winners of the Livingston County Athletic Association Scholarship. Both received a $250 check and a plaque recognizing their achievement. In order to be considered for one of the six LCAA scholarships a student athlete must, among other things, be a four-year participant in 2 sports, have shown leadership qualities in practices and competitions, have earned the respect of their teammates and handled victory graciously and defeat with humility. Kaitlyn and Michael have been standout, three-sport athletes for the Braves over the past several years - Kaitlyn in cross country, swimming and track and Michael in football, basketball and baseball. In the fall, Kaitlyn will attend SUNY Geneseo where she’ll study biology and compete as a member of the college’s Blue Wave swim team. Michael is attending the Golisano Institute, where he’ll study entrepreneurship.

Few shots of Avon’s own Jordan M. competing in the New York State Track and Field Championships this weekend. Competing in the pentathlon for the fourth time ever, Jordan took 9th place in Division II and 17th overall at the New York State Track and Field Championship today with 2,887 points! He performed especially well in the long jump, with a career-best distance of 5.82, and the 1,500-meter run - likewise with a career-best time of 4:29.97. “We couldn't be more proud of Jordan for making states in an event he only started competing in less than a month ago! We have big expectations for Jordan next season, especially since he will be going into the season with a foundation in pentathlon and with more experience,” said coach Samantha Walker. “As a leader, he's definitely set a standard for himself and for all of the athletes on our team, making his teammates set higher goals for themselves going into next year and we're counting down the days until we get to see what more they can do!” (Photos courtesy of Samantha W.)

FUTURE KNIGHT: We know you’ll join us in congratulating senior Kaitlyn G. who earlier this week signed her national letter of intent to attend SUNY Geneseo where she plans on studying biology and swimming for the Blue Wave in the fall! SUNY Geneseo is a NCAA Division III powerhouse and competes in the SUNYAC conference. The team has a 353-52 dual meet record since the 1983-84 season and, in February, won its 16th straight and 31st overall SUNYAC title. Kate will bring a competitive edge to the Blue Wave as she spent her entire 5-year varsity career competing - and winning - against boys in the Livingston County Athletic Association and played a key role in helping the Braves to two straight sectional titles in 2023 and 2024. Highlights from Kate’s senior year include her first place finish in the 200-yard individual medley in the Livingston County Athletic Association Championships and her 59.78-second swim in the 100-yard butterfly at the Section V Class D Boys Swimming Championships in February. Her time, which earned her a second place finish, would also have qualified her for the New York State Girls Swimming Championships if she’d been swimming during the girls season in the fall. Kate ends her high school swimming career as a three-time school record holder in the 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relays. Congratulations, Kate, and best of luck as you compete at the next level - you’re getting a good one, Geneseo! (Photos courtesy of Ella O.)

Avon played host to a mobile planetarium from Challenger Learning Center out of Lockport earlier this week. “The high school Earth science classes had it last year,” explained Middle School Science Teacher JoAnna Lamprecht, “but because of the amount of kids taking earth science this year, we requested two days which gave the opportunity for some of our fifth and sixth grade classes to experience it as well.” The planetarium serves as a good way for Earth science students to review before taking the state Regents exam in a few weeks. “Diagrams can be a challenging part of the Regents exam for students,” said Lamprecht. “This way, the kids have a simulated experience of sort of being in the diagrams when it comes to the sun's position seasonally as well as experiencing Polaris at different latitudes." In addition to solar positions, the educator from Challenger Learning Center also used the planetarium to cover moon phases, eclipses, constellations, and life cycle of stars with our middle and high school students.

We were happy to play host to Daena Ford and some of her feathered friends in the High School Library earlier this week! Ford, president of Braddock Bay Raptor Research (BBRR), stopped by to teach our students a bit about some of the birds that call Braddock Bay on the southern shore of Lake Ontario home. She also brought a red-tailed hawk, a merlin and a Great Horned Owl for students to see with their own eyes - so cool! To learn more about BBRR, visit its website at the link below. Link: www.bbrr.org (Photos courtesy of Ella O. and Lexx S.)

A huge thank you to all the presenters who took the time to come speak with our fourth graders for Career Day - our students had great questions and our presenters had great answers! Our Career Day presenters this year were: • Josh Williams, a photographer and videographer for the U.S. Air Force (who also happens to coach our varsity cross country teams) • Mark Resch, an NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball referee. • Kaylee Walker, owner of K’s Canine in Dansville. • Ashley Williams, a senior attorney with the Livingston County Department of Social Services. • Matt Bennetti, an officer with the Rochester Police Department • Yvette Seils, a cosmetology and barbering teacher at Genesee Valley BOCES’ May Center in Mount Morris.

Make sure you give yourself a little extra time before our Senior Recognition Night tomorrow to check out our Senior Art Show in the foyer of our Middle School Auditorium, 191 Clinton St. The art show runs from 6 to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, June 5, before our Senior Recognition Night, which begins at 6:30 p.m. We’ve got some incredibly talented senior artists here at Avon and while we’ll be sorry to see them graduate in a few short weeks, we’re psyched our community will have a chance to see some of their work!

STATES BOUND: Competing in the pentathlon for the third time ever Saturday at the Section V State Qualifiers in Newark, junior Jordan M. scored 2,944 points, broke his own school record he set last week by nearly 200 points and punched his ticket to the New York State Track & Field Championship this week! Quite the day’s work, Jordan! Jordan was especially dominant in the high jump and 1,500-meter run. His 2,944 points in the event were good for 2nd place and only 14 points shy of first place. “We're so unbelievably excited for Jordan,” said Coach Samantha Walker. “Pentathlon is the truest testament of hard work and is a great honor to each of our coaches as they all work with Jordan. Jordan is a captain, leader and, now, one of the best athletes in the state!” Jordan will represent Section V in the New York State Track & Field Championships June 7 and 8 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. (Photos courtesy of Samantha Walker)

Today was Decision Day at Avon High School! Little late this year, but who’s counting - it’s never too late to enjoy some cake, ice cream and sunshine! Shout out to all our seniors - many of whom will be continuing their education at college in the fall. We know you’ll do great things! And a special thank you to our food service staff and counselors Amanda Palmer and Liz Cooke for their cake-cutting and ice-cream scooping expertise this afternoon. Full photo album over on our Facebook page at the link below. Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100064703294390&set=a.852615000238602

You could practically FEEL the culture floating through the air today at our Tales & Tea Leaves event. The brainchild of our High School Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Suzanne Freeman, Tales & Tea Leaves is a chance for our students to come together and share a poem, story or song - we even heard a joke or two! Oh, and in an unrelated matter, no. We don’t know what Finn is doing in that photo. Few more photos over on our Facebook page at the link below. Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100064703294390&set=a.852601213573314

Shout out to Sarah D. and Lily R., who both played in the Livingston County Athletic Association’s Exceptional Senior Game against GRAA’s exceptional seniors last night at Genesee Community College. “This was a wonderful opportunity for both Sarah and Lily to cap off their careers for the Avon softball program,” said Head Softball Coach Jill Terry. “Sarah and Lily were selected to the game because they were LCAA Division II All-Stars. They helped lead Avon to becoming the LCAA Division II co-champions this year with Letchworth.” (Photos courtesy of Jill Terry)

Our 3rd graders are having a BLAST trying out each of the band instruments and deciding which one they’d like to play in the fall! Studies have shown children who play a musical instrument have increased brain functions for essential cognitive skills such as focus and memory. Playing a musical instrument is one of the few activities in which both the left and right hemispheres of the brain are actively engaged at the same time. Can’t wait to hear these young musicians in action! Wonder why we’re craving hot cross buns all of a sudden… (Photos courtesy of Meaghan Stambaugh)

Give it up for our varsity track and field athletes who will compete this Saturday, June 1, at the Section V State Qualifier meet in Newark High School, 625 Peirson Ave., Newark. Avon will be well-represented at state qualifiers with 8 of our varsity athletes qualifying for the meet: • Jordan M. (pentathlon) • Mollie G. (pentathlon) • Isis S. (100-meter hurdles) • Blayden B. (110-meter hurdles) • Sage P. (400-meter hurdles) • Finn S. (800- and 1,600-meter runs) • Sophie P. (3,000-meter run) • Elijah R. (triple jump) Tickets to Saturday’s State Qualifier meet are $7.30 and can be purchased online through GoFan at the link below. Go get ‘em, Braves! (Photos courtesy of Samantha Walker) Link: https://gofan.co/event/1498137?schoolId=NYSPHSAAV&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=rst&referrer_name=activity_scheduler&utm_campaign=rst_schedule_page

We tagged along with our fourth graders today during their field trip to the Genesee Country Village & Museum! “This trip correlates with our units (and state standards) on Colonial America in New York through the 1800s,” explained 4th grade teacher Anne Hettenbaugh, “so it’s a perfect hands-on experience to accompany what they’ve been leaving about in class!” Students toured the historic village, spoke with re-enactors about what life was like in the 19th Century, then got to try their hand at some period-appropriate toys like hoop and stick, the game of graces and stilts. GCVM is such an incredible place - we’re so lucky to have it right in our backyard! Check out our full photo album from today’s field trip and a video highlight at the links below. Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100064703294390&set=a.851195450380557 Video highlight link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyYGrGyRfpU

Our trap and skeet team just wrapped up another successful season competing in the New York State Clay Target League and is looking forward to state championships next month! In our trap conference David O. finished the regular season in first place with Jameson H finishing a close second. Alissa K. finished the regular trap season in 1st as well while Grace K. finished in 4th overall. Other highlights from the regular season include 5 of our shooters who had perfect, 25 for 25 rounds in trap competition. They were Zachary W., David O., McKinley O., Jacob K. and Jameson H. “Additionally, Jacob went on to shoot a score of 50 during our second week of competition,” said Coach Sandy Kaufmann. “Only a handful of students across the state have done this during our season.” Best of luck to our team members who will be competing in the New York State Trap Tournament June 9 at the Bridgeport Gun Club in Cicero: Wyatt B., Nathan H., Jameson H., Alissa K., Grace K., Jonathan K., Jacob K., Jackson L., David O., McKinley O., Jake S., Ryan W., Nick W., Max W. and Zack W. And a special shout out to Alissa K. who will look to capture her 6th straight New York State Skeet title at the DeWitt Rod and Gun Club June 8. (Photos courtesy of Sandy Kaufmann)

To those who made the ultimate sacrifice, thank you.

Avon track and field athletes traveled to Bath Friday to compete in the Section V Class B2 Sectional Championships. Both teams performed well, with our girls team putting up its best sectionals performance since 2021 and our boys team its best since 2018. Jordan M. competed in the pentathlon for his second time ever, earning 2,768 points to win sectionals and break Avon’s school record, previously set in 2019 by Sean Conchrane by nearly 100 points. This is the first sectional patch a boys track and field athlete has earned since 2018! Other scorers for the boys were: • Finn S., who took 2nd in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:03.38 and 2nd in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:39.77. • Blayden B., who took 6th in the 110-meter hurdles with a career-best time of 17.92 seconds. • David O., who took 6th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.23, • Sage P., who took 5th in long jump with a jump of 18 feet, 5.5 inches. Leading the way for our girls team were Mollie G., who took 2nd in the pentathlon with 2,003 points and Sophie P., who placed 6th in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 5:27.38, 6th in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 12:06.55 and anchored the girls 4x800-meter relay, which placed 5th with a season’s best time of 10:59.83. Kaitlyn G., Megan K. and Maria G. were also part of this phenomenal relay, which put up the fastest time for Avon’s varsity girls team since 2017. Isis S. also contributed by taking 5th in the 110-meter hurdles with a career best time of 17.61 seconds. The Braves are next in action at Section V State Qualifiers Saturday, June 1 at Newark High School. (Photos courtesy of Samantha Walker)

SCHEDULE CHANGE: The Section V Class C1 baseball final between Avon and Letchworth previously scheduled for today has been pushed to tomorrow due to the rainy weather. The game will now be played Sunday, May 26 at 1 p.m. at Wayland-Cohocton High School, 2350, NY-63, Wayland. We’ll see you tomorrow and Go Braves!

Few shots from prom last weekend - full album over on our Facebook page at the link below. Such a great time - many thanks to Avon Century Barn and everyone else who helped create such a memorable night for our students! Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=100064703294390&set=a.847819824051453

77 Avonites - 63 students, 11 chaperones and 3 parents - returned last month from a 9-day trip to Italy and Greece through the district’s International Club. Students visited Florence, Rome and Sorrento in Italy and Kalabaka, Delphi and Athens in Greece. Starting off In Florence, students took a guided walking sightseeing tour that included stops at the Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, Leather Workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower and Dante's House. In Rome, students visited the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica before heading to the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, the Forum Romanum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. While the plan was to visit Capri and the Blue Grotto while in Sorrento, both were closed due to the weather so students headed to the town of Kalabaka in Greece to visit the Meteora Monastery instead. From Sorrento, students visited the ancient city of Pompeii before catching a ferry to the coastal city of Patras before heading north to Delphi. Once there, students did more sightseeing, including checking out the Temple of Apollo before heading to their final destination - Athens. In the Greek capital city, students took a guided sightseeing tour that included stops at the Parthenon, Acropolis, Temple of Athena and Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, the Plaka district, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. Then, after more than a week abroad, it was time to catch a flight home to the states. Many thanks to all those who shared their photos from the trip - check out the full photo album over on our Facebook page at the link below! Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=100064703294390&set=a.847782037388565