2014 Silver Quill
OTA honored veteran teachers at this year's Silver Quill event on May 31st. Check out the Photo Album under the "News/Photos" drop down menus, above.
OTA Book-Giveaway a Success
Hundreds of books donated by OTA members this year were given away to the general public at the annual Woodstock Elementary School PTA yard sale. Each book was stamped with the greeting: "A gift for you from the Onteora Teachers Association." Shoppers were also given homemade, leather bookmarks and magnets, both imprinted with OTA. Great PR!
Trout Release!
On May 15th the students in Ingrid White's and Jane Wolfrom's classes released the trout they raised from eggs into the Stony Clove Creek. We were able to take a field trip in the fall to the New York State Hatchery in Livingston Manor and pick up 200 eyed brown trout eggs for each class. Over the course of the year students were responsible for caring for them, checking water temperature, and learning about the creatures they eventually released into the wild.
This year’s Battle of the Books was another success!
The competition took place on May 28th in the middle/high school library. The three competing teams were cheered on by classmates, parents, and several middle school staff as they answered a slew of jeopardy-style questions about ten different books from this year’s list. The line-up included award winners such as The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman; The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by Joyn Boyne; Counting by 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan; and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.”
David Laks: Blues Master Hall of Fame
Congratulations to retiring music teacher David Laks, who was inducted into New York State's Blues Hall of Fame on June 1st! Check out his slamin' jamin' retirment party photos on the "News/Photos" drop down menu above.
Retirement Spotlight:
The Spinning Wheel: 1985-present: Music Teacher (all schools); I’ve taught in the Onteora District for 29 years (30 years of teaching, total)
OTA Mini Grant supports culinary experience for Bennett students
On April 15th, the students of Ms. Mastrangelo’s class hosted a luncheon at the Landmark Grille for their parents, teachers, and several district administrators. The luncheon was designed to show off the cooking skills students have been learning throughout the year. Mrs. Hodder had opened up her middle school kitchen to Ms.
What unions do
In AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest New York Times column, she describes what it is exactly that unions do. Though unions are the most popular they have been in decades, anti-union sentiment still thrives in red states and across the nation. “Several years ago, The Atlantic ran a story whose headline made even me, a labor leader, scratch my head: ‘Union Membership: Very Sexy,’” Weingarten writes in the column. “The gist was that higher wages, health benefits and job security—all associated with union membership—boost one’s chances of getting married. Belonging to a union doesn’t actually guarantee happily ever after, but it does help working people have a better life in the here and now.” Click through to read the full column.