What a wonderful afternoon! Our annual Senior Citizen and Veteran dinner, prepared and served by members of the High School's National Honor Society, along with a preview performance of the Drama Club's production of "FOOTLOOSE the MUSICAL" took place yesterday afternoon!
It's always a proud moment for us to share the talents of our students with our senior and veteran communities. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this event and made it so spectacular! Take a peek!
AND --- The show was equally spectacular! Be sure you have tickets: https://www.onthestage.tickets/.../670941426964d10f6204819e
Polly Mautner’s High School Chemistry students were wowed during their recent lab when they created a foaming reaction that looks like toothpaste being squeezed from a tube—but it’s so voluminous that it’s jokingly suggested it must be for elephants!
In their “Elephant Toothpaste lab,” students saw how a foamy substance is caused by the quick decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) using a plastic bottle, potassium iodide (KI), liquid dish soap, food coloring and warm water.
When the hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with the potassium iodide, it starts breaking down into water and oxygen. Oxygen is a gas and therefore wants to escape the liquid. However, the added dish soap traps the gas bubbles, forming a foam. The reaction continues as long as there is some hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide left. Once one of them runs out, it stops making new foam.
This lab is a fun and engaging way to demonstrate chemical reactions, specifically the catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, and the concept of exothermic reactions, making science concepts like this memorable! (Look at all Smartphone photos being taken!)
An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy, often in the form of heat, to its surroundings.
Nichole Gaucher’s and Toni McGinn’s High School Living Environment students recently about the reproduction system and as part of their studies, they recently completed a flower dissection lab.
In the first portion of the lab, students completed a Gizmo simulation where they learned about the process of pollination and the advantages and disadvantages of self vs. cross pollination.
In the second part of the lab, students dissected flowers as they learned to identify the structure and function of the reproductive parts of a flower.
•Gizmos are interactive, inquiry-based online simulations and case studies designed to enhance math and science learning, allowing students to explore concepts, manipulate variables and engage in "what-if" experimentation.
•Self-pollination, where pollen transfers within the same flower or plant, maintains genetic purity and requires no external agents, while cross-pollination, transferring pollen between different plants, increases genetic diversity and adaptability, but can be less reliable.
•Flower dissection labs are valuable for understanding plant reproduction because they allow students to directly observe and identify the key reproductive structures (stamens [male] and pistils [female] ) and their functions, including pollination and seed production.
Today, April 1, an important High School all-student assembly took place featuring Stephen Hill, founder of Speak Sobriety. He spoke to students about his journey from drug and alcohol addition to recovery and the importance of making good vs. destructive choices. Given our societal climate, we all know this is a very important topic. The high school administrative team felt all students needed to hear Mr. Hill’s message and his "comeback story."
Mr. Hill is a young person in recovery, bestselling author, recovery coach and a defense attorney in addition to being a renowned national speaker on substance use prevention and mental health. Mr. Hill has presented in front of thousands of people at over 900 schools, drug-free community coalitions and organizations across the country, sharing his cautionary tale of addiction to recovery and beyond.
High School parents/guardians: Please follow-up with the note Principal Kenneth Hauck sent to you in late March advising you today's presentation and continue this critical conversation at home. We are committed to always being your ongoing partners in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of your children and everyone in our school community. As a reminder, the high school counseling team is always available to our students for assistance they may need on any topic or issue of concern. Likewise, if you have any concerns about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, please reach out to us. We are here to help. Thank you!
To learn more, visit: www.SpeakSobriety.com
The High School’s Robotics Club is getting ready for the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics’ New York//New Jersey Botball Tournament, to be held May 17 at the Rahway Recreation Center in New Jersey,
KIPR is dedicated to sparking excitement for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on robotics programs, and we know the district’s team is working hard to make sure all their Botball are ready to compete!
There’s a volunteering component to the competition and the team chose to undertake a food and supply drive. THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to their efforts!
Botball is a team-oriented robotics competition where teams design, build, and program autonomous robots to compete in challenges that change annually, fostering teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
High School Regents Biology teacher Kimberly Jordan is proud to share her students’ stellar project work tied to their recent unit on heart health and the circulatory system!
Through interactive and immersive learning experiences, students gained a comprehensive understanding of the heart's structure and function, as well as essential strategies for maintaining cardiovascular well-being through nutrition and exercise. They took part in interactive lessons that emphasized the importance of healthy habits in preventing circulatory disorders, and had a lot of fun designing and building creative 3D model of the heart using various mediums!
It’s true….even the big kids have fun using Play-Doh in class!
“By exploring real-world applications and potential health consequences, students developed a deeper appreciation for the value of self-care and proactive wellness,” Mrs. Jordan said. “This engaging and informative unit has empowered students with essential knowledge and skills to prioritize their heart health and overall well-being.”
See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD
THANK YOU to everyone who attended and/or contributed in some way to Project Graduation’s March 22 Tricky Tray! The event raised enough to fund this year’s All-Night Graduation Party! Organizers said the evening was a huge success and they’re thankful for all of the donations made by families and local business as well as for all the volunteers who assisted in the evening’s success!
Kudos to the Minisink Valley High School Mock Trial Team, which was one of 13 school district teams participating in the first round of the State Mock Trial Tournament at Orange -Ulster BOCES on March 23!
For months, the mock trial team of Sean Bellew, Noah Haley, Morgan Varian, Landon Ordway, Malunga Kinzonzi, Josephine Witherow, Callie Hitt, Julia Wodzinski and Evan Washalski, guided by advisors Jonathan Grady and Ezra Clementson, prepared remarks focusing on a defamation case of a public figure to present their interpretation in a courtroom before a county judge. The team was also given valuable assistance from attorney consultants Michael Wolfs and Len Kessler---thank you to both!
To prepare for the tournament, each school has teacher-coaches as well as local attorneys working with them to help them with the nuances of the courtroom and presentation skills, an experience that cannot be duplicated in the classroom.
While the team is not advancing to the next level of competition, their tenacity and grit is certainly an example for everyone to admire! Well-done!
REMINDER: Minisink Valley has partnered with Paper, an online tutoring service, to provide students in Grades 6 through 12 with the ability to access live tutors seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
High School/Middle School students and family members have unlimited access to trained tutors so every student can ask questions, work through problems and grow their confidence at no cost to families.
Tutoring is available in English, Spanish, French and Mandarin in all core academic subjects: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Math and World Languages.
https://www.minisink.com/page/paper-online-tutoring-for-grades-6-12?fbclid=IwY2xjawJJDWFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdJK6iFFDUGVK-oZr5ygipsDug4I9iweQuDTE-JsvyDrqE0Axk-RLUL3JA_aem_nGURGwayPfeBYNaf7OskmA
Christopher Tuthill’s High School technology classes activities sometimes expand beyond the curriculum for each class. Take a peek at Mr. Tuthill’s recent class presentations on the process of making maple syrup!
The goal of the demonstrations was to expose students to an activity that is unique to the northeastern United States and Canada while incorporating a STEM component to the lesson!
“We do cover types of lumber and tree identification in construction class and that was a part of my conversations with my students,” he said. “But there’s also a connection to science, technology, engineering and math as well throughout the syrup making process.”
Students learned about the history of maple syrup, tree identification, the process to tap maple trees, the boiling/evaporation process and more, including:
•Science: Students learned about the density of liquids, weather patterns, tree identification, parts of a tree (bark, sapwood, heartwood) biology- how a tree feeds itself to produce leaves each year (photosynthesize)
•Technology: Students learned the methods of sap collection, vacuum systems, evaporation processes and tools and machinery used, including the use of a hydrometer to understand sugar content
•Engineering: Students learned the methods of efficient sap collection and the process to make and bottle the final product
•Math: Students learned the ratios, or averages, for sap collected to final product made, sugar content percentage of both sap and finished syrup, boiling time, fuel consumption, tree diameter and circumference
It was the perfect STEM activity/lesson/demonstration for students to witness and participate in!
Cayla Tangney’s High School Art History II students have been learning about Impressionism and the way that the artists of the time used quick brushstrokes to capture the weather, season, and time of day as accurately as possible.
They were not taught how to paint the objects in front of them. Instead, students were only given a short amount of time to try and record the light and colors that they saw. They had to mix colors both on their palette directly onto their paper and, like the impressionists, they were not given any black.
Impressionists called painting outdoors "en plein air". Since students couldn't go outside in during the recent frosty cold and windy weather, they did the next best thing and utilized the windows. They stood in the hallway, looking out of the window and into the High School’s courtyard, so they could observe what they saw directly from life.
The following day, we did a gallery walk around the classroom to see which paintings were most successful in representing the style. Then, students had time to reflect on the experience of how it felt to paint this way as opposed to taking the more realistic or "perfect" approach that they were used to. Many realized how it was challenging to paint so quickly and how they were not accustomed to painting without considering realism.
•Impressionism is a style of painting that originated in France in the 19th century. It's characterized by subject matter, technique, visible brushstrokes, vivid colors and a focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color as well as composition, angles and movement.
•Impressionist artists included Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, and Edgar Degas.
Today, March 14, is the All District Choral Festival, which was held at the High School! Fifth-grade, eighth-grade and high school choral students gathered to make music and share their choral experiences. Part of the day included rehearsing for their performance of "Connected," which will be performed on Tuesday, March 18 as part of the Music in our Schools Concert at the High School! Be sure to be there to see the results of their hard work! This large ensemble sounds magnificent! Thank you to everyone who played a role in today's event!
Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Jim Golden is proud to share that his team made a very inspiring run to the recent Class AA Final Four game as part of their season play!
"The team dominated in three must-win league games in the final weeks to qualify for the Section IX playoffs," he said. "Our players’ skill and toughness were on full display when they traveled to FDR and won a very physical game against a bigger team in front of a very intense FDR crowd. The girls were very impressive in their play and their composure."
Congratulations to the team on a remarkable season!
BADMINTON, ANYONE?
If you’re at the High School today --- the answer was YES!
Today, the High School’s annual (and competitive) Badminton Tournament, took place, where pairs competed in coed and boys divisions with the quest of winning and friendly bragging rights! Most of the school is involved, by either participating or as spectators, and the mission of being victorious is fierce and friendly!
Presenting the winners of the High School’s 2025 Badminton Tournament! And, congratulations to all participating pairs! See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD
COED DIVISION
First-place: Cayleigh Kuiken and Kate O’Neill
Second- place: Chloe Beck and Stetson Terpak
Third-place: Jaida Macaluso and Dylan Filip
Fourth-place: Kiera Filip and Sophia Escobar
BOYS DIVISION
First-place: Anthony Tresch and Jandro Arias
Second-place: PJ Duke and Ethan Rodriguez
Third-place: Aaron Kelter and Chris Rickard
Fourth-place: Dylan Peets and Dylan Vidal
As is tradition, the badminton duos often dress in special, unique attire to make the day even more fun!
Badminton, a fast-paced racket sport, is believed to have originated in India, evolved from the game "Poona" or "Poonah", and gained popularity among British expatriates in the 1870s. The sport is also known as "battledore and shuttlecock" and is the second most popular participation sport in the world after football.
REMINDER: HAVE YOU SIGNED UP?
OPEN TO ALL AGES....DON'T MISS OUT, there's limited seating and a similar program held last fall SOLD OUT!
The High School Art Club is hosting a Spring fundraiser called “Printing” on Tuesday, March 25 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 217 at the high school.
In this workshop, participants will learn the art of printmaking on fabric. They will create stamps and use ink as a medium to make beautiful, handmade, wearable pr hangable art.
Participants will be guided by a talented Minisink Valley Art Club student to create one-of-a-kind artwork.
Reservations are required by scanning the QR code on the flyer below. Refreshments and snacks are included in the admission price:
Adults: $12
Children/students: $10
Siblings discount: $5 per additional sibling
Cash only, payable at the door.
All proceeds will go toward art scholarships, museum field trips for art students, additional supplies for our art club studio, and other events.
Every chess master was once a beginner! The High School Chess Club is back! If your student is interested in learning more about how to play chess and joining the club, he/she should stop by Room 138. The team hopes to set up tournaments and compete against other schools in the future!
•The recorded history of chess goes back at least to the emergence of chaturanga—also thought to be an ancestor to similar games like xiangqi and shogi—in seventh-century India. After its introduction in Persia, it spread to the Arab world and then to Europe. The modern rules of chess emerged in Europe at the end of the 15th century, with standardization and universal acceptance by the end of the 19th century. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, with millions of players worldwide.
•Chess is considered a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and many other organizations. While it's not an Olympic sport, chess is played in colleges and is recognized as a sport in over 100 countries.
Today, March 7, High School sophomores and juniors attended a special “Break the Cycle” assembly which featured keynote presenters Pat and AnneMarie D’Aliso, who were Minisink Valley residents and have spoken to students here in recent years. Their son Patrick died by suicide at age 16 and Mr. and Mrs. D’Aliso have become important champions about undiagnosed depression and paying attention to anything that may seem out of sorts in the lives of young people. Mr. and Mrs. D’Aliso do this because they hope by telling their story, they may help to save the life of someone in crisis. We remain grateful for their ongoing interest in speaking to our students and thank them and the other speakers who were part of this important presentation.
This topic is understandably a sensitive one, but one which we feel is very important to share to our students. Please let your child know you know that this assembly took place today and continue the important conversation of if he or she needs help for any reason, we are here to provide all the assistance we can. As a reminder, the high school counseling team is always available to our students for assistance they may need on any topic or issue of concern. Likewise, if you have any concerns about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, please reach out to us. We are here to help.
GOOD LUCK to the 16 athletes who are representing Minisink Valley with grit and tenacity at tomorrow's NYSPHSAA State and Federation Championships, which will be held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island!
Ladies and gentlemen: YOU GOT THIS!
Congratulations and best wishes to Girls Varsity Basketball seniors Helena Sopin and Adriana Vareikaite, who were honored for their dedication and many contributions to the team's success at the recent Girls BasketBall Senior Night!
Brendan McGann's College Biology students have been studying light wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum and conducting experiments to show the necessity of carbon-based molecules for plants to conduct photosynthesis. Spinach discs "chads" were representing plants!
Studying light wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum and conducting experiments with carbon-based molecules is crucial to understanding the process of photosynthesis in plants. That’s because different wavelengths of light are absorbed by specific pigments within the plant, like chlorophyll, which are essential for capturing the energy needed to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds, demonstrating the absolute necessity of carbon as a building block for plant growth through photosynthesis.
•The electromagnetic spectrum is the complete range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays, organized by their wavelengths and frequencies, with radio waves having the longest wavelengths and gamma rays having the shortest. It’s a "scale" of all different types of light, even the ones we can't see with our eyes.
•In a leaf disk lab, spinach "chads" are leaf discs that float in a solution to measure the rate of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis produces oxygen, which makes the leaf discs more buoyant and float to the top. The rate at which the leaf discs float depends on the rate of photosynthesis. Darker green leaves photosynthesize faster than lighter green leaves because they absorb more light.
