Archive: Around Town

Smart Updates for GCSD
 
All summer programs including Summer Academy, BOUNCE and summer camps are being held at the elementary school this year as some major updating is done to the high school building. The largest project now underway is the building’s roof replacement. The last time the high school’s entire roof was refreshed was about twenty years ago.

To get a jump start on this project, the central gym and district office areas were closed temporarily which meant a temporary relocation for some students and staff earlier this year. During that time, the roof was laid and the heating unit in the district offices was repaired. The roof covering the far right entrance is now complete ahead of schedule and the rest of the roofing is underway. Replacing every window throughout the school is another big priority for the building crew, led by Randy Sovocool, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds.

A much needed update, the replacement windows will be energy efficient and easier to operate. Along with these projects, there are numerous others to complete before the new school year begins. When students and staff return in the fall, a state of the art digital sign board is expected to be in place to welcome them back at the Peru Road entrance. Updated HVAC systems are being installed into all the science rooms, which are being restructured to fit the new systems. The current zoned fire alarm system is being updated in the high school and in the bus garage. The addressable and more location-specific alarms will save response time. Also, Smart Schools technology is being installed at both the elementary and high schools; new phone systems, wireless hubs and additional security cameras will be added to both campuses.

Cady Sinclair to Represent Groton at Student Leadership Conference

Groton high schooler Crystal 'Cady' Sinclair was chosen to represent Groton Central Schools at the 2015 New England Student Leadership Conference. Sponsored by NYSPHSAA, Sinclair is one of the two students selected from Section IV to attend this event.

“This is a tremendous opportunity and I couldn't be happier that Cady Sinclair will be representing Groton in this honor,” Associate Principal & Athletic Director Billie Downs said.

Now in its fifth year, this annual leadership conference hosts guest speakers that focus on topics related to the student athlete including Respect, Positive Values, Perspective, Sportsmanship, and Teamwork. Over the course of this four-day residential event participants are involved in group discussions and a community service project geared toward developing leadership abilities in a peer to peer setting.


Groton Students Earn College Degree by Graduation
 
The trend is catching on in Groton -- high school students are choosing to take challenging classes that earn them college credit through the local community college and at the same time earning the high school credits they need to graduate. This course of study is called concurrent enrollment and it helps high school students better prepare for college by offering challenging curriculum within the high school environment. The classes are accredited through the Tompkins Cortland Community College College Now program.

A parent meeting and review of the high schooler’s transcripts are needed to assess whether a student is eligible for the program.

“Tenth graders can start to look into their transcripts to see what college credits they have to build on,” High School Business Teacher Babs Carr explained.

Carr pursued attaining the approved curriculum for her classes and gained the certification to teach at the college level in Groton. Since then, other high school teachers have earned certification for teaching concurrent enrollment classes which has expanded the offerings available. Carr mentors students through the program which requires additional college coursework with the option of online or campus-based classes.

Currently there are enough qualifying classes taught at Groton High School that students can take just five additional courses through the community college to earn a General Studies A.S. degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Several Groton students anticipate graduating with both their high school diploma and their A.S. degree in the spring of 2016.

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