january 2014

Also inside this issue...

February 7-9, 2014February 7-9, 2014

This year’s EAHS musical is 42nd Street, the iconic show that made Broadway famous.

Audiences will recall numbers like “Shuffl e Off to Buffalo,” “We’re in the Money” and “42nd Street.”

The show revolves around Peggy Sawyer (Rachel Cocca) and her quest to fi nd fame on

Broadway. She goes head-to-head with famous director, Julian Marsh (Mike Schuetz) and Dorothy Parker (Lilli Naughton), struggling to make a name for herself. With support from Annie (Nicole Klimowicz), Bert (Ben Kutina), Maggie (Christina Ge-merek) and fellow dancers, Peggy has a shot, a long shot. Mixed up in the drama and comedy are Pat Denning (Ethan McAtee) and Abner Dillon (Ben Nemec); one is running from the mob while the other runs around the backstage of 42nd Street theater making a fool out of himself.

Will Peggy be a star? Will Ju-lian Marsh direct his last show? Will Dorothy fi nd

what she really wants from Broad-way? Tremendous tap and singing erupt from the stage in this Broad-way classic!

2014 EAHS Musical

District columns ............. page 2East Aurora Educational Foundation ........... page 3

News and Events, pages ......................3 - 4Community Education .............pages 8 - 11

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Superintendent’s ColumnMr. Brian Russ

Message from the Board Dan Brunson, Board President

When Elbert Hubbard was asked why his build-ings were so different from the conventional

workshops of the late 1800’s, he is reported to have said, “What hope is there to make beautiful things in ugly surroundings.” The same concept applies to teaching and learning. Beautiful surroundings in-

spire achievement. And inspiration is the beginning of learning and of suc-cess. I was reminded of this during our recent School Board visitation to all three of our buildings. The community should be proud of its beautiful, well maintained schools.

Another Hubbard quotation or “motto” greets students as they arrive each day at Parkdale. “Aim high and believe yourself capable of great things.” I must say that this inspirational thought was in evidence as our board com-mittee visited classroom after classroom. Dedicated, well prepared teach-ers paired with hard working, attentive students. Over a period of two days, we visited classrooms throughout the district observing consistent, quality instruction. The community is most fortunate to have such fi ne teachers, and the behavior of the students demonstrates the fact that families in our town value education and inspire their children to succeed.

All of this effort requires teamwork and so a word about leadership is in or-der. A few years ago, I heard Rudy Giuliani speak on the qualities of leader-ship. A vision for the future, courage to overcome fears, optimism, prepara-tion, teamwork and communication. The leaders of your schools have these qualities in abundance. They are the people who help bring cohesiveness to superior individual efforts.

Thank you to all for your continuing support for public education in East Aurora! Elbert Hubbard would be proud.

NOTICE

District residents are encouraged

to attend the Board of Education’s

Budget Development Forum

Wednesday, January 29, 2013

7:00 PM

Middle School Cafeteria

430 Main Street, East Aurora

The New York State Regents Reform Agenda was developed in response to concerns about

American student achievement and just how pre-pared students are for college and careers. Over the last several years, school districts have been

asked to implement a number of curricular, instructional and evaluative changes based on the adoption of the Regents Reform Agenda.

Let me outline the major components that contribute to meeting the goals of the Regents Reform Agenda: First, is the Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS). The CCLS serve as a consistent set of expectations for what students should learn and be able to do, so that we can ensure that every student across New York State is on track for college and career readiness. The CCLS was developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Offi cers (CCSSO) in partnership with stakeholders in the fi eld, including teachers, school administrators, and content experts. Second, is the NYS curriculum modules. In order to assist schools and districts with the implementation of the CCLS, New York State Education Department (NYSED) has provided curriculum modules and units in Pre-K-12 ELA and math. Each district has the choice to adopt or adapt the mod-ules or ignore them and use other curricular materials to meet their needs.Third, is NYS assessment. The assessments are required under Section 100.3 and 100.4 of the Commissioner’s Regulations. While grades 3-8 ELA and math tests were aligned with the CCLS starting in 2012-2013, the fi rst Regents examination (Algebra I) will be aligned with the CCLS starting in June 2014. Fourth, is on-line assessment. NYSED is working with representatives from The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers to establish an on-line assessment model that will measure 21st century skills aligned with the CCLS. On-line assessment will deliver real-time in-formation on student knowledge that teachers can use to help inform in-struction. On-line assessment will also provide students and their parents with more timely feedback as to their performance on the assessments. Fifth, is a statewide student data management system. NYSED is work-ing to design a process for securely sharing student data. The purpose of this shared data collaborative is to create a common language for describing school/student data utilizing a common repository that will offer greater security at a lower cost. Social security numbers will not be included in the collection and NYS data will be kept separate and apart from other states’ data. Sixth, is a refi ned evaluation system which emphasizes effective principal and teacher leadership. This new system for evaluation was developed as a collaborative effort between teachers and administrators and approved by NYSED. Seventh, is enhanced academic intervention services. Academic inter-vention services are required for each student in each academic area where they do not meet the threshold as set by NYSED on NYS Assessments. The intention of academic intervention is to provide the necessary support to ensure long term academic success.

While we are required by the State to address each of the components of the Regents Reform Agenda, we see that the combined value has

great potential in helping us to create a comprehensive learning experience that challenges our students and prepares them for success in the 21st cen-tury.

january 2014 The Challenger 3

East Aurora Educational Foundation

A reception was held at the Main House at Knox Farm, with Mr. James Ford’s children James and Kathy in attendance. The event marked 25 years in which the Foundation pro-vided grants totaling over a half million dollars in support of instructional innovations for stu-dents in the District that could not otherwise be supported by the district’s operating budget. The James Ford Commitment to Educa-tion Award was created in memory of one of the founding fathers of the Foundation. The prestigious award was given to Dr. Hoagland as a refl ection of one who most exemplifi es the following qualities that Mr. Ford exhibited in helping to establish the foundation: commit-ment to the betterment of education in East Aurora, persistent dedication, creative and original thinking, and involvement in commu-nity life.

(Left) James Ford, son of East Aurora Edu-cational Foundation James Ford, reminisced about his father’s dedication to local educa-tion at the anniversary event on November 7. Looking on are EAEF President Peg Fletcher, Board of Education President Daniel Brunson, Kathy Ford and honoree Dr. Hoagland.

First annual James Ford Commitment to Education Award is presented to Dr. James Hoagland, Jr. at 25th anniversary celebration

The East Aurora Educational Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary on November 7 with the pre-sentation of the “James Ford Commitment to Education Award” to EAHS principal Dr. James Hoa-gland, Jr.

Priscilla Gleed Memorial Fund Kindergarten students at Parkdale School will be making beautiful music thanks to a grant from the East Aurora Educational Foundation, Inc. Music teacher Melissa Denny submitted the proposal. The $795.19 in funding will provide a variety of in-struments for student use, and will help students develop as musicians as they move through the mu-sic program in the East Aurora Schools. The grant supports hands-on learning, and aligns with all four state standards for the Arts. The project was funded through the Priscilla Gleed Memorial Fund,one of the funds within the East Aurora Educational Foundation. Miss Gleed was a lifelong resident of East Aurora and a teacher in the East Aurora Union Free School District for 41 years. Her life was devoted to charitable activities in support of children, the elderly, wildlife, and the community in general.

Established in 1988, the East Aurora Educational Foundation is celebrating 25 years of supporting innovative, creative and collaborative projects for students in the East Aurora School district. Since its founding, the foundation has awarded more than $550,000 in grant funding in support of educa-tional opportunities outside the scope of the district’s operating budget. A not-for-profi t organization, the Foundation relies on donations and community support to fulfi ll its mission: “To enhance the educational experience of students in the East Aurora Union Free School District.” For more information, please visit www.eastauroraeducationalfoundation.org.

EAHS principal Dr. James Hoagland is pleased to announce that (above) seniors Jonathan McClure, Mike Schuetz, Catherine Mooney, Zachary Felder and Ben Kutina have been named Commended Stu-dents in the 2014 National Merit® Scholarship Program. In addition, Jon McClure was announced as one of 16,000 National Merit Scholarship semifi nalists, with an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring. A Letter of Commencement from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, will be presented by Dr. Hoagland to each of the Commended seniors. Con-tinuing on in the competition, Semifi nalist McClure will aspire to a Merit Scholarship® award in the Finalists level of competition.

Dr. Hoagland announces National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students

The EAHS students join about 34,000 Com-mended Students throughout the nation who will be recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2014 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top fi ve percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2014 competition by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholar-ship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). “The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated out-standing potential for academic success,” com-mented a spokesperson for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. “These students rep-resent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic develop-ment, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this rec-ognition will help broaden their educational op-portunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.” NMSC, a not-for-profi t organization that oper-ates without government assistance, was estab-lished in 1955 specifi cally to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholar-ships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and approximately 440 business organiza-tions and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of aca-demic excellence.

EAHS team wins regional World Quest Competition

For the second time in two years, a team of four EAHS students coached by Mr. Kevin Weigel took the top prize at the regional World Quest Competition at Tapestry Charter School in Buf-falo on November 7. Sponsored by the International Institute of Buffalo, twenty-one high school teams com-peted head-to-head on current events, language and literature, history and geography, world travel and pop culture, The team of (left to right) Anne Conron, Grant Haffendon, Zach Felder and Collin O’Connor will travel to Wash-ington D.C. to compete nationally in the spring. The competition is sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America, supporting a non-partisan network of local councils dedicated to educating, inspiring and engaging Americans in international affairs. Photo/K. Weigel

4 The Challenger january 2014

On November 26, members of the Middle School Student Council and BOCES students had a party to celebrate Thanksgiving, playing games, enjoy-ing snacks, watching a movie, and most impor-tantly, getting to know each other better. Mr. Hill and Mrs. Zacrokzemski note that future collab-orative events are being planned. BOCES operates several classrooms to serve special needs students within the district.

Miss Jenner’s fi rst graders wrote “Happy Thanks-giving” letters to our military friends overseas as a wonderful kick off the holiday season. The let-ters were delivered to four different units in Af-ghanistan. Her fi rst graders also held their fi rst Annual “Turkey Tie-Off” on November 26, going toe-to-toe in a shoe tying competition. Working with a partner, each student was given 45 seconds to tie the partner’s shoe laces. In subsequent matches, the time was decreased by 5 seconds per match, eliminating contestants until the remaining two students had a “tie-off” on Miss Jenner’s own shoes.

january 2014 The Challenger 5

On Saturday, December 7, EAHS hosted the New York State Junior Classical League Fall Festival, a statewide Latin competition which brought in teams from 14 different public and private schools. About 300 Latin students, teachers, and parent chaperones congregated at East Aurora High School through 8pm Saturday for Latin cer-tamina (quiz bowl competitions), pair competi-tions, individual academic exams, a chess tour-nament and athletics. Congratulations to our East Aurora students on the Main Certamen (quiz bowl) results:First place trophy to Latin III team members Scott Galucki, Jon Javor, Morgan Palmer, Maria Seeber and Zachary Warning;Second place trophy to Latin II team members Charles Clark, Elliot Morgan, Russell Payne and Kyle Riley;First place trophy to Grade 7 team members Elizabeth Javor, John Improta and Collin Voss;Second place trophy to Grade 7 team members Emily Kreiger, Madeline Ohweiler and Jessica Phillips; Academic Exam ranking:

Russell Payne won a fi rst place medal on the Level III Latin Derivatives Exam; Phoebe Stucke won second place on the Level I Classical Mythology Exam, and she and Emma Cassidy won third place in the academic pairs competition; Jessica Phillips won fi rst place medal on the Grade 7 Roman Culture and Civilization Exam; Kameron Kmicinski won a fi rst place med-al on the 7th grade Latin Vocabulary Exam; Elizabeth Javor won a fi rst place medal on the Grade 7 Classical Mythology Exam, and 2nd place on the Grade 7 Latin Vocabulary Exam. Also, Madison Palmer won third place in the Middle School Chess Tournament, and EA team members Morgan Palmer, Scott Galucki and Maria Seeber won 1st place in the high school level volleyball tournament. Pat Philips, Noah Juliano, Chris Fuller, Anna Cashmore, Erin Grundtisch, Tegan Stoddart, Dan Philips, Kameron Kmicins-ki, Christian Kivari, Elizabeth Fee, Kelsey Voss, and Ashley Emehizer all won places in the basketball shootouts that took place through-out the afternoon.

Outstanding achievements for our Latin students in NYS Junior Classical League competition

Thanksgiving party

The Aurora Film Academy was formed in 2012 at EAHS as a way of bring-ing a rigorous and multidisciplinary experience to seniors poised for gradu-ation. The Academy blends Creative Writing, Drama and Film Production courses in real-world challenges, culminating in a spring fi lm festival host-ed by the Aurora Theater. The expenses for equipment and software have been funded through generous donations from the East Aurora Educational Foundation, the HS Parent Teacher Organization, Meibohm Fine Arts and other local busi-nesses. The curriculum is enhanced through a subscription to Independent Student Media Films (ISM) – a Hollywood-based resource connected to real producers, directors, and actors. 17 new Sony HD camcorders and student-crafted camera stabilizers (photos at right, top and bottom) give students the chance to let creativity bloom in boom shots, follow shots, and fi rst-person footage. State-of-the art fi lm editing software obtained through past grants and Hollywood-

quality audio result in fi lms that are ready for the big screen. Watch district publications for information on the free upcoming Film Festival.

Aurora Film Academy at EAHS

On November 19, students from International Studies I and II traveled to the UB Center for the Arts to see the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, a troupe of 24 dancers and six orchestra members, including a table-size hammer dulcimer and three phenomenal violinists. Prior to the enriching cultural event, students and their parents enjoyed a traditional Chinese, nine-course dinner at the Eastern Pearl Res-taurant. Altogether, forty people attended this event, which was arranged by the International Studies teachers Alka Moudgil and Christine Burke.

Promoting charity and good citizenship • The East Aurora Middle School Latin Club organized a drive to benefi t Buffalo Paws and Claws,

East Aurora’s local animal shelter, collecting about 100 items from homerooms like food, treats, toys, blankets, and pet grooming items (right).

• The Middle School National Junior Honor Society raised $205 for Neurofi bromatosis, as EAMS students paid $1 to participate in Hat/Bandanna Day on November 19 (at right), and with pro-ceeds from a bake sale.

• The Middle School faculty’s Friday Dress Down jar collected $400 for Thanksgiving dinners at City Mission, and an additional $200 used for Tops gift cards for needy local families.

• Parkdale Elementary’s SMILE service club sponsored a spaghetti dinner, dessert sale and ce-ramic sale to bring a total donation of $2844 to benefi t Crossroads Springs’ Poultry Project. Crossroads Springs is a school in Hamisi, Kenya, serving orphans and other vulnerable children as they are equipped with skills to become self-supporting citizens. Donations to the Poultry Project will provide chicks, feed and support for a sustainable poultry farm at the school. The East Aurora School district has partnered with several fundraising efforts for Crossroads Springs, a locally administered 501c3 organization. Independent donations are welcome at www.cross-roadsspringsafrica.org.

Parkdale Elementary gave a special emphasis to Kindness, Respect, Safety and Friendship during National Bully Prevention week in November. Several days during the month, Parkdale staff and students wore orange clothing (right), the color associated with bully prevention, signed an Anti-Bully Pledge, and attended an assembly on these topics. Classes also created orange paper links with kind and caring messages, linked together for unity and displayed in the Parkdale foyer.

News from the EAHS Swim Boosters club: East Aurora girls fi nished fi rst in Class B (third consecutive year) and second in the entire section at the Girls Section VI meet at ECC Flickinger Center November 7-8. 200 Medley Relay: Shelby MacSwan - 8th grade; Sydney Atendido - 10th grade; Mary Zagrobelny - 9th grade; Emma Brinker - 8th grade. Breast Stroke: Sydney Atendido - 10th grade.

The East Aurora Educational Foundation approved EAHS art teacher Thomas Kegler’s grant proposal entitled, “Digital HD Camcorders.” The $4,400 grant will support the EAHS Film Academy.

EAHS business teacher Joanne L. Ryan reports that the East Aurora High School accounting curricu-lum has met the SUNY criteria to offer SUNY credit through ECC beginning in the 2014-15 academic year. Additionally, the East Aurora Business Department is also NYS CTE approved for its rigorous and relevant course offerings. The EAHS program has an advisory board, a partnership with a ECC college, a national assessment (WISE), an industry assessment (NOCTI), and work-based learning. EAHS students will follow a sequence to receive the CTE endorsement and diploma. The state cre-dential must be renewed with NYSED every fi ve years, and EAHS is one of very few high schools in NYS to meet the criteria.

Mr. Stonebraker’s EAHS history students observed the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Get-tysburg Address with a reading of the address by Hannah Weppner and Maxwell Goodrich during extended homeroom on Tuesday morning, November 19. The speech is considered by some historians as the most famous speech in our nation’s history. Photo/K. Weigel

Briefly...

6 The Challenger january 2014

january 2014 The Challenger 7

The East Aurora School District will provide environments, experiences, materials and professional talents to help each student prepare to live in society as a contributing, self-fulfi lling and caring citizen. The school will endeavor to develop,

in each student, a lifelong desire for knowledge and the skills to acquire it. The school will promote learning in the context of common sense, hope for a better future and a deep respect for humanity.

Goal 1 Continue to focus on improving academic achievement by providing rigorous programs and activities which engage students in opportu-nities to develop and expand their skills in criti-cal thinking, problem-solving, global awareness, communications and collaboration while recog-nizing the individual needs of a diverse learning community.

Objectives• Implement Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) K-12, including unit design and assess-ment development.• Refi ne the implementation of the Annual Pro-fessional Performance Review for teachers and administrators that promotes a professional dia-logue that is focused on instructional improve-ment and increased student achievement.• Continue to explore the use of technology as a tool for instruction, learning and assessment as well as other fl exible learning opportunities.• Assess the effectiveness of the Chinese Lan-guage Program as a new addition to the curricu-lum.• Assess the effectiveness of the high school Computer Programming course to determine the feasibility of developing a robotics course to complete STEM curriculum.• Provide the opportunity for more students in 8th grade to participate in advanced math and science programs.• Review the possibility of offering Biology in 8th grade in place of or in addition to Earth Science. • Create a committee to review the grading and assessment procedures utilized K-12.

2013-2014 Goals and Objectives

Goal 2 Maintain and enhance proactive and respon-sive two-way communication with all stake-holders in the school community.

Objectives• Continue to work with parents and commu-nity members in promoting healthy lifestyles for students, as well as adults (i.e., Community Garden, Boys & Girls Club, and Community Organizations).• Revise District Code of Conduct to refl ect changes to the Dignity Act and inform stu-dents and parents of the revisions. • Promote paperless (green) options by en-couraging more electronic communication.• Continue to promote the use of technology, such as the Parent Portal for the purpose of supporting student progress and increasing communication between home and school, as well as between student and parent.• Continue to personally contact parents to share student progress especially for those students who are experiencing academic dif-fi culty. • Reach out to community groups through forums and public hearings to proactively discuss District goals, facility improvement, safety issues and educational funding.

Goal 3 Provide resources for all faculty and staff for the purpose of developing and expand-ing skills to improve student learning, achievement and well-being.

Objectives• Continue to provide technology training and other professional development op-portunities to meet local needs and State mandates.• Promote professional dialogue that is focused on improving alignment to New York State learning standards. • Create an environment that supports academic exploration around the imple-mentation of the Common Core.• Continue to maintain facilities that cre-ate an environment that supports a profes-sional learning community.

Educational Priorities1. The NYS Common Core Learning Standards will be the guiding force for developing a rigorous and engaging curriculum.

2. We will provide a well-rounded educational experience for all students by supporting co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

3. Continue to focus on providing quality professional development opportunities that support the goals of the District.

4. Utilize technology as a tool to enhance instruction and learning while also improving organizational effi ciency.

5. Maintain and improve quality facilities to create a safe and productive learning environment.

East Aurora Union Free School District Mission Statement

General Information• All course information, including day, time, start and end dates, and holiday or school closing dates, is included within each course description. • If regular day school is closed due to weather or another emergency, afterschool and evening classes in district schools are suspended that afternoon and evening as well. If day school is open, but it becomes necessary to cancel evening classes, a decision will be made by 3:00 PM. All closings, day or evening, are announced on the website at www.eastauroraschools.org, where you also may register for email or text notifi ca-tion of closings (click on REGISTER in the up-per right page bar and follow instructions), or on WGR, WGR TV, WIBV, WNED, WBUF, WHTT, WYRK, WKBW, WUFO or WNSA. Please do not call the offi ce for closing information.• Classes are held at: Main Street School, 430 Main Street (MS); East Aurora High School, 1003 Center Road (HS); Parkdale Elementary (PE), 141 Girard Avenue; or at a designated location off school property. You may call the offi ce at 687-2311 for directions or a map.

East Aurora Continuing/Community EducationEast Aurora Continuing/Community Educationfor Late Winter/Spring: February 1 - June 30, 2014for Late Winter/Spring: February 1 - June 30, 2014

The Board of Education is committed to the District goal of continuous learning throughout life. The Community Continuing Education (adult education) Program ensures the availability of learning opportunities for people of all ages in diverse settings and at a variety of times. In three continuous terms throughout the year, we of-fer programs including academic offerings, driver training, fi tness programs, self-improvement, art and music, business and related technology. Our classes are self-supporting, with easy registration online, in person or by mail. We welcome the public to submit ideas and course proposals at any time to kward@eastauroraschools.org The Late Winter/Spring: February 1 - June 30, 2014Late Winter/Spring: February 1 - June 30, 2014, with courses that vary in length and tuition. Please call 687-2311 with questions.

Fees - see individual listings. All fees must be paid at time of registration.• Non-Residents - Additional fee per course of $10 for non-East Aurora School District resi-dents, except as indicated. Residents have prior-ity on waiting lists for courses with limited en-rollment. Note: When registering for more than one daily session of the same course, you need to pay the non-resident fee on only one of those registrations per trimester (i.e., fi tness classes that meet M and/or W), except those that note “no discounts apply.”• The Board of Education recognizes the con-tributions of East Aurora District resident Senior Citizen taxpayers with a discount of one-half the full fee for regular courses; exceptions (“no discounts apply”) are noted in individual course descriptions. You must be 62 years of age or over AND a resident of the East Aurora School District. No discounts apply to jointly sponsored programs, courses specifi cally excluded, or lab fees.• Refunds - Fees will not be refunded for any reason after registration unless courses are can-celled due to insuffi cient registration. Teachers may try to reschedule class sessions missed due to emergency closing, but we cannot refund for a

Registration• Open to all persons age 21 and older. Stu-dents in the ninth grade and beyond may en-roll in some courses not provided in the regu-lar school program; call for details.• Registration will not be confi rmed by our offi ce; please assume your course will begin as planned unless you are notifi ed otherwise.• To register online, follow the links at www.eastauroraschools.org/adulteducation and then click on the RevTrak link to register and pay online securely with a credit card or elec-tronic check.• To register by mail, send a check or money order payable to EAST AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS to the East Aurora Continuing Education Offi ce, 430 Main Street, East Au-rora, NY 14052. Check or money order must accompany registration. Additional registra-tion blanks are at www.eastauroraschools.org/adulteducation. • To register in person - the Continuing Edu-cation offi ce has a drop box located at the Main Street School in the business offi ce, and available from 8 AM - 4:00 PM on regular school days, accepting payment by cash (exact amount), check or money order.

Use a registration form on the last page to register by mail with check or money or-der, or register and pay online at www.eastaurorschools.org/adulteducation

8 The Challenger january 2014

ACADEMICS / ENRICHMENT

French – Introductory #115-3 Dr. Martha HorohoeAlthough France is the number one tourist destination, almost every con-tinent has several French-speaking countries. It truly is a world language. Have you ever wanted to learn French to enhance travel experiences or busi-ness relationships and enhance your understanding of a foreign culture? Dr. Horohoe will teach a twelve-week course presenting: the functions and uses of the French language; pronunciation, grammar, and the concepts which underlie the language; the culture and geography of French-speaking countries and regions like France, Quebec, Morocco, and Martinique; and practical use of French in real world situations. Meets: Mondays, 2/3/14-5/5/14, no class on 2/17 and 4/14Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PMLocation: MS 119Fee: $45.00

French – Intermediate #116-3 Dr. Martha HorohoeAdvanced French expands on the groundwork laid in the introductory course. This course will focus on more practical use of French in real world situations as well the grammar and concepts that will enable you to start conversing in the language.Meets: Mondays, 2/3/14-5/5/14, no class on 2/17 and 4/14Time: 8:00 PM-9:00 PMLocation: MS 119Fee: $45.00

Spanish – Introductory #117-3 Dr. Martha HorohoeHave you ever wanted to learn Spanish to enhance travel experiences or business relationships and enhance your understanding of a foreign cul-ture? Whatever your reason, the information is within reach. Dr. Horohoe will teach a 12 week course presenting: the functions and uses of the Span-ish language; pronunciation, grammar, and the concepts which underlie the language; the culture and geography of Spanish-speaking countries like

(Continued next page)

january 2014 The Challenger 9

Spain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico; and practical use of Spanish in real world situations. Meets: Tuesdays, 2/4/14-5/13/14, no class on 2/18, 4/8 and 4/15Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PMLocation: MS 119Fee: $45.00

Spanish Intermediate #118-3 Dr. Martha HorohoeIntermediate Spanish expands on the groundwork laid in the introductory course. This course will focus on more practical use of Spanish in real world situations as well the grammar and concepts that will enable you to start conversing in the language. Meets: Tuesdays, 2/4-5/13, no class on 2/18, 4/8 and 4/15Time: 8:00 PM-9:00 PMLocation: MS 119Fee: $45.00

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

Law Everyone Should Know #150-3 Edward SnyderWe will discuss wills, estates, elder law, living wills, probate, trusts, how to save on taxes and nursing home costs. This course will also include discus-sion on buying and selling real estate, including fi nancing, sale by owner, etc. Meets: Tuesdays, 2/4-3/4, no class 2/18Time: 7:00 PM-8:15 PMLocation: MS 117Fee: $33.00

Planning for Longevity - Class #1 - Protecting Your Assets and Income: New Laws and Updates #155-3 Lester RobinsonBecause of today’s medical science, we’re all living longer lives. Long-term care issues are now the biggest threat to a successful retirement. Get objec-tive answers about the pros and cons of a variety of long-term care issues, including longevity, retirement, legislative and caregiver issues Meets: Wednesday, 4/2Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PMLocation: MS 119Fee: $8.00

Planning for Longevity - Class #2 – Term Care Insurance-Does it Make Sense? #156-3 Lester RobinsonBecause of today’s medical science, we’re all living longer lives. Long-term care issues are now the biggest threat to a successful retirement. Get objec-tive answers about the pros and cons of a variety of long-term care issues including who needs insurance, comparing policies, preparing for special needs children, tax implications and how to fi nd the best plan.Meets: Wednesday, 4/9Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PMLocation: MS 119Fee: $8.00

DRIVING

Driver Education for NYS (MV-285) #501-3 David Schmidt and Buffalo Driving SchoolRegistration deadline for this class will be February 14, 2014, to allow time for the scheduling of in-car sessions; students should have a fl exible sched-ule without athletic or employment issues. Final in-car schedules will be

mailed the week prior to the start of class. Road sessions are scheduled between 3:00-6:30 PM on any days Monday-Friday and Saturday morn-ing and afternoon, so your schedule must be fl exible. Driving vehicles leave from the main entrance on the west side of the High School. Limited enroll-ment. No discounts apply; no refunds after registering. Participants must be 16 years old by March 4, 2014, and must possess a valid NYS learner’s permit or license. Textbook included. Satisfactory com-pletion necessitates mandatory attendance of 24 hours of vehicle and 24 hours of classroom instruction (sixteen 1 1/2 hour sessions EACH, usually two per week), as well as successfully passing a written exam and a driving skills test. We will try to consider specifi c schedule requests (please make request at time of registration), but cannot guarantee preferences. Upon successful course completion, the student qualifi es for a Certifi cate of Completion (form MV-285) and an insurance certifi cate. No high school credit is given. Enrollment is on a fi rst come, fi rst served basis. Mailed reg-istrations will be enrolled by postmark date. East Aurora School District students will be given preference. 5-Hour Pre-licensing Course is included and certifi cate will be issued approximately 4 weeks into course. IMPORTANT: Please read the Parent/Student information fi le at www.eastauroraschools.org/drivered before registering for this course. It is the responsibility of the student to attend all sessions of Driver Education as mandated by New York State Education Law. The minimum requirements are 24 hours classroom, 18 hours observation in the car and 6 hours behind the wheel. In the spring 2014 session, in-car groups will meet at the as-signed time in the High School parking lot. No discounts apply. Meets: In-car driving sessions begin Tuesday, 3/4; classroom sessions are Mondays and Tuesdays, 3/4 -5/5, no classroom session on 4/14 and 4/15, no in-car sessions 4/12 - 4/19Time: 6:00 PM-7:30 PM Location: Lecture: High School Room C120B, In-Car: HS Parking LotFee: $455.00, no discounts apply; no refunds after registering

Defensive Driving – Point/Insurance Reduction #502-3, #503-3, #504-3 Ronald KrowkaThe six-hour Defensive Driving Course for Point/Insurance Reduction fo-cuses on driver behavior modifi cation and is taught by a police offi cer from the East Aurora Police Department. Sponsored by the NY Safety Program and approved by NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. You must attend both classes in a session. No discounts apply. Meets: #502-3 – Tuesday and Thursday, 3/11 and 3/13 #503-3 – Saturday, 4/5 #504-3 – Tuesday and Thursday, 5/13 and 5/15Time: 6:00 PM-9:00 PM (T/TH) 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (S)Location: HS B126Fee: $20.00 registration fee (payable to East Aurora Public Schools) plus $16.00 lab fee payable to instructor at fi rst class, no discounts apply

Driver Education - 5-hour Safety Pre-licensing #505-3 David SchmidtThe 5-hour Driver Safety Course required for New York State Road Test. A learner’s permit is required to register for this course. You must attend both classes in a session. Pre-registration is necessary. No discounts apply.Meets: Monday and Tuesday, 6/2 and 6/3Time: Monday, 6:30 PM-8:30 PM, Tuesday, 6:30 PM-9:30 PMLocation: HS C120BFee: $35.00, no discounts apply

(Course listings continued next page)

10 The Challenger january 2014

FINE ARTS, CRAFTS AND HOBBIES

Bridge - Beginner/Intermediate #250-3 Robert HesselA fi ve-week course designed for beginners focusing on the fundamentals needed to learn the game of bridge. Classes will include information per-taining to the introduction, preliminaries, bidding and the play of the game. Meets: Tuesdays, 5/14-6/17 – no class 5/20Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PMLocation: MS LibraryFee: $55.00

Beginning Guitar – Learn the Basics and Play NEW! #274-3 Suzanne Sprague (Limelite Music)This course is for the beginning guitarist. Learn basic chords and strum-ming patterns, then how to use them in a variety of songs. Also, learn how to tune and care for your guitar, along with reading tablature and standard notation. Bring your own guitar - acoustic or electric guitars welcome. Ad-ditional fee of $7.00 for cost of book is payable to instructor.Meets: Tuesdays, 2/11-3/11, no class on 3/18Time: 7:30 PM-9:00 PMLocation: MS Room 231 Fee: $38.00

Quick Start Piano #275-3 NEW! Dan Bailey (Limelite Music)This four-week course will provide the beginner student the knowledge, skills and techniques to become a piano player. The skills and techniques taught are designed to give each student the basic fundamentals of reading music, understanding music theory, how to practice, and how to quickly teach themselves piano music. Students will follow a path from basic ‘read and play’ techniques to more developed ‘quick play’ techniques, and fi nally into basic improvisation and playing by ear. The goal of this course is to quickly give beginners and those returning to the piano after many years the tools to attain a level of self-suffi ciency for self-directed piano playing, while setting up the proper base of knowledge and technique for future learning with an instructor.Meets: Tuesdays, 2/4-3/18, no class on 2/18Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PMLocation: MS Room 219Fee: $38.00

FITNESS

Silver Pass for Step Aerobics/Circuit Training & Total Workout #600-3The Silver Pass is available for purchase with registration in #610-3 or #627-3 only for $20.00. Silver passes gain admission to any Step Aerobics/Circuit Training session or Total Workout session. Class sizes are limited and primary registrations will take precedence over Silver Pass holders if the class is at maximum size. No discounts apply.

Total Workout #627-3 Ellen PfeilSomething new from longtime instructor Ellen Pfeil--a total body mixed workout! In three segments, Ellen will lead a blend of moderate step cardio, strength training, and a mix of Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates, followed by 10 minutes of relaxation. Bring yoga mat and weight bar (10#, 12# or 15#). This class can be moderated for any fi tness level.Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2/4-6/26, no class on 2/18, 2/20, 4/15 and 4/17 and 3 dates TBATime: 4:30 PM-5:45 PMLocation: MS East GymFee: $110.00

Step Aerobics/Circuit Training #610-2, #611-2, #613-2Get fi t quickly in this interactive, high-energy cardio step class. Full body workout includes a warm-up, stretch, cardio workout, strength training, “abs” workout and stretching cool-down. Great music and hip moves! Bring a towel, mat, water bottle and hand weights (optional). #610-3 Kimberly McAteeMeets: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2/3-6/25, no class on 2/17, 2/19, 4/14, 4/16 and 5/26Time: 5:15 PM-6:30 PMLocation: MS East GymFee: $116.00

#611-3 Lynne Beale AllenMeets: Mondays and Thursdays, 2/3-6/26, no class on 2/17, 2/20, 4/14, 4/17 and 5/26Time: 6:00 AM-7:00 AMLocation: MS East GymFee: $35.00

#613-3 Lynne Beale AllenMeets: Saturdays, 2/1-6/28, no class on 2/22, 4/19 and 5/24Time: 9:15 AM-10:30 AMLocation: MS East GymFee: $20.00

Stronger Bodies/Stronger Bones #625-3 Cheri Wenner Do you want to reverse the aging process? Resistance training counteracts the muscle loss that otherwise will naturally happen if you do nothing about it! This fi tness class is designed to sculpt your muscles, strengthen your bones, and improve your core strength, posture and balance. As you im-prove your range of motion and increase your metabolism, your body will become more effective in the “calorie burning” process in all areas of your life. We use free weights, body bars, bands, and Swiss balls to work against gravity to achieve our goals while having fun and the instructor is extremely motivating! All levels from beginners to advanced will be addressed as she shares her knowledge of fi tness training and theory. Modifi ed exercises will be given for anyone with restrictions, so this class can benefi t everyone-you will be having fun while feeling good and looking great! Please bring to class water bottle, hand towel and exercise mat. Please record your weight and measurements at home, to compare your starting point with your end-ing results of the session. This class will take place in the comfortable air conditioned studio at EA Fitness, 594 Main Street, East AuroraMeets: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2/4-6/19, no class on 4/15 and 4/17Time: 9:30 AM-10:30 AMLocation: EA Fitness, 594 Main Street, EA Fee: $124.00

Aquacise #630-3 Barbara Lamond Use water exercise to improve your level of fi tness and fl exibility, man-age your weight and relieve stress. Aquatic activity can improve muscular strength, range of motion and endurance. Mild to moderate activity. Class size is limited. Please note: The pool is used throughout the day by swim-mers of various ages and levels of activity, requiring the District to maintain the pool at an average temperature requested by all users. In general, pool temperatures may vary between 83 and 89 degrees. Meets: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3/3-5/29, no class on 4/14, 4/16 and 5/26Time: 4:00 PM-5:00 PMLocation: MS PoolFee: $120.00

january 2014 The Challenger 11

Use registration form below to register by mail with

check or money order, or register and pay online at

www.eastauroraschools.org/adulteducation

Printable registration forms also at that link or by

using the QR code at right

Lap Swimming #636-3 Barbara LamondFree style lap swim. Class is limited. Please note: The pool is used throughout the day by swimmers of various ages and levels of activity, requiring the District to maintain the pool at an average temperature requested by all users. In general, pool temperatures may vary between 83 and 89 degrees. Meets: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3/3-5/29, no class on 4/14, 4/16 and 5/26Time: 7:30 PM - 8:30 PMLocation: MS PoolFee: $80.00

Yoga – Beginners #640-3 Jane SchmittIf you have always wanted to try yoga, this might be the class for you. Join us as we experience basic poses and stretches designed to strengthen the body and increase fl exibility. Learn postures and breathing techniques sure to reduce the stress in your life. This class is for all ages and fi tness levels. Please bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing. Meets: Wednesdays, 2/12-6/11, no class on 2/19, 3/26, 4/16 and 1 class TBD by teacherTime: 8:00 AM-9:00 AMLocation: PE Backstage GymFee: $65.00

Yoga – Active Yoga in West Falls #643-3 Jane SchmittFor the student who has had some yoga experience and is looking to ad-vance their practice. We will continue with breathing, strengthening and balance poses, as well as moving through an active vinyasa fl ow. Meets: Thursdays, 2/13-6/12, no class on 2/20, 3/27, 4/17 and 1 class TBD by teacherTime: 9:00 AM-10:00 AMLocation: St. George’s Church, West FallsFee: $65.00

Scuba Diving #638-3Enjoy the wonders of our underwater world; learn to scuba dive! Important -- An additional lab fee of $181.00 is payable to the instructor at fi rst class, and includes certifi cation from National Association of Underwater Instruc-tors, the use of a textbook, tank and regulators with gauges and buoyancy compensator for all pool sessions, and 2 days of open water training with instructor. Students will be responsible for supplying all dive equipment for 2 days of open water training. Rental package is available. No discounts apply. Students will only need a bathing suit, towel, pen and notebook for fi rst class. For the second class, students will need mask, snorkel, fi ns, and weight belt (these items will be discussed during fi rst class). Class size lim-ited. Students must be 10 years or older to take this course and be accompa-nied by parent or guardian. No discounts apply.Meets: Saturdays, 3/1-4/5Time: MS Room 117 – 10:30 AM-12:00 PM MS Pool – 12:00 PM-1:30 PMLocation: Middle School Pool and 117Fee: $48.00 plus lab fee of

ONLINE LEARNING at www.ed2go.com/eastaurora

Computer and website training, personal fulfi llment, language, art, test preparation, legal studies and business management hundreds of East Au-rora Continuing/Community Education classes online link you to experts while you work on your own schedule at your home computer. These excit-ing courses are perfect for busy people, those with specifi c subject learning needs or those who can’t fi nd a traditional class to fi t their schedule. To fi nd out if online learning is for you, go to www.ed2go.com/eastauro-ra and take a look. New sessions begin on the second Wednesday of each month and run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. Stu-dentss under 21 years of age may register for online classes with parental permission.

Board of Education www.eastauroraschools.org

District Offi ces430 Main Street

East Aurora, NY 14075

716.687.2300School Board meetings are generally held the second and/or fourth Wednesdays of the month at Middle School, 430 Main Street, East Aurora, at 7:00 PM. You are encour-aged to verify this information by calling 687-2302.

Superintendent of Schools Brian Russ

bruss@eastauroraschools.org

Kristine Ward Community Relations/Web

KWard@eastauroraschools.org

Daniel Brunson, PresidentMaryBeth Covert, Vice-President

Jessica ArmbrustKimberlee Danieu

Judy Malys Terri Ohlweiler

Stephen Zagrobelny

Keep in touch with all district news and events!Make www.eastauroraschools.org

your family’s homepage--go towww.eastauroraschools.org/news

to register for alerts and news sent to your email box or texts to your phone.

EAST AURORA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

430 MAIN STREET

EAST AURORA, NY 14052

PRSRT STDNON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAIDEAST AURORA, NY

PERMIT NO. 28

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