Posted on 6/2/09
Two events have the potential to conflict with the Relay for Life event taking place in the Karigon/Orenda, Acadia and Koda parking lots, starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 5:

1. Koda Student Council BBQ - was originally scheduled in the Koda parking lot for cooking dinners and dinner pick up.  Since the Relay for Life volunteers and survivors will need to park there for the Relay event, it will be moved to the parking lot by the Acadia tennis courts.  That way traffic can go straight into campus for this event and not have to turn right into to the Relay for Life event in front of K/O.

2. Koda Field Trip pick up - around 5 p.m. on Fri.  Parents were supposed to pick up their kids in Koda parking lot, but the traffic/safety issues this will cause with the Relay for Life event could be significant.  We'd like to have the kids picked up in front of Gowana instead, and then this traffic could also go straight instead of to the right as they enter campus.  

Posted 5/19/09
Half-day schedule for June:

Middle School Gr. 6-8- the arrival and dismissal time is different on the two days because June24 is also a half day for elementary schools and there are not enough buses to do the early run.

• Tuesday, June 23: arrive 8:40 a.m., dismissed 11:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24: arrive 9:40 a.m., dismissed 12:15 p.m.

Koda

• Jessica Craven

• Madison Leggett

• Brendan Powers

• April Brun

• Anastasia Cange

• Samara Mokaya

March 11, 2009

Dear Parent/Guardian:

The safety of our students is a concern for all. Advances in technology, and the proliferation of younger students with cell phones present new challenges to educators and parents on a daily basis. Cell phone use during the instructional school day is prohibited.  Text messaging, cell phone calls and the taking of pictures disrupt the learning environment and bring a myriad of other adolescent issues to contend with.  Recently, it has come to our attention that a couple of middle school students have been involved in circulating inappropriate photographs/messages via cell phone .

Parents should know that “Sexting” is the new "buzz" word and it references the practice of sending nude photos or sexually explicit messages via cell phone to friends, boyfriends, girlfriends and, in some cases, strangers. We are asking all parents to talk to their child(ren) about this inappropriate behavior and check their cell phones and computer use. Working with our School Resource officer to investigate the reports, students were informed that criminal charges for distributing pornography could be brought forth and parents were contacted.   Recipients can also be charged with possession if they don’t delete the material immediately. State and federal laws make no age distinction on who can be charged with child pornography.   Sometimes teenagers don’t always know where to draw the line and something that they think is a “joke” or “all in good sport” may actually be harmful to themselves and/or others.  

There are other consequences as well. Students will be disciplined according to the district's code of conduct. Students should also understand that they may find their photos on the cell phones of dozens of their classmates or on a social networking site such as Facebook. In the future, these photos could come back to haunt them when apply to college or seek employment opportunities.

Some companies, such as WebSafety Inc., have developed software that parents can use to monitor certain activity on cell phones and computers. According this company, parents can block X-rated texting terms or be alerted when their child is using them. Photos are trickier, though, and often require a parent to manually check a child's phone.

At the middle school, we do our best to encourage an atmosphere of respect and consideration.  We will continue to offer educational programs on internet safety and the use of technology as it rapidly advances.  In addition, the School Resource Officer, administrator or school counselor will assist you in seeking resources available to address this topic with your teenager.   Parents must be the primary deterrents of this type of activity. It is critical that you monitor your children’s access and talk to them about proper use of electronic communication. 

Sincerely,

Jill Bush, Jon Burns, and Bruce Ballan

Principals of Gowana, Acadia and Koda Middle Schools

Posted 1/7/09
Students in the middle school critical inquiry classes will have their writing about leadership in the 21st century and non-violent social change displayed at Siena College. The exhibition is part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series on Race and Non-violent Social Change. The finalists listed below have all been invited to attend a reception at Siena College from 4-6 p.m. on January 16th to receive personalized certificates of participation and recognition. In addition, they are invited to attend a lecture series Wednesday, January 28 at 7 p.m. at Siena featuring Michael Eric Dyson, Ph.D. "African American Leadership in the 21st Century".

• Acadia: Kathryn Jerwann, Josh Huff, Oliver Robinson, Andi Ralph, Elli Trader, Eileen Nolan, Ife Adelugba, Jennifer Lucius

• Gowana: Catherine Phelps, Philip Poling, Lindsay Caplan, Sara Feinland, Sarah Lilholt, Olivia Pickett, Tommy Huerter, Jr., Peter Russo

• Koda: Alexandra Newsome, Dante Cilento, Amanda Farley, Jake Kunz, Natalia Robinson, Jason Ineman, Emily Patchell, Matthew Chang