The AC Blog

AC Holiday Book Fair at Barnes & Noble Dec. 12th

Posted on December 4th, 2019 by acsrochester

Support Allendale Columbia School by Shopping at Barnes & Noble in Pittsford on December 12th!

Enjoy caroling, story time with local children’s authors, student musical performances, AC recommended reading by grade level, a scavenger hunt, and more! Just mention “Allendale Columbia” at the register and a portion of your purchase will be donated to support our students!

 

Thursday, December 12th
Barnes & Noble in Pittsford Plaza
3349 Monroe Ave.
10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

 

 

Volunteers Needed

Parents of Allendale Columbia Kids (PACK) invites parents, guardians, and grandparents to help make the AC Book Fair a success by volunteering! Shifts are 30-60 minutes long and include set up, staffing the welcome table, and helping with the craft table.

Sign up to be a volunteer here. (sign in to MyAC required)

 

Performance Schedule

The AC community will be onsite at Barnes & Noble spreading holiday cheer. Plan to be there to hear musical performances or a story from children’s author Vivian Vande Velde and Kevin Kurtz!

• 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: AC Ukulele and Voice Performance
• 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: AC Godspell cast and Select Choice Performance
• 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.: A story with local children’s author Vivan Vande Velde
• 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.:AC Brass Ensemble and Chorus perform
• 5:00 – 5:30 p.m.: A story with local children’s author Kevin Kurtz
• 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: AC Brass Ensemble and Chorus perform

 

Gift Wrapping (Complimentary!)

Now you can buy your gifts AND get them wrapped! Parents and AC staff will be there to wrap your gifts and tag them with AC cheer. Gift wrapping is free but donations to the Allendale Columbia Book Fair are always appreciated!

 

Cheesecake Sales

You can also order a delicious Cheesecake Factory dessert through the B&N Cafe and a portion of the purchase will be donated to AC. The Winter 2019 menu includes Seasonal Cheesecake, Original Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cheesecake, Chocolate Cheesecake, and a sampler cheesecake with all four. (Hungry, yet?!) Order now through Dec. 17th by downloading the order form.

• Pay by cash or check made out to Barnes & Noble.
• Drop off your order form and payment at the AC Welcome Desk anytime before Dec. 12th or bring orders directly to the Barnes & Noble where you’d like to pick up your cheesecake. Orders submitted directly to Barnes & Noble must be brought in between Dec. 12th-17th to count toward the AC Book Fair.
• Pay by credit card in the store by simply bringing your completed order form to the B&N Cafe.
• Pick up your cheesecake at the store where you ordered any time Barnes & Noble is open. They stay open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve!
• Cheesecakes are frozen so allow a day or two in between your pick up date and your enjoy date.
• AC Book Fair pricing is only good for cheesecake orders placed and paid for by December 17th, 2019.

 

Print This Page to Cut Out Your Voucher Now!

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Seventh Graders Forge Lasting Connections at Camp Pathfinder

Posted on November 15th, 2019 by acsrochester

Allendale Columbia’s seventh grade class traveled to Camp Pathfinder, a camp for boys owned and operated by AC alumnus Mike Sladden ’76, located in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. For more than twenty years, AC seventh graders have made the trek into the Canadian wilderness for this annual outdoor education experience. During their stay, the students learn a variety of outdoor skills, become more self–reliant, and gain a greater appreciation and respect for nature.

(more…)

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PACK Connections Symposium Survey

Posted on November 15th, 2019 by acsrochester

Parents of Allendale Columbia Kids (PACK) is considering hosting a Saturday Symposium for AC parents on Saturday, February, 29th, 2020. Please fill out this survey to gauge interest in the event and possible topics.

The event will consist of two sessions of about 1.5 hours each. You’ll be able to choose one topic in each session to learn about. Supervised activities may be offered for AC students depending on interest and availability.

Please fill out the survey to rate some suggested topics, and please suggest topics you think you or others would like to learn about or teach. Note that these are only suggestions. If there is enough parent interest, we will move forward with the event.  If you would be interested in helping to plan the Saturday Symposium, please fill out the contact info at the end of the survey or contact PACK President Lois Palomaki at lois@palomaki.org.  THANK YOU!

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NASA Langley Research Center Director Encourages Students to Do Things THEIR Way

Posted on October 16th, 2019 by Amelia Fitzsimmons

Director of the NASA Langley Research Center, Clayton Turner, returned to campus to discuss the important role our 6th grade students play in on-going scientific studies and research. As a GLOBE school, AC students serve as citizen scientists reporting daily cloud observations to help researchers improve the interpretation of satellite readings, provide ground-based data on contrails, and help better calculate the rate of heat exchange in the atmosphere.

Mr. Turner encouraged students to follow their passions, ask questions, and do research THEIR way. “There are many ways to learn and many pathways to success. These different approaches are often how we make new discoveries. Find what YOU are passionate about and the way that fits YOU!”

 

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AC Faculty Member Beth Guzzetta Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Posted on October 16th, 2019 by Amelia Fitzsimmons

AC faculty member, Beth Guzzetta, was presented with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) in October 2019. The PAEMST Award is the highest award given by the U.S. Government to K-12 teachers. Beth was one of four teachers selected from New York State to receive this honor. Nominations and awards were facilitated by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation, and a panel of distinguished mathematicians, scientists, and educators at the state and national levels.

“It is an extreme honor to receive the prestigious Presidential Award. I am grateful to those who have inspired me to pursue my passion for bringing creativity to the classroom. Receiving this award refuels my drive to instill the joy of learning within my students so they realize the impact they have on the local and global community, and continue their pursuit of knowledge. With this award comes the responsibility to share my experience with other educators so that they, too, may be inspired.”

Beth Guzzetta has been an educator for over 25 years, spending the last 19 years teaching at Allendale Columbia School. She currently teaches seventh-grade Life Science and sixth and eighth-grade mathematics. She also taught at DeSales High School in Geneva, NY and schools in Massachusetts and Florida.

Beth’s love for science helps her develop innovative projects on campus. She runs a maple sugaring project, a honeybee apiary, and a trout project. After school and in the summer, she runs science camps to excite and engage younger scientists.

 

Global connections and scientific research are areas that she enjoys sharing with her students through domestic and international trips. These experiences have brought her and her students to Madagascar for biodiversity and archaeology research, the Florida Keys for marine biology research, and Camp Pathfinder in Canada and the Adirondack Mountains for outdoor education.

Beth’s leadership among educators has led her to conduct annual presentations at the National Science Teachers Association National Conference since 2012 and presentations at the Science Teachers Association of NY. She is also a National Geographic Certified Educator.

Beth has a B.A. in mathematics from St. John Fisher College and a M.Ed. from Curry College. She is certified in secondary mathematics and elementary education.

 

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Ready for Fun? Get Tickets Now for HAC Seabreeze Nite June 11th

Posted on May 30th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

Join us at Seabreeze Amusement Park on Tuesday, June 11th, rain or shine! The water park will be open from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. that evening, and rides will be open from 6:00 -10:00 p.m. Please note that parents must accompany their children, as supervision is not provided.

Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased from Lisa Shearing in Admissions until Monday, June 10th, at 4:00 p.m. Children age 2 and under are free. (Tickets will NOT be available for purchase on June 11th.)

 

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Strawberry Breakfast 2019

Posted on May 16th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

Spring has arrived, and with it comes preparations for Strawberry Breakfast, which will take place Friday, May 24th, at 8:30 a.m. This is a wonderful, school-wide AC tradition, and students will perform for their families and friends. Afterwards, everyone will enjoy strawberries and donuts in the Dining Commons.

As a reminder, parents must provide transportation on Friday, May 24th, as there is no bus service, and school is dismissed for the Memorial Day weekend after this event.

The following information is to help make you aware of the commitment for your son or daughter at Strawberry Breakfast and what they need to wear:

Nursery – Grade 1:

• Students in Nursery – Grade 1 will not be performing but are encouraged to attend with family members
• Uniforms will not be enforced; dressy spring attire is encouraged

Grades 2-5:

• Students in Grades 2-5 will be performing
• Dress up/concert clothes required
• If your child will NOT be able to attend Strawberry Breakfast, please email your child’s classroom teacher or Lynn Grossman immediately so we can plan accordingly

Grades 6-8:

• Middle School Chorus Students: Dressy spring attire (Ex.: dress, dress pants, skirt, blouse, shirt and tie)
• Non-Chorus students in Grades 6-8 are encouraged to attend (dressy spring attire)
• If your child is in Middle School Chorus and will NOT be able to attend Strawberry Breakfast, please email Rachael Sanguinetti immediately so we can plan accordingly

Grade 9:

• Students in Grade 9 will not be performing but are encouraged to attend
• Dressy spring attire is encouraged

Grade 10:

• Sword Dancers: black dress pants, black shoes, long sleeve white dress shirt
• May pole dancers: dressy spring attire (Ex.: dress, dress pants, skirt, blouse, shirt and tie)
• All Grade 10: Pinning of the Seniors
• If your child will NOT be able to attend Strawberry Breakfast, please email Diane Broberg immediately so we can plan accordingly

Grade 11:

• Students in Grade 11 will not be performing but are encouraged to attend
• Dressy spring attire is encouraged

Grade 12:

• All seniors will participate in the official pinning ceremony
• Dressy spring attire required (Ex.: dress, dress pants, skirt, blouse, shirt and tie)
• If your child will NOT be able to attend Strawberry Breakfast, please email Diane Broberg immediately so we can plan accordingly

Select Chorus:

• Performing “Good Cheer”
• Dressy spring attire (Ex.: dress, dress pants, skirt, blouse, shirt and tie)

Upper School Chorus:

• Performing “Now is the Month of Maying”
• Dressy spring attire (Ex.: dress, dress pants, skirt, blouse, shirt and tie)

Wind Ensemble:

• Performing a musical arrangement for the Sword Dance and May Pole Dance
• Dressy spring attire (Ex.: dress, dress pants, skirt, blouse, shirt and tie)

There will be a rehearsal on Thursday, May 23rd, during the school day.

On May 24th, the students who are performing (outlined above) need to arrive in the Alumni Gym between 8:00 – 8:15 a.m. The program starts at 8:30 a.m. and usually concludes by 9:30 a.m., followed by treats in the Dining Commons.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing everyone on campus!

Ray Istas
Director of Athletics

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Coffee Connection May 8th: Good Food Collective

Posted on May 3rd, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

For our final Coffee Connection of the year, Ryan Pierson from The Good Food Collective will talk with our community about how The Good Food Collective works, answer any questions about our upcoming food share option, and also speak about AC’s partnership with their wholesale component, Headwater Food Hub.

All current parents and grandparents are welcome! Tasty treats and coffee from the kitchen will be served.

Wednesday, May 8th
Dining Commons
8:00-8:30 a.m.: Snacks and coffee
8:30-9:00 a.m.: Presentation 

No need to RSVP! We look forward to seeing Wednesday, May 8th! 

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