Board of EducationJohn McNelis, PresidentKerry Davis, Vice Pres.Joshua DeLanyJessica HessJames MarinoUzma MehrJudith Rose

SuperintendentDouglas Wyant, Jr.

HighlightsHornell City School District April 2017

Most high school theater departments won’t attempt a production of 42nd Street

because it includes too many dance numbers for unskilled dancers to tackle. But, most high school

theater departments don’t have Natalie Marino.

Marino is a senior at Hornell High School who has been studying dance at Dancin’ on Edge since she was three years old. She was the director of choreography for the school’s recent

production of 42nd Street. In that role, she spent hours listening to and studying the show’s score, trying to think of possible dance routines.

“I put in a lot of late nights,” she said. “I would literally sit in front of my computer for hours, listening and thinking. Probably 90 percent of the cast had never danced before, so I had to come up with ideas that were simple enough to teach, but would be interesting for audiences to watch.”

Then, Marino was responsible for teaching her peers the dances she had created. “Everyone was so accepting of me in that role. Teaching actually became my favorite part. I love watching the other cast members perform,” she said. “I had no idea they would be so good.”

According to Marino, 42nd Street is “a dancer’s dream.” “The opening number still gives me

chills,” she said. “If I were to imagine being in a Broadway production, this is the one I’d want to be in.”

The show is set in 1930s New York City and relies heavily on the jazz and tap dance styles that were popular at that time. This is a perfect fit for Marino, who has studied all forms of dance, but favors jazz and tap.

This is actually the second show that Marino has worked on. For last year’s production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, she was the dance captain. Tim Berardi, the show’s director, arranged for a professional dancer to help with choreography. When the original choreographer was no longer available, Berardi asked Marino to step in.

Marino’s efforts on last year’s show earned her a Theater Association of New York (TANY) Excellence in Choreography Award. This award, along with her dance performance and competi-tion experience, have prepared Marino for the next step. She plans to study Dance at SUNY Fredonia or Dean College in Massachusetts next year.

In addition to the professional experience she’s gained, Marino also values the relationships that she’s formed through her participation in the last two musicals. “Mr. Berardi is a good teacher and we have a lot of fun together as a cast,” she said. “And I’ve made so many close friends through this that I wouldn’t have met if I hadn’t done it.”

Student choreographer animates 42nd Street

Natalie Marino

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What you can do:

Highlights

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Junior McKayla Okoniewski was the

winner of the 2017 Lincoln Scholarship sponsored by the Hornell G.O.P. She received $500 and was invited to read her winning essay at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, held February 23 at the Main Place in Hornell.

The scholarship contest was open to all Hornell High School seniors, as well as Advanced Placement U.S. History juniors. Applicants for the contest and scholarship submitted an original essay on some aspect of Abraham Lincoln’s life. Essays were reviewed by members of the High School Social Studies Department, then submitted to the local Republican Party for final selection.

Okoniewski’s essay focused on the ways that Lincoln demonstrated his character during his early life. “I started by learning about his biog-raphy and was impressed by how his character showed through,” she said. “As a child, he wasn’t always able to attend school, so he would walk miles to borrow books from the library or people he knew. He read anything he could get his hands on. He always valued reading and learning and his determination was impressive.”

“He was willing to do what needed to be done, whether that was walking miles to get books or making the decisions that would lead to the Union’s victory,” she said.

Reading her essay in front of a crowd of 100 or more people, including state and local politi-cal leaders, was nerve-wracking, Okoniewski said. “But several people spoke to me after and complimented me,” she said.

Okoniewski plans to attend college after she finishes high school, but isn’t sure at this point where she will go to school or what she’ll study. Her main interests are in history, English, art and dance. She’s a member of the color guard, marching band and the track team and partici-pates in musical performances. In addition, she works ten hours a week at Miss Lisa’s Artistry of Dance and takes several classes there.

Okoniewski wins Lincoln Scholarship

McKayla Okoniewski

Capital construction update

Bids for planned renovations and site work at the High School recently came in under

budget. This will allow the district to complete all planned projects as well as some alternate work.

Planned work includes reconfiguring and paving of the west Junior High parking lot and adding a new bus loop from Red Raider Road exiting between the baseball, turf field and track north onto Adsit Street. Two additional fire hydrants will be installed on the north side of the building while this work is being done.

The Senior High south parking lot will be reconfigured with a new parent drop off. Work will begin on the west lot on April 10 and be completed by the end of June. Then, work will begin in the south lot and should be completed for the start of the 2017-18 school year.

At the end of June, renovations will begin in 25 classrooms on the second floor. Beginning in September 2017, the “B” gym and “B” gym locker rooms will be shut down for renovations until mid January.

After the basketball season is completed in spring 2018 and the “B” gym renovations are completed, work will begin on the “A” gym and girls “A” gym locker room.

At the end of the 2017-18 school year, renovations will begin in approximately 13 classrooms and the nurse’s office on the first floor. Work should be complete by the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.

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Highlights

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We’re on Twitter!

Follow us on Twitter @HornellSchools for the latest

information on closings, delays and other important schedule updates from the Hornell City School District.

Celebrate spring with your pre-school aged children at the Hornell Area Family Resource Center. Join us April 5 to dye eggs and go on an egg hunt or on April 21 for an Earth Day activity.Or bring your child for “Tikes and Trikes” on April 19, where he or she can pedal, practice gross

motor skills and play.We also offer Ages and Stages developmental screening, a support group for grandparents who

are parenting and more. Please see the calendar for details and find all of our offerings on the district website – www.hornellcityschools.org.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

2 3 Drop in and Play  1 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

 

Na onal Find a Rainbow Day

4 Drop in & Play  

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grandparent

Support Group 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

5 Drop in & Play  

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Join us for “EGG”- citing activities & an Egg Hunt

Noon - 1 p.m.

6 Drop in & Play  

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

Story Time 10:30 a.m. “Ducks”

7 The Center is  closed today.  

8

9 10 11

12

13 14 15

16 17

18 Drop in & Play  

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grandparent

Support Group 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

19 Drop in & Play  

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Tikes and Trikes    11 a.m. ‐ Noon 

20 Drop in & Play           

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

21

Join us today from 12 to 2 p.m. for an

Earth Day activity.

22

23 24 Drop in and Play  1 p.m. to 7 p.m.  

 

STEM for Pre‐K          Science ‐Technology Engineering ‐ Math    

2:30 p.m.             

25 Drop in & Play  

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grandparent

Support Group 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

26 Drop in & Play  

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

ASQ Screenings 10:30 a.m.  

27 Drop in & Play  

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  StoryTime10:30a.m.“MUD”

28 The Center is  closed today.  

29

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April 2017 The Center is located at the North Hornell

School. Look for the blue Family Resource Center

signs and ring the doorbell for entry. Discover fun, educational activities that

support learning and development from birth to age six, resources for families, and a warm, friendly environment. The Center is free to use and open to everyone.

———— Drop in for Tikes and Trikes and your toddler or preschooler will

be pedaling and practicing important gross motor skills and getting exercise!

Spring has sprung! Story Hours in April are

blossoming with springtime fun! Put your rain

boots on and get ready to splash

into books about ducks, mud, and all things Spring!

—             April 3rd is National

Find a Rainbow Day. Drop in and make your own rainbow craft and learn the

science behind rainbows, too!

Drop in on the 5th to dye eggs with shaving cream, make a colorful egg craft, and go on an egg hunt!  

Celebrate          Earth Day at         the Center              

on the 21st.  Plant seeds and share how you take   care of our          

planet each day.  

Hornell Area Family Resource Center North Hornell School * Avondale Avenue

Hornell, NY 14843 * (607) 324 - 0014 Ext. 1741 email: Robords-PatrickD@proactioninc.org

Pathways to Kindergarten Readiness

10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Spring Recess

Let’s make our own!

 April is Na�onal Child Abuse Preven�on Month.  It’s your turn to make a difference.       Prevent Child Abuse NY offers helpful �ps that we can do for the kids and families in       

our lives to help prevent child abuse.  Visit www.preventchildabuseny.org                      for more informa�on or visit the Center in April and                                                                            

par�cipate in Pinwheels for Preven�on.                                                                                                   

How can YOU help prevent child abuse? Really listen to a child. Children need undivided attention when they talk. Be patient and remember that they move at a different pace. * Make special time for a child that you care about. * Run an errand, bake cookies or prepare a meal for a new mother in your neighborhood. * Provide amusement for restless children in a waiting room. * Smile and acknowledge that “it’s tough work” when you see a parent coping with a stressful situation in public. * Remind the caregivers that you

know what a great job they are doing. * Listen to parents when they tell you about their challenges. * Advocate for programs that provide families with education and support—starting when their child is born! Adapted from Prevent Child Abuse NY

Celebrate spring at the Family Resource Center

25 Pearl StreetHornell, NY 14843

607-324-3012www.hornellcityschools.com