While public schools in New York state are on spring break this week, students in area districts have been taking advantage of the spring weather by getting out of their classrooms and even out of their districts to learn more about the community.
From regional and statewide competitions to making connections with neighbors and even military service men and women deployed across the ocean, here’s what some students were getting up to in the weeks and days leading up to a well-deserved break.
Unforgettable competition and camaraderie
ST. BONAVENTURE — On April 3, Olean, Salamanca and Allegany-Limestone student-athletes came together for an unforgettable day of competition and camaraderie at the Special Olympics Unified Basketball Tournament, hosted by St. Bonaventure University.
Olean High School teacher assistant Shannon Yonker and Olean Intermediate Middle School special education teacher Angela Mest helped organize Olean’s 2025 Unified Basketball Squads, which brought together over 100 Huskies to participate this year
The Olean City School District expressed thanks to all the athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters who made the event successful and to the Olean Schools Foundation for sponsoring the event.
This Allegany-Limestone Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team comprised of Kexlee Griesbaum, Aralyn Jennings, Autumn Odom, Eleanor Ring, Brayden Blocho, Shelby Chamberlain and Kallen Rose is heading to the World Finals in East Lansing, Mich., in May.
Egg-celent egg hunt and OM success
ALLEGANY — What an egg-celent day for a first-grade egg hunt! Allegany-Limestone’s National Junior Honor Society members hosted an egg hunt event on the elementary school playground April 9.
The group’s annual service project, NJHS members hid over 1,400 eggs — 750 filled and donated by their members and 700 filled and donated by first-grade families.
Also at Allegany-Limestone, several Odyssey of the Mind teams and coaches put their creativity and teamwork to the test April 5 at the New York State Finals in Syracuse.
One of the middle school teams — comprised of Kexlee Griesbaum, Aralyn Jennings, Autumn Odom, Eleanor Ring, Brayden Blocho, Shelby Chamberlain and Kallen Rose and coached by Mr. Barnes — placed third and will move on to the World Finals at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.
Students from Salamanca High School’s Hospitality & Tourism and Entrepreneurship classes visited Holiday Valley on April 9, taking a tour of guest services, administration, the ski lodge and the Tammarck Club.
Hospitality and tourism goes slope-side
ELLICOTTVILLE — Students from Salamanca High School’s Hospitality & Tourism and Entrepreneurship classes visited Holiday Valley on April 9.
Participants took a tour of guest services, administration, the ski lodge and the Tammarck Club. After studying small businesses, hotels, restaurants and attractions, it was great for students to see the real-world operations of a successful company in the area.
Scott Eaton, Richard Sandler, and many other staff members took time out of their day to talk about operations and careers in the Hospitality & Tourism industry for the students.
Salamanca High School offers academies in Hospitality & Tourism and Finance, and has two new academies in development. Academies help students to take elective classes in an area of concentration to help them prepare for college or careers after graduation.
Fillmore Central School's second grade classes received a visit April 4 from five of the 35 U.S. soldiers they adopted through the Adopt a Platoon program.
Thank you for your service
FILLMORE — Fillmore Central School’s second grade classes on April 4 welcomed five of the 35 U.S. soldiers they adopted through the Adopt a Platoon program.
The soldiers had recently returned from their deployment in Iraq, Syria and Jordan. The platoon is headed by 1st Lt. Joshua Marvel, and they are part of the Transportation Corps, Maintenance platoon.
Students and teachers had a great visit with the platoon members, presenting them with more cards, letters and pictures from the students and holding a question and answer session. They enjoyed a pizza party and some fun games with physical education teacher Jon Beardsley.
Fillmore Central expressed how proud the school is of the troops and grateful to have the opportunity to have this experience.
Friendship Central School is holding a fundraiser to benefit the Genesee Valley Rotary Camp, a non-profit organization for youths and young adults with various disabilities.
Raising funds for camp
FRIENDSHIP — Olivia Marks, a 2024 Friendship Central School graduate, recently returned to her alma mater to tell the student body about the Genesee Rotary Valley Rotary Camp.
Genesee Valley Rotary Camp (GVRC) is a one-week summer camp for youths aged 8 – 21 with various disabilities. GVRC is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1963 and has served children and young adults from Livingston, Steuben, Wyoming and Allegany counties ever since.
Friendship has raised money the past two years for the camp and, with the help of the Friendship Rotary, has donated close to $4,000. Classes will be competing over the next two weeks with each other to see who can raise the most money. The Student Council will give prizes to the winners of grades K-2, 3-6, Middle School and High School.
