Berlin Central School District was buzzing with good deeds and holiday fun before the break. Find some of the highlights below.
BES 1st Grade Performs a Holiday Readers TheaterÂ
Ms. Berkau’s first grade class put on a special Readers Theater for BES Principal Mrs. Kent, Assistant Principal Cataldo and BES School Counselor Mrs. Stellar today. The students did an excellent job reading their lines with gusto and humor bringing laughter and joy to their audience. Find a copy of their reading and the BES’ PJ Day and Sing Along Album below!
Thank you Mrs. Labnon for the fun sing along selections!
BES Principal Kent, Assistant Principal Cataldo and the whole Elementary Staff wishes the BCSD Community a Happy Holiday and “smooth sailing” into 2024!
Message from BMHS Principal Bernsley
Please find a 2023 Holiday message from Berlin Middle High School Principal Bernsley here
BCSD Hallways Lively With Music
The Berlin Central School District’s hallways were filled with festive music to greet the Mountaineers this morning. Thanks to BMHS’ Mrs. Gould and Mr. Cornell and BES’ 5th grade band under the direction of Ms. Baker for sharing the gift of music and lifting everyone’s spirits.
BMS 7th Graders Make Resolutions for 2024
BMS 7th graders recently went to a performance of A Christmas Carol, at the Unicorn Theater. To follow up on the story’s message, today during their holiday party, the students wrote two New Year’s resolutions down and linked them all together, similar to Marley’s chain from the story. The students hung up the class resolution chain in Mrs. Hunt’s room to reflect on when they return in 2024 for the rest of the school year.
MakerFest at BMHS
On December 22nd, BMHS 6th grade Mountaineers utilized the new Makerspace in the BMHS Library. A makerspace is a collaborative work space for making, learning, exploring and sharing. Recently BMHS Librarian Ms. Overocker and 6th ELA teacher Mrs. Gilbert went to visit Ms. Kylie Conley of Greenville CSD, who shared her ideas and resources with them.
It was a great collaboration and led to the MakerFest at BMHS this morning. The students participated in six stations: coloring, puzzles, Lego building, button making, origami creating, and Knex building. Principal Bernsley was excited to see the new Makerspace set up and the collaboration and engagement it created for the Mountaineers. Thank you to juniors Alexis Rifenburg and Sophia Hart for helping with the new button maker and working with Ms. Overocker to set up and test out the makerspace activities. The BMHS staff is looking forward to the many opportunities this space will provide at all grade levels.
Rensselaer Sheriffs Adopt a Mountaineer Family for the Holidays
On December 21st, Berlin CSD School Resource Officer Deputy Austin McGuire received the adopt-a-family gifts from members of the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Alternative to Incarceration Unit, Mr. Gary Favro and Mr. Steve Oliver. Each year the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department reaches out to school counselors in their county to request a family to sponsor for the holidays. Thank you Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department for brightening a Berlin Mountaineer family’s Christmas!
BES Pet Drive Another Success
BES first grade teacher and organizer of the pet supply drive Mrs. Tracie Heinrichs, along with her two children and niece and nephew, delivered the many donations made by BES students, families, staff and community members to the Mohawk and Hudson Humane Society this evening. Donations were collected during the month of December at BES, and thanks to Mrs. Tammy Osterhout Dollar General manager, at the local Berlin Dollar General.
Thank you to the BCSD community for supporting this cause each year!
2nd Grade Jan Brett Author Study
On December 21st, Mrs. Ruebel, Mrs. Schumaker, Mrs. Kneer, Mrs. Healy and Mrs. Tregger’s second grade Mountaineers spent two weeks on a Jan Brett author study, reading various Jan Brett books and learning about traditional tales and story elements. For the gingerbread house building, students took part in a read a loud followed by creating their own gingerbread houses.
The students worked in group designing and building their houses. It was a great exercise in planning, listening to everyone’s ideas and working together. Great work Mountaineers!
2023 BMHS Door Decorating contest
The 2023 BMHS Door Decorating contest was a great success! The doors were creative, fun, heartwarming and filled with photos of Principal Bernsley (thank you Sage and Grace:)).
Congratulations to Mrs. Lanzillo’s 6th grade homeroom for the winning door. Mrs. Lanzillo’s students came up with the design idea and wrote heartfelt messages to many of the people who have had a positive impact on them at BMHS this year. Mrs. Lanzillo was so proud of how her students put the door together all on their own. Principal Bernsley was impressed too and cooked the homeroom a pancake breakfast this morning!
Tying for first place was Mrs. Lamontagne’s festive junior class door. The juniors won the can drive pancake breakfast and will be receiving extra pancakes at their celebration after the break.
Thanks to Principal Bernsley’s judging assistants Mrs. Decker and Mrs. Hudson and to all who participated in the contest.
Shout out to Sage Dudley for assisting Mr. Bernsley with the dishes at the pancake breakfast!
Way to go Mountaineers!
Check out all the doors in the album below.
BMHS Holiday Hat Day
Holiday Hat Day spirit is on display in the hallways of BMHS! One more day before holiday recess! The BMHS door decorating contest judging by Principal Bernsley is happening this afternoon! Winners get a pancake breakfast cooked by Mr. Bernsley!
Thank you to Ms. DeCelle’s photography students for snapping these great photos!!
BMHS Ugly Sweater Day tomorrow!
BES 3rd Grade Makes Clothespin Doll Ornaments
This week Berlin Elementary School parent volunteer, Ms. Nikki Dunham, was back to share one of her favorite activities from when she was a student at BES. Each year Ms. Dunham volunteers to make clothespin doll ornaments in her child’s classroom. This was a yearly creation that former BES art teacher Ms. Jackie would do with her BES students. It was an extra special year because Ms. Dunham’s child is in her former teacher, Mr. Bourquard’s third grade classroom. Ms. Dunham brought in her supplies and spent the afternoon teaching the students in Mr. Bourquard and Mrs. Healy’s class how to create the ornaments. Mr. Bourquard and Mrs. Healy also set up stations for the students to make gingerbread houses. It was a fun and festive afternoon for the third graders. Special thanks to Mrs. Dunham!
