Welcome to the Beacon Brief! This new quarterly communication from Rush-Henrietta shines a light on the exciting growth and innovation happening in our district! It has been a rewarding 21 months since I joined R-H as superintendent, and I am delighted to share this journey with you. Each story below is a brief example we are sharing to illuminate what is possible for our students and community. Please see below to learn a little more about the different ways we are implementing our Strategic Plan, Vision 2037. 

Two of our teachers were recognized this fall with a Golden Apple Award from WROC-TV News 8! This recognition acknowledges teachers who go above and beyond for their students. Our winners, both from Winslow Elementary School, are representative of the outstanding teachers throughout Rush-Henrietta CSD.

Lindsay Titus has served R-H in several ways, but she brings one constant no matter which role she is playing: She cares deeply for children. Ms. Titus, a special education teacher, was nominated by LouAnn Black, a paraprofessional who appreciates her colleague’s dedication to the students. LouAnn applauds Lindsay’s ability to adapt on the fly while teaching in their fast-paced classroom. Watch the video of the award being presented here.

Second-grade teacher Kristen Malecki was nominated by Kara Hochreiter, the parent of one of her students. She was moved to recognize the teacher because of the positive experience her son had at the start of the year. The Hochreiter family was thrilled when they found out their son would have Miss Malecki because she also had been their daughter’s teacher. You can watch the video of Miss Malecki being surprised with the award by visiting WROC-TV News 8 here.

Congratulations to these amazing teachers! We appreciate everything they do for students!

Our Career and Technical Education program continues to grow! Director Thomas Felton Jr. is developing partnerships with local business and industry leaders to help guide the development of the CTE program. The R-H Works Industry Advisory Council is meeting twice this winter to brainstorm ways to help our students develop workforce readiness skills. Input from these leaders is vital in shaping a CTE program that aligns with industry demands and provides new opportunities for our students. The district’s second annual R-H Works Industry Breakfast will be held in March. We will meet to review the growing CTE program and share the goals and strategies that have been developed with our business partners.

Rush-Henrietta recently introduced the Business Management and Entrepreneurship CTE program for students. This is one path students may take to earn a CTE endorsement on their diploma. To earn this endorsement, high school students must take a specific course of classes, complete a work-based learning experience, and pass the required technical assessments. CTE programs provide valuable lifelong skills regardless of post-secondary plans, and this kind of endorsement helps students stand out with employers.

Rush-Henrietta remains committed to ensuring the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of students, staff, and families. We are using the School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE) System to identify our strengths, as well as areas for improvement.

Part of this work entails making sure our families know where to turn for help, both inside and outside of the district. A comprehensive resource for families was created by our SHAPE team with input from our mental health team, Multicultural Parent Advisory Council, communications office, and the partnership we have developed with the University of Rochester Medical Center. Posters were created and displayed in every school building that outline the variety of resources available for families, including basic needs support, mental and physical health services, crisis intervention, and more. The district website provides links to a variety of resources available, and our mental health and counseling staff are ready to help families connect as needed. We will continue working on behalf of our students and families to provide a strong foundation for all to flourish.

Rush-Henrietta’s commitment to being an inclusive and welcoming community is demonstrated daily by our employees. Partnering with students, families, staff, and community members, we are dedicated to growing a welcoming environment for students.

An Educators Grove has been established to honor those who positively impacted the education of students in Rush-Henrietta. A groundbreaking ceremony took place this fall at Hoskins Park, a town park at Pinnacle and Winton roads, and the first two trees were planted. The idea for the grove grew out of a reunion of former Rush-Henrietta theater members in 2019. The graduates wanted to honor those who have contributed to the theater program and who had significant impact on the education of thousands of R-H students.

The first two trees planted are in honor of retired R-H teachers Bob Sagan and Paul Cimicata. Bob was an English teacher and long-time theater director, while Paul was a music teacher and musical director for the high school shows. Bob was at the groundbreaking and thanked those involved for honoring him and for establishing a way to honor all those who support education.

More information on the Educators Grove may be found at www.rhnet.org/educatorsgrove.

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