VC Echoes

Valley Central Teachers Association 

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Meghan Rilley, Editor   

The VC Echoes is the official publication of the Valley Central Teachers' Association (NYSUT Local 14-135, AFT Local 3076) and is published regularly throughout the school year. Over 700 copies of the Echoes are delivered to active and retired members, as well as district administration, BOE members and NYSUT support staff. Select the cover photo links below to view issues from the current school year. To view all issues ranging from September 1999 to the present, visit the Echoes Archives. Meghan Rilley (pictured right), a Social Studies teacher at the Valley Central High School, has been Echoes Editor since July 2005 and has been the recipient of numerous journalism awards. Visit our Journalism Awards page to view an extensive list of acknowledgements received from the New York Teacher and the American Federation of Teachers Communications Network throughout the years. Each edition explores issues of concern to VCTA members in relationship to our profession, as well as the students and community that we proudly serve. For more information email Meghan Rilley. You may also contact the VCTA via phone or US Mail. Visit our About Us page for specific contact information. All issues are archived in PDF format and can be viewed on site by selecting the photo cover links below or can be downloaded for view in hardcopy form. Please utilize our site search engine to find topics, people or events chronicled within the Echoes or anywhere else on our website.

Retiree Edition 2010
 

  • Cover Photo: Valley Central's 2010 Retirees  (p. 1)

  • Mac's Musings on Retirement: A Reflection (p. 2)

  • Shawn Carrozza  (p. 2)

  • Marion Suarex-Schenck (p. 3)

  • Mary Devitt (p. 4)

  • Gail Karlsen (p. 4)

  • Roger Flaum (p. 5)

  • Ruthanne Giattino (p. 8)

  • Anne Wilkins (p. 8)

  • Dianne Paolo (p. 9)

  • Linda Gizzarelli (p. 9)

  • Ann Steele  (p. 10)

  • Mike Steele (p. 10)

  • Margaret Vass (p. 11)

  • Albert Wright (p. 11)
 

June 2010
 

  • Cover Photo: 2009-2010 Year in Review  (p. 1)

  • Edition Prologue (p. 2)

  • Linda Draughn Wins Award  (p. 3)

  • Double Honors for Maybrook's Connie Griffin (p. 4)

  • Committee of 100 (p. 5)

  • The Task Before Us (p. 5)

  • Music in Our Schools (p. 6)

  • In the News... (p. 9)

  • VCTA Does It's Part for the Good of the VC Community  (p. 10)

  • Increments: What, Why & How (p. 11)

  • A Steep Learning Curve (p. 12)

  • A Retiree Perspective on Restructuring (p. 13)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 14)

  • BOE Presentation Regarding Layoffs (p. 16)

  • Photos: BOE Presentation (p. 20)
 

February 2010
 

  • Cover Photo: Linda Kirkpatrick Wins Dean's Award  (p. 1)

  • 12 Annual VCTA Blood Drive (p. 2)

  • Spring Fling (p. 2)

  • Is Maybrook Closing After 80 Years???  (p. 3)

  • Walden's Linda Kirkpatrick Receives Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (p. 4)

  • Terri VanPelt Receives 2009 Aderson Award (p. 5)

  • Mr. Al Schmidt Wins Local VFW Citizenship Award (p. 6)

  • The Value of Jargon and New Initiatives (p. 6)

  • Internet, Texting & Email―What You Need to Know (p. 8)

  • Investing in America's Future (p. 10)

  • NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer, Lee Cutler Visits VC (p. 10)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 11)

  • Gap Elimination Aid Letter―Contact Your Elected Officials (p. 11)

  • Photos: Lee Cutler Visit & Maybrook Elementary (p. 16)
 

December 2009
 

  • Cover Photo: Maybrook Elementary―Viking VanGogh Winner  (p. 1)

  • Open Enrollment for Health Insurance (p. 2)

  • Kathy Foti: MS Teacher's Artwork Selected for Special Show  (p. 3)

  • In the News... (p. 4)

  • Pallotta Elected NYSUT Executive Vice-President (p. 5)

  • Summary―Midyear Special Legislative Session (p. 6)

  • Turkey-Cow Union Cooperation... (p. 7)

  • "Sacred Cow" to the Slaughter (p. 8)

  • How Far Have We Come? (p. 10)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 11)

  • Fall Fest Photos (p. 16)
 

October 2009
 

  • Cover Photo: NYS Teacher of the Year, Debbie Calvino (p. 1)

  • Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (p. 2)

  • Debbie Calvino Brings Teacher of the Year Honors to VCTA  (p. 3)

  • Debra Calvino: Math Department (p. 4)

  • Animals vs. People: What's the Difference? (p. 5)

  • Fall Fest Information (p. 6)

  • Flu Season is Upon Us (p. 7)

  • Regents Discuss Local Diploma Phase-out (p. 8)

  • New Dates for State Math, ELA Tests (p. 8)

  • Reverse Trick-or-Treating Program (p. 8)

  • NexGen―Who's Responsible (p. 9)

  • In the News...(p. 11)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 13)

  • Parking (p. 16)
 

September 2009
 

  • Drawing: Child of the Universe (p. 1)

  • Putting Children Center―Child of the Universe (p. 2)

  • Proper Gardening and Lawn Care (p. 3)

  • Welcome Back, Valley Central (p. 6)

  • Excellence All Round (p. 7)

  • VCTA: Going Green? (p. 8)

  • Collaboration Translates into Student Achievement (p. 8)

  • Are you being paid correctly? (p. 9)

  • Tenure Recipients (p. 10)

  • Contact and Web Information (p. 11)

  • Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Information (p. 12)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 13)

  • Temperature in Your Class (p. 13)

  • Photo: New Members (p. 16)

  • Fall Fest Information (p. 16)
 

June 2009
 

  • On Retirement: A Reflection (p. 2)

  • Thanks Joe (Joe Carroll) (p. 3)

  • Goodbye, Mrs. DeMicco (Carol DeMicco) (p.4)

  • Dear Laurie, (Laurie Hughes) (p.4)

  • Dotty Malley, You Are Missed (p. 6)

  • Big John Has Left the Building (John Walsh) (p. 7)

  • Farewell Gigs (JoAnn Giglio) (p. 8)

  • Who Knows What Tomorrow Brings? (p. 9)

  • VCTA Blood Drive Report (p. 10)

  • Jeanne Marie Flanagan: 2008 NYS PTA Leadership Award (p. 10)

  • Political Action: What, Why, Who, When, Where & How (p. 11)

  • Maybrook's Connie Griffin Serving on National Board (p. 14)

  • Tier 5―Breaking News (p. 15)

  • In the News... (p. 16)

  • A Teacher's Prayer (p. 17)

  • MS Celebration of Capabilities Kicked Off With a Bang (p. 18)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 20)
 

April 2009
 

  • In Memory of Yvonne Wilson (p. 2)

  • Forecast: Overcast with Breaks of Sunshine (p. 3)

  • Walden Wins Viking Van Gogh at Spring Fling (p. 4)

  • In the News... (p. 5)

  • Blood Drive (p. 8)

  • Local Honors (p. 8)

  • Nancy Brother Receives Founders Day Award! (p. 9)

  • Marathon Woman (p. 9)

  • Founder's Night at the Middle School―A Happy Celebration (p. 10)

  • VCTA Celebrates a Shining Star (p. 10)

  • Dolores Mundy Honored at Founder's Night (p. 11)

  • Joe DeVenuto Receives Founder's Night Award (p. 11)

  • Maureen Wiseman: Montgomery's Founder's Night Recipient (p. 12)

  • VCTA Paras Attend NYSUT SRP Convention (p. 13)

  • 20,000 Pennies For Peace (p. 14)

  • Thinking and Today's Techno-Happy World (p. 15)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 16)

  • Photos: SRP Conference & Fair Tax Rally (p. 20)
 

February 2009
 

  • Economic Realities (p. 3)

  • In the News... (p. 5)

  • Wake Up... (p. 5)

  • To View or Not to View? Obama's Inauguration Controversy (p. 7)

  • Men Who Teach (p. 8)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 9)

  • Photo: VCNSA Go Red for Women (p. 12)
 

December 2008
 

  • NYSUT Endorsed Candidates Fared Well on Election Day, Nationally and Locally (p. 2)

  • TRS: Is Our Future Secure (p. 3)

  • Is the Sky Falling (p. 3)

  • Kids Helping Kids (p. 5)

  • In the News... (p. 6)

  • CSE Meeting Reminders (p. 7)

  • Using What We Already Have (p. 9)

  • 2009-10 budget: Facing our Fears Together (p. 10)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 12)
 

October 2008
 

  • NYSUT Endorsed Candidates (p. 2)

  • Perception is Everything (p. 3)

  • Excellence, Thy Name is Valley Central

    • Debra Calvino Wins Excellence Award (p. 4)

    • John Hunter Wins Excellence Award (p. 4)

    • Pasquale Iorlano Wins Excellence Award (p. 5)

  • Is Your Pension Safe? (p. 6)

  • In the News... (p. 7)

  • Project Linus: Providing Security Through Blankets (p. 8)

  • Professional Responsibility (p. 9)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 12)

  • A Thank You to the VCTA (p. 14)
 

September 2008
 

  • About the Cover: "Putting Children Center" (p. 2)

  • Welcome Back (p. 3)

  • To Email or Not to Email...that is the Question (p. 4)

  • Politics As Usual (p. 5)

  • Health Insurance Information (p. 8)

  • VC Tenure Recipients: 2008 (p. 9)

  • Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (p. 11)

  • Web & Contact Information (p. 12)

  • Mac's Musings (from the Retiree Side)... (p. 13)