This week, the Ellenville Central School District was a hotspot for local politicians as State Senator John J. Bonacic and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill each made an appearance at the school to award and congratulate the district and its students.

On Monday, October 23, New York State Senator John Bonacic visited Ellenville Central School District to announce the award of a $75,000 technology grant. Arriving in the lobby of the main office at 1:00 p.m., Senator Bonacic was greeted by the Board of Education in addition to students, faculty and administrators.

State Senator John Bonacic.

Beginning with a tour, led by Lisa Wiles, the school's superintendent, the group walked from the high school to the middle school, talking casually and stopping along the way while Senator Bonacic greeted people. Arriving first in the classroom of Gary Rubin, Ellenville School's Audio Visual Coordinator and middle school teacher, a demonstration was given. Bonacic watched intently while students in Rubin's class used a "smart-board," an interactive board that takes the place of the more traditional blackboard. Allowing students to visualize their lessons, smart-boards enhance the students' ability to understand and retain the information they are taught, by allowing the user to write directly onto the screen, using a variety of colorful markers, or even one's finger.

Following Rubin's demonstration the group went to Jennifer Gile's seventh grade science room to observe the use of dana-smart technology, another interactive tool used in the classroom to enhance the learning experience. Impressed with the students' abilities, Bonacic assured the students that the better technology they have access to, the more competitive they can become.

The last stop on the tour was the middle school library, where Bonacic partook in an interview by students Rebecca Cohen and Bailey Smith who were representing Ellenville's local radio station, 107.9 WELV. "This grant will allow technology to go directly into the classrooms," said Bonacic. "After all, students are twenty-five percent of our population and one hundred percent of our future."

"Senator Bonacic is a friend and advocate of students and taxpayers," said Wiles. "Technology is a tool to help our students learn, and Senator Bonacic has a good handle on what the schools in his district need." Though Wiles became superintendent in 2005, she has worked in the district for ten years. "There's been incredible positive change," said Wiles. "We are very dedicated to providing students the opportunity to use technology."

As a result of Senator Bonacic's tireless efforts Ellenville will be receiving a number of necessary resources. "As teachers we compete with MTV, videogames, IPods — teachers today have a tough job," said Rubin, "We have to keep kids interested." In addition to the technology that Ellenville School has already purchased, the grant will fund the addition of visual presenters, LCD projectors, smart-board units, computers, software, and a mobile computer lab.

"It is important to supply our students with updated technology," Bonacic insisted, "…because the key to success in life is education."

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"We are here because we are celebrating literacy." Those were the words of Assemblyman Kevin Cahill when he arrived on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 to recognize the accomplishment of the many youngsters who had participated in this year's Summer Reading Challenge.

Cahill, who has been involved with the literacy program every year he has been in office, came to the Ellenville Elementary School's music room to meet the several participants. The assemblyman was quick to praise the school district, the YMCA, the Ellenville Public Library as well as the Village of Ellenville and the Town of Wawarsing in their efforts to promote literacy among the area's youth. He said that Ellenville was, "unique in the fact that there are so many people who are behind [the children] to get them reading."

Cahill then recognized the influence and support of the children's parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who helped motivate them to keep reading all summer long.

During his remarks, Assemblyman Cahill stressed the many benefits of reading saying, "there is chance for discovery [in each book]. They bring you places you never thought you could go. They even help create friendships when you have something new to talk about."

After his remarks, Assemblyman Cahill spoke with the children in a group and asked them what their favorite books are and what books they planned to read next. Every kind of book, from Harry Potter to Dr. Seuss to Nascar was included in the many responses. The group then moved to another room where a small reception with refreshments and "goodie bags" for the kids were passed out.

The Summer Reading Challenge is a program that is organized by a supporting assembly member that challenges children to read, or be read to, everyday for at least fifteen minutes.

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