OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The Silver Creek Board of Education recognized Jessica Huff, left, and students of her class for their efforts organizing the recent Celebrating Silver Creek event at the District.

SILVER CREEK — A recent Silver Creek Board of Education meeting began with recognition of a staff member and her class for their work in organizing a community event.

The Silver Creek Central School District recently hosted Celebrating Silver Creek, an event that welcomed community members to interact with fellow School District members to commemorate 200 years of formal education in Silver Creek.

The idea began in Jessica Huff’s class. She and two of her students were on hand to speak about the experience. Students placed items in a time capsule, which will be opened 50 years from now. The students were asked to include items that they believed would not still be prevalent in schools 50 years from now, such as chalk, a pen, a white board, and a tangible lunch menu.

“We had a conversation in class about what to put in the time capsule. We were looking at one-room school houses from 1823 and we talked about what was in the school house and what we have today,” Huff said. “So that’s why we included those artifacts, because we don’t think they will know what they were or how they used them.”

Food was provided by several local vendors at the event and a presentation was given to honor the history of the village. Huff’s class was responsible for themes for the event and several activities, while coordinating between the Middle School and High School.

Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston characterized the event as “absolutely incredible.”

Also of note, the District also approved the hiring of a recent graduate, Thalia Martinez, as a substitute teacher aide and monitor. Martinez graduated from Silver Creek High School in August 2022. She was recommended for hiring by District Administrator Delia Bonenberger. The District also appointed Wes Bolton as a lunch monitor, at a rate of $16 per hour, effective March 29.

The District also approved Evelyn Smith as a permanent substitute for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year, effective April 9, at a rate of $225 per day. School Secretary Scharlene Hehir was also approved for permanent status of employment, effective April 10. SUNY Fredonia student Marissa Boettcher was also approved as a student teacher in the High School Spanish tenure area, with Albert VanDette as the cooperating teacher.

The 2024-2025 Instructional Calendar was also approved by the Board of Education. The calendar features a two-week winter break from Dec. 21 through Jan. 5; a mid-winter break from Feb. 15 through Feb. 23; and a spring break from April 12 through April 21. The first day of instruction for students is Wednesday, Sept. 4; the last day of school for elementary students is June 25, 2025; and the last possible day of school for the year is June 27, 2025.

The Board also voted for Sylvester Cleary, Wendy Dyment, Kurt Gustafson, Gregory Cole, and Aaron Richner as members of the Erie 2 BOCES Executive Committee. The same five members also recently received support from the Fredonia and Forestville school districts.