Submitted Photo From left are Seneca Language Teacher Anne Tahamont; students Amirya Warrior, Hailie Rybij, Molly Shaw, and Skyla Gates; and Native American Education Program Coordinator Amanda Austin.

IRVING — Silver Creek Central School recently celebrated three Indigenous students for their efforts to make the district feel more like home during their tenure as Black Knights.

Skyla Gates, Hailie Rybij, and Amirya Warrior were officially celebrated as Indigenous Honor Society graduates earlier this month at the Seneca Nation of Indians Early Childhood Learning Center. Teachers, administrators, and Board of Education members were in attendance for the ceremony, which was held prior to the regular Board of Education meeting hosted by the Seneca Nation.

Gates, Rybij and Warrior have made an effort to represent their heritage at Silver Creek through a variety of projects, including a Remembrance Walk this past fall, followed by raising three flags in the school gymnasium: the Seneca Nation flag, the Haudenosaunee flag, and the Every Child Matters flag.

Warrior said that fellow students and teachers always told the three of them how they are “doing big things” at Silver Creek. She said of the flags being raised, “We’ll know that we did it and we made a change.”

Seneca Language Teacher Anne Tahamont and Native American Education Program Coordinator Amanda Austin both spoke highly of the students’ efforts throughout their time at Silver Creek. The recent ceremony was a culmination of their commitment to honor their culture at their school.

“It is just really wonderful to see what’s happening — and continues to happen — because of our student initiatives,” Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston said at the Board of Education meeting following the ceremony.

Also at the recent meeting, Ralston congratulated Molly Shaw, the district’s Student Board Member, for being inducted into the Indigenous Honor Society. Shaw will remain on the Board next year as a senior, while another member of the student body will join her on the Board next year.

During the Board meeting, Rachael Schneider was appointed as a district substitute. Nate Zicari was appointed as a junior varsity baseball coach in place of Brad Fanale, who resigned from the role. Denine Vara also resigned as a bus aide. Ralston was approved to attend the WNY JMT Superintendent’s Retreat in Lewiston.

The Board also accepted its independent audit report issued by Buffamante, Whipple, Buttafaro and the district’s corrective action plan. Two budget transfers were also approved, as well as a district policy regarding competitive bidding.

The Board declared its 2026-27 capital outlay project as a Type II action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) as flooring upgrades and other improvements included in the project does not “constitute substantial changes” to the district’s facilities.