Guilderland soldier killed in Afghanistan

GUILDERLAND — “Bright smile, big heart” — words used to describe Rafael A. Nieves Jr., the 22-year-old soldier who died in Afghanistan on July 10.

Guilderland School Board elects new leaders — O’Connell and Towle-Hilt

GUILDERLAND — “We’re opening up boxes we may have closed for a long time,” said Colleen O’Connell this week of leaders in the Guilderland School District.

A black belt and pianist, White plans future as psychologist

Marion Rose White, Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s salutatorian, credits her family for her success.

An athlete and scholar, Forti hopes to join the Peace Corps

“We all knew Katie was going to be valedictorian,” said Marion White, the Berne-Knox-Westerlo salutatorian, of Kathryn Sierra Minnie Forti.

Tom Galvin tells grads they are ‘truly good kids with unique talents’

GUILDERLAND — In his five years as president of the school board, Richard Weisz never broke a sweat. He is not planning to run for another one-year term as president but will continue to serve on the board until 2012.

Newton loses coaching job

GUILDERLAND — Guilderland Elementary School earned over 100,000 points in Colonie Center’s School Bucks program, which resulted in a $1,000 prize.

An old joke says that a pedestrian on Fifty-seventh Street in Manhattan stopped Jascha Heifetz, the famous violinist, and asked, “Could you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?”

“Yes,” replied Heifetz. “Practice!”

Principals don’t want to teach to the test, co-teaching is emphasized

GUILDERLAND — All seven Guilderland schools continue in “good standing,” according to the latest school report card, presented on June 6 to the school board.