Restoration Work begins at Oracle Charter School

Restoration work has begun on Oracle Charter School's historic facility!

In last year's round of grant funding, Oracle was awarded $111,832 in historic preservation funds through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

We will use this funding for a restoration project on the Charles W. Goodyear mansion portion of our school.

We are excited that this important work has begun. If you have been to Oracle to drop off or pick up your student, you may have noticed that work has begun on the side porch. Posted here are photos from the restoration work which is being conducted by Dan Farrell of Lost Cities Restorations.

AP Environmental Science Class Visits Buffalo Water and Sewage Treatment Facilities

On December 3, 2009, Mr. Coia’s AP Environmental Science class toured two of Buffalo’s most important public works facilities.

In the first half of the day, students visited the Wastewater Treatment Plant located on Bird Island off West Ferry St. While there, students learned about the processes that clean Buffalo’s sewage and the jobs that people do to make that possible. The class was fascinated by the amount of waste produced by the city and how efficiently the facility manages to eliminate all the contaminants before sending the water back into the Niagara River.

After lunch, Oracle students toured the Colonel Ward Pumping Station/Water Treatment Plant. Students experienced the sequence of pumps, filters and treatments that take water from Lake Erie and turn it into clean, healthy water for the entire city. The highlight of this facility is the sight of the enormous steam pumps that fed the city its water until a few decades ago. This was an experience that the students will remember for a long time.

Many thanks to Oracle Charter School's Operations Manager, Bill Sunderlin, for setting up this field trip!

Oracle Hiking Club Goes Camping in Allegheny

During the weekend of May 15th, Oracle Charter School's Hiking Club went on its first annual spring camping trip to Allegheny State Park.

After a year of fund raising, we were able to rent two cabins on the Anderson Trail.

Arriving Friday night, the priorities were to enjoy the pizzas we had picked up, start a nice (if smokey…) fire, and for the hikers to engage in a full-fledged water war.

Gathering wood that first evening the campers found several small salamanders. That night, after a few s’mores, the entire group went on a terrifying ride up to the abandoned Stone Tower, got lost on an old logging road, and then, on foot, came nearly face-to-face with the “Abandoned Hiker,” a well-known ghost of the Park. If you have never heard Alysson and Beth scream…keep it that way!


On Saturday, we awoke early to clear skies, and since storms were on the horizon, we quickly rallied for a nearly 7 mile hike through the hills of Allegheny. While large wildlife was not encountered, we caught numerous frogs and salamanders and the birdcalls were wonderful. We finished off the evening with some football, another water fight, and then a full fledged hot-dog roast over a raging fire. All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and I am already looking forward to next year's camping trip!

-John Elliott, adviser to the Hiking Club, teaches AP Environmental Science and Earth Science at Oracle Charter School.

Teacher of the Week: Mr. Michael Schroeder

This week's Teacher of the Week is Mr. Michael Schroeder. Mr. Schroeder, a Social Studies teacher who has been with the Oracle staff for two years, brings quality instruction, engaging projects, a love of history, and a deep dedication to his students and colleagues to his classroom every day. Currently, Mr. Schroeder teaches Global History and Geography II and AP American History and Government.

Mr. Schroeder challenges his students not just to learn history but to make it come alive through project-based learning opportunities and critical discussion. In his Global II classes, students are beginning an underground French Revolutionary newspaper project. In AP American History and Government, students are functioning as Supreme Court Justices in a mock trial simulation that explores the topic of civil liberties versus casino advertising.

Asked what he most enjoys about teaching at Oracle Charter School, Mr. Schroeder responded, "The people. I love the kids and their enthusiasm. I really enjoy the look on their faces when they understand a concept, do well on a test, or really excel on a project. My fellow teachers are just terrific as well. Being in a charter school and seeing the dedication of my colleagues makes me want to work harder." It is this kind of teacher who helps charter schools achieve success with all students!

Ironically, Mr. Schroeder didn't start out wanting to teach. Despite his initial resistance, however, his career choices kept bringing him back to working with children (he has worked as a YMCA recreation director, coach, and program coordinator for an intermediate care facility for children), and he eventually took the next step and combined his love of history with his dedication to working with children and students.

We are proud to have Mr. Michael Schroeder as a dedicated member of our Oracle Charter School teaching staff!

Favorite topics to teach:

• Absolute Monarchs (notice the seal of Elizabeth I at the left...this is a stained glass window here at Oracle Charter School);
  
• the World Wars;
• the Russian Revolution;
• the workings of the Supreme Court;
• the relationship between the branches of the U.S. government.

Special knowledge: Mr. Schroeder is extremely knowledgeable about autism and the epidemic of autism spectrum disorders currently being diagnosed in this country. As many of you know, Mr. Schroeder's son is diagnosed with this developmental disability, and he cares deeply about promoting awareness, funding and research to combat this increasingly prevalent diagnosis.

Holiday Food Pantry Donation

Before Winter Break, Oracle students collected canned goods as 'payment' for their participation in Spirit Week dress-down days. The students at right were busy packing up the food supplies for transport. No, those aren't Oracle uniforms...it was Fashion Disaster Day!

As the result of the students' canned goods collection, Oracle Charter School was able to contribute approximately two weeks worth of food supplies to the food pantry at the Network of Religious Communities on Delaware Ave. in Buffalo.

Thanks to Mrs. Owen and the Student Council for organizing this canned food drive donation. Great work, everyone!

Please remember that we have another food drive in process collecting peanut butter, jelly, and juice. The collection box is in the College Counseling office.