May flowers have been blooming at Yates since January. We had a wonderful experience from Firefly Florists over the last few months and our Primary grades have had a chance to learn about fresh cut flowers and to put them in bouquets. We're going to be doing a Community Service project with them with our sixth grade students. It has been such a great experience for our students and we appreciate the fact that this was done at no cost to Yates. There was a wonderful article about it on the school district Web site.

There are many wonderful things going on at Yates and I hope that you have checked out the district Web site (www.schenectady.k12.ny.us) because Yates has been a happening place over the last few months. We have super students doing terrific things and it's good to see so many positive things happening in our school.

May is also the month when Staff Appreciation occurs and we want to thank all of the staff at Yates for the job they do. We have a positive place for students to attend because so many people go beyond the hours of the school day. It wouldn't be the place it is without each and every person who works here and takes the time to care. There are far to many above and beyond activities for me to name here, but every time we have an after school event or something like "TV Turn Off Week" that goes beyond the standard curriculum, please know that some Yates staff person has gone above and beyond their school day.

Teddy Bear Wishes for a warm and fuzzy month of May,

Valarie A. Scott
Principal