SCENES IN TOWN

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret Stevens, outgoing HFCS PTA president (right), awards Helen Hemendinger (holding flowers) this year’s PTA Founders' Day award. Mrs. Hemendinger chose her $100 award to go to the Courtney Carelli Foundation for Literacy. Tony and Rosie Carelli and Courtney’s grandfather Bill Nugent were also present to accept the donation. Photograph courtesy of the HFCS PTA.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS  (Volunteer / Non-profit)




Hoosick Falls Central School Parent Teacher Association

Helen Hemendinger Honored as PTA Founders’ Day Award Winner


The Hoosick Falls Central School PTA annually seeks nominations to honor community members who make outstanding contributions to the well-being of children and youth. This year’s award recipient was Helen Hemendinger, who has taught second grade math at Hoosick Fall Central School for 23 years.


Mrs. Hemendinger was honored at the PTA's year-end celebration on June 7, 2010. In addition to her recognition as someone who makes a difference in our community, Mrs. Hemendinger was awarded $100 to give to a children's association/organization of her choice. Mrs. Hemendinger chose her award to go to the Courtney Corelli Foundation for Literacy.


Mrs. Hemendinger was nominated by Traci Friel, a sixth-grade teacher at HFCS, and who was once a student under Mrs. Hemendinger. “She was my second grade teacher, and through her guidance and care, inspired me to become the teacher that I am today.” said Mrs. Friel. “She is always in search of a new way to help students, a new way to practice math… explore mathematics…always in search of ways to share her love of learning with students.” Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. Hemendinger’s dedication has benefitted numerous students who have passed through the halls at HFCS through her work as a remedial math teacher for 14 years and who also hosted family math nights and math club after school. Mrs. Hemendinger will be retiring at the end of the school year.


The PTA Founders’ Day (February 17, 1897) is the story of a group of lay people, a few thousand at first, now millions throughout the land, who make it their task to build a world of happy promise for children. In observing Founders’ Day, members pay tribute to the founders and to other PTA leaders. Recipients of this award are recognized as people who carry on that “happy promise for children.” Past recipients of this PTA award are: Kenneth Baker, Terri Burdick, Cathy Corcoran, Jim Cormier, Bill Gaillard, Dawn Gilbert, Joseph Holloway, Penny Holmes, Jason Jansen, Steve Johnson, Helen Levandowski, Leo McGuire, Lillian Mitchie, the staff at Morning Star Daycare and Preschool, T.J. Rasmus, Frank Redden, Virginia Skorupski, Ike Stevens, Marion Stevens, Greg Wilson and Aelish Nealon.