Alumni Profiles
Ms. K sent a series of questions out to SIS alumni from the past few years. We are adding excerpts from their responses here. You can also read reflections from SIS graduates and former students.
Gary DeRusso
Last Acadmic Year at SIS: 1999-2000
Current school: LaSalle Institute
Ms. K: My best memory of SIS is...
Gary: Wow! I can't possibly pick just one memory. When I went to SIS, I actually looked forward to going to school, which is saying a lot (not that I don't enjoy going to school now...ahem...). The friendly environment (students and teachers), the hands-on learning which was educational and entertaining, the school-wide themes (which were applied to nearly every subject), and of course, who could forget SIS bucks? .... I loved the smaller classes, and the one-on-one atmosphere. It made learning easier and more fun.
Ms. K: SIS has prepared me for school/life by...
Gary: At SIS you are placed in a class suitable with your aptitude of each subject, and not just placed in the regular grade class. Since I was put in higher-than-normal classes, I learned at a level equal to what I was capable of. This gave me a jump on middle school; in middle school I was placed in all of the honors courses, and was able to do that because I was used to learning at a higher level than normal, and partly because I learned some of the material at SIS. As I was looking through the newsletters I just received in the mail, I noticed that some of the short stories mentioned, like "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Most Dangerous Game" were stories I read in eighth and ninth grade, respectively. This shows two things: 1) Some stories you can never get "too old for" (as our current English teacher says sometimes) and 2) SIS students are proficient enough to read material beyond their grade level, because of the smaller classes which means a better ability to learn.
Ms. K: When I look back at my SIS years, I realize now...
Gary: ...that it was a great school (not that I didn't know before, but I think it is more evident now). I'm so glad that I went there rather to anothe school. That's all I have to say for that.
Ms. K: I would tell prospective students that SIS...
Gary: ...is probably the best school around. As I mentioned earlier, the teachers are awesome, everybody is pretty much friends with everybody else, the hand-on learning is very beneficial. Also, gym at the Y was always fun! EVERYONE SHOULD GO HERE!!!
Gary's Present Bio:
Honors courses this year (2003-2004):
- English 9H (Highest possible)
- Global History 1/H (Highest possible)
- Biology/H (Highest possible)
- Math B-2/H (Highest possible; only 5 kids in 9th grade in it)
- Spanish 2H (Highest possible; 6 9th graders)
For honor roll, 6, 7, and 8th grade I received "Gold Honor with Distinction," the highest honor of the four. It means my first Semester overall average was higher than 95 and all of my class averages were higher than 90. The 9th grade honor roll isn't in, but my 1st 2 report cards are Gold Honor with Distinction material.
I'm Vice President of the National Jr. Honor Society.
I received a $1,000/yr (off of tuition) scholarship for high school for placing 90th percentile on a statewide test.
At our eighth grade graduation, I received a plaque for Outstanding Achievement in Math and Foreign Language.
I'm in our school's Symphonic Band (going to California in April for a competition!!), the Varsity Color Guard (2 guards and 2 flags march during events during the Pledge...other Military drill is taught too; I'm a guard). Also, I'm on our school's Varsity Master Minds team--we're 4-0! I plan to do track or baseball in the Spring as well. And, I got a black belt in Taekwondo Nov. 1st, 2003!
*Phew* That's a mouthful! Thanks in adv. for putting this info on the site! I appreciate it! Talk to you soon!
Elihu Reynolds
Last Academic Year at SIS: 2001-2002
Current School: St. Mary's St. Alphonsus (Glens Falls)
Ms. K: My best memory of SIS is...
Elihu: I remember playing with all the other kids, the adventures on the playground, building in the sandbox (we made some great castles), and arguing over good seats in ROAR. These and may other experiences helped prepare me for my dealings with fellow humans and is perhaps one of the greatest things I learned at SIS.
Ms. K: SIS has prepared me for school/life by...
Elihu: SIS didn't do a lot to prepare me for the...mounds of homework I would receive. But SIS taught me how to work with and get along with other kids and this was probably much more valuable then the preparation for tests or homework. I think what I learned in SIS about friendship and good values helped me make good friends at SMSA. I think getting this early education in how to behave is very important. You can learn when to take tests in early grades or later, but kids need to learn good morals early in life and settle their roots in healthy soil or they will be prone to treat others unfairly and may stray toward trouble.
Ms. K: When I look back at my SIS years, I realize now...
Elihu: I realize that I needed to pay more attention in class. I now know that this is very important.
Ms. K: The adjustment to your next school was...
Elihu: My adjustment to my next school was somewhat problematic because I had to learn how to take tests and at first, the homework was overwhelming. But I surprised myself by adapting very quickly and, soon everything was fine.
Elihu's Present Bio:
High honors last year (2002-2003)
I am sculling now.
Colin Walsh
Last Acadmic Year at SIS: 2001-2002
Current school: Stillwater Central School
Ms. K: When I look back at my SIS years, I realize now...
Colin: The teachers were much more fair and knew what really happened.
Ms. K: I would tell prospective students that SIS...
Colin: There is not a lot of homework and basically everyone knows each other. Also you get recess every day.
Ms. K: The adjustment to your next school was...
Colin: At first it was hard to find my way around and adjust to the amount of homework.
Colin's Present Bio:
Honors courses this year (2003-2004):
- Social Studies
- Biology
- Math
- English
I got the highest average in my math class for the first marking period. I played football and I am an Adirondack 46er.
Sean Curtis
Last Acadmic Year at SIS: 2002-2003
Current school: Corinth Middle School
Ms. K: My best memory of SIS is...
Sean: I remember seeing my friends and visiting each teacher every day.
Ms. K: I would tell prospective students that SIS...
Sean: The SIS philosophy/motto is a very important part in SIS. If you believe in the motto you will have less difficulties.
