The faculty and staff of Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School, Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls and St. Dominic Savio Middle School recently attended a professional development day to discuss the transition of the seventh and eighth grade middle school students to the high school.

35 students from the Orleans and Niagara Career and Technical Education centers came home victorious from the SkillsUSA Region 1 Leadership Conference and Skills Competition recently held at SUNY Alfred.

Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School recently held its annual Mardi Gras Dinner and Auction at Antonio's Restaurant, Banquet and Conference Center.

Starting April 1, Niagara University's recreation department will begin accepting registrations for its weekly Summer Youth Camp, which will be held on campus from June 25 to August 17.

Mike Skowronski, an employer relations coordinator in Niagara University's Office of Career Services, received NU's first Outstanding Employee Award.

The Lewiston-Porter Music Department announced last week that a number of its student musicians were selected to perform with All-County honors ensembles.

Lewiston-Porter High School instructional music teacher Kevin Duncan, speaking on behalf of Lew-Port students involved in the recent production of "Beauty and the Beast," extended his appreciation to the community for its support.

The families of the Lewiston Dance Center announced formation of the Lewiston Dance Center Family Booster Club, or "LDC Family Booster Club," and are organizing their first fundraiser.

What constitutes art? And why do some people have such dramatic reactions when it comes to viewing and interpreting modern art?

The Lewiston-Porter Builders Club has once again brought the school and community together in an effort to bring cheer to those at the Newfane Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

St. Peter's Holy Name Society was able to donate a total of $1,000 to the parish on Feb. 12, from its fundraising efforts selling snow cones, cold pop and bottled water during the Lewiston Art Festival.

The Orleans/Niagara BOCES Niagara Academy Middle School students were assigned the book "The Misfits" by James Howe to read.

The aviation class at Niagara-Wheatfield High School, taught by science teacher Norm Utech, recently visited the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport's TSA secure facility as well as the FAA's air traffic control tower.

Feeling overwhelmed with school and work? You really want to go out with your friends, but you have a 10-page paper due tomorrow? Is your social life suffering because of how you are managing your time? Well, we have all been there and done that, but you can prevent it!

Although the spring semester began just weeks ago, Vince Schiano and Chris Zukas are already making ambitious summer plans.

The Alternative Parenting Program students at Orleans/Niagara BOCES recently put together a fundraiser to help support Save-A-Pet of Niagara County, a non-profit animal rescue organization.

Students at St. Peter R.C. School in Lewiston recently participated in the National Geographic Geography Bee.

Approximately 20 students at Huth Road Elementary School have begun work on the next installment of the school's newspaper.

Students at Edward Town Middle School are excited about their school's musical production of "Beauty and the Beast."

Students from Lewiston-Porter High School tested their business acumen against hundreds of others at the Region 12 DECA competition.

Three seventh-grade students at Edward Town Middle School recently held a fundraiser to support the SPCA of Niagara.

Jessie Miller, a seventh-grader at DeSales Catholic School in Lockport, organized a dress down day at her school to raise money for Niagara Hospice.

The Niagara University Family Business Center will celebrate its ninth anniversary on Thursday, Jan. 19, with a celebration and awards banquet at Rich's Renaissance. This year's event will honor:

•Kraftwerks Inc. with the Leadership Award

•SoPark Corporation with the Vision Award

Fricano Primary School students gathered to decorate more than 250 homemade holiday treats to be shipped to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and at home.

Santa and Mrs. Claus recently paid a visit to all the good little girls and boys at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES' North Tonawanda Learning Center, sponsored by the Pendleton Lions Club.

The holiday spirit is alive and well at Niagara-Wheatfield High School.

A festive atmosphere hovered over the Lewiston-Porter Board of Education meeting as students performed, people were recognized, and gifts from donors received.

A group of third-graders performed several traditional Christmas carols and the entire room joined in on "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Student carolers, under the direction of Nicole Mosier, included Elizabeth Teal, Maya Marcyan, Makenna Barrientos, Emma Sand, Nathan Rhodes, Olivia Naughton, Julia Thomas, Meghan Baio, Graciana Auer, Ciaran Edwards, Alexandra Lee, Ellie Phillips, Jaden Lombardo and Isabella Tolliano. Vicki Mehr accompanied.

Let's face it: It's finals week - the worst time of the year. You've taken about five or six classes all semester and now have about the same amount of finals; you're pondering to yourself, "What was I thinking!?!"

First, try not to cram. I know at the time it might seem like a good idea, but in the long run it isn't. Finals are an extremely stressful time; no one is denying that. However, for finals, it would be more advisable to study in small increments. In the days before your final, study that subject about a half an hour each day. The material will stick with you better this way rather than studying it all at once at ungodly hours of the night.

Don't worry, you can do this. Just read, and use some of my tips and take a deep breathe, everything is going to be OK.

Jean Baruch, founder of the Tuscon, Ariz.-based Beads of Courage Inc., visited Stella Niagara Education Park to engage students in a prayer-partner activity.

Winners of the annual DiMino's Lewiston Tops-NFP/Sentinel Holiday Coloring Contest were announced recently at the Tops store on Center Street.

Teachers and students at Edward Town Middle School are getting together to put an end to bullying.

Staff members from Mount St. Mary's Hospital visited Lew-Port earlier this month to give students a presentation on the importance of hand washing to prevent the spread of infection.

Pop or soda, the generic term for carbonated beverages has been a source of friendly debate between soft drink aficionados for decades.

Patricia McGee, founder of McGee Coaching, presented "Center of the Hourglass - Middle Management - Sink or Swim?" Tuesday as part of the NU Family Business Center breakfast forum at Sonoma Grille.

About 45 minutes into Thursday's Student Culture Expo, Kaitlin Slowe hurried across the Castellani Art Museum's main gallery to seek the counsel of event organizer Laura Brownlie.

When Al Oddo retired in June, members of the Niagara University community agreed it would be difficult to imagine a faculty roster that didn't include the accounting professor of 38 years. Now they won't have to.

The fourth grade class at Kaegebein Elementary School celebrated "Colonial Day."

Children at Kaegebein Elementary School hunted over tables covered with paperbacks last Friday in search of that perfect book.

Grand Island High School's National Honor Society held its annual spaghetti dinner on Nov. 18.

St. Peter R.C. School celebrated a traditional Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 17. Parents and grandparents were invited to share in the celebration.