Good afternoon and Happy Friday,

I hope you had a great week and 2025 is off to a good start. I want to start my update today by once again expressing my gratitude to the high school community for their patience and understanding with the implementation of the weapon screening systems. We have completed a full week and continue our work to improve and speed up the student entry process. While we see improvement in the process each day, we continue to work to find ways to make the morning process quicker and eventually seamless. We have identified windows of time in the morning when entry is slower due to the volume of students arriving at once. We specifically recognize that when the buses arrive at one entrance at the same time, movement is dramatically slower causing longer wait times. In response to this, I am pleased to share that CDTA has kindly agreed to change three bus schedules. Effective January 27, CDTA Red line, Green line, and Purple line, will pick up at stops 10 minutes earlier each morning. Students who ride this bus will arrive at school at approximately 8 a.m. This will help stagger the arrival of students and make entry to school quicker. Thank you to CDTA for making this accommodation. This is another example of Partnership with Families and Community and Efficient Systems and Resources, pillars 1 and 4 of our Strategic Plan. Both are important in our work to ensure students are successful.

I would also like to thank Jeff Russo, our District Director of School Climate and Safety, the high school safety team and administration for all the work they have done and continue to do with the implementation of the weapons screening. Safety was identified as a top priority in the Strategic Plan survey that the school community participated in at the start of our process. Your input is extremely valuable. We will listen and respond the best we can. I know our safety team continues to rise to the challenge and continues to work to make our schools safe environments for all students, staff and visitors.

Speaking of our Strategic Plan, it is very important that all in our school community have an awareness of our plan which includes four pillars with the ultimate goal of student and graduate success. Our plan is not just a document that sits on a shelf. In the coming weeks and months you will be hearing many references to our plan and how we connect the work that we do on a daily basis to our pillars of work. All of us play a role in student and graduate success. It is important for those of us who are fortunate to serve the Schenectady community as employees of the school district to recognize how your role is connected to the Student and Graduate Success Pillar (Pillar 1). Watch for more on this. You will also see more visuals in our schools, on our website and social media sites serving as reminders of our work and why we do what we do. Information, materials, news, and updates will continue to be provided on our website here.

This is a continuing series. Watch for our next profile next week on our website and social media platforms.

Alumni in the News

Congratulations to SHS graduate Judge Matt Sypniewski who was sworn in for another term as judge in Schenectady County last week.

Congratulations to Raj Ishmael, an SHS graduate who was appointed to fill the the District 2 legislative seat vacated by Philip Fields last month. Read the Daily Gazette story here.

Passionate People

"Did You Know" is a new series we are starting that responds to questions parents and members of our school community ask. Sometimes there are things we assume everyone knows until we get a question or hear "I didn't know that." If you have the question, someone else probably does too. We want you to know that we are listening to your questions and want to make sure you get answers.

Did you know that every student in our district (at every grade level) has a counselor? You can find out who your child's counselor is by clicking here. Watch for a short video featuring our school counselors soon.

Congratulations to senior Brian Hernandez-Lopez who was recognized by Governor Hochul in her state of the state address when she spoke about her launch of the "unplug and play" initiative. Hochul asked Brian to stand and said:

"Brian wandered into the Ring of Hope Boxing Club in Schenectady at the age of 13. He told coaches at the time, “I just need some way to defend myself.” And he fell in love, not just with the sport but with how it made him feel. Strong and Hopeful. Confident he could take anything on, inside the ring and out. Today, Brian’s finishing his Associate’s Degree as a high school senior while coaching younger kids at the club. Oh, his future is so much brighter now. And that’s the power of our youth programs."

Earlier this week author Carlos Moreno spent time visiting with our high school students and then spent the evening with us for a community discussion. Mr. Moreno authored the book, Finding Your Leadership Soul and is executive director of Big Picture Learning, the program that our satellite high school program is modeled after. He shared his inspiring story and valuable insights on leadership and the future of Big Picture Learning, and engaged in an open discussion with guests. It was a pleasure to welcome him. Thank you to all who came out for the event.

Here are some photos from visits to Keane Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, and Schenectady High School

Please don't forget to take the Faculty and Staff Engagement Survey. The message and link was included in the Daily Update each day this week and texted to you Thursday. Your feedback in important.

My next coffee chats will be held Thursday, January 23, 6 p.m. and Friday, January 24, 7 a.m. at the Family and Community Engagement Center located at 530 Liberty St. Everyone is welcome. Please join me for a cup of coffee and to chat about anything you choose.

Happy birthday to Schenectady High School Principal Dennis Green. The students and staff planned a fun surprise for their principal on his special day. Hundreds of students and staff wore custom made shirts with Mr. Green's face from his high school years and his famous quotes including "Get to class young people." It was a fun day at school and Mr. Green was clearly surprised when he spotted hundreds of kids passing by wearing shirts donning his face. It was his big 5 0.

It's still Board Appreciation Month. Please let our board members know that you are grateful for their service and all that they do for the students and Schenectady community. We will continue to celebrate our board members and will be profiling each of them over the next several weeks. Watch for more.

The next Board of Education meeting will be held Wednesday, January 22, 6:30 p.m. at 530 Liberty St. The meeting will be live-streamed. Watch for the agenda and link to stream next week.

There is no school on Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Dr. King was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement who fought for racial equality and justice through nonviolent protest. His legacy is significant because he inspired people to work toward a more inclusive society. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of fighting for justice, equality and human rights.

Spelling Bee

The district-wide spelling bee will take place on Tuesday, January 23, 9:30 a.m. at the Schenectady County Public Library Main Branch (Liberty St) in the McChesney Room.

Have a fantastic weekend. I hope you find time for some fun, rest, and relaxation. See you next week.

Sincerely,

Dr. Carlos M. Cotto Jr.
Superintendent of Schools

• January 22: Board of Educating Meeting, 6:30 p.m., 530 Liberty St.

• January 23: Coffee Chat with Superintendent, 6 p.m., 530 Liberty St.

• January 23: District-Wide Spelling Bee, 9:30 a.m., Schenectady County Main Branch Library, McChesney Room

• January 24: Coffee Chat with Superintendent, 7 a.m., 530 Liberty St.

• January 27: Superintendent Student Advisory Council, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.,  Boys and Girls Club

School Events

• January 23: Lincoln Concert, Band & Orchestra, 9 a.m.

• January 23: Hamilton Winter Wonderland Dance, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

• January 23: Rise High STEM Family Information Night, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Mont Pleasant Middle School

• January 24: Zoller Movie Night, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Athletic Events

January 21

• Boys (Boys Freshman Basketball) Freshman Basketball @ Bethlehem, 4:00 p.m.

• Boys (Boys Varsity Bowling) Varsity Bowling v. Shaker High School @ Boulevard Bowl, 4:15 p.m.

• Boys (Modified 7th/8th) 7th/8th Basketball @ Ballston Spa High, 4:15 p.m.

• Girls (Girls Modified Basketball) 7th/8th Basketball v. Burnt Hills @ MPMS, 4:15 p.m.

• Boys (Schenectady/Colonie Boys Varsity Swimming) @ Troy, 4:30 p.m.

• Boys (Boys JV Basketball) Junior Varsity Basketball @ Bethlehem High, 5:30 p.m.

• Boys (Boys Varsity Basketball) Varsity Basketball @ Bethlehem High School, 7:00 p.m

January 22

• Boys (Modified Wrestling) 7th/8th Wrestling @ Shenendehowa High, 4:15 p.m.

• Girls (Girls Varsity Bowling) Varsity Bowling @ Colonie High School @ KingPins Alley, 4:15 p.m.

• Girls (Niskayuna/Schenectady) Varsity Wrestling Niskayuna High @ Guilderland, 6:00 p.m.

• Schenectady Wrestling vs. Crossover Dual Meet (Senior Night) @ SHS, 6:00 p.m.

January 23

• Boys (Boys Varsity Bowling) Varsity Bowling @ Albany High School, Del Lanes, 4:15 p.m.

• Girls (Girls Varsity Bowling) Varsity Bowling @ Shaker High School, @ Kingpins Alley, 4:15 p.m.

• Boys (Modified 7th/8th) 7th/8th Basketball @ Albany High School, 4:15 p.m.

• Girls (Girls Modified Basketball) 7th/8th Basketball v. Albany High @ MPMS, 4:15 p.m.

January 24

• Boys (Boys Freshman Basketball) Freshman Basketball @ Albany High, 4:00 p.m.

• Boys (Modified Wrestling) 7th/8th Wrestling v. Albany High School @ OMS, 4:15 p.m.

• Girls (Girls JV Basketball) Junior Varsity Basketball v. Albany High @ SHS, 4:30 p.m.

• Boys (Boys JV Basketball) Junior Varsity Basketball @ Albany High, 5:30 p.m.

• Girls (Girls Varsity Basketball) Varsity Basketball v. Albany High School @ SHS, 6:00 p.m.

• Boys (Boys Varsity Basketball) Varsity Basketball @ Albany High School, 7:00 p.m.

January 25

• Boys (JV Wrestling) Junior Varsity Wrestling @ Guilderland HS, 9:30 a.m.

• Meet - Boys (Varsity Wrestling) Varsity Wrestling @ Shaker HS, 9:30 a.m.

January 26

• Meet - Girls (Niskayuna/Schenectady) Varsity Wrestling @ Shaker HS, 9:30 a.m.

January 27

• Girls (Girls Varsity Bowling) Varsity Bowling v. Niskayuna High School @ Boulevard Bowl, 4:15 p.m.

• Boys (Modified 7th/8th) 7th/8th Basketball v. Colonie High School @ MPMS, 4:15 p.m.

• Girls (Girls Modified Basketball) 7th/8th Basketball @ Colonie Sand Creek Middle School, 4:15 p.m.

MOBILE APP SUPPORT Click here to watch a short video on how to set your school and language preferences on our mobile app: hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saNC9ek2Lqg