Good afternoon,

I'd like to start today by saying "thank you" to all of our faculty, staff and families for your support and cooperation in response to the adjustments we made to the schedule this week due to the heat. We realize it's difficult for teacher's to teach and children to learn in an environment where the temperatures are high and the heat can be stifling. While we do as much as we can to get the temperatures lowered inside the schools and take measures such as providing water, studies show that students become unmotivated and distracted on uncomfortably hot days. We also have to be concerned for students and staff members who might have health conditions such as asthma and other respiratory illnesses. As we move forward in our building projects, we are exploring the feasibility of improved temperature control systems including air conditioning. Again, thank you to all for your cooperation. It takes quick planning to change the school schedule, transportation schedule, school lunch and everything involved in a school day.

If you are looking for fun ways to keep cool this summer, the Schenectady pools and splash pads are open. I had the honor of joining Mayor Gary McCarthy and City Council President Marion Porterfield for the grand opening of the Central Park Pool and Splash Pad this week. It was a hot one and the pool and splash pad certainly looked refreshing. The city has four splash pad locations open to the community:

• Wallingford on Congress, 1004 Congress St./5th Ave.

• Tribute, 868 Eastern Ave.

• Woodlawn, 1 Ricci St.

• Jerry Burrell, 753 Hamilton St.

This week I continued my visit to schools and met with students and staff from Keane, Oneida, Woodlawn, Van Corlaer and Pleasant Valley. I also had a great time at the Pleasant Valley Field day last Friday. Below are some photos from a few or my visits. Next week, I'll have more to share from my school visits and end of the year celebrations.

Congratulations to the SCSD faculty and staff who were presented with the Extra Mile Award Thursday at the Family and Community Engagement Center. The award is presented to staff and faculty members who are recognized as going above and beyond. Each principal selects one member from their school to be recognized. We appreciate you and all that you do for the students and families of Schenectady. Congratulations to the following:

• Kim Pilla, Assistant Director of Physical Education and Health

• Mike DeMarco, Senor Mail Clerk

• Robyn Stone, Instructional Math Coach, Pleasant Valley Elementary School

• Kristina Majkowski, Attendance Para, Hamilton Elementary School

• John Sheppeck, Social Worker, Howe Elementary School

• Katrina Harris, Attendance Para, Keane Elementary School

• Kawlie Dubaria, Special Education Intensive Skills Para, King Elementary School

• Erin Campbell, 4th Grade AIS Math Teacher, Lincoln Elementary School

• Tamara Belanger, Reading Teacher, Paige Elementary School

• Robyn Stone, Instructional Math Coach, Pleasant Valley Elementary School

• Nicole Biette, Assistant Principal, Van Corlaer Elementary School

• Karen Moehle, AIS Math Teacher, Woodlawn Elementary School

• Christina Dady-Esposito, STEM/Media Teacher, Yates Elementary School

• Ashley Encarnacion, Special Education Social Development, Grade 3-5 Para, Zoller Elementary School

• Kenth Mayfield, School Counselor, Central Park Middle School

• Amy Tyler, Instructional Coach ELA, Mont Pleasant Middle School

• Megan Eiseer, Grade 8 ELA Teacher, Oneida Middle School

• Roy Jenkins, Security Monitor, Schenectady High School

• Dawn DeBraccio, IPS II Secretary for Main Office, Steinmetz Career and Leadership Academy

• Lorraine Keimel, School Counselor, Washington Irving Education Center and Big Picture Learning

• Sheila Los, Dance Teacher, City as Our Campus

There was an amazing turnout at the Pathways to Home Ownership/Financial Literacy Information Session this week. This is a collaboration between our district, Better Community Neighborhoods Inc. (BCNI), and You Inc.

Two farm to school pop-up events took place this week at Hamilton and King elementary schools. Thank you to Rebekka Henrikson for leading this incredible program which is making a difference in our school communities. There was an article in the Daily Gazette Wednesday.

Summer Meals kick off next Friday, June 28 at noon at Jerry Burrell Park. The 2024 Summer Meals Program is made possible through a collaboration between the Schenectady City Parks, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady, MVP Health Care, and the Schenectady Branch of the YMCA which will offer recreational programs on several of the sites. CREATE Community Studios will also hold art programs at five sites each week. The kickoff event next Friday will be a community celebration of fun, food, and community.

Summer meals will be offered throughout the summer at ten sites. The schedule and location is available here.

We have many events going on between now and the last day of school which is next Wednesday for students. The Schenectady High School Class of 2024 Graduation will be held next Thursday, June 27, 6 p.m. on the Turf Field. This is an exciting day. It's what we all are working toward. We will share photos and clips from the ceremony in our video next week. The Daily Gazette ran profile stories on two of our graduates in the special graduation section this week. Congratulations to Sheyenne Harris and Jordan Raffan. I included links to those stories below:

•  First Union, then the UN for Schenectady’s Sheyenne Harris

• SchenectadySenior Jordan Raffan gets degrees

Tuesday and Wednesday are both half days of school for students.

Most Regents exams took place this week. There are still a few to be held on Monday and Tuesday next week. The schedule is here.

Community Use of the SHS Track

The Schenectady High School Track is available for the community to use in the evening from 6-8 over the summer. Click here for the schedule and rules for using the track.

2024-2025 Code of Character, Conduct, and Support

The 30-day comment for the 2024-2025 District Code of Character, Conduct, and Support is open. Each year the committee reviews and makes any necessary updates to the code. Any suggestions, comments, concerns, questions you have will go directly to the committee and considered before a final document is submitted for approval by the Board of Education. You can review the document here. Submit any comments here.

Safety Survey

The Safety Survey will remain open through this month. if you haven't participated, please do. We want to hear from everyone in our school community. The survey links are below.

• FACULTY / STAFF SURVEY

• PARENT SURVEY

• STUDENT SURVEY

• SCSD COMMUNITY SURVEY

The next Board of Education Meeting will be held June 26, 6:30 p.m. in the Mont Pleasant Middle School Schenectady Room

It's hard to believe that we are at the end of the school year. This is an exciting and busy time. Remember to take time for self-care.

Have a great weekend.

Dr, Carlos M. Cotto, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools

June 24
SHS Key Club Blood Drive
June 24 from noon - 5 p.m. in Proctors Key Hall.
To schedule an appointment go to www.redcrossblood.org

June 25 and 26
Elementary and Middle Schools (Pre-K through 8)
Half Day of School

June 26
Last Day of School for Students

June 27
Schenectady High School Class of 2024 Graduation Day

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