Good afternoon,

I hope you had a good week and are enjoying the spring temperatures. As the weather starts to get nicer I know we get anxious for summer to arrive and school to be over. Please stay engaged and everyone continue to be here. We are almost there. We have less than seven weeks of school left and with some days off in between.

I'll start today's update by reminding everyone about the Safety Survey that we launched this week. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. As you know, we have had some safety-related incidents over the last few weeks. Each time incidents such as these happen, we carefully review and work to improve. Our goal is always to make our schools as safe as they can possibly be so all students can learn. We are looking for feedback from all corners of our school community - faculty/staff, parents/guardians/caregivers, students, and members of our school community. The survey is short. Your responses will help us improve moving forward. Thank you to those who have already participated. Your feedback is important. Here are the links to the surveys.

• FACULTY / STAFF SURVEY

• PARENT SURVEY

• STUDENT SURVEY

• SCSD COMMUNITY SURVEY

Speaking of safety, it has come to our attention that there is an app that some children are downloading called "Monkey" or "Monkey Run, and using to "chat" with strangers. The apps are self-described as "chat room roulette" or "random video chat." This means that strangers from around the world can chat with children in real time through text or video.

These apps don't seem to adhere to age restrictions or privacy issues. They are potentially harmful with sexual content. This can certainly create a safety risk for your child.

The chats typically last for approximately 15 seconds but kids can request more time. Below are the images associated with these apps

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to the seventeen Schenectady Smart Transfer students who were recognized at The Early College High School Completion Ceremony yesterday at SUNY Schenectady. The Smart Transfer students have been following an advanced course track. They have been taking high school courses and college courses simultaneously since 9th grade. The night was full of inspirational student speeches, and families were addressed by SUNY Schenectady President Steady Moono, SCSD Deputy Superintendent Joe DiCaprio, and Director of College and High School Partnerships, Lauren Gallo. Most of these students will transfer to four-year institutions including Colgate University, University at Albany, University at Buffalo, and Siena College.

Congratulations to 86 students from schools across our district who represented Schenectady at the two-day New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Festival last week at Niskayuna High School. The performance included learning a solo, duet, or small ensemble and performing it in front of a judge. Students received an overall score and constructive feedback. Based on the scores, some students may be selected to participate in festivals such as Conference All-State, Area All-State, Suburban Council, and Schenectady All-County. I'm very proud of all the students and all the music educators in our district who continue to support our students. Thank you to all of you.

PRE-K LOTTERY
The 2024-2025 Pre-K Lottery was held on May 1. We have opened a post-lottery application for 4-year olds. Children must be 4 years of age on or before December 1, 2024 to qualify. If you are interested, please complete the application. Be sure to select your home attendance zone. We will call you with available options.

THANK YOU TEACHERS AND SCHOOL NURSES
This week was Teacher Appreciation Week. I'd like to give a huge shout out and express gratitude to all of teachers districtwide. My warmest thank you for your hard work, dedication, unwavering care and for being someone who makes a difference in the lives of our students. Thank you for everything you do.

Earlier this week was National School Nurse Day. I know most of you recognize the important role school nurses play in the success of our students. School nurses are often the first person a student goes to when they don't feel well or have been hurt. School nurses are first responders for medical concerns. They administer medication, and conduct screenings. They partner with parents, make referrals for pediatric care, play a role in helping students develop healthy lifestyles and so much more. Please join me in thanking all of our school nurses.

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
The next Board of Education Meeting will be held Wednesday, May 22, the day after the budget vote and election. There will also be a presentation on the Third Quarter Academic Report. Please be sure to check out the reminders and upcoming events below.

I wish you a great weekend and look forward to seeing you next week.

Sincerely,

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

May 21
2024-2025 Budget Vote and School Board Election

May 24 and May 27
No School

PARENT DEI FOCUS GROUPS
SCSD parents, guardians, and caregivers can still sign up for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) focus groups. These groups are being held throughout the month of May. You should have received a link to the schedule and registration in your email as well as the password to access the page. If you are interested and did not receive the email, please let us know here.

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

To download as a pdf, click here.

File Cabinet: For the index updates, click here.