Good afternoon and happy Friday,

I hope my note today finds you doing well and on the heels of a good week. I know it's been quite busy with state testing in the early and middle grades and our ramp up into the last eight weeks of the school year. It's hard to believe that we are already here.

It's really important that we do everything we can to encourage all kids to finish strong. After a long year, it's not uncommon for a child to begin to lose motivation to get to school and continue to work hard. Remind them to show up and do all you can do to keep them focused on learning. This might be a good time to take the lesson outside. You may even want to try a new game, jam out so some music or invite a special guest to your classroom. Start a countdown calendar and encourage students to set a new goal or read five new books. There are many things we can do to make learning fun and to motivate students .

The Schenectady Educational Foundation Gala was held Wednesday evening at Proctors. Thank you to all who attended. Congratulations to all of the award recipients. This year's Teacher of the Year, Marissa Ray, gave an inspirational speech to her colleagues. Thank you to the Foundation for all that you do for our teachers and students. The Foundation provided our teachers $52,000 worth of grants this year. This funding alows them to do creative, innovative and outside the box activiities with students.

Thank you to community partners at Justice for Orphans, who visited Paige Elementary School to participate in their Earth Day celebration, and helped launch the clothing closet for children in need with the help of Plato's Closet in Albany.

Congratulations to Damari Holder who was honored as one of the top ten basketball players at the Newschannel 13 Rensselaer Honda All-Star banquet held last week at the Hampton Inn in Clifton Park.

Please join us Thursday, May 4th between 3:00-6:00p.m. for The Schenectady City School District Employee Health & Wellness Fair being held at Schenectady High School Cafeteria.

Parking will be available at Golub Corp, 461 Nott Street, with shuttle service every 15 minutes to and from Schenectady High School.

Please note: School will still be in session so please take advantage of our shuttle service due to limited parking at the high school.

Reminder that Pre-K applications for three and four years old are due on Wednesday, May 2, 2023.

• If you have a child who will be 3 years old on or before December 1, please complete this lottery application.

• If your child will be 4 years on on or before December 1, please complete this lottery application.

We use a random number generator to determine the order of the draw. The lottery continues until all students are placed based on their choice and the number of seats available per location.

Families will be notiified of placement by phone call and letter home. Information and a registration checklist is posted on our website here.

SUMMER ENRICHMENT 2023: JULY 10 THROUGH AUGUST 4
E N R O L L T O D A Y

This is some fun stuff! Martin Luther King Elementary School has partnered with Victoria Acres Equine Facility in Altamont to provide therapeutic riding classes for students in our two Intensive Skills NYSAA - Autism Classes. Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International riding uses equine-assisted activities for the purpose of positive contributing to the cognitive, physical, emotional, an social well-being of people with disabilities.

I had a great time attending the ridiing classes earlier this week and can see how much the students enjoy this activiitiy.

Equine therapies focus on the improvement of physical functional status by using the rhythmic movement of the horse's gait to improve hip and trunk stability. Equine therapy involves mounting activities completed in the presence of a horse, including hippo therapy or therapeutic horseback riding as well as non-mounted activities like grooming and caring for the horse (Lentini, & Knox, 2015). Equine therapy as a physical therapy has shown in literature to be used for a number of neurologic conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic
brain injury, and cerebral palsy. 

On May 16, taxpayers across New York State will head to the polls to vote on school budgets and board elections. In our district, we are asking our community to vote on six different items including:

• 2023-2024 BUDGET $265,267,298
  No impact on tax levy

• SCHENECTADY REVITALIZATION PLAN
  When you head to the polls on May 16, we are asking you to please also consider the Schenectady Revitalization Plan 2030. If approved, this plan would bring up to $300 million worth of building renovations and upgrades to our schools over the next seven years. Tax Impact: Zero

• Purchase of 530 Liberty Street, Schenectady for location of Family and Community Engagement Center.

  The district has identified the property at 530 Liberty St. as a purchase property for the Family and Community Engagement Center. The cost is $2.9 million. If approved by taxpayers, the facility will be used for the district's Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE) with the purpose of offering a welcoming first experience in the district and a one-stop shop for student registration, transportation, and other services and experiences. This center will also be used in the evening and on weekends for various community engagement events. We will also provide technology for families to use to register for school and to fill out an application for employment. TAX IMPACT: ZERO

• Purchase of Keane Elementary School Building (Currently Owned by St. Luke's) Voters are being asked to consider a proposal to purchase Keane Elementary School from St. Luke's. The district has been leasing the school building since July 2007 and is now seeking to purchase the school building for a one-time cost of $2 million. Purchase of this property would serve to provide much needed space for student enrollment, and in the long-term allow for expansion. TAX IMPACT: ZERO
  
  

• Add a student member position to the board of education
  The board is asking residents to vote on a proposition authorizing the addition of an ex-officio student member position on the board of education. A student board member will attend board meetings, sit at the board table and participate in public discussions, they will not vote or attend executive sessions.
  
  

• Elect Three Members to the Board of Education
  Terms for board members Bernice Rivera, Nohelani Etienne, and Princella Learry will end on June 30, 2023. Ms. Learry has announced that she will not be running for another term.
  

2023-2024 Board Candidates include:

• Amanda Sponable-Pantalone

• Nohelani Eitenne

• Bernice Rivera

• Anne D. Kennedy

We will be posting information on the board candidates on our website soon.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to say thank you to all of our administrative professionals. Administrative Professionals Day recognizes and celebrates the work of secretaries, administrative assistants and other office professionals for their contributions to the workplace. Thank you for your hard work and dedication and for being the glue that holds our office together. Your hard work, professionalism, and positive attitude make our jobs easier and more enjoyable, and we appreciate everything you do. We can't do this work without. You are passionate people and are important team members as we are #schenectadyrising.

I wish you a relaxing and fun weekend. See you Monday. I look forward to seeing you at the Wellness Fair next week. That promises to be a lot of fun.

Anibal Soler, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools.

Officers visit Howe

Officer Ross Flood of Schenectady PD stopped by Howe Elementary during recess to shoot some hoops with the kids and Principal Sitts on SuperHero 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

PREVIOUS BRIEFS: For the index of Volume 1 and Volume 2 Briefs, click here.