WEEK ENDING October 6, 2023| VOLUME 3 ISSUE NO. 6
October 2 was National Custodian Day. Thank you to all of our custodial staff who work tirelessly to keep our schools safe and clean. The next time you see your school custodian or cleaner, please take a moment to let them know you see them and appreciate what they do. I am grateful to these important members of our team.
We sometimes don't know the impact that we have on others. This week while attending the New York State School Superintendents Fall Institute, I ran into Kessa Cooper, a former student of ours. She came up to me with a huge smile and thanked me for changing her life. She came into the United States, received her GED and is now on the President's List at SUNY Schenectady. It's moments like this that are special. Congratulations to Kessa and thank you for making my day.
I'm attaching our first year of i-Ready data review, which includes how students in grades K-8 scored on the mathematics and reading assessments compared to our benchmarks.
In 2022, the district decided to partner with Curriculum Associates and shift from STAR to the iReady Diagnostic for Reading and Mathematics for all students grades K-9. The iReady Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjust its questions for each student based on their responses. This adaptability allows the diagnostic to identify the strengths and opportunities for growth of each student. In addition to using iReady as a diagnostic, we also used i-Ready Personalized Instruction to support classroom learning, as well as academic intervention service (AIS) blocks by providing teachers with resources and tools to provide targeted student support in specific domains and/or skills.
During the 2022-2023 school year, the iReady Diagnostic was administered three times: Fall, Winter, and Spring. According to the iReady data provided by Curriculum Associates, of the students tested during both the fall and spring administration windows, the district saw over 50% student growth in both Reading and Mathematics. In Reading, the district saw a 153.85% growth in students performing at grade level. Our students reading scores increased from 13% during the Fall 2022 administration to 33% in Spring 2023 - a 20-percentage point increase. For mathematics, students increased 375% from nearly 4% in the Fall of 2022 to 19% in the Spring of 2023- a 15-percentage point increase across the district of students meeting and exceeding grade level expectations (see graph).
We anticipate that the growth shown in our i-Ready data will also translate to growth in our New York State ELA and Math Assessments.
Hopefully you saw my letter earlier this week about how we are working to increase access to food resources for families. You can read and download the letter here. Thanks to tremendous community support, this year food will be provided for entire families not just a student in the household. We are offering school-based food pantries at all of our elementary schools and mobile food pantries through Schenectady Inner City Ministry (SICM) at our schools on a schedule. That information is available on our website in my letter. Families can also find resources by visiting The Food Pantries for the Capital District. This is a coalition of more than 65 food pantries in four counties working together.
Thank you to the Regional Food bank of Northeastern New York, SICM, The Schenectady Foundation, MVP, Broadview Federal Credit Union, and Justice for Orphans/Care Portal, for their partnership to assist in providing these resources to our community. #strongertogether
We will be celebrating National School Lunch Week October 9-24. The campaign theme, "Level Up with School Lunch," highlights the important impact that a healthy school lunch has on a student's success both in and out of the classroom. School lunches offer students fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and milk, and meet federal nutrition standards limiting fat, calories, and sodium. All SCSD students are eligible to receive free lunch each day. Menus are available online. Go here to download the flyer and learn more about school lunches.
See the flyer here for a schedule of Farmers Pop Up Markets for "National Farm to School Month." Enjoy free produce from school gardens, Roots and Wisdom and SICM Schenectady Urban Farms and Mabee Farms Herbal products sold at a sliding scale by SUF. Any donations will be used to support school gardens.
We have a couple of newsletters to share this week. Check out the Department of Innovation, Equity and Engagement October Newsletter which includes a list of parent liaisons and their contact information. Also, please check out the Restorative Practices monthly update.
Students in grades K-6 are invited to participate in the Futures Cross-Country Championship on October 17, 5:30 p.m. at the Schenectady High School Track & Field. Go here to register and for more information
Please mark your calendar! The district-wide traveling art show opening and reception will be held Monday, November 20, 5 p.m. at the City Hall Lot, 407 Liberty St.
Click here to check the schedule for upcoming sporting events. We've got volleyball, cross country, and swimming/diving taking place on Saturday.
Thank you for all. you do. Enjoy your weekend.
Sincerely,
Anibal Soler, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools
SCSD climbs High Peak for Suicide Prevention Month
On Monday September 25 Dr. Carlos Cotto (his son Xavier), Julia Campbell and Devon Wimberly from the Department of Innovation, Equity and Engagement partnered with business owner Bashir Chedrawee and Simone's Kitchen employees to support a fundraiser in support of National Suicide Prevention and Awareness month.
The group ascended Cascade Mountain in the Adirondacks. It is listed as the 36th highest peak at 4098 feet in elevation and 2.72 miles long. The highest peak is Mount Rainier posted at 14, 411 feet and 4.39 miles long.
Together the group raised over $500.00 to support Suicide Prevention and Awareness.
New mural at Lincoln Elementary Community School
During summer break, Lincoln Elementary received a refresh to the pavement around the school. With the fresh blacktop as a blank canvas, teachers and students teamed up with a local artist to create colorful art near the school's entrance.
Eugene O'Neill, a local artist who has experience with large murals, met with students and listened to their design ideas before assembling a team to complete the painting during the recent nice weather. The work was completed on Monday afternoon and Lincoln students were treated to a dance party first thing Tuesday morning to celebrate the new decorations they helped create.
Farmer's pop-up markets coming to Schenectady Schools
October is National Farm to School Month! We are doing lots to celebrate, including restarting our Harvest of the Month cafeteria Taste Tests, leading school garden activities, and holding Farmers Pop-Up Markets at four sites around the district - Oneida Middle School on October 11th from 3:20 pm - 4:20 pm, Paige Elementary on October 13th 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm, Mont Pleasant Middle School on October 16th 2:45 pm - 4:20 pm, and Keane Elementary on October 17th from 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm. In addition to fresh herbs and produce from our school gardens, our partners from SiCM Schenectady Urban Farms, Roots & Wisdom CCE, and Mabee Farm Historic Site are distributing fresh, local produce at these events free of charge, and SUF will be selling some of their herbal products on a sliding scale. Bring a reusable bag!
Also this month, there are fun opportunities to connect with two of New York state's biggest treats: apples and dairy! Get crunching and compete for a prize that supports your school garden with the Big Apple Crunch the week of October 23rd. Details here: https://farmon.org/bac-resources/. Even more great prizes for your school can be won by watching a fun video about dairy farming for NY Thursdays! Students will learn about environmentally sustainable and nutritious foods, including locally sourced dairy. Click here https://milkvids.com/ and watch a video to enter -the more classrooms participate, the greater the chance to win prizes for your school!
Photo of the Week
This week was also Banned Book Week ahead of the yearly "Read Across America" Day on October, 7. At Woodlawn, Mrs. O'Rourke decorated for the occasion by displaying a number of children's book that have been banned in various states. Students learned why the books were banned and then had a chance to read through them.
The Schenectady Baseball Program is looking to raise money to assist feeder baseball programs within the community and provide equipment for our current athletes. While we continue to grow our program for our youth athletes, we are continuing to build a stronger community. Click here for more
Congratulations and Welcome
The following were appointed by the Board of Education on October 4. If you are new to the district, "Welcome to Schenectady."
Administrative Assistant
Jenna Quimby
Secretarial
Paramanand Sukram, Senior Account Clerk Typist
Hadiya Rathbone, IPS I, Howe ES
Rajwantie Sukram. Payroll Coordinator
Karen Williams, IPS I, Keane ES
Instructional
Dina Baker, Lincoln ES
Jacob Barrett, Music, Central Park MS
Heather Dandashi, Keane ES
Rachel Kelly, Special Education, Howe ES
Rachael Penk, School Social Worker, King ES
Murielle Smith, Music, Mont Pleasant MS
Heather Steadham, ELA. Central Park MS
Teaching Assistant
Joalys Verdejo, City As Our Campus
Paraprofessionals
Quashona Cooper, King ES
Lisa David, Mont Pleasant MS
Jorian Gwinn, Schenectady HS
Christina Haffner, Oneida MS
Dalisha Hendricks, Howe ES
Kamla Karria, WIEC
Gabriella Riccio, Zoller ES
Khaleaf Threatt, Keane ES
Lunch Monitors
Kim Dennebaum, Yates ES
Leena Narine, Woodlawn ES
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