On Tuesday, I had the great honor of being the Hispanic Heritage Month keynote speaker for an event held by the New York State Comptroller's Office and receiving a proclamation from the comptroller. The event was a fantastic celebration of music and Hispanic culture. I had the opportunity to share a little about myself and my culture as well as, share some facts and statistics about Latinos in America. I am grateful to Mr. DiNapoli, the NYS Comptroller, and to those who planned this festive event. I was honored to be invited, to speak and be recognized.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned how swimming is now part of the third grade physical education program. I also mentioned that I might jump in the pool sometime soon. I did just that on Wednesday morning and it was a blast. I'm proud of the team that made this possible. The students were excited to be at the high school pool and jumping in the water to learn valuable skills and have have some fun swimming and splashing around. This is an amazing opportunity for our young students. Thank you to all involved in making this program possible. Thank you also to Dr. Chisolm for jumping in the pool Wednesday along with me.

This week, as part of Principal Appreciation Month, we recognize Schenectady High School Principal Dennis Green and Pleasant Valley Principal Christina Howard.

I had a fantastic time reading to Ms. Lauterwasser's 5th grade class at Pleasant Valley Wednesday for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mont Pleasant Middle School held a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) celebration. Congratulations to the students who were recognized.

This is just a friendly reminder to take time to remind all children of important safety tips and too "be smart" when walking to and from school, while waiting for the school bus, and playing outdoor.

Please remind children every day and reinforce the be smart tips:

B uddy System: Don’t be alone; take someone with you
E yes open:  Be aware of your surroundings

S tay Away from Cars:  Don’t be tricked into getting in to a stranger’s car
M ake a Plan:   Let someone know where you are going and when you are coming home
A void strangers: Only speak to people you know
R un Away: If someone makes you feel uncomfortable make noise and run away
T ell: Tell an adult you know if someone bothers you

As you know, Tuesday is Halloween. Please be safe and remind kids of important safety tips.

The next Board of Education Meeting is Wednesday, November 1, 6:30 p.m. in the Mont Pleasant Middle School Auditorium. The agenda and live stream link will be posted here.

Have a relaxing and fun weekend. Happy Halloween!

Sincerely,

Anibal Soler, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools

Information for Winter Athletes

The winter sports season is right around the corner.

The first day of tryouts/practice for all high school winter sports is Monday, November 13.

The first day of tryouts/practice for all modified winter sports is Monday, November 27.

Tryout schedules will be posted to the school website and on social media, including the Schenectady Athletics Instagram account.

If your child is interested in playing a winter sport, please make sure you register them on Family ID. Registration will be open until Friday, November 10 at 10:59 p.m. Students will not be allowed to participate in tryouts or practices until their registration is complete (which includes making sure you have an up-to-date physical).

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

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