WEEK ENDING September 15, 2023| VOLUME 3 ISSUE NO. 3
Good afternoon,
After completing our first full week of school, I will begin today by saying 'thank you' for a great week. Thank you to our parents for making sure your children show up for school. We know that it is not always easy and appreciate that you make your children's education a priority. Attending school every day is a critical step toward student success. Please continue to ensure that your child attends school every day. Keep in mind that absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout he school year. Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade. By 6th grade, chronic absence (which is missing 10 or more days of school during the school year) becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of school. Just by coming to school, students improve their chances for graduating.
Extended Day Learning Program
I'm pleased to share that we will be offering an extended day program at all levels beginning October 10. The program will offer homework help, enrichment, tutoring, social-emotional support, STEAM opportunities, a daily snack and dinner. You can register for the program by clicking here. Download the flyer with more information here.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Today kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a national celebration to honor the history, culture and influence of past generations who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Our district includes many faculty and staff, students, families, and community members who are of Hispanic and Latin descent. Take some time and learn about their rich culinary, musical, and holiday traditions. This is a great time to visit a museum, take a virtual tour, or take some time to read books written by Latinx or Hispanic authors.
Congratulations to the fastest 9-year-old in the USA
Congratulations to Derek Adams, a 9-year old student at Zoller Elementary School was recognized as the fastest 9-year-old in the USA after winning the gold medal in the 200m at the AA Junior Olympics in August. Today was officially proclaimed "Derek Adams Day" in the City. A proclamation was presented by Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy.
Watch Derek's post race interview
Thank You to OCFS
Thank you to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) who delivered a collection of school supplies to the Hamilton Elementary School Community Room Tuesday morning. The supplies, donated by the employees in OCFS' Capital District offices, will be distributed to students who need them. This is another great example of the community coming together to support our students. See the story on CBS6 here.
Restorative Practices Team
Our Restorative Practices Team has grown for the 2023-24 school year. This year, RP Specialists will provide PD to teachers so they can implement community building or academic circles in their classrooms regularly. In addition, RP Specialists will support each school leadership team in implementing staff circles at least once per quarter to build community and solicit feedback from the staff. Watch the video to learn what a Community Building Circle is and how they are being used in classrooms across the district.
Check out the Restorative Practices Team Shirts
REMINDERS
September 25
Yom Kippur
No School
District Offices Closed
October 6
Emergency Early Release Day
All Students Dismissed 15 Minutes Early
October 9
Indigenous Peoples' Day
No School
District Offices Closed
2023-2024 Report Card Schedule
Click here to download the 2023-2024 Report Card Schedule
Vaccination Reminder
All students in grades Pre-K through 12 must receive all required doses of vaccines. Any student who has not received required vaccines within the first 14 days will not be allowed to attend school. Your child's school must receive required documentation. This is a New York State requirement.
Please click here to read an announcement from our Office of Teaching & Learning & Office of Innovation, Equity and Engagement about requirements of physical education class. Exemptions are no longer allowed.
The Schenectady High School Pool is open for Community Lap Swim each school day from 7-8 a.m. Any Schenectady resident is welcome to swim laps at this time.
SchenEquity's Back 2 Love Bash
September 16, 2-4 p.m.
Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady
EVERYONE IS INVITED
Free!
Mizzen Story
Read this story about how our district used Mizzen for Teams to guide teachers and staff through lesson plans for our Winter and Spring STEAM Camps. The story features Kayla Ambesi, Community Schools Supervisor and Simone Miranda, Assistant Director of Innovation, Equity and Engagement.
Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner
Earlier this week, approximately 350 people attended the 25th Annual Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner at the Event Center at Rivers Casino. Congratulations to 2023 inductees John DeMeo, Jim Scott and Gary Przybylo. there was also a legacy tribute honoring the 1955-56 Nott Terrace High School Basketball Team. District alumni traveled from all across the country to attend this event which is clearly very special to so many. Please reach out to Bob Pezzano, the committee chairperson, or any of the committee members if you would like to nominate someone for this great honor. The celebration is held each fall.
Dads Take Your Child to School Day
Our community schools are participating in "Dads Take Your Child to School Day" on Thursday, September 21. This father engagement event which began in 2007, is an innovative outreach initiative in which we invite fathers and father figures to escort their children to school, and then stop in for refreshments and some conversation with school leaders and other dads. Click here or see the community schools flyer. You can sign up by clicking here.
Next week is Community Schools Coordinators Appreciation Week. Please join me in thanking Kayla Ambesi, Community Schools Supervisor, and Ryan Williams, Community Schools Coordinator for their commitment and tireless hard work developing and growing the community schools model in Schenectady. I appreciate all they are doing are doing for the students and families in our district.
i-Ready Assessments
We will begin conducting i-Ready Assessments for students in grades 1-9 next week. This is an online diagnostic tool that helps us determine student strengths and areas of growth so that we can personalize learning and monitor progress throughout the year. This helps your child's teacher meet each student where they are and provides data to increase your child's learning gains. We utilize the system in the Fall, Winter, and Spring and focus on both core subject areas of ELA and Math.
Reminders
The next Board of Education meeting is Wednesday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mont Pleasant Middle School Schenectady Room. The meetings are live streamed and recorded.
Also, for the first time we will be observing the Yom Kippur holiday as a day off. There will be no school and district offices will be closed on Monday, September 25. This change to the calendar is part of our efforts to be inclusive. We continue to review the calendar and work to be responsive to and inclusive of our staff and families.
Have a great weekend.
Anibal Soler, Jr.
Superintendent of School
Seeking Alumni to Feature
We will be continuing our Alumni Profile campaign. If you are an alumni of SCSD and would like to be featured, please let us know by completing this online form.
Community Notes
Bike Rodeo
PorchFest Schenectady
Head Start & Early Head Start
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