November 2018 District Newsletter
November Calendar
  • 11/16 Parent-Teacher Conference Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
  • 11/12 Veterans Day, District Buildings Closed
  • 11/13 Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
  • 11/16-11/17 High School Musical at CHS
  • 11/21-11/23 No School Thanksgiving Break
  • 11/27 Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
  • 11/28 District Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m. at CHS
Instrument Donation Drive Continues
In times when other instrumental music programs are shrinking and being threatened due to budget constraints, the program at Cortland is thriving. Participation is at an all time high and the programs continue to grow exponentially each year.

More students participating in our instrumental music program, though, means we need more instruments. To ensure that each child who wants an instrument has one, we’re running an instrument donation campaign.

Maybe you have a flute or clarinet in your attic that hasn’t been used in a while. Maybe you know someone who has a viola gathering dust. If you have an instrument that we could put in the hands of our students, please click on the Instrument Donation form and provide some information to schedule a drop off of the instrument.

If you don't have a used instrument to donate, you can make a monetary donation that will be used to purchase instruments. Read more...
Transition Planning
Preparation for the transition from five to three elementary schools is well underway.

The District Transition Team has been meeting regularly. This group is looking at the transition from a district perspective, making suggestions for how we’ll transition from a district of five elementary schools to a unified and coherent school district. They are discussing student and family transitions, mascots, parent-teacher organizations, and more. Minutes from the committee are linked to the Transition Webpage . The committee meetings are open to the public.

Internal Building Transition Teams for the staff in each of the elementary schools have been meeting to identify questions and identify ideas for the transition to three elementary schools. All of the questions and suggestions are collected in a running list that the building teams use to keep track. So far, more than 75 questions have been asked and answered. Building Transition Teams consist of representatives from the school who raise questions and make suggestions about the big move. The idea is that the more questions are asked and suggestions are made the less likely we are to miss things in the transition.
Transition Questions & Answers
We all have questions about the transition to three elementary schools. Please let us know what questions you have -- just click on the button below. In addition to questions, we are also interested in any ideas or suggestions you have that might help us prepare for the transition. We're collecting the questions and answering them in an accessible fashion by maintaining a Questions and Answers document on the transitions webpage. As we receive questions, we'll post the answers in the Transition Webpage .
Disability Mentoring Day
On October 17, 2018, students from Cortland High School and around the region participated in Disability Mentoring Day (DMD). This program is coordinated by the Cortland Area Taskforce to Increase Disability Employment.

Disability Mentoring Day aims to bring students and job seekers with disabilities into the workplace where they can learn about various career opportunities. Through DMD, students and job seekers pair with career professionals to learn the skills they need to work in that particular field or occupation by observing a typical workday. They see the different positions needed throughout a business to keep it operating smoothly.
Disability Mentoring Day started with orientation and breakfast at the Elks Lodge on Groton Ave in Cortland. After orientation and motivational speakers, students visited a job site that matched their interests.

The local employers that participated in this event were: Cortland Flower Shop, Cortland Regional Medical Center, Color Me Red, CNY Snap, Cortland Fire Department, CNY Farm Supply, Cortland City Police Department, Frosted, F.E. Smith Elementary School, Local Food Market, Price Chopper, TC3 and WXHC Radio . Read more...
Chromebook Rollout
On October 29th, 2018, the Cortland Enlarged City School District started the introduction of the next generation of computers (chromebooks) to the fifth graders at Randall. District personnel in the Information Technology Department and the District Instructional Technology Integration Specialist visited the two fifth grade classrooms at Randall to give a general overview of the devices and to teach a lesson using the ISTE (International Society for Technology Education) student standards.

Fifth grade teacher, Julie Terwilliger said, “I am excited to use these devices with my students. We have been using the G Suite for education apps and are very familiar with using Chrome as our browser. Using the chromebooks will streamline students workflow and will allow students to save directly to their Google Drive.” Read more...
Now Hiring: Teacher Aides
Love spending time with children? Then this is the job for you! Follow the school schedule, so if school is out of session so are you! Working with children is one of the most rewarding jobs! You can make a positive change in a child's life by working in a school! Call us today 607-758-4102 or interested parties can email Sandra Swierczek at sswierczek@cortlandschools.org. Enjoy having summers off! Click here to visit our employment website.

We Offer Full Benefits Including Health Insurance!
Substitute Opportunities Also Available!
Give the Gift of Family Reading
The Family Reading Partnership of Cortland County invites you to take part in a book drive that provides families with NEW books to give to their children for the holidays.

Collected books will be distributed to Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, Loaves and Fishes so that families may select NEW books for their children. Books may be donated at any of the Cortland Enlarged City School District schools.

NEW books are due by November 30th! Thank you for supporting our worthy cause!
Get Social With Us! 

Follow Us On Twitter @CECSDistrict