Message from Principal Mack
First, let me say I hope you and your family are safe and healthy as you read this letter. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we have been adjusting, like you, to the drastic changes in life during the last several weeks. I am extremely appreciative of our students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators for their positivity, flexibility and resilience during these trying times. A huge debt of gratitude also goes to all of our doctors, nurses, hospital employees, first responders, essential workers, and our state leaders for all they are doing to keep us safe and healthy. I was recently reading an article that talked about mental health, the impact of theCOVID-19 crisis on our families, and wellness tips for us during this time. As a father and a principal, there were many pieces I found value in.
Read more...
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Photos and Videos Needed for
Staff Appreciation Week!
Staff appreciation week is next week: May 4th to May 8th. We will be posted photos on our social media accounts daily, along with a culmination video that will go out on Friday. Please email your photos and videos to
photos@cortlandschools.org
.
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Orchestra
Along with continuing our work on rhythms and scales, students are taking some time to listen to the soundscapes of their homes - the sounds occurring around them all the time (birds chirping, wind chimes in the wind, the hum of the refrigerator, the sound of the cars passing by, etc.) Students are taking a few uninterrupted minutes to listen to what they hear around them, rather than focusing on everything they have to do or wish they could do. Even just a minute can be relaxing!
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Science News
Regents and honors physics students performed their first lab at home by attempting to calculate the speed of light using a microwave and peeps!
AP Physics students are applying their knowledge of thermodynamics through a project where they are conducting energy audits on their own homes.
Earth Science students will be venturing to their nearest stream to take pictures of sedimentation, and erosion. They will also be visiting nearby cemeteries and noting the type of rock used for the tombstones and how weathering affects them. These will be part of their “My Earth Selfie” project.
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Elective Updates
Culinary:
What do nails, wood, screws, cement, cinder blocks, doors/windows and shingles have in common with flour, sugar, salt, fat, liquids, eggs and leavening agents?
All serve a specific role or function in the project you are using them for and without them, problems might occur. Imagine building a foundation for a house with cinder blocks and you leave out the cement…what would happen?
Students completed this lab at home to determine what effect each basic ingredient had in a master pancake recipe. Students recorded their findings and submitted pictures of each pancake.
Child Development:
Students continue to work with SUNY Cortland student teacher, Ms. Beagle. They watched the documentary “Babies” and completed work along with a concept map. They will begin discovering how different activities such as screen time, outdoor play and storytelling impact a child’s development.
First Aid & Safety:
CPR and AED skills are being learned through written work and visuals of students demonstrating their skills.
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News from the Library
The library has many resources available to you through our Google classroom. Every day, we update our page with more resources for staff and students, currently we have…
Databases: We have all our databases readily available for research.
Instructional Videos: Learn the intricacies of databases and other library resources with these quick videos!
- Makerspace Activities: Need something to do? We have plenty of makerspace activities for students to try out that focus on a variety of subjects!
- Virtual Tours: Visit places around the world with these links. Stop by a museum or a national monument.
- Ebook Opportunities: We have plenty of places to check out Ebooks for students. While we can’t go to the physical library, these links will light the way to online reading opportunities.
If you are interested in joining the CHS Library database & resource page, use class code: fjomcr2 for access for you and your family.
We’re putting together a virtual maker club for students, a place where students can showcase the work that they are doing with some of the ideas we have suggested. This will be a place they can show their projects. If you are interested in participating in it, please contact Mr. Abbuhl through the email address given below.
The library staff is here every day to help you with your online distance learning needs, feel free to ask us for help!
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News from the Nurse
We wish good health to all our families during this unprecedented time. As we work to ensure our current health, we also look to the future and want to share information regarding health requirements for the 2020-21 school year. Below is a list of current state mandates for students which must be completed prior to attending school in the fall. Therefore, please begin planning for your child's next well visit and required immunizations once routine visits are once again scheduled.
- All incoming Kindergarten students need Dtap, Polio, Hep B., MMR and Varicella (please refer to your provider for up to date requirements)
- Every 6th grade student requires the TDAP vaccine.
- Every 7th and 12th grader will need to receive the Meningococcal vaccine.
- When your child receives their vaccines, please make sure to have it signed by their provider.
- Every K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th,11th grader and new students to the district will need to have a current physical. Please send a copy to your nurse's office.
If you have current health questions, please feel free to reach out to your school nurse via email. For COVID-19 specific information, please click on the
link located on the district webpage
.
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SAT Exams Update
SAT exams cancelled for the remainder of this school year. Both May and June exams were cancelled. August exam date will remain in place. NEW DATE added in September. Many colleges are waiving the SAT scores for applications for the class of 2021.
School Counselors and School Social Workers are always available for email, phone or text communication to help with SEL needs for students and staff!! Check the portal for contact information!
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Contacting the School
Our school buildings are closed to the public. On site staff in each of our buildings has been reduced to a small rotating group of essential employees. Teachers and office staff are working remotely from home.
Teachers have posted their contact information on the Distance Learning Portal which is accessible from the District website. A staff email directory is available from the High School website. As a general rule, staff email is the person's first initial and last
name
@cortlandschools.org.
If calling our main office, please leave a voice message. We will make every effort to respond within a 24 hour period.
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Technology Needs
For those who received a laptop, please read through the directions that were provided with the device. You will need to connect to your own home WiFi. If you have any questions or problems using the laptop, you can email:
helpdesk@cortlandschools.org
or call: 607-758-4188.
This same email may be used if you did not previously request a laptop, but would like one.
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Food Service Continues
Breakfast and lunch will be available for every student, Monday through Friday, at locations across the community from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. Locations include:
- Barry Primary bus loop
- Junior Senior High School bus loop
- Randall Middle bus loop
- Smith Intermediate bus loop
- Virgil School bus loop
- Additional sites added:
- Parker School (parent drop-off area)
- Penguin Trailer Park (11a - noon only)
- Rickard Street Apartments (11a - noon only)
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Get Social With Us!
Like us on Facebook, Follow Us on Instagram @CECSD_SH and Twitter
@CECSD_H
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