Randall Middle School
June 1, 2020
Events
  • June 17: Last day of Distance Learning, Drop off and Pick/Up for Students
Note from the Principal
This has been an incredible year for many reasons. I am very grateful for all the support shown by families, students and staff throughout the year. We will continue to grow from the foundations that were laid down this year. 

As we look toward next year we know there will be challenges. At the current moment there are many unknowns. This can cause many to be uneasy and, for good reason, make families wonder what next year may look like. As a school staff, we echo these concerns. In order to help prepare, we have been discussing possible plans for a variety of different possible requirements for the fall. While there are many unknowns, we want to have plans ready and be prepared for various possibilities. All decisions that are made will be done with student safety, wellness, and learning needs at the center. 

Finally I would like to encourage families and students to remain engaged through the remainder of the year. Learning being completed now is essential for next year. A set routine can be very helpful. Please do all you can to prioritize student learning as a part of their overall wellness and preparedness for their future. Student learning in this model truly is a partnership. If there is anything we can do to help support please reach out and let us know. 
Pick Up/Drop Off Event
On June 17th we will be hosting a pick-up / drop-off event for students to return Chromebooks as well print materials and pick-up belongings that were left at the school. Sixth grade students will also drop-off their school band instruments. Fifth grade students may keep their band instrument for the summer.

Please come during the following times to allow staff to maintain appropriate density and distance requirements.

5th grade - 8:30-11:30 AM
6th grade - 12:30-3:30 PM

If any family cannot make it during the designated time, please contact the school to make alternate arrangements. 

Staff members will be present to pass out belongings and wave to students. As a staff we will be using safety precautions and maintaining social distancing. Families will drive through the bus loop on Huntington Street where an exchange of items will occur. Students and family members must remain in their car. 

We hope to make this a festive and fun event. Students are encouraged to make signs or decorate the car. Please, of course, wear your favorite white or purple!  
6th Grade Celebration
We want to ensure we celebrate our 6th grade students and honor their accomplishments as they move, “up the hill” to the Junior High. School staff and the PTO have worked together to come up with a plan to recognize this important milestone. 

  1. During the week of June 8th families will be able to pick-up a student celebration kit which includes a T-Shirt and yard sign. A specific date will be communicated once the materials have arrived. 
  2. Signs are blank and ready for students to decorate. These signs may be displayed at student homes. Families may place their sign along Huntington Street for the week of June 15th. They would certainly add to the festivity and atmosphere of our pickup / dropoff day! 
  3. Teachers are assembling a special slideshow with pictures and quotes from students.This will be shared with the Cortland community during the week of June 15th. 
  4. All students will receive a certificate of recognition that will be sent to student homes. 
  5. A special “live” event will be hosted virtually on June 16th for the presentation of special awards. Awards will given for:
  • Academic Achievement
  • Academic Effort 
  • Triple C (Courage, Character, and Commitment)
  • Public Service and Leadership
  • Excellence in Physical Education
  • Excellence in Art
  • Excellence in Library
  • Excellence in General Music
  • Excellence in Band

Check-out the “What’s Hot” magazine’s July issue for a special write up about our 6th grade students. 

Updates and additional information may be found on the PTO Website .
Budget Voting by Absentee Ballot
Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order 202.6 the annual budget vote will be conducted by absentee ballot only. You should have received an absentee ballot in mail. If you did not and wish to receive one please contact the District Clerk, Alicia Zupancic at 607-758-4100 X2202 or azupancic@cortlandschools.org .

Please fill out the absentee ballot by placing an X for “yes” or ‘’no” on each of the five propositions. In addition, please place an X for only two of the four people running for school board. You do not need to sign our put your name on the ballot. 

Once you are completed filling out the ballot, please place it inside the postage prepaid envelope and sign and date the back of the ballot envelope. Then, place it in the mail to the District by June 5th. We need all ballots received by 5 p.m. on June 9th. 

If you wish to hand deliver your ballot to the District, 1 Valley View Drive, Cortland, NY 13045, please place it in the ballot newspaper box outside the building. We ask that you kindly not enter the building to drop off the ballots. 

If you have any questions on how to fill out or ballot or how to mail the ballot back, please contact Alicia Zupancic, District Clerk, at Alicia Zupancic at 607-758-4100 X2202 or azupancic@cortlandschools.org .
PTO Meeting and Officer Nominations
Our next PTO meeting will be held at 6:00 PM on June 15th. This will be a virtual meeting using Zoom.

Meeting ID: 990 4269 8117
Password: 007606

We sincerely hope you will consider being a part of the PTO at Randall next year. Please complete the form linked below to nominate a parent to serve in one of the 3 available officer positions for the 2020-2021 school year. As per the PTO by-laws, each year a secretary, treasurer and vice-president will be elected by all people attending the June PTO meeting. The incoming vice-president will automatically become the president in the subsequent school year, so all nominations for vice-president must be a parent of a 5th grade student. Nominations will be taken until June 15, 2020. All people present via Zoom for the June 15, 2020 PTO meeting will receive an election ballot via e-mail on June 16, 2020. Elected officers will be announced on June 17, 2020.

Thank you for your support and we hope you will consider serving the school community as a member of our PTO.
Art News
Be on the lookout for our all-school “ Off the Grid ” distance learning virtual art show. Selected works from all grades will be included to celebrate all of our students continuing to make such an incredible effort in their art making. 
Math News
Congrats to our Math Olympiad Students!
We want to offer congratulations to the twenty-one 5th grade students who comprised the very first Randall Middle School Math Olympiad Team! We never had the opportunity to have our end-of-the-year celebration. Our #1 top winner, earning a trophy, is Owen Coon, who answered 11 questions correctly over the course of our 5 contests. Our honorable mention goes out to Amelia Fisher and Emma McGovern, both with scores of 9! W hope to gather a Math Olympiad team again next year!
End of Year Math Challenge
Please click here to access a fun math problem to work on during the month of June. If anyone solves it, both Mrs. Snyder and Mr. Ashley will pour a bucket of ice water over our heads and record it for everyone’s viewing enjoyment! This video captures Mrs. Snyder explaining the challenge!
Library news
Thank you to everyone who has returned their library books to school. Please continue to return your books to the purple bins at the schools. If you left a library book in a desk at school, they have already been collected and returned for you. 
Music News
A huge shout out to all of the students who tried out some Zoom band lessons over the last several weeks! Even though it wasn’t the same, it was great to be able to see you all through the screen and make some great progress in your lesson books!

Special note to the 6th grade band members: I’m so sad that we didn’t get a final concert together. You made great progress this year from when we started, and our spring concert music was really coming along! You have the special distinction of being the first ever Randall Middle School 6th Grade Band, and I’m very proud of the work you did as we moved through all of the new “firsts” this year that came with the big transition. Have an AMAZING time in 7th grade and in Junior High Band - I work with some groups at the junior/senior high and will surely see you around! :-) Have a great summer!
Food Services Continues until
June 30th
Breakfast and lunch will be available for every student, Monday through Friday, at locations across the community from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. until June 30th. Locations include:
  • Barry Primary bus loop
  • Junior Senior High School bus loop
  • Randall Middle bus loop
  • Smith Intermediate bus loop
  • Virgil School bus loop
  • Parker School (parent drop-off area)
  • Penguin Trailer Park 
  • Rickard Street Apartments 
News From The School 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  .  
2020 Virtual Summer Reading Program at Cortland Free Library Coming Soon!
  • Registration begins Monday June 29 at cortlandfreelibrary.org
  • Every Monday we will have a virtual program starting with our Summer 
  • Reading Kickoff with Moreland the Magician.
  • Weekly prize drawings and Take & Make activities.
  • Check out our social media (Facebook:@cortlandfreelibraryyouth InstaGram:@cortlandfreelibrary) and website (cortlandfreelibrary.org) for more fun and information.
Follow us on Twitter @CECSD_Randall