High School News
January 1, 2021
Events
12/24 - 1/1: December Recess
1/1/21: New Years Day
1/18: Martin Luther King Day - No School
Note from the Principal
Dear Students and Parents

We hope that all of you are being safe. As the school year moves along, we are noticing a high number of absences from our remote learners. It seems that more than half of our remote learners are logging in but not responding at all for the entire period or just skipping class. To get credit for being in class and marked as “present”, we need you to do one of the following:

  • Be visible (preferred method)
  • In the chat function say that you are present. For example, “Mr. Mack is here”.
  • Respond to the teacher when they say your name. 

If you do not do one of the following, you will be marked absent. 

After that, you must be engaged in your learning. This means, participate and do the work! It is crucial that you remain visible and active on camera throughout the class to get the best out of your learning experience. It is our expectation that you are a part of your class for the entire  period. Our teachers are working very hard to make sure you are a part of each class. However, we also know that a small number of you have anxiety over this issue. If you fit in this category, here is what we need from you: 
  • If you are feeling anxious about being on camera, you still need to be seen or heard from at the beginning of class for attendance purposes. 
  • After that, if you absolutely have to, you can be off screen with your camera pointing away from your face.
  • You still must be present throughout the class.
  • If a teacher asks you to respond verbally, you must do so.  
  • A  teacher may request some kind of hand gesture during the period (a high five, a wave, a thumb up or down, or an “ok” sign) to check your level of understanding. Please make sure you comply with that request.

We are worried about the high number of course failures from the 1st Marking Period and the lack of attendance is the leading cause of our failure rates.  We beg you to be a part of your classes each and every day. Each student has plenty of time to improve their grades. We all know things are tough right now, but please do not make it worse by not participating in your classes. What you do right now, will impact your future. 

Have a happy and safe holiday!
Tech Club
Tech Club is meeting virtually and working as a team to create a 3D printed item looking at adaptive technology and how it impacts those with specific needs. The team is entering an international competition and will be creating CAD files, a prototype and posting the files on various internet sites for others to download for free. They will also be creating a finished product and giving it to one of our own high school students.
Manufacturing and Wood Processing
Students are completing work based on their strongbox kits:
Manufacturing students are developing user-centered assembly directions and designing kit packaging as they assemble their kits.

Wood Processing students are learning the basics of casework as they follow directions and learn tricks to properly align parts, as well as learn the correct (yet often overlooked) way to use hammers and nails!

Lifeskills Tech students are completing various material challenges to explore how different types of materials interact with each other.
Microeconomics
Classes just completed their Stock Market Game Challenge. This is a 3 month long competition where students buy, sell and trade stock with the goal of maximizing their equity. Julia Kostiv (2nd period MICRO) finished in 1st place, with almost 4,000 teams taking place in the competition across Upstate New York! To my knowledge, this is the first time a Cortland High student has won the competition

Overall our district (Cortland High) came in 4th place out of 38 other schools that competed in the challenge. Amazing results, very respectable!
Creative Writing
Students continue to sharpen their poetry skills by composing poems in a variety of forms (Japanese, French, English and American styles) in a Poetry Tic-Tac-Toe Project. Students will share their work with their peers in a Virtual Gallery Walk at the end of the unit.
9th Grade English
Students are finishing up their novel unit focusing on analyzing the development of theme throughout a longer work of literature.
New Media
Students are creating patterns in the style of holiday gift wrap. The designs have to be symmetrically balanced over the horizontal and vertical axis.
New Media 2
Students are working on creating artwork out of typography in Photoshop.
News From the Nurse
Physicals for grades 9 and 11 will continue when school resumes in the new year. We also offer physicals for working papers, sports and as needed CSE meetings. Call your health provider to schedule one or have one here at school. 
 
As always, if your student is sick please keep them home. You can call directly to attendance if your child will be tardy, absent or dismissed early at (607)-758-4084.
 
We also encourage all students to get a flu shot. 
 
To keep everyone safe, keep wearing a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.
 
Hope you have a Happy New Year and see you in 2021.
Lunch and Breakfast are provided for
ALL Students!
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