Good afternoon and happy Friday,

This has been quite a busy and very exciting week full of energy, enthusiasm and joy in preparation of the new school year. Only five days until we open our doors and warmly welcome all of our students, both those who are returning and those who are new to us. There are so many dedicated and passionate faculty and staff members who are anxiously waiting and counting downing the hours for buses to pull up and students to arrive at the doors.

On Monday, we welcomed nearly 140 new teachers and other staff to the district. We enjoyed a great breakfast, sponsored by First New York Credit Union, before our new teachers began three days of school and district orientation. I had an opportunity to meet many of them. I was honored to stand before the group to let them know how important they are to our students with a reminder that everybody counts and everybody learns. I also spoke about the pillars of our work in Schenectady and that #SchenectadyRising is all about redesigning, rebuilding, and reigniting confidence in the district with a focus on commitment and dedication to excellence in teaching and learning, engagement and efficiency. They also heard inspiring words from Mayor McCarthy, School Board President Bernice Rivera, 2022 Teacher of the Year Carrie White and Isaiah Roberts, a student in our new Freshmen Academy. He, by the way, received a standing ovation.

One thing was evident, the newest members of our staff are excited to begin their journeys in Schenectady and look forward to meeting our students and their families. Please join me in welcoming them to our district.

Yesterday was also an amazing and fun day when we brought all of district staff together in the morning at Proctors to not only welcome but to also celebrate everyone who is committed to serving all of the children who attend our schools.

Our morning started with incredible music from Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra. We enjoyed some dancing, received some inspiring words, including awesome remarks from SHS Senior Class President Marina Tchako-Tiako. And, we certainly laughed a lot. The room was full of positive energy and loads of smiles. Check the pictures out here. There's a fun video below of Alex Torres teaching dance steps to a large group of us at the kickoff celebration. Talk about stepping out of our comfort zones ......

Earlier this week, we also welcomed more than 50 members to our new safety team. Jeff Russo, District Director of School Climate and Safety, spoke to the district safety team about the importance of recognizing that they are all on the same team and the goal is to make sure every child in the school is successful. They participated in a variety of activities and exercises and are excited to be part of our team.

I wish to offer huge thanks to our Operations and Maintenance Team for their dedication and hard work getting all of our schools ready before Wednesday. Thank you to all of our school nurses for your thoughtfulness, care and hard work. I appreciate you. This is also a busy time for the transportation team whose members are working hard to make sure students are scheduled on the correct buses and all the routes are covered. They answer the phones early in the morning and into the evening. And, I can't say enough about our team in the central office duplication center. They work non-stop to be sure everyone has what they need.

I am grateful to everyone on our team. I know you are working tirelessly in each of our schools and at central office to make sure our 2022-2023 opening is smooth and that everyone is treated with care. We have a great team dedicated to the success of our students.

If at anytime you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher or principal and know that you can always reach us through Let's Talk. We are here for you.

The first day is one of my favorite days of the school year. While I probably won't get much sleep Tuesday night, it's because I am excited and can't wait to welcome all of our students and families on Wednesday. I will be visiting schools so I look forward to seeing many of you.

Enjoy your weekend and we will see you next week.

Sincerely,

Anibal Soler, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Wednesday, September 7

School Times
Elementary School
Pre-K - Grade 5
7:45 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.

Middle School
Grades 6-8
8:30 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.

High School
Grades 9-12
8:25 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Phone Numbers

Transportation
518-370-8103

Food Services
518-370-8100. Ext. 36481

Student Registration
518-881-3771

Student Services
518-881-3412

LET'S TALK

You can reach us through Let's Talk by clicking here or texting 518-900-7318