We continue to get questions about the transition from second to third quarter on the letter day calendar. Yes, both January 31 and February 1 are "A" days. This is intentional. It just so happens that the second quarter ends (January 31) on an "A" day and we begin each new quarter (February 1) with an "A" day.

Many of you have asked if there is any update regarding the superintendent succession plan in our district. There is nothing new to report at this time. The Board of Education will discuss how they will move forward regarding the process for filling the position at the work session scheduled for Wednesday, January 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mont Pleasant Schenectady Room. The meeting will also be live-streamed. The link will be available on Boarddocs. Once any decisions are made, the board will share that information with the school community. If you have questions, concerns, or comments you would like to share with the board, please click here to submit them through Let's Talk.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Strategic Planning survey and focus groups. We received some incredible input which will be used to help shape our six-year plan. An overview of the input will be shared as part of the plan.

As part of our Board of Education Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy, our district continues to partner with Tangible Development, a DEI organization, that has experience transforming school districts to be more inclusive. Last year, we conducted a DEI assessment with Tangible to assess workplace culture for all district faculty and staff. The goal was to measure employee experiences and perceptions. We are continuing our work with Tangible to engage with the results and create a plan to strengthen our efforts to create an inclusive and equitable experience for all staff.

As part of this continuing commitment, we will be asking parents to participate in an anonymous survey and/or focus groups regarding your experiences in our district so that we can learn how we can make improvements and be more inclusive. Both the survey and focus groups will take place in April following Spring recess. The survey and information about focus groups will be distributed through e-mail. Please be sure that we have an up-to-date email for you.

Students in grades 8-12 will also have an opportunity to provide input and feedback through a student survey as well as sign up to participate in student focus groups. Both will take place in school. Both the survey and focus group feedback will provide us with a better understanding of how we need to change and strengthen to meet our commitment regarding diversity, equity, and belonging. Again, the survey and focus groups will take place in April. We will be sharing more as we move forward.

Congratulations to the following fourteen middle and high school student musicians who are selected to participate in the Suburban Council Music Festival which was held last weekend at Columbia High School. Students were selected from hundreds of applicants representing fifteen school districts. The festival concluded with a concert Saturday afternoon.

Last weekend more than 200 wrestlers representing 20 teams participated in the Schenectady Wrestling Invitational. Our team placed 4th. Congratulations to champions Xavier Vargas (116) and Dominick Witko (124). Dominick also received the honor of "Most Outstanding Wrestler." Thank you to Coach Chad Languish and everyone who helped make this such a successful event.

Last week, New York State held a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. During the event, a viewing of a one-hour broadcast tribute featured segments with students from My Brothers Keeper. Thank you MBK fellows Kahsier Morton, and Damilare Gafari, Dr. Carlos Cotto, and Octavious Cook, community school coordinator and MBK ambassador, who were in attendance representing our school community.

This is just another reminder that we have the SpeakUp for Safety tip line which allows students to easily and confidentially report threats, bullying, concerns about peers in crisis or any other concerns that affect student well-being and security. This tip line is monitored by safety professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reports can be made by emailing speakup@schenectadyschools.org or by calling 518-765-1500.

Parents can still register their children for February recess STEAM camp which is open to students in grades 1-5. See flyer below for more information. Register here.

It's that time of year when snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can affect school. When there is a winter storm or any type of inclement weather in the forecast, we watch closely and coordinate with other local districts across the region when deciding whether to be open, close, or delay the start of school. We will post any weather-related announcements or updates on our website and social media accounts as well as notify staff and families via text and email. Please make sure we have up-to-date contact information for you. If you are not sure, please check with your child's school.

Winter months can be challenging and can affect our mental health and energy levels. Studies show that less sunlight can trigger seasonal depression for millions of Americans. We have resources available to our staff and students who may be struggling.

The Employee Assistance Program is a free benefit for faculty and staff and your family members. EAP offers tools, services, and wellness coaching. To access EAP, call 1-800-252-4555 or 1-800-225-2527 to talk with a counselor or coach who will work with you to address your issues. You can also visit your EAP online at www.EducatorsEAP.com for thousands of problem-solving resources and self-help tools.

Parents who are concerned about their children should contact their child's teacher or principal. We will help connect you to a school clinician and any necessary resources.

Let's all look out and take care of one another.

Have a great weekend and stay warm.

Sincerely,

Anibal Soler, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools

Register here

Open to students in grades 3-6
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MOBILE APP SUPPORT Click here to watch a short video on how to set your school and language preferences on our mobile app: hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saNC9ek2Lqg

PREVIOUS BRIEFS: For the index of Volume 1, 2 and 3 briefs click here.