Good afternoon,

I will start my brief today by sharing thoughts and concerns for everyone affected by the recent events in Israel. To those who have friends and family impacted, please know that we are here for and with you. We know that during this difficult time, there is fear, uncertainty, and distress. We are committed to ensuring that our schools are safe spaces for all students to express their feelings and concerns. We ask parents to please let your child's teacher, school counselor, or principal know if your child needs emotional support. Let's stand together in unity to support our students, staff, and families and continue to promote a culture of inclusivity, respect, and acceptance. Today, the New York State Education Department shared some resources for families and educators.

Congratulations and thank you to all who participated in the 84th Grout Cross-Country Run which was held last weekend. Alucien Gonzalez won the boy's modified race.  The Boys and Girls Varsity Teams placed 3rd.  Boys were led by Michael Daley (3rd place).  Girls were led by Cara Mastan (10th place).  

The Grout Cross Country is one of the oldest meets in the nation.  1,200 runners from throughout the state participated.

Thank you to the many volunteers including staff, parents, students and alumni who return year after year to support this event.  Students from the National Honor Society, Key Club, JROTC, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs volunteered their time.

This week I had the honor of attending the ACCT Leadership Conference with SUNY Schenectady President Dr. Steady Moono along with members of his team. I had an opportunity to talk about and showcase our district. Dr. Moono and I presented on the Schenectady Promise. Our program continues to grow as we currently have three cohorts of Smart Scholars Early College High School students and one cohort of Smart Transfer Early College High School students earning credits at SUNY Schenectady while in high school. We are proud of the program that removes barriers and allows for college to be a possibility for all Schenectady students. ACCT is a national organization that brings community college leaders together to address real-world challenges and help students succeed through advocacy and education. I was honored to be invited to share our experience and value of partnership with SUNY Schenectady.

Please check out this video produced by our musical theatre students in collaboration with Proctors Collaborative School of the Arts. I'm so very proud of our staff and students. This is exciting and great work by our kids.

Last Saturday, students from Union College spent STEM Saturday at Hamilton Elementary School doing the Egg Drop Challenge. Yveliz Tilson, a former Hamilton student who now attends Union College, was excited to be back visiting her former elementary school.

The PSAT for 9th graders and PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) for 10th and 11th graders and the SAT for 12th graders will be administered at no cost at Schenectady High School. The exam will begin at 9 a.m.

Here are a couple of frequently questions and answers:

• How will my child benefit from taking the PSAT exam? The PSAT 9 helps establish a baseline for students as they enter high school and begin preparing them for college and career readiness. By taking the PSAT 9, your child will learn which skills he or she needs to work on for continued success when preparing for high school and if they decide it is right for them, college.
  
  

• What is the PSAT/NMSQT for 10th and 11th graders? The PSAT/NMSQT provides a taste of what it's like to take the SAT (grade 12) and it can help the student see where they are and set a target for future SAT testing scores. Students will get details on the exact skills and knowledge they need to focus on in school while having plenty of time to improve prior to grade 12. When students take the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year, they can qualify for scholarships, including the highly selective National Merit Scholarship Program. 
  
  

• Why should a Senior take the SAT exam? SAT scores demonstrate to colleges that students are prepared with the necessary post-secondary skills and knowledge. Strong SAT scores can boost a student’s college admission chances. 

Students who participate in our New York State Alternative Assessment (NYSAA) Programs within Special Education will still have a regularly scheduled instructional day.  

Students not wishing to participate in the exam should be aware that regularly scheduled classes will not be held in the traditional manner. They will be directed to quiet spaces to work on different curriculum tasks, complete assignments, complete college and career skill inventories, and other planned activities. 

Please contact the school counseling office at (518) 881-2044 ext. 5 if you have any questions.

As part of our physical education program, 3rd graders in all eleven elementary schools will have an opportunity to take a trip to the high school for some time in the pool. Students are learning how to be safe, to jump in the water, practice live saving skills, floating, kicking as well as enjoy some free play. Our goal is to ensure that all students have access to our pool and experience swimming as a life skill. So far, students at Howe and Zoller have enjoyed swim time. Woodlawn students are up next on October 25. The program will continue throughout the year and end in the spring. This is a districtwide collaboration as the high school physical education teachers are helping as lifeguards. Thank you to Kimberly Pilla and Brian Melanson who spearheaded this effort and to all who helped make happen for our students. The photos below are from the 3rd grade Zoller swim this week. I may even jump in the pool with one of our classes soon.

We are excited about the work that is scheduled to be done on the field and outside Mont Pleasant Middle School as part of the 2030 Revitalization Plan. We will be holding a ceremonial ground-breaking ceremony next week. Details are below.

Please open this letter of invitation regarding our Special Education Parent Teacher Organization (SEPTO). We encourage participation and look forward to discussing a variety of meaningful topics. You also have an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas. Sign up for SEPTO here. Meeting dates and topics are as follows:

SEPTO Meeting Dates:
11/1- Understanding the IEP
1/24- DEI for Special Education 
3/20- Creating Partnerships Between Home and School
5/15- Community Resources

Secondary interim progress reports are being mailed home. We ask parents to please review and contact your child's teacher if you have any questions or concerns. The report card and interim report schedule is on our website here.

Click here for the athletic schedule this week. We hope to see you at some events, cheering our athletes on.

A board of education work session will be held Wednesday, October 18. The agenda and link to the livestream will be posted here. The next regular meeting of the board of education will be held Wednesday, November 1.

Have a restful and great weekend. See you next week.

Sincerely,

Anibal Soler, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools

As part of Farm to School Month and our partnerships with SICM Schenectady Urban Farms, Assemblyman Santabarbara's office, Roots and Wisdom, we were able to provide more than 120 pounds of free, fresh produce to families at Oneida Middle School and Paige Elementary School.

Many of the items were grown by our students at their schools as part of Farm to School lessons. Others were provided by the Mabee Farms, Roots and Wisdom, SiCM Schenectady Urban Farms.

Students at Paige Elementary Community School celebrated the end of Hispanic Heritage Month with a dance party and performance from Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra. Students were chosen from the audience to play percussion with the band and learn dance steps. Watch a part of the performance below.

A group of Schenectady High School seniors pose as "Senior Citizens' for Thursday's "Generations" theme day.

October 26, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at SHS and Mont Pleasant.

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.