Some very excited second and third graders at CDE planned a surprise Birthday celebration for their favorite principal, Mr. Stein, on January 31, 2025!
The students in Grade 2 (Thompson, Lopez, and Licis ) and Grade 3 (Whitbeck, Lopez and Licis) worked hard during ELA to create special cards for Mr. Stein. In the cards, the students thanked Mr. Stein for all he does each day at CDE, and they conveyed their sincere wishes for a very Happy Birthday! They then delivered the cards in person and presented Mr. Stein with a blue and white Birthday hat and a special cupcake as they sang Happy Birthday!!!!
Mrs. Lopez, Mrs. Whitbeck, Mrs. Thompson, Ms. Licis, and Their Amazing Second and Third Graders all wished Mr. Stein the best Birthday ever and thanked him for being such an extraordinary leader in our building.
The students in Grade 2 (Thompson, Lopez, and Licis) and Grade 3 ( Whitbeck, Lopez, and Licis) celebrated Mrs. Diamond on her birthday on January 30th.
The students also made her birthday cards!
Congratulations to Mackenzie Sherburne for scoring her 1,000th career point last night in the Girls Varsity Basketball game versus Hunter-Tannersville. Mackenzie is the first girl in Cairo-Durham history to reach this milestone. The Mustang community is very proud of her accomplishment.
The Cairo-Durham Elementary School Student Council visited The Humane Society this week. One of the many projects the members undertook was to raise funds and donations for the Humane Society. The students took a special trip to personally deliver all they had collected. They were given a tour and learned a great deal as well as getting a chance to hang with some furry friends!
Nominations for the January 2025 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are open and can be submitted at the link below by Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 4 p.m. Past nominations will also be considered in the selection process. Click here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2q9nfXwRYv7cSUw_bdouBjcdspek0B2VyNasVZr-LvsYNdg/viewform ) to submit a nomination for January 2025!
This week's Grade 2 Thompson / Lopez Star of the Week is Lubna! The Grade 3 Whitbeck / Lopez Star of the Week is Vera!
Lubna participated in all activities, completed her work, waited her turn patiently, and was kind to everyone all week! Lubna worked extremely hard in math and writing! She is doing a great job adding and subtracting with regrouping!
Vera demonstrated respect, responsibility and kindness all week. She also participated in all activities, completed her work, waited her turn patiently, and made safe choices. Vera has mastered her multiplication facts and is doing great restating, answering and citing during ELA.
Congratulations, Lubna and Vera ! Your teachers are so proud of you!!!!
Last chance! To nominate a person or community organization for the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8
Nominations will be closed on February 1, 2025.
The first annual cornhole tournament at Cairo Durham this past Sunday was a success!
You don’t need to watch the new Superman movie to see superheroes in action; two heroes are always being spotted in our schools.
The District is thrilled to announce that both of our school resource officers were presented with the Sheriff Spike School Officer Award of the Year from the New York State Sheriffs Institute. On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the District’s school resource officers attended the Heroes’ Luncheon during the Sheriff Institute’s Annual Winter Training Conference in Albany, NY. During this time, law enforcement officers earned recognition for their service to their communities.
Congratulations to our dedicated Greene County officers JoAnne Rivera and Steven Espel, Jr!
Our School Resource Officers are a pillar of the school community. On a daily basis, they are protecting our students and staff, providing guidance and support, fostering strong relationships, and creating a warm, secure, and safety-informed environment. Many school districts our size only have one SRO, so Cairo-Durham greatly benefits from having one in each building.
“The fact that Deputy Rivera and Espel have been selected by the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute for their outstanding work is a testament to their dedication to the students, the school and our community,” said Greene County Sheriff Peter J. Kusminsky. “It takes a special police officer to be a good SRO and I am proud to have some of the best on my staff. I have no doubt that their efforts will have a lasting positive impact on all of the students they interact with.”
Deputy Steven Espel, Jr is a vital member of the Cairo-Durham Elementary School. His efforts create a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment for students and staff, alike. Every morning and afternoon, Deputy Espel is present during drop-off and dismissal, ensuring a smooth and safe transition for everyone. Rain or shine, he greets students and parents with a warm smile, offering a reassuring presence that embodies his commitment to the school, said elementary principal Christopher Stein.
Furthermore, Deputy Espel provides support and advice while being a positive mentor for students in need. He is always building strong relationships with the students, whether he’s playing basketball or calming a student outside the classroom. Deputy Espel further improved this supportive environment by taking rigorous training to bring a therapy dog, Mac, into the school. “Mac’s calming presence has been transformative, helping to de-escalate tense situations and bringing positivity to those who need it most,” said Principal Stein.
“On behalf of everyone at Cairo-Durham Elementary, we are thrilled and immensely proud to celebrate Deputy Espel’s recognition as an outstanding School Resource Officer in New York State,” said elementary principal Christopher Stein. “His tireless efforts, compassion, and dedication to the school community make him truly deserving of this honor.”
At the Cairo-Durham Middle and High Schools, Deputy JoAnne Rivera is a dependable and constant pillar of student support and school safety. Starting her day by greeting students in the morning, Deputy Rivera maintains close connections and ensures a smooth transition. In addition, she is a trusted adult for students to receive advice and mentorship, coordinating with the guidance department to meet their needs. The District’s Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Danielle Czech, also noted how Deputy Rivera is always available, 24/7, to provide assistance and guidance to students and their families.
“Deputy Rivera has built strong, meaningful relationships with both the staff and the students here at CDMS/HS. Her positive, contagious energy undoubtedly makes our building a better place,” said middle and high school principal Catherine Dodig. “We are so fortunate to have an SRO that goes above and beyond when it comes to caring for and supporting our building community.”
Catherine Dodig also expressed, “In my opinion, there is not a more deserving person to be honored with this award. In every facet of her work, Deputy Rivera makes a positive impact. She is so much more than just our SRO; because of the work that she does, she’s one of the most beloved people here at CDMS/HS.”
The District is immensely proud of Deputies JoAnne Rivera and Steven Espel, Jr. “The two of them are always there to support or assist in any way, shape, or form needed. True super heroes,” said Danielle Czech, Director of Pupil Personnel Services.
In December, middle school students got a chance to raise money for the American Heart Association while also playing games in the gym like partner dodgeball, Asteroids, and more.
Happy Lunar New Year!
Congratulations to the November 2024-25 Cairo-Durham Middle School Students of the Month!
From left, Seamus Gavin (8th grade), Ruby Palmer (7th grade), and Madeline Speenburgh (6th grade).
Last week's Grade 2 Thompson / Lopez Star of the Week was Greyson! The Grade 3 Whitbeck / Lopez Star of the Week was Jasmine!
Greyson participated in all activities, completed his work, waited his turn patiently, and was kind to everyone all week! Greyson worked extremely hard in math and writing.
Jasmine demonstrated respect, responsibility, and kindness all week. She also participated in all activities, completed her work, waited her turn patiently, and made safe choices. Jasmine has been working SUPER hard on multiplication facts!
Congratulations, Greyson and Jasmine! Your teachers are so proud of you!!!!
As a reminder, Cairo-Durham Schools will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, January 29, for the Lunar New Year.
Do you know a person or community organization that has given extensive service to the Cairo-Durham Central School District?
Nominate them for the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame!
To nominate a person or community organization, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8 See below for the criteria. Nominations will be accepted through February 1, 2025.
The chosen nominees will be honored at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Shamrock House on Saturday, April 26, 2024, at 5 PM.
Criteria: Nominees must have contributed to the improvement of Cairo-Durham CSD with extensive service through: academics, athletics, coaching, teaching, administration, employment, volunteerism and/or community service. Nominees can be past or present staff members, school administrators, Board of Education members, alumni and community members or organizations. (Please note that a former student nominee must be out of school for at least 10 years to be considered for induction into the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame.)
Some examples of extensive service/support include (but are not limited to): Academics (e.g., teaching, tutoring). Involvement in school athletics (e.g., coaches, officials, volunteers). Mentoring. Volunteer work/community service. Community relations.
Mustang Pride Hall of Fame Mission and By-Laws: https://www.cairodurham.org/page/mustang-pride-hall-of-fame-mission-and-by-laws
About the Hall of Fame: The Mustang Pride Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to recognize individuals and/or groups who have worked to support public education in the Cairo-Durham CSD community.
To nominate a person or community organization, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8
Take a look at the five prior classes of the Cairo-Durham Mustang Pride Hall of Fame:
Class of 2018: Ron Agostinoni - Faculty/Student, Helen Enck - Faculty, Don Gibson Sr. - Administrator, Tom Karnes - Faculty/Coach, Trudy Lynch - Faculty/Coach, Suzanne Oldakowski - Rotary President/Community Member, Kerry Quinn - Faculty/Coach, Ann Skelly - Faculty, Art Waldron - Faculty/Coach, Bob Zimmerman - Faculty/Coach.,
Class of 2019: Fran Cook - Faculty, Peter Maassmann - Student/Faculty, Beth Phillips - Board of Education/Support Staff, Cairo Rotary Club - Community Organization, Bill Zwoboda - Faculty/Administrator,
Class of 2020/2021, Dave Battini - Faculty/Coach, John Hull - Faculty/Community Member, Resurrection Lutheran Church - Community Organization, Bill Lawrence - Faculty/Legislature, Kay Sutton - Faculty, Jeff Waldron - Student/Athlete,
Class of 2022: Hugh Gallagher - Faculty, William Getzke - Faculty, Harry Lennon - Alumni, Keith Phillips - Faculty, Richard Uzzilia - Faculty,
Class of 2023: Virginia Ambrose - Faculty, Richard Booth - Administrator, Kris Monteverd - Faculty, Carol and Fred Spohler - Community Members, Donna Wexler - Faculty,
Class of 2024: Bridget “Bunny” Agostinoni - Alumni/Retired Faculty, Emily Brunner - Faculty, Patricia “Patty” Gibson - Former Coach, Caroline Benton Pfleger - Retired Faculty
CDES is hosting a K and PreK Orientation on March 19, 2025, for Kindergarten and March 26, 2025, for Pre-K. Registration Packets will also be available soon.
Lunch and breakfast menus for February are available below and on the District website under "Documents"!
The students in Mrs. Thompson’s and Mrs. Lopez’s second grade have been working on
R -Controlled Vowels during Phonics.
After learning about or, ore, and oar, they made s’mores together!
The students enjoyed the special treat that reinforced the important lessons! Look at the happy faces covered in chocolate!
Mr. Stein and Mrs. Harvey enjoyed them too!!
Congratulations to Lauren Zecca for winning Mrs. Jones Mini M & M guessing game. Lauren's guess of 1569 was the closest to the actual 1519 M & M's in the jar.
Last week's Grade 2 Thompson / Lopez Star of the Week was Joshua! The Grade 3 Whitbeck / Lopez Star of the Week was Oliver!
Joshua participated in all activities, completed his work, waited his turn patiently, and was kind to everyone all week! Joshua also worked extremely hard in math and writing.
Oliver demonstrated respect, responsibility and kindness all week. He also participated in all activities, completed his work, waited his turn patiently, and made safe choices. Oliver completed all of his multiplication facts!
Congratulations, Joshua and Oliver! Your teachers are so proud of you!!!!
