Cairo-Durham Central School District

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!!!!

CDES's Spring Picture Days will be here soon! Save the date for February 11 (UPK- Grade 2) and February 12 (Grades 3-5).

The Cairo-Durham Central School District is proud to announce the December 2024 recipient of the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” is Joe Armstrong (‘16)! Read more below. Nominations are now open for the January spotlight, click here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2q9nfXwRYv7cSUw_bdouBjcdspek0B2VyNasVZr-LvsYNdg/viewform?usp=sf_link ) to nominate a Cairo-Durham alum. Submissions are due by Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 4 p.m.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

As a reminder, Cairo-Durham Schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, January 20, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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

Attention 8th-grade students and families! The application process for Tech Valley High School & HVCC STEM High School is now open. If you are interested in finding out more information about these programs, please reach out to either Mrs. Bockis or Mrs. Staiger in Student Services. In order for your application to be considered, you must meet with your school counselor and a parent or guardian. You can reach out to Student Services at (518) 622-0490 ext 46010 or email Danielle Lacitignola at dlacitignola@cairodurham.org to make an appointment with your school counselor. TVHS application deadline is March 11, 2025 and HVCC STEM High School application deadline is March 12, 2025. Links: HVCC STEM High School: https://www.questar.org/education/ptech-echs/ . TVHS: https://www.techvalleyhigh.org

A handful of CDE Star Seekers presented at the January Board of Education Meeting. The students shared their excitement around coding, and working with the Ozobots and Sphero Bolts, supplied by Questar III. In addition, a recent highlight from the group was the December Star Party with the Mid-Hudson Astronomy Association. The group plans to meet again in the spring for more "out of this world" adventures.

The Cairo-Durham Central School District saw an impressive 12% increase in math proficiency in the 2023-24 school year compared to the prior year for students in grades 3-8, according to NYS testing data that was released recently. Read the full news release below or here: https://5il.co/35bq6

Elementary ENL students and their friends made a Dr. King Peace Tree from conversations about Martin Luther King Jr.'s message!

As a reminder, Cairo-Durham Schools will be closed on Monday, January 20, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The District will also be closed for the Lunar New Year on Wednesday, January 29.

Midterm Regents are around the corner! For more information, high school families and students can refer to the attached documents.

Ms. Stalter and her son getting in their steps for the Mustang Wellness Step Challenge!