The Cairo-Durham Elementary Star-Seekers and the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association are hosting a Star Party on Tuesday, December 3 from 6-7:30 pm at the Cairo-Durham Elementary School. The Star-Seekers is an after-school enrichment program for fourth and fifth-grade students, who have been using Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) to learn about space. The community is invited to come observe the night sky through telescopes and learn from astronomers who will point out additional space objects. Participants will also engage in a few astronomy-related activities. The event is free.
The second and third graders, along with Mrs. Lopez, Mrs. Whitbeck, Mrs. Thompson, and Mrs. Licis, celebrated Meredith Mabb from the CDE cafeteria on November 7, 2024. They presented her with a beautiful bouquet of autumn flowers and a card signed by everyone.
Meredith has gone above and beyond to prepare and serve wonderful meals at CDE. She greets every child and adult with a warm and sincere smile each day.
We all wish her the very best as she continues to bring joy to the Middle School and High School students and staff!
Nominations for the November 2024 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are open and can be submitted at the link below by Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 3 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 November 2024!
Last week's Grade 2 Thompson / Lopez Star of the Week was Abe! The Grade 3 Whitbeck / Lopez Star of the Week was Colton!
Abe participated in all activities, completed his work, waited his turn patiently, and was kind to everyone all week! Abe worked extremely hard in math!
Colton demonstrated respect, responsibility and kindness all week. He also participated in all activities, completed his work, and waited his turn patiently. Colton has worked extremely hard on multiplication and keeping his desk organized!
Colton made 6 Veteran's Day cards!
Congratulations!
CDE Student Council is thankful to all staff and students throughout the school who recently wrote cards for veterans with personalized messages of appreciation and gratitude. The cards were collected and delivered to Greene County Veteran's Service Agency to be distributed. Thank you to our Veterans for their service.
Here are photos from Mrs. Fitzgerald's class enjoying the recent spirit week and Halloween!
Rachna DeRose Selected as the October 2024 "Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight" Recipient:
November 6, 2024-
CAIRO, NY – The Cairo-Durham Central School District is proud to announce the October 2024 recipient of the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” is Rachna DeRose (‘98).
Rachna, who earned her Master’s Degree of Science in Physical Therapy from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York, has just celebrated her 20th work anniversary at Greene Meadows Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and finished the season as an assistant coach for the Cairo-Durham girls’ varsity soccer team.
Rachna treasures her role as Greene Meadow’s Assistant Director of Rehabilitation. This role provides her with more flexibility and gives her more time with her husband, Steven, and her three children: Nia, Mya, and Jai, who are all Cairo-Durham students.
“I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health care since I was younger,” Rachna DeRose said. “One of the most rewarding parts of my profession is helping patients regain their optimal functional level. For most of them, that means returning home, after a hospitalization.”
For the last 11 years, Rachna has also been known as a talented girls' soccer coach, including coaching for the Rip Van Winkle Youth Soccer Club and being the assistant coach to the Cairo-Durham girls’ varsity soccer team, which made sectionals this season.
“Coaching girls, specifically can be both very rewarding and challenging at the same time,” Rachna said. “Some of these girls I’ve been coaching since they were 4, 5, and 6 years old. It was always my vision to keep them playing together, so they would dominate by the time they came up to school-level soccer. It’s always been my dream to have the outcome they had this season.”
Throughout the multiple nominations for Rachna DeRose, all shared a similar sentiment - she is dedicated and focused on her goals, goes above and beyond, and cares about those in her community.
“Rachna is a well-respected community member and CD Alumni she holds true to the principles of Cairo Durham she strives for excellence in all she does, she achieves success with her hard work and warm heart, and she believes in everything Cairo Durham has to offer,” said one of her nominators.
In her time as a Cairo-Durham student, Rachna enjoyed playing varsity soccer and softball, being a cheerleader, and participating in the National Honor Society.
Sharing wisdom with future generations of Mustangs, Rachna iterated how important it is to be yourself, embrace your unique qualities, and surround yourself with positive friends.
“Always surround yourself with positive people who lift you up and make you want to be the best version of yourself,” DeRose said. “Lastly, it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. Things aren’t always going to go your way. What matters most, is how you respond.”
To bridge the community and the Cairo-Durham Central School District, the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” was created to provide an opportunity for community members to nominate members of the Cairo-Durham Class of 2018 or prior who have made an impact in the community, embrace Cairo-Durham pride and serve as role models to future generations of Mustangs to be recognized on the District’s platforms. Nominations are now open for the November 2024 spotlight, click here: https://forms.gle/S7SQNRr4NTzNhopXA to nominate a Cairo-Durham alum. Submissions are due by Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 3 p.m.
The Cairo-Durham Central School District, in partnership with Questar III BOCES Health & Safety, held a reunification drill on Friday, November 1. Faculty and staff participated in the drill, acting as students, parents, teachers, and reunification team members. The drill aimed to familiarize staff with the procedures for reuniting students with their families in case of an unexpected emergency.
Last week's Grade 2 Thompson / Lopez Star of the Week was Abe. The Grade 3 Whitbeck / Lopez Star of the Week was Abby.
Abe participated in all activities, completed his work, waited his turn patiently, and was kind to everyone all week!
Abby demonstrated respect, responsibility, and kindness all week. She also participated in all activities, completed her work, and waited her turn patiently. Abby has worked extremely hard on multiplication!
Congratulations, Abe and Abby! Your teachers are proud of you!!!!
The CDE PTA Trunk or Treat was a great success thanks to all those who helped out!
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, 2025, 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 four 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.
Here are some photos from Tech Day in the library with Mrs. Margiasso's class!
Last Thursday, CDES had its Decades Day for Spirit Week! Staff and students participated by wearing clothes and costumes from the 60s-90s.
The Cairo-Durham Central School District is accepting applications for a middle school science teacher. Click here to learn more: https://www.cairodurham.org/documents/employment/job-postings/246137
Grade 2 Thompson / Lopez Star of the Week: Lubna.
Lubna participated in all activities, completed her work, waited her turn patiently, and was kind to everyone all week!
Grade 3 Whitbeck / Lopez Star of the Week: Cheyenne.
Cheyenne demonstrated respect, responsibility and kindness all week. She also participated in all activities, completed her work, and waited her turn patiently.
Congratulations, Lubna and Cheyenne! Your teachers are so proud of you!!!!
Wednesday was Wacky Wednesday for CDES's spirit week!
The NYS Education Department has informed the District that a new phone scam is targeting parents and guardians of students who recently took the SAT or PSAT exam.
The scam call will request that parents and guardians give sensitive information, including a credit card number, in order to get the rest results. Please remember that you should not share personal or financial information over the phone with unsolicited callers. Legitimate SAT or preparatory organizations will never ask you for personal details over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.
Additional information on protecting yourself from these scams is available below:
Always be wary of unsolicited callers: If you receive a random call from someone asking for payment, research their organization before sharing any personal information.
Double check with your child: If someone claims they're calling because of a service your child requested, hang up and check with your child first.
Understand the College Board's practices: The College Board will never ask you for your bank or credit card information over the phone or through email.
Don't give your financial information to strangers: Never agree to pay a stranger with any form of payment for a purchase you didn't initiate.
Last Chance: Nominations for the October 2024 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are officially open and can be submitted at the link below by Friday, October 25, 2024, at 6 p.m. Past nominations will also be considered in the selection process. Click here ( https://forms.gle/Lt8JyCBq22S5eke99 ) to submit a nomination for October 2024!
Tuesday was Teacher Student Swap Day for Spirit Week at CDES!
Monday was Mustache Day at CDES kicking off Spirit Week hosted by the Student Council.
